I’ve flown nearly 250,000 miles in my 30 plus years on Earth, many with an infant, toddler, preschooler or elementary-aged child in tow. In that time I’ve had far more challenging moments than pleasurable ones, but I am still alive, so I suppose I should be grateful for that.
Most of the commercial flights I’ve taken have occurred during the holidays when the last place on the planet you want to be is an airport. Still, the experiences have provided me with some important lessons, such as:
Seating: If you or your child is prone to motion sickness, reserve a seat over the wing. An airplane is like a seesaw and you will feel movement less if you are situated near the middle of the aircraft. When the plane’s nose is moved up or down the people sitting in the back will really feel it. In addition, passengers sitting at the very front of the plane will also feel the movement much more.
Seatbelts: Turbulence is no joke. I learned this the hard way. Fortunately, I have never experienced the kind of severe turbulence that slams people (who don’t wear their seatbelts) into the ceiling and down to the floor. However, after enduring my minor run-in with turbulence minus being strapped in, I am careful to always heed the fasten seatbelt sign.
Luggage: Checked luggage fees are horrendous, but having to pay extra for bags that exceed the 50-pound weight limit is even worse. I’ve gotten away with checking in a 53-pound bag without having to pay the overage fee, but there have also been times when I’ve been flagged for trying to check in a 51-pound bag. If your piece of luggage is a bit overweight, take out a few items, get your bag ticketed, then roll it over to a secluded area and place the things back into the bag before handing it over to a TSA employee. Of course, this trick only works at airports where you check-in at one location, and then you carry your bag to a separate TSA security area. If your airport has a check-in area where the airline employee just throws your bag onto a conveyor belt after checking you in, then you’ll likely have to shell out for the extra weight.
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