If you've ever thought of traveling with small children, this nightmare has surely played out in your mind at least two dozen times. Flying with kids, especially abroad, can be a daunting task -- one seen by many as undertaken only by the truly brave or the truly insane. However, if you plan right and travel smart, flying with small kids can not only be endurable, but even enjoyable.
Step One: The Planning Phase
Believe it or not, you don't have to be stuck in the grumpy businessman section of your flight. When calling to reserve airline tickets, be sure to explain clearly your "special familial needs" to the agent. Most airlines with overnight flights offer bassinets for families with babies. These bassinets, typically installed in the wall of a bulkhead row after takeoff and left up until final descent, are a godsend for parents traveling with pre-tods. If you are going to have a baby on board, be sure to request a basinet from your airline as early as possible (there are undoubtedly a very limited number).
Also, when booking with an airline, you should request seating assignments that will greatly reduce your stress. Take for example the number two cause of high blood pressure for traveling businessmen: kicking from the seat behind. If you know you're traveling with a family of four or more, you can potentially have your kicking-aged kids placed with you in the row behind dad and the older kids. That way dad gets the kicks he deserves and you don't have to spend 8+ hours racking your brain on how to superglue your child's legs to their seat.
Step Two: Airports and Layovers
When traveling with small kids, consider the airport your friend and not the enemy. One way to ensure an amicable relationship between you and the airports you'll visit is to dress and pack appropriately. If you're traveling with small kids, be sure to check or leave at home as much of the bulk as possible (Reflect: do I really need to be hauling around a box worth of diapers in my carry-on). Most places you'll be traveling with kids will, hopefully, have essentials like markets and McDonalds. So either pack that box of diapers in checked baggage, or buy a box when you get to your home away from home.
Airports should be seen by parents as the mother of all playgrounds. Assuming you arrived as early as recommended, you'll probably have some down time at the gate. Use this time wisely: to run the bejeebers out of your kids. With moving sidewalks, acres of thin, dark carpet, and even occasional play areas, your kids should have every reason to have a low battery once installed in their seat on the plane.
If you do have a significant, or even henious layover (more likely especially with mileage tickets), do a little research beforehand and find out if there's someplace to run close by. On a recent trip to France with my family, we had nine hours scheduled in the Houston airport - nine hours! Luckily, with minimal research, I was able to find an affiliate zoo that was free with our Salt Lake Zoo membership and a car rental for $40.00 for the day. So instead of going bonkers in Brookstone, my kids got to run wild with the monkeys and llamas, which made for a much easier transatlantic trip to Paris.
