Getting through airport security: traveling alone with 5 year old...

[DizBelle]

My sister will be flying alone with her 5 year old. What tips can I give her for getting through airport security as painlessly as possible?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Slip-on shoes
Prepare her son - see tsa.gov
Travel light
Everything goes in the bins

 

[eliza61]

Enjoy the flight.

Add 1 more.
Nothing in the pockets.

 

[DizBelle]

How does it work if either of them is selected for additional screening? Should she send her daughter through first? What if her daughter is selected? What if her daughter gets through with no trouble but she is selected for additional screening? What happens to her daughter? What if both of them are selected?

 

[eliza61]

How does it work if either of them is selected for additiional screening? Should she send her daughter through first? What if her daughter is selected? What if her daughter gets through with no trouble but she is selected for additional screening? What happens to her daughter? What if both of them are selected?

Not sure, as I've honestly never seen a small kid selected for screening. I have seen a mom and kid request the pat down to avoid the full body screening. I could not see the pat down but two female agents escorted both the mom and child off to the side never separating them.

a word of caution, I would suggest that she read the tsa website. I don't know if you've been following this very passionate topic here but I'm almost willing to bet you are going to get 50,000 stories of attempted rape and child molestation. Take with a grain of salt.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Have her go through the Family line when she gets to security. Have her child go through the metal detector first (won't let you go back through if child sets it off). Try to have as much stuff contained in your carryon's as possible so you only have to grab a few things from the rollers after it gets x-rayed. Relax, thousands of people go through security every day at the airports and survive to tell about it!

 

[goofy4tink]

Slip off shoes, but with socks. Nothing in the pockets, take off any jackets/sweaters (they go in a bin) I would practice the bin thing at home. Then, your sister should go through the scanner first....then her dd can go through. She will have seen mom go through and be much more relaxed.
If they use the Family line, they should be just fine. A lot less rushing about there. Everyone is in the same boat. I certainly wouldn't worry about being pulled out for addlt scanning. Could it happen? Sure it could. But in all probability it won't.

 

[kwdw]

Slip off shoes, but with socks. Nothing in the pockets, take off any jackets/sweaters (they go in a bin) I would practice the bin thing at home. Then, your sister should go through the scanner first....then her dd can go through. She will have seen mom go through and be much more relaxed.
If they use the Family line, they should be just fine. A lot less rushing about there. Everyone is in the same boat. I certainly wouldn't worry about being pulled out for addlt scanning. Could it happen? Sure it could. But in all probability it won't.

Actually - I think you are supposed to send the child first. Mom can't go backwards if there is a problem for the child who hasn't gone through the scanner.

Travel LIGHT. Very LIGHT.

 

[2binak]

Our little airport doesn't have a family line so we just stand at the very end of the line and get our bins organized while telling the people behind us to go ahead. Once we have all of our bins ready, we push everything down the line and onto the rollers.

I believe that your niece will have to go through the scanner first (I have surgical metal & get selected for the pat down so DD stays with DH and TSA always has DD go through before DH). If you sister gets selected for screening, her DD should remain in her sight at all times (per TSA regulations).

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

I fly alone with my DD5 quite frequently. My biggest tip? I make her carry her own backpack. Everything that she wants to take with her on the plane goes into the backpack. Even her jacket--I make her stuff it into the backpack before we go through security.

I stuff everything I have into my carry-on bag...jackets, wallets, phones etc. That way, I don't have to grab anything out of the bins except for my laptop, liquids bag and our shoes. It is MUCH easier to grab big bags instead of trying to round up extra stuff, IMO.

(I make DH do that too...everything in his pockets goes into a special pocket on his laptop bag, even his belt. Grab and go when through security...all his stuff is together!)

It's not that stressful if you plan ahead. We've been doing it for so long now that DD5 knows the routine. We did rehearse at home prior to her first few flights, however. Good luck!

 

[ccgirl]

Travel very light. I bring 1 backpack and a purse as a carry on. The backpack has enough room where our outergarments (sweatshirts/jackets) can also fit. No need for the child to have their own carryon. Just more to worry about. If she doesn't have one, have her get a portable DVD player and headphones. Make sure the battery life is as long as the flight. Made that mistake once. My children wear crocs going thru security. That way she can slip then on and off. Definitely have her DD go thru security first so she is always in her sights. I would practice with my DD at home. This is what it is going to look like, this is what you will have to do etc. There are enough videos about TSA online that she can watch with her DD so she is prepared. Arrive early, that way you can just relax once thru security and give yourself enough time to go thru security rather than rushing. Also, bring snacks for the plane and purchase drinks once thru security. We were on a flight once where there was no beverage service due to turbulence. We were very glad we had our drinks as my children were thirsty.

Good luck.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually - I think you are supposed to send the child first. Mom can't go backwards if there is a problem for the child who hasn't gone through the scanner.

Travel LIGHT. Very LIGHT.

Yep..you're right. I forgot what I was posting and thinking of something else. I tell you..the brain is foggy with all this snow. Child goes first, then mom...duh.

 

[maxiesmom]

Tell her to limit the metal on both of them, as this will help make sure they don't set off any beeps at screening. That means no underwire bra for your sis. And no cargo pants with lots of snaps, and no metal hairpins or barettes for either of them. Also have her limit what jewelry she wears. I have to have a watch (can't use cell phone for time on airplane, lol!) so it is attached to my carry-on before going thru security. I put in on after I make it thru to the other side.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Underwire bras are not an issue. Stainless steel watches (women's sizes) are not an issue. 14kt gold and sterling silver are fine. Barettes are okay. I wear a Brighton ID necklace. All metal. Never trips the triggers.

I go through TSA checkpoints at least 20 times a week.

Tell her to limit the metal on both of them, as this will help make sure they don't set off any beeps at screening. That means no underwire bra for your sis. And no cargo pants with lots of snaps, and no metal hairpins or barettes for either of them. Also have her limit what jewelry she wears. I have to have a watch (can't use cell phone for time on airplane, lol!) so it is attached to my carry-on before going thru security. I put in on after I make it thru to the other side.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Brrrr. You must be really cold. I'm a little cold myself. The AC was turned way up in my office.

Yep..you're right. I forgot what I was posting and thinking of something else. I tell you..the brain is foggy with all this snow. Child goes first, then mom...duh.

 

[squirrel]

I wear comfy clothes-we do the red-eye.

Slip on shoes-We wear Crocs with socks
Folded stroller goes on the belt to be scanned.
Niece goes through first then I follow.

Don't worry. I somehow forgot to put one bag on the belt and realized it when I was gathering up the stuff. Someone behind me was kind enough to put it on for me.

 

[maxiesmom]

TSA itself recommends no underwire bras and limiting the amount of metal on your person.http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/screening_experience.shtm

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The site says these items MAY set off a detector. Unless you're wearing an obnoxiously large men's watch or trophy-style belt buckle, you will not be wearing enough metal to trigger an alarm. It's always a good idea to think about the total amount of metal on your person, but no woman who needs an underwire bra should ever go without.

TSA itself recommends no underwire bras and limiting the amount of metal on your person.http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/screening_experience.shtm

 

[kaytieeldr]

Underwire bras are not an issue. Stainless steel watches (women's sizes) are not an issue. 14kt gold and sterling silver are fine. Barettes are okay. I wear a Brighton ID necklace. All metal. Never trips the triggers.

I go through TSA checkpoints at least 20 times a week.

If I didn't have you on 'ignore' from an earlier thread, I'd agree this is good information.