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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.

5 year old in airplane cockpit with pilots

what to expect

Best and Worst Ages to Fly with Kids

Wondering when it might be easier to take that flight? What to expect if you travel by plane at every age and stage.

Get the guide

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.

  • Inside Southwest 737-800 airplane in summer 2021
    Top 7 Tips for Baby's First Flight
  • Airport Security TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at Oakland Airport
    Airport Security with Kids: 8 Expert Tips to Shortcut Long TSA Lines
  • Child in Airplane Cockpit Pilot Seat
    5 Essential Things to Do the Day BEFORE Flying with Kids

More tips for flying with kids

  • Flying with a Lap Toddler
    How to Survive Flying with a Lap Toddler
  • Extra Space in Economy on British Airways Redeye Flight
    Survival Tips for Red-eye Flights with Kids
  • Changing Diapers on Planes - Passengers in Seats
    11 Tips for Changing Diapers on a Plane
  • Toddler with Milk and tablet
    Air Travel with Toddlers and Milk
  • Beach on Tropical Island
    Beginner's Guide to Summer Air Travel (With Kids!)
  • Car Seats on Airplanes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Part 1: At the Airport)
  • Kid-friendly airplane snacks
    50 Kid-Friendly Airplane Snacks
  • Kids with suitcases outside airport
    Non-Stop vs. Connecting Flights With Kids

Individual airline guides & tips

  • Flying Southwest Airlines wit Kids
    The Complete Guide to Flying Southwest With Kids
  • United with Kids - EMB145
    7 Things to Know about Flying United with Kids
  • Frontier Airlines - Check in Counter at SFO
    I Flew Frontier Airlines... And It Was Just Fine
  • JetBlue Plane Closeup
    The Complete Guide to Flying JetBlue with Kids
  • ZIPAIR Economy Cabin
    What You Need to Know Before Flying ZIPAIR, Japan's Low Cost Airline
  • Volaris Airplane in Mexico
    Flying Mexico's Low Cost Airline Volaris: Worth It or Budget Bust?
  • easyJet Airlines Airplane Exterior
    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.

See more

Airline comparisons & features

  • Kids preboarding a Southwest Airlines plane
    Preboarding with Kids: Deciphering the Rules for Every US Airline
  • Airport Ticket Counters and Bag Check
    Checked Bag Fees: Airline-by-Airline Guide for US Travel in 2024
  • Flights for Unaccompanied Minors: Comparing Each Airline's Fees & Rules

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

  • Flying Southwest Airlines to Hawaii: Everything You Need to Know
  • Which of Southwest's New Fare Types Should You Purchase?
  • Flying to San Francisco: Complete Guide to Bay Area Airports
  • Bags No Longer Fly Free: All the (Ugly) Southwest Changes Coming in 2025
  • Crunching the Numbers on Southwest's Big Rapid Rewards Devaluation
  • Everything You Need to Know About Flying to Disneyland 2025
  • Why a Southwest Flight Schedule Change Can Be a Good Thing
  • A Modest Proposal: How Southwest Should Handle Seat Assignments for Families
  • Why I Don't Have Global Entry (Even Though I Travel a Lot)
  • Which Southwest Credit Card is Right for You?
  • All the Changes Coming to Southwest Airlines in 2024
  • 5 Secrets to Holiday Air Travel Success with Kids!
  • Do Kids Need ID to Fly? Travel Identification Info for Every Age
  • Tips for Traveling with a Sick Child
  • 7 Free Things on Southwest Airlines (That Cost You on Other Airlines)
  • 23+ Tech-Free Travel Activities for Kids: No iPad Necessary!
  • How to Make the Most of a Southwest Fare Sale
  • 10 Mistakes You Might be Making with Frequent Flyer Miles
  • What Are the Best Airlines to Fly with Kids in the USA?
  • What to Consider Before Flying with a Lap Child
  • Car Seats on Airplanes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Part 3: At Your Destination)
  • Car Seats on Airplanes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Part 2: On the Plane)
  • 9 Tips for Flying to Walt Disney World
  • Frequent Flyer Accounts for Kids: What are You Waiting For?
  • Best and Worst Ages to Fly with Your Child
  • Flying this Summer? Tips for a Very Volatile Summer 2021 Air Travel Season
  • What It's Like to Fly Internationally with Kids During COVID-19
  • No Change Fees: Which Airline Has the Most Generous Policy?
  • Complete Guide to Airline Change Policies During Coronavirus Travel Disruptions
  • 3 Little-Known Airline Rules All Traveling Parents Need to Know
  • What It’s Like to Fly Southwest to Hawaii: OAK to HNL Flight Review
  • Why You Should Never Accept a Flight Schedule Change Right Away
  • Taking an Inaugural Flight with Southwest Airlines
  • SFO Airport Guide: Tips for Navigating San Francisco Airport with Kids
  • 7 Ways to Avoid Airline Fees
  • Flying American Airlines with a Stroller? A Rule Every Traveling Parent Needs to Know
  • The Ultimate Planes, Trains & Automobiles Toy Gift Guide for Kids
  • Doing Battle with the TSA Over My Toddler's Milk
  • Another Family Prohibited from Using a Car Seat on a Plane
  • Track Your Tyke's Travels: The 7 Year Update

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Welcome!

Welcome! I'm Leslie Harvey, a mom of two (ages 16 and 11) based in the San Francisco Bay Area who loves to travel. Trips With Tykes is a family travel blog devoted to simplifying the logistics of traveling with kids of all ages. With a little knowledge of airline rules & good planning, family travel can be really rewarding, even if it still involves the occasional battle with TSA over your toddler's juice box.

More about me

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