Flying With Kids

Children under age 2:

Investigate the rules and regulations.

	If you must travel with a child less than 8 days old, you'll probably need a doctor's authorization to fly. Some airlines will not carry children this young.
	Some airlines do not permit children under 2 to sit on the lap of anyone under age 15.
	If you are traveling with more than one child under age 2, some airlines may stipulate that you carry only one on your lap; the other child must have a seat with the appropriate approved child-restraining system.

Weigh the cost factors and decide whether or not to purchase a separate seat for your child.

	On domestic flights, children under 2 may travel free when carried on an adult's lap.
	Some airlines offer a 10 to 50 percent discount on tickets when buying a seat for children under 2. If the cost of the seat is prohibitive, try to book a non-peak flight, which often have empty seats that you can claim for your child after the plane is aloft.

Ask about any amenities the airline may offer.

An airline may provide you with a bassinet for use after takeoff. Some restrict bassinet use to international flights; others offer them for domestic runs, depending on the size of the craft. Ask your carrier, then reserve one in advance.

Children ages 2 to 4:

Investigate the rules and regulations and decide whether or not to purchase a separate seat for your child.

	The FAA recommends that children over 2 have their own seats on domestic flights. These tickets are not discounted.
	Airlines may require that children up to age 5 be accompanied by an adult on both domestic and international flights.
	On international flights, an airline may require you to buy a separate seat for your child. Discounts of between 25 and 40 percent may be offered.

Children ages 5 to 11:

Ask whether there's a discount on your child's travel.

On international flights, this age group may enjoy discounts of between 25 and 40 percent.

If your child will be flying without an adult, find out the rules and regulations.

	Youngsters between 5 and 11 may be permitted to fly unaccompanied on direct flights.
	Notify the airline that the ticket is for an unaccompanied minor at the time you book the flight.
	Airlines may give unaccompanied-minor status to any child under 12 who travels alone on a domestic or international flight. (See the section "When Kids Travel With Unaccompanied-Minor Status," below.) An airline usually provides these unescorted children with a pin or a name tag so that they are readily identifiable to the flight crew.
	Some carriers require that these youngsters have a representative from the airline escort them every step of the journey and can charge between $30 and $75 each way for the worry-saving service.
	If a connecting flight is involved, airlines may require that an unaccompanied minor be at least 8 years old. They may not permit an unescorted child on the last flight of the night to ensure backup options should the first leg of the trip hit a delay. As a general rule, try to book nonstop flights or those that do not require a change of aircraft.
	Children between 5 and 11 who travel with a child 12 years or older may not require airline-escort service.

Children ages 12 to 17:

If your child will be traveling alone, investigate the rules and regulations:

	Kids in this age group may travel by themselves.
	On international flights, some airlines apply unaccompanied-minor status to children as old as 14. (See the section "When Kids Travel With Unaccompanied-Minor Status," below.) An airline usually provides these unescorted children with a pin or a name tag so that they are readily identifiable to the flight crew.
	Parents can request that the airline provide their child with an escort. This can cost anywhere between $30 and $75 each way.
	Check to see whether any documentation is required for your child to fly alone internationally. Some countries require a notarized letter from a parent authorizing the child's entry into a foreign country.

Ask about special considerations for traveling kids.

	Some airlines offer special kids' meals, but they must be preordered. It's best to reserve a child's meal at the same time you book the reservation, though it can sometimes be done up to several hours in advance.
	Let the ticketing agent know whether your child has special dietary needs.

When kids travel with unaccompanied-minor status:

Arrange for you or another adult to bring the child to the boarding area.

This is required. The escort must stay at the gate until the plane pulls away.

At the gate, provide the name, address, and telephone number of the person who will meet your child at the other end.

If a couple will be greeting your child, provide both names. You never know who'll be waiting at the gate and who'll be stuck parking the car.

The adult who sees the child off will also be asked to provide her own name, address, and telephone number.

This is so that the airline knows whom to contact if an adult is not waiting for your child at the other end of her journey.

Make certain your child is preboarded by an airline representative and introduced to the flight attendant who will keep track of her throughout the flight.

When the plane lands, this flight attendant will escort your child from the plane and turn her over to an airline representative. If your child needs to make a connection to another flight, an airline representative will escort her to the next departure gate and make sure that she boards safely.

Warn the person who is meeting your child that the airline will request a photo ID.

This is to make sure that the child is being placed in the custody of the right person.

Tell the person who will be meeting your child to wait at the gate.

	If this adult misses the plane's arrival, she should first go to the gate. If your child is no longer there, she should track down an airline representative.
	If no adult is waiting to greet your child at the gate, she will remain in the custody of an airline representative. Major hubs have unaccompanied-minor centers, where she can watch TV and play until the matter is straightened out.
	Don't panic if the hookup gets bungled. Airlines take their escort responsibilities very seriously and will keep your child in their custody until she is safely turned over to the appropriate adult.

Be sure that your child is carrying identification and cash for emergencies.

Give your child a calling card or teach her how to place a collect phone call.

She should know she can phone you if the need (or desire) arises.

Health and safety tips:

If your child has an ear infection or a fever, check with your pediatrician to see whether flying is still an option.

Some pediatricians recommend that children with colds be administered a dose of decongestant before boarding.

If your child has a chronic condition--such as asthma, diabetes, or allergies--make certain she carries her medication on board.

Checked suitcases will be out of reach if the need for medicine arises during the flight. Plus, there's always the chance that checked luggage will get misdirected or lost.

Carry on a mini first-aid bag that includes fever medicine, cold and cough medicine, and adhesive bandages.

Since it's hard to predict whether your child will get motion sickness, it doesn't hurt to pack Dramamine. Make sure it's okay with your physician for children under 2 to take it.

If your child is flying solo, alert the flight attendant to any existing medical conditions. You should also alert the flight crew to any special dietary needs.

Consider bringing a child-safety seat for a child who weighs less than 40 pounds.

Though the Federal Aviation Administration does not require this, it is strongly advised. The FAA recommends rear-facing infant seats for babies under 20 pounds and forward-facing safety seats for children between 20 and 40 pounds.
The FAA has announced its intention to require safety seats in the future, but it is still ironing out technical issues.

Make sure children stay buckled throughout the flight.

The FAA recommends this for adults, too.

If you sense that your child is nervous about flying, check your local or online bookstore for titles that will help prepare her for the flight.

For instance, Big Bird Flies Alone (Sesame Street Mini-Story Books, Random House), by Felice Haus and Ron Fritz, takes the yellow fella step by step through a solo flight, from preboarding to meeting his grandmother at the other end.

If your child is flying internationally with only one parent, ask the airline whether that parent will need to present any documentation other than a passport before boarding.

Some airlines require a notarized letter, signed by both parents, authorizing the flight. This rule is to keep airlines out of sticky custody situations.

What to carry on board:

Carry on small strollers; check larger ones at the gate or aircraft door.

While smaller strollers are typically handled as carry-on baggage, some carriers will not permit them in the cabin.

For children under age 2, come prepared with a changing mat, diapers, wipes, plastic bags (for dirty diapers), formula, and bottles.

Though some airlines stock diapers and formula, it's not a given. Neither are diaper-changing facilities.

Since your child may get airsick during the flight, pack a change of clothes, hand wipes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a wet washcloth (in a plastic bag).

Pack an extra sweater or jacket for your child.

Remember that cabins tend to be chilly.

Bring your child's favorite snack foods along.

Kids don't like airplane food anymore than grown-ups do. Try boxes of juice or milk, sandwiches, bags of munchies, lollipops, and gum. To save yourself headaches, steer clear of messy foods.

To keep your child entertained--and out of the hair of other passengers--bring coloring books and crayons, books, cards, and/or electronic games.

Be sure to bring a variety of activities, since children's attention spans can be short. If you have a portable cassette player with earphones, books on tape can be a wonderful time-killing distraction. (Make sure your children keep the volume to a hearing-safe level.) Older children may want to plug in to portable CD players. Once on board, check the audio listings; some airlines program a channel for kids.
You may want to get your child her own suitcase or backpack to carry these items. Kids love to sport their own bags in airports, and it keeps their play items readily available.

If your child has a favorite small blanket or pillow, you might want to bring it along, too.

While airlines provide these items, there are not always enough to go around, and flight attendants may be too busy to attend to your immediate needs.

Tips for the flight:

Ask whether the airline offers preboarding privileges for adults traveling with small children.

Even without a formal policy, some flight crews will preboard families upon request. Either way, ask for this courtesy when you first get to the gate.

To help kids "pop" the pressure in their ears during takeoff, be sure you have age-appropriate items that facilitate sipping and swallowing.

At takeoff time, infants should be nursing or sucking on a bottle or pacifier. For toddlers, sippy cups will do the trick. Older children can chew gum or sip from juice boxes.
Landings are even tougher than takeoffs on eardrums. Be sure your child is sipping and swallowing as the plane descends.

Ask a flight attendant whether your child can get a quick tour of the cockpit before or after the flight.

On some carriers, flight attendants can also provide plastic wings, which young kids love, as well as cards, puzzles, or coloring materials.

When you get off the plane, be sure your child's carry-on bag is in tow.

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