Air Travel
Boarding an airplane with a young child can be a very stressful moment for many parents. Air travel is hard enough these days even when you're solo. Throw in a crying baby or a tantruming toddler? It can get a lot harder.
I've been on over 250 flights with at least one kid in tow the last decade and a half, and I can confidently tell you from the other side that it's been worth all the stress. We've flown home to see grandma, taken our kids to meet Mickey, dug in the sand in Hawaii, and have visited international destinations from Japan to Italy. Along the way, we've flown about 20 different airlines with our kids.
I'm a pretty organized and detail-oriented person, and I quickly discovered that successful air travel with kids favored the prepared. I was inspired to write this blog originally because friends realized I was skilled at reading the fine print on airline websites and telling them what they really needed to know before they hopped on a plane with their own kids.
If you are ready to take to the friendly skies as a family, I've done the work for you. Learn all aspects of what you need to fly with kids of every age right here, from which airline to book, to mastering TSA lines, to coping with red-eye flights.
start here
First flight with kids?
If you're overwhelmed with all you need to learn, these three posts are enough to get you up to speed fast.
More tips for flying with kids
- How to Survive Flying with a Lap Toddler
- Survival Tips for Red-eye Flights with Kids
- 11 Tips for Changing Diapers on a Plane
- Air Travel with Toddlers and Milk
- Beginner's Guide to Summer Air Travel (With Kids!)
- Car Seats on Airplanes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Part 1: At the Airport)
- 50 Kid-Friendly Airplane Snacks
- Non-Stop vs. Connecting Flights With Kids
Individual airline guides & tips
- The Complete Guide to Flying Southwest With Kids
- 7 Things to Know about Flying United with Kids
- I Flew Frontier Airlines... And It Was Just Fine
- The Complete Guide to Flying JetBlue with Kids
- What You Need to Know Before Flying ZIPAIR, Japan's Low Cost Airline
- Flying Mexico's Low Cost Airline Volaris: Worth It or Budget Bust?
- 9 Tips & Tricks for Flying easyJet
Flying Southwest? It's the airline we fly most, so you can dive in more deeply on my Southwest Airlines page.
Flying an international airline?
Be sure to check for child fares. While U.S. airlines don't give discounts anymore for young kids, a lot of international carriers still do!
More air travel posts
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Flying to San Francisco: Complete Guide to Bay Area Airports
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Bags No Longer Fly Free: All the (Ugly) Southwest Changes Coming in 2025
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Crunching the Numbers on Southwest's Big Rapid Rewards Devaluation
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Everything You Need to Know About Flying to Disneyland 2025
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Why a Southwest Flight Schedule Change Can Be a Good Thing
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A Modest Proposal: How Southwest Should Handle Seat Assignments for Families
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Why I Don't Have Global Entry (Even Though I Travel a Lot)
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Which Southwest Credit Card is Right for You?
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All the Changes Coming to Southwest Airlines in 2024
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5 Secrets to Holiday Air Travel Success with Kids!
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Do Kids Need ID to Fly? Travel Identification Info for Every Age
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Tips for Traveling with a Sick Child
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7 Free Things on Southwest Airlines (That Cost You on Other Airlines)
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Flying Southwest Airlines to Hawaii: Everything You Need to Know
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23+ Tech-Free Travel Activities for Kids: No iPad Necessary!
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How to Make the Most of a Southwest Fare Sale
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10 Mistakes You Might be Making with Frequent Flyer Miles
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What Are the Best Airlines to Fly with Kids in the USA?
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What to Consider Before Flying with a Lap Child
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Car Seats on Airplanes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Part 3: At Your Destination)
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Car Seats on Airplanes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Part 2: On the Plane)
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9 Tips for Flying to Walt Disney World
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Frequent Flyer Accounts for Kids: What are You Waiting For?
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Best and Worst Ages to Fly with Your Child
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Flying this Summer? Tips for a Very Volatile Summer 2021 Air Travel Season
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What It's Like to Fly Internationally with Kids During COVID-19
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No Change Fees: Which Airline Has the Most Generous Policy?
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Complete Guide to Airline Change Policies During Coronavirus Travel Disruptions
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3 Little-Known Airline Rules All Traveling Parents Need to Know
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What It’s Like to Fly Southwest to Hawaii: OAK to HNL Flight Review
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Why You Should Never Accept a Flight Schedule Change Right Away
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Taking an Inaugural Flight with Southwest Airlines
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SFO Airport Guide: Tips for Navigating San Francisco Airport with Kids
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7 Ways to Avoid Airline Fees
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Flying American Airlines with a Stroller? A Rule Every Traveling Parent Needs to Know
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The Ultimate Planes, Trains & Automobiles Toy Gift Guide for Kids
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Doing Battle with the TSA Over My Toddler's Milk
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Another Family Prohibited from Using a Car Seat on a Plane
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Track Your Tyke's Travels: The 7 Year Update
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Tips for Successful Potty Training During Travel