Tips and tricks

[californiamomof4grls]

So we leave in 3 days. We are a family of 7 with 5 daughters 11,9,7,5, and 1. I am looking for anything I may of missed in my traveling plans. We are flying form Sacramento to SNA. It's an hour and half plane ride. We live about an hour and a half from Sac and we are suppose to be 1 1/2 - 2 hours early. That being said we should leave no later then 5 in the morning to get our 9:30am flight. I'm looking for ideas of the best way to navigate my kids, all of our luggage and our stroller through the airport. This is only our second time flying. The first time we had to be packed and on the road within 2 1/2 hours. I just don't want the kids to be whiney and bored so I am trying to think of things to keep them busy.
Each girl has a back pack with the following:
Coloring books
crayons
Activity books w/multi lead pencils
book to read
Littles have their leapstears
Bigs have their iPods
I'm afraid once we are on the plane though they wont let us use our electronics
It will also be snack time am I allowed to bring food on? Any advice?

 

[Isatricia]

I used to take a lot of toys/activities for my kids - they never got used. My kids preferred looking though the magazines/catalogs in the seat back instead. Now they like their Ipods or DVD players and they are happy. Same thing with snacks - used to take a bunch and they didn't want any of them - only whatever the airline provided.

Yes, you can take snacks on, but I caution you not to take too much.

You can use electronics on the plane until they close the doors and then once the plane has reached 10,000 ft. You will have to turn them off as you are descending for landing. They will announce this.

We have found that what works best with luggage is to drive to the sky cap and drop me and the kids off, we check the bags while DH parks the vehicle and meets us inside. By using the sky cap there isn't far to drag the luggage.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I was thinking of bringing my husbands laptop so that they could watch movies on that.
Excuse my ignorance but was is a Sky cap?

 

[Isatricia]

I was thinking of bringing my husbands laptop so that they could watch movies on that.
Excuse my ignorance but was is a Sky cap?

Sky caps are the attendants that have booths at the curb that can check you in, check in your luggage and get you on your way without you having to go to the ticket counter.

 

[kazbar]

I find that the easiest for us is to keep it as light as possible.
Off-load the checked luggage as soon as possible and keep carryon luggage to a minimum.
The excitement of being on a plane fills at least 30 minutes and the magazines and other stuff in the seat pockets easily does another 30 minutes, so you don't really need to take that much stuff onboard.
When it is time to gather everyone, and everything, up to get off, the less stuff you have to carry the easier it will be.

 

[subtchr]

This does not help for your upcoming trip, but my first thought was, why in the world are you flying?

My PERSONAL rule of thumb is that if it is less than an 8 hour drive (which I believe is the case for Sacramento to LA), I drive. My thinking is that, yes, the flight is "only" an hour and a half. But look at the total elapsed time from leaving your driveway to arriving at your hotel. You said you have to leave your home 3-4 hours before the flight. Once you land at SNA, it will take at least an hour to gather your children and things, disembark, get luggage, find whatever transport you plan to take, and get to your hotel.

After all that, you could have driven, for just a little more time, with much more comfort, no hassles with security, and for a fraction of the cost of 7 tickets.

I do hope your flight goes smoothly and that you have a wonderful trip!

 

[Pesky]

Few things echoing a lot of what pps said:
1. Offload your checked bags ASAP. See if it is possible to do curbside. DH and I have often just pulled up to the curb, both jumped out with all bags and checked in quickly in a tag-team fashion while standing near the car and then the other goes off to park the car while the rest make the way inside.

2. I'm your mother, not your skycap. I'm seeing 4 out of 5 kids who can tote a bag. The older 2 could definitely help with the bags or even carrying a backpack and pushing the youngest in the stroller. Even the 5YO can pull a little carry-on.

3. Definitely bring something to show movies on. Our portable DVD player was the best investment we ever made. It helps pass some of the time for the older ones. Otherwise, tour books of DLR, stickers, coloring books like you have and LOTS of snacks is key. I often bring a ton including options like fresh fruit that can be tougher to find sometimes and never had an issue. Just watch the liquids guideline. You can also bring empty water bottles they can fill at the airport after security.

4. Agree about thinking about driving next time. I often made the trek from Sac to SoCal while in school and it was about a 5 hr jaunt to LA so add an extra hour or two (depending on traffic) for OC if you go straight through (with a pit stop at In 'n' Out naturally).

have a fun trip!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

This does not help for your upcoming trip, but my first thought was, why in the world are you flying?

My PERSONAL rule of thumb is that if it is less than an 8 hour drive (which I believe is the case for Sacramento to LA), I drive. My thinking is that, yes, the flight is "only" an hour and a half. But look at the total elapsed time from leaving your driveway to arriving at your hotel. You said you have to leave your home 3-4 hours before the flight. Once you land at SNA, it will take at least an hour to gather your children and things, disembark, get luggage, find whatever transport you plan to take, and get to your hotel.

After all that, you could have driven, for just a little more time, with much more comfort, no hassles with security, and for a fraction of the cost of 7 tickets.

I do hope your flight goes smoothly and that you have a wonderful trip!

They were given their trip though the Ellen show. Normally they would drive.

 

[Boiseboone]

What fun! Flying is exciting for the little ones - at least, for mine.
I agree with what the other posters said - Use the skycap, if possible. Plan on tipping $1-2 per bag, depending on how heavy they are.

With an hour and a half plane ride, you'll pretty much get up to cruising altitude, probably spend about 45-50 minutes there, and then start the descent. The ascent and descent are also fun for the kids to watch, so you should have plenty to entertain them for the "boring" part. You might have snack service and drinks during that part of the flight too, to break up the time a bit.

Also, get gum or something chewy for the kids to chew on during takeoff and landing. It helps them "pop" their ears to adjust for the altitude changes. If your one year old can drink something or nurse, that will help them "pop" their ears too. Have fun!!!

 

[CourtFool]

I have half a dozen card games that I stuff in my bag whenever I go somewhere with my daughter.

I use Deck Boxes so I do not have to carry most of the extra packaging that comes with card games.

Moose in the House
Easy game with no reading required.

Once Upon a Time
Some reading required. You can get by with just using the pictures. This really encourages kids to use their imagination. It also helps them build ‘thinking on their feet’ skills.

The Pit Jr.
Another easy game with little reading. This is a fast and furious game that can get kind of loud. You really need at least four people to play this game.

Fluxx
A little more complicated game that requires more reading. The rules change as the game goes, so it can be frustrating for those who prefer set rules. Comes in many different flavors. Oz Fluxx is our current favorite as my daughter is into all things Wizard of Oz these days.

Munchkin
A more complicated game that will require a lot of reading. This one also comes in a lot of different flavors and does not fit easily into the Deck Box I mentioned above.

Rory’s Story Cubes
Not a card game, but another small game that easily fits in a purse. This one works your kids imagination and thinking skills again.

 

[subtchr]

They were given their trip though the Ellen show. Normally they would drive.

Thanks for the clarification, how exciting!!

What great tips in this thread. My kids are grown, but I remember when they were little, and even though it's hard work to travel with them sometimes, it is such a great opportunity to expose them to new things and to spend wonderful times together. Travel is such a memory-builder!

 

[3DisMunchkins]

i always bring empty water bottles or sippy cups. They airlines do not have lids for those little cups they give out and they will always get spilled. The flight attendant will fill them or give you a can of juice you can pour in. I sometimes even bring one for myself so my kids don't spill mine.

 

[TinkFreak988]

A few questions:
What airline are you flying? I am very familiar with Alaska/Horizon and Southwest.

Are you familiar with Sacramento Airport?

I fly in and out of there every week, and there are big changes from what many are used to with the new Terminal B?

If you have the opportunity to post the answers I will be happy to give you more information....

So excited for your trip! My DD and I go at the end of June, we can't wait!!

 

[ddwlms]

If DH drops you off and parks while you check in, have him take the baby. It will be much easier for you to check in everything without having to worry about her, and it will be no problem for him to park and catch the bus back to the terminal with her if she is his only responsibility.

Have identifying tags on your luggage before you arrive.

Have so much fun!

 

[Colo Nana]

We leave tomorrow & I'm going to do that very thing...have the bf drop grandson & I off curbside why he takes van to extended lot & ill check in bags I'm so excited I bet i don't sleep tonite lol weee

 

[Colo Nana]

We leave tomorrow & I'm going to do that very thing...have the bf drop grandson & I off curbside why he takes van to extended lot & ill check in bags I'm so excited I bet i don't sleep tonite lol weee

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I have half a dozen card games that I stuff in my bag whenever I go somewhere with my daughter.

I use Deck Boxes so I do not have to carry most of the extra packaging that comes with card games.

Moose in the House
Easy game with no reading required.

Once Upon a Time
Some reading required. You can get by with just using the pictures. This really encourages kids to use their imagination. It also helps them build ‘thinking on their feet’ skills.

The Pit Jr.
Another easy game with little reading. This is a fast and furious game that can get kind of loud. You really need at least four people to play this game.

Fluxx
A little more complicated game that requires more reading. The rules change as the game goes, so it can be frustrating for those who prefer set rules. Comes in many different flavors. Oz Fluxx is our current favorite as my daughter is into all things Wizard of Oz these days.

Munchkin
A more complicated game that will require a lot of reading. This one also comes in a lot of different flavors and does not fit easily into the Deck Box I mentioned above.

Rory’s Story Cubes
Not a card game, but another small game that easily fits in a purse. This one works your kids imagination and thinking skills again.

Munchkin is one of our favorite family games!!! I'm going to look into the other links you left. When we go to restarunts I bring cards for the girls to play together while they wait for their food! They could play cards in the airport while we wait!

i always bring empty water bottles or sippy cups. They airlines do not have lids for those little cups they give out and they will always get spilled. The flight attendant will fill them or give you a can of juice you can pour in. I sometimes even bring one for myself so my kids don't spill mine.

On our first flight in Nov they gave all of my kids cups of water with no lids! Spills were inevitable! So I was going to bring my girls sports bottles to fill one we pass security.

A few questions:
What airline are you flying? I am very familiar with Alaska/Horizon and Southwest.

Are you familiar with Sacramento Airport?

I fly in and out of there every week, and there are big changes from what many are used to with the new Terminal B?

If you have the opportunity to post the answers I will be happy to give you more information....

So excited for your trip! My DD and I go at the end of June, we can't wait!!

I have only flown once it was last November and we are flying out of Southwest. I was wondering if there is some sort of cart to put our luggage on that Dh could push up? Like they do at hotels.

We leave tomorrow & I'm going to do that very thing...have the bf drop grandson & I off curbside why he takes van to extended lot & ill check in bags I'm so excited I bet i don't sleep tonite lol weee

I'm so excited I can barely sleep now!!!!!

 

[TinkFreak988]

Southwest flies out of Terminal B at the Sac Airport.
If you flew SW in November then you flew out of Terminal B as well, so you are aware of the tram that takes you over to security and the gates.

It is very different for people that have not flown out of there recently, the new terminal feels like a whole different airport.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

It was a little strange the tram thing. It was hard for my little girls to keep their balance in it. This time I have my stroller so I will put one in and have the other one hang on for dear life!! LOL!!

 

[TinkFreak988]

Re: carts for luggage

I have never seen them there. I think your best bet is dropping all luggage off with one adult and then parking in the lot. Maybe split up older kids to help each adult. The Southwest departure area has curbside checkin that is ALWAYS quicker than going in

Have your boarding passes printed, though I have gone with only my ID and they have always been very nice to find my reservation. Maybe check bags before the car takes off or have husbands ID with you.

Then meet with the car parkers and go upstairs to the tram. (yes hold on or sit at the ends where there is a bench and brace yourself)

So excited for you, Have a wonderful time!