The Nitty-Gritty About Booking Family Flights
One of the biggest, quickest trip expenses comes before you even get to pack a bag- booking a flight. There are so many airlines, so many connections, so many possible itinerary combinations that it can be overwhelming. As we Millennials like to say “It’s a computer purchase… not something to book on your phone.” And it’s a purchase that comes with strings attached- bag policy, no refunds or exchanges, add ons like seat selection. One of the most “brain power intensive” parts of trip planning for me is choosing the flight. I hope these tips and resources help make things easier for you!
How I Search for Flights at Home
Google Flights- If you have never used this website before, prepare to have your world blown away and save hundreds of $$! I NEVER purchase a flight without consulting this website first (most of the time I purchase directly through their links unless using credit card miles). My favorite feature is looking at how prices change when you adjust your departure and arrival dates by +/- 1 or 2 days. It scans all the major airline websites and pulls the data onto 1 screen so that you can easily compare prices, departure times, layover cities and lengths, etc. It will even mix and match airline tickets to combine and get the best price (called a mixed fare ticket). If you have flexible dates in the future you can even search criteria like “2 weeks in July to Italy” and it will show you the cheapest options and which dates. You can even have it send you email alerts when prices drop for a particular search. I LOVE to play on this site, plugging in random dates and destinations, daydreaming about my next trip. I’ve been known to text friends and family in the middle of the night saying “I know you want to go to London… here’s a flight for $500 on sale, book it now!” A great tool for domestic and international flights.
Pomelo- For all you daydreamers out there, this tool is such a tease. I have been a paid subscription member (they also have a free version) for years. Pomelo emails international flight deals that they find, and mistake fares that are incredibly cheap. I have booked dozens of international tickets using the info they send out and saved thousands of dollars (flew Memphis to Paris for $327, flew St. Louis to Tel Aviv for $500, flew Atlanta to New Delhi for $500). It’s a great tool if you live near a metro airport (they don’t send info the smaller regional airports), aren’t sure where you want to travel next and need some inspiration, and have flexible travel dates in mind. Flights to Europe seemed to be their specialty for awhile, but now they are also including more exotic destination finds.
Price Matching- Some airlines offer price matching if you find the same route and dates cheaper on another site. Alaska Airlines is famous for it, but United and Delta also offer their own versions of a “Low Fare Commitment.” Be sure to read the fine print and be prepared to sit on hold with customer service, but it does exist. A much easier and customer friendly price matching I’ve used is through Capital One Travel. When you book through their site or with credit card points they offer tools like price prediction (telling you to buy now or wait based on price trends), price matching (if you find a cheaper flight within 24 hours they will give you a travel credit for the difference), and price drop protection (if the price drops after you purchase they will give you a travel credit up to $50).
Credit Card Points- My beloved credit card points. The travel rewards are the only reason I have/ use a credit card. I am by no means as savvy as The Points Guyor Zachary Burr Abel, but I do enjoy my fair share of reward bookings. The key is being smart with credit card usage and not wracking up debt. David and I pay off our credit cards every month and have zero consumer debt, so the travel miles are truly free travel miles. If we weren’t paying off our credit card statement and were accruing interest every month then the reward miles are obsolete and actually costing you money in the end! Use the credit card system wisely and don’t let them make any extra money off you! We have a Chase Preferred card that we run all our family and personal expenses through. David prefers Capital One for business needs. I’ve found both travel reward programs to be slightly more expensive than the prices I find on Google Flights, but if your points cover the cost of your whole flight then the $50 difference really doesn’t matter. Most of the time I will find the best dates to fly using Google Flights and then go search for that flight on the reward site. It’s a 1, 2 step process for me to make sure I’m getting the best bang for my reward mile quantity.
Things to Consider When Picking a Flight For Your Family
Book at Least 1 Nap Time Departure– I still do this even when the twins are 4 years old, but when they were infants and toddlers this was a MUST! Travel days are tiring (even for an adult), so please, please set yourself up for nap time success with your kids on travel day. The easiest way I found to do this was to ensure that 1 flight departure was at the same time as a regular nap at home. Your baby takes a morning nap at 10am? Guess what sister, you’re booking that 10:05am departure. Your toddler has quiet rest time after lunch around 12:30pm? Guess what, you’re wrapping up that layover and your second flight departs at 12:50pm. Wheels up needs to be around the same time of day that they normally get to be quiet, still, sleepy with a full belly, and let the white noise of the jet engines whisk them away. You deserve a break too, so get them tucked into their seats and everybody take a chill pill for a flight.
Layover Needs- The length of time we need for layovers has gotten longer, against my desires, but I realize it’s because of the men I travel with (love you boys). I prefer a very small to non-existent layover when I travel solo, I need very little in between flights. My 3 man crew needs to be watered, fed, taken to the facilities (multiple times), and put out in the pasture to roam for a short time as well (this includes David). Every family is different, but my family currently needs about a 2 hour layover to get all their things done before they are confined to airplane seats again. We are also currently in the phase of “I can do it myself” and “Wow! Let’s go see that (plane, luggage cart, escalator, etc)” so things take triple the amount of time to get from Point A to Point B. When they were infants the layover we needed was much shorter since they were in a stroller or baby carrier and just kind of along for the ride. They had fewer “requests” when they were in diapers, unable to walk, and it was easy for me to shake up a formula bottle at any given time. Booking a route with a 2 hour layover makes me cringe and I struggle every time, but it’s what my husband and twins need right now to have a more pleasant travel day for all of us. If you’re not sure what your family needs shoot for 1.5 hours to try it and adjust up or down from there.
Arrival Time at Destination– Don’t try to be Super Mommy on travel day. You are not going to take the early flight, get to your destination at noon, and have the whole afternoon to sight see. I’ve tried, multiple times, and it always explodes with the kids. Take the conservative boring route- book a slightly later morning flight so that you’ve had your coffee before tackling the day, line up that second flight with a nap (as mentioned above), fulfill your layover needs, get to your destination at 4/5pm and go check into the Airbnb for a bubble bath and pajamas (I guess for the kids too). Your one goal on travel day should be “get there” and not trying to see how much you can pack in and hit the ground running. Learn from my mistakes. Check in, get some take-out, have an early relaxing bedtime for everyone, and start your fun plans the next day. Let’s set this bar low- just get there on travel day. Nothing more.
Lap Infant vs Their Own Seat
There is a lot of talk about this in the family travel groups regarding safety and policies. Ultimately, do what you think is best for your child regarding car seats on planes. David and I always check our car seats at baggage drop so it’s one less thing for us to trek through the terminals. The boys flew as lap infants all the way up to their second birthday (which might have been about 6 months too long). We had no problem up to 18 months old, and actually lucked out on our flights to Alaska when we got empty rows to ourselves. It was around 18 months that the twins just became so active, had dropped a nap, and we had a hard time hanging on to them for hours. The longest leg we did with infant in lap was about 4 hours at 11 months old, and that was tougher on my bladder than anything else. Cooper slept the majority of the way down to Guatemala, but I had my legs crossed because I didn’t want to wake him up. Buying their own seat is obviously more expensive but it may be worth the money once your toddler becomes that active.
Regardless you need to book the aisle seat. I repeat, even if you’ve always been a window person, book the aisle seat. If you need to get up, I can assure you it will be in a hurry, and you don’t want to wait on Mr. Smith to wake up and grumbling fold up his newspaper and roll himself into the aisle and out of your way. The aisle seat means you can bounce up and down the cabin when you please, trying to rock baby to sleep, run your preschooler to the potty 5 bazillion times, and have your flight attendant friend check on you every time she walks past. Your older kid may be interested in looking out the window but if they’re under 5 years old, don’t bother. They’ll get bored of that quickly and you need aisle access.
What’s Your Number?
Currently my family is a solid 8, but we *might* be approaching a 9 this Summer. TBD. What do I mean by “your number?” This is your or your group’s threshold before shit hits the fan. One Summer I noticed that no matter what the trip destination, travel method, how many stops we made, every time we approached 7 hours of travel Sawyer would lose his ever-loving mind. Waterworks, screaming, inconsolable, and then I’d start to lose it too because I couldn’t comfort him. We would approach 7 hours and he would just be DONE, all downhill from that point on, no chance of recovery. We’d finally make it to wherever we were going (by car, train, plane) and he and I both would just be a mess. Once I realized how time was the key player, I started cutting our travel day off at 7 hours. However far we made it driving, we’d get a hotel. I’d book flights maxed at 7 hours in transit if possible (or just be mentally prepared for anything over 7+). We’d take an extra half day to break up the trip and keep us under that 7. And you know what- he became the best little traveler after that. So pleasant, and happy, and none of us cried anymore. I stopped pushing him over his threshold. My solo threshold is much higher, but whenever you’re with a group you always need to use the lowest number of those around you.
Before We Board the Plane
In addition to the above mentioned for layovers (making sure your crew is watered, fed, been able to roam and stretch their legs, and used the facilities), there are a few other things I do before we get on the plane. If the airport has a play area I let everyone jump around and get out those wiggles as much as possible. I also used to stop by the mother’s nursing room and pump for relief (juggling milk and pump parts in an airplane seat is something extra special). At the gate I would always smile or let the boys chit chat with the gate agent, always hoping for an upgrade/ perk/ or just help early boarding. You want airline staff on your side. If the crew was also at the gate I do the same to cozy up to them if they have the time. If they don’t, I’m sure to make friends with the flight attendants ASAP when we get to our seats. No matter how short the flight is I always say hello, make small talk, and have the boys introduce themselves. Flight attendants can make or break a situation when you need help (can you tell I have some bad stories about this? One involves seatbelts, both kids crying, and me covered in vomit. A second involves ear infections, an angry passenger, and letting us off the plane first), and it’s much easier to make friends and pleasantries BEFORE something happens.
What’s In My Carry-On Tote?
Change of clothes for everyone (including me. See vomit comment above), and plastic bag for accident clothes
Pajamas for the boys
Snacks and water bottles (or bottles and formula)
Headphones that are kids’ sized and fit over their ears (not earbuds like the airlines give out)
Charged up iPad and cord
Dollar Store toys (prior to our trip I stop by the Dollar Store and pick out some new toys/ activities. I keep these hidden and pull them out of my backpack 1 at a time as needed when the boys get restless. It’s cheap entertainment, doesn’t matter if it gets lost, can be thrown away if it’s not a favorite and then you’re not stuck carrying it the rest of your trip. Some favorites have been- Matchbox cars, etch-a-sketch, flashcards, play dough, coloring books, light up spinning tops)
