How do you fly long distance with kids?

Flying with kids can sound terrifying, but can be quite enjoyable if planned out well. One of the largest variables to consider is how long is the flight? Do you need them to be occupied during the flight, or napping? Scheduling very long flights around nap or even sleep schedules can help turn a flight with screaming and bored kids kicking the seat in front of them into a more relaxing venture.

One of the most common reasons for an infant or toddler to cry throughout a flight is because their ears have not “popped”, and they are uncomfortable. To avoid this, we ensure that the kids are either asleep or actively drinking from something, which helps them clear their ears.

If the parents aren’t able to sleep on planes, be weary of red eye flights. All the planning in the world becomes mute if the parents are operating on zero sleep after a flight where the kids are well rested. However, also be congansent of the duration of the flight. It is easy to say that the kids slept on the flight, so they are ready to go upon landing, but if the flight ins’t the duration of their normal sleep cycle, be prepared for a cranky child in need of additional naps throughout the day….and even an extended overnight sleep to catch up on the day prior. Be sure to include things like this on your post flying day planning and be prepared to pivot should a breakdown occur.

How do you drive long distance with kids?

The most important thing is to know your kids limits. Our kids can do about 3-4 hours before they begin to rip each others’ heads off, so planning stops where they can get out and run around for an hour is essential. This can quickly put a damper on long distance drives that you just want to get over and done with; however, trying to push them past their break will enviably be your downfall. Car games, activity books, and even screen time help to extend this time, but know your kids’ limits and plan accordingly.

In a pinch, you can push a leg of driving to 8-10 hours if you are willing to drive overnight while the kids sleep. While this can knock hours of breaks and stopping off of your time, someone/both parents are going to be recked in the morning while the kids have been fully rested. We have combated this by planning on getting to a stopping point around wake-up time, planning an activity for a few hours, then having the least tired parent drive the 3-4 hour (or whatever your kids’s driving limit is) to the hotel and PRAY for an early check-in and a good night’s sleep.

How do you get the best price on flights?

We have been extremely fortunate in our ability to book affordable flights. This is due to Nicole’s ability to stalk airline websites and wait for deals. First thing’s first, Incognito Mode is your friend when researching flights. The more that your computer logs that you are looking for flights, the more the prices are going to increase.

Second, you are able to begin booking flights up to around 310 days in advance. If you are fortunate enough to be able to book out that early, tickets can be EXTREMELY reasonable, even for international travel.

Then, there are the ol’ advise givers stating that the best time to book any flight is on the Tuesday night 5 weeks prior to your trip. While we have haven’t seen a whole lot of support for this, we do tend to try to book closer to Tuesday nights, mostly because it gives us a drop dead date in our stalking of prices.

Lastly, are the last minute deals. These seem to be fare and few in between; however, we did one time book a last minute trip to Europe (10 days before the trip) for cheaper than what it would have cost to fly to another state.