By Lynn Koller, Correspondent
Reprinted from: Daytona Beach News Journal - March 23, 2005
For full, unedited version, click here.
My children, Max, 9, and Sydney, 7, wanted to know why they had to remove
shoes, jackets, and backpacks to get through security at Daytona Beach
International Airport. As they were re-dressing, I explained that they
could have bombs in their shoes or knives in their clothing.
Perhaps this wasn't a child-friendly answer, but it was 5 a.m., and I was having
trouble shaking the image of a future where airports required transparent
clothing. Inspecting children's shoes seemed reasonable, until I realized
that my purse contained a souvenir pocketknife that made it onto the plane with
no problem.
While first class passengers boarded, Sydney asked what they were learning in
their "class." Max asked how first class differed from coach, and I
explained that they were paying a great deal for free drinks.
We were traveling to visit my parents in Sacramento, then planned to drive to
Tahoe, where Max and Sydney could try skiing. This trip was far easier
than the last time I flew to Sacramento, when the children were both in diapers.
During that flight, I had a window seat with a 10-week-old baby on my lap, my
2-year-old sitting beside me, and a frowning, rotund man sitting in the aisle
seat. Claustrophobia set in when both children required fresh diapers.
That situation taught me always to wear black when traveling.
Mechanical difficulties delayed our flight this time, so Sydney decided to test
airport security protocols by walking to the edge of the cockpit and staring at
the co-pilot until he talked to her. I didn't interfere, not wanting to
disturb the brief time that the three of us were not crammed together, with the
children each complaining that the other was being "stupid," "annoying" or
"dumb." Max made ample use of his GameBoy throughout the trip.
We did not realize upon our arrival that Tahoe was about to experience the
biggest snowstorm in 89 years. It soon became apparent that the children would
be unable to ski. This proved cost-efficient, as they had just as much fun
barreling down a hill on inner tubes -- for $6 a child, as opposed to $135 per
child it would have cost for a day of ski school. Inner-tubing also
required that they walk uphill as many times as they slid downhill. At 6,500
feet altitude, it was tiring work -- one way to use up their energy.
Of course, we had to fly home eventually. The return flight was similar to our
trip out, but this time, the children performed without question at the security
checkpoints -- as if they'd been flying for years, which I guess they had.
Tips Make Flying with Kids Easier
Here are three important tricks I learned when flying (domestic) with
school-age children:
1. Don't pack anything for the plane ride -- not notepads, books, puzzles,
crayons or surprises. You'll spend a lot of time preparing, only to be digging
through your bag all day. And it won't matter, because children always
find flying boring after take-off. A DVD player is the only exception. Have your
children pack their own backpacks and carry them all day.
2. Don't pack snacks or water. Unless your child is diabetic, hypoglycemic or
has food allergies, don't pack food. It's a hassle. Pay for snacks in the
airports. Don't, under any circumstances, carry bottles of water. They're
heavy. You can get bottled water on the plane, and no one will dehydrate
during the flight.
3. Do purchase headsets for everyone for the in-flight movie, if available. The
movie, no matter what's playing, is always worth the price.