Tips for Flying

Where can I get cheap tickets?

Sign up for the Ding Fares from Southwest airlines. This will download an application that will keep running on your computer and will alert you to discounted fares. This application has allowed us to travel across country for as low was $54 - 79 dollars. It's a great application.

If you are unable to travel via Southwest, our other favorite sites are the following:

• Allegiant Air
• Jetblue
• Expedia
• Orbitz
• Travelocity
• http://www.farecast.com/
• http://www.kayak.com/
• http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/
• http://www.farecompare.com/
• http://www.yapta.com/ - allows you to tag flights so that you can receive emails when the price goes down.

Another good way of keeping track of cheap airfares is to download the "Travel" module on "My Yahoo" and tailor it to provide you with updated cheap fares from your specific destinations when they become available.

You can also sign up with other airlines to receive last minute fares and email offers when they become available.

Other Useful Links

• Seatguru.com for help finding the best seats on your flight.
• TSA for wait times at airports
  

Travelling with an Infant

• Depending on how long the trip is, consider purchasing a seat for your infant. All babies, no matter what age, get heavy. Some airlines will try to be considerate to mothers carrying infants and if they have room on the plane, will ask people to move to accommodate them.
• Car Seat - great idea to use a car seat on the plane, will help keep the baby strapped down and sometimes they'll nap better.
• Try feeding your infant on the plane. I've heard of many women who've nursed or fed their children while on take off as this will help your infant to swallow, thus will help pop his ears.
• If are you are nursing, would suggest purchasing a nursing camisole with a very loose buttoned shirt which will ensure your privacy while nursing. Would also recommend travelling with a pillow to put the baby on your lap while nursing.
• Try to get a window seat if you're nursing for added privacy and it's easier for you to lean your head to the side of the plane and catch some zz's.
• Check out the layout of the airport before you get there and call ahead for nursing facilities
• Make sure to take your infants comfort toys
• Make Individual Diaper Change kits - take a large Ziploc bag (or the blue disposable diaper bags) and put a diaper in it as well as a smaller Ziploc with a couple of wipes in it. You can also add disposable changing pads to put on the public changing tables. This makes it easy to reach down, grab a bag and not have to worry about where all of your supplies are. I loved using the blue disposable bags, so once I was done changing the diaper, I'd wrap it back up in the blue bag and dump it in the trash.
• Consider packing a brand new toy to help capture your child's attention.
• Make sure you pack extra clothes..not only for the baby, but for you also in case of spitting up or vomiting. Also pack warm blankets, extra baby food and lots of water for yourself (remember to take care of yourself)
• Go to your local grocery/convenience store and buy every travel pack item possible that you think you'll need so you don't have to lug around huge bags. Lotions for the plane, hand wipes, face wipes, etc.
• Medication - Take your medication with you! You will need it (especially Tylenol or orajel!)
• Stroller - check in your stroller at your boarding gate (make sure you get a tag for it at the desk). You will be allowed to take it all the way up to the plane, and then they'll stow it below the plane for you. When you land, it will be all set up and ready to go.
• If your child loves a baby bjorn/sling, take it. Some kids preferred being carried to being strolled. This means you've just turned your stroller into a huge shopping cart for that gigantic backpack you're now carrying! What a great idea!
• If you do decide to check in your car seat, purchase a car seat travelling bag. Also check with your airline as most airlines do NOT count this as an extra piece of luggage.

Travelling with toddlers/pre-schoolers

• Check in your stroller at the gate (make sure you get a tag from the desk)
• Put together a special backpack for your kids filled with new toys from the dollar store. Pack a few of her favorites and also some brand new toys.
• Good toys to take are ones that don't make noises. Try flash cards, dolls, coloring books and pencils, blank papers
• DVD Portable players are the WAY TO GO. Do you know how many kids I've seen on planes crying and screaming because they are bored? If your child watches TV, now is not the time to impose a "you watch TV too much" law. Plug that in and rent a brand new movie from either Blockbuster Online or Netflix, that they haven't seen before, and take it on the plane! Want to score extra points for the people around you? Teach your child how to use headphones! Try prepping for this way ahead of time so that they can get used to it.
• If you are picky about them sleeping on dirty seats, bring your own blanket. And your own pillow so that they can lay down on them if they're tired.
• Bring LOTS of snacks. LOTS. And if they're potty trained, enforce a potty break whenever you can. Usually my kids want to go during take off, or right when the Pilot has indicated that there's turbulence ahead and everyone buckle up. You can also try putting a pull up on them just in case accidents happen.
• Extra clothes for you and for them.
• Grocery bags to put soiled clothes in
• Lots of wet wipes and facial wipes which you can get in travel packets.
• Kleenex - either the travel kind, or stick some in a Ziploc and you're ready to go.
• One lady learnt this the hard way. Do not let your child walk up and down the aisles. Try to instill with them the need to keep buckled up the entire time. This is for your own sanity. Also, don't encourage them to play with the window shade :) Or the tray table :)
• Make them drink a liquid, or chew gum or suck on a lollipop during takeoff to help with their ears.
• Pack two bags. One with extra clothes which can go above your head, and one with the toys/activities and wipes that are all easy to reach.
• Make sure your kids wear easy to slip on/off shoes for the security checks.

Overall tips:

Never assume that a 5 hour trip is just 5 hours. Always prepare for the worst. Whenever hubby and I travel, we make sure that one of our carry on luggage's contains clothes for one night for all of us in case something happened and our luggage was lost.