Early Flights With Kids

Ideally when traveling with children, you would schedule your flights when you know they’re likely to sleep. If that’s not possible, you’d try to book flights for when they’ll be most cheerful. But for most of us, price dictates which flight we take, and usually those flights depart at the crack of dawn.

Having flown a number of times now before the sun has risen, I can say with certainty that I actually prefer it.  It takes a good deal of prep work to pull it off, but an early flight usually means you get to your destination by lunchtime or afternoon, and after one night you’re usually acclimatized and ready to enjoy  your trip!

Here are a few tips to help make your early morning flight with your child a smooth one:

-Put kids to bed in their travel outfit. Choose comfortable clothes that still look good, and when you’re ready to leave for the airport all you have to do is carry them from bed to car (once car is packed and ready to go!)

-Leave yourself enough time. Early morning is usually less busy but also means less staff at the airport for check in and security. Airport security with children always takes a little longer, so the extra time will mean less stress for you.

-Consider staying the night at an airport hotel. If you live a considerable drive from the airport, or you know you’re just not organized to deal with the last minute packing, start your trip a day early by heading out to an airport hotel the night before. You’re already packed – so just a quick re-packing in the morning – and the extra few hours sleep is priceless. A bonus? Airport hotels often offer free parking for guests and shuttles to and from the airport, so the initial expense may pay off in the long run.

When flying with kids, getting there isn’t always half the fun, but an early start does mean you start your vacation that much sooner!

Photo courtesy Stock Xchng.