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AIR TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN

TRIP PLANNING

Let your older children pack their own carry on bags (with your help!). This will give them a practical lesson of responsibility and organization.
Do not forget to pack things that can entertain your children for a while and would keep them quiet which is so important for air travel: compact CD/ DVD player with headphones, together with some CDs and DVDs, portable games, coloring books, puzzles, compact toys.
Make sure you bring alone children’s pain reliever, cough and cold medication, gas and stomach aids, and any prescription medication if applicable.
Be sure to pack enough snacks and juice to get your children through the flight. If your children won’t make the trip without a glass of milk, be sure to bring a small cooler with milk. Always give your children something to drink or eat during take-off and landing to help their make their ears pop. Bring "sippie" cups or spill proof travel cups to use during the flight as well as a garbage bag to gather any trash or used diapers before disembarking.

CHILDREN IDENTIFICATION

Each airline determines identification requirements for minors. Contact your airline well in advance of your travel date to determine if they have specific policies or procedures for minors. Usually, minors under the age of 18 do not have to present identification for domestic U.S. travel. Airlines will accept identification from the responsible adult on behalf of the minor(s). For international travel, minors under the age of 18 must present the same travel documents as the adult.

AT THE AIRPORT

Allow yourself and your family extra time to get through security - especially when traveling with younger kids. Call your airline or travel agent for their recommended check-in times for your departure airport. Talk to your children before you come to the airport and let them know that it's against the law to make threats such as bombs or explosives. Threats made jokingly even by a child can delay the entire family and could result in fines. Prepare your kids for the security screening process, tell them that their travel bags will be put in the X-ray machine and will come out at the other end and be returned to them. You may want to consider asking for a private screening if you are traveling with more than one child.
Try to make room in your travel budget for your children to have their own seat, this is much safer for your child than than seating on your lap. Bring cars seats/booster seats for infants, toddlers and young child. This will not only keep them from being harmed in the event of turbulence or emergency landing, it will also keep them from bothering other passengers.
Take advantage of early boarding so that you can get the safety seats installed before the aisles are full of other passengers. Prior to installation, lift one arm rest to provide the extra room needed for the child seat. Recline the airline seat before installing the child’s safety seat then place the seat back in its upright position. This will make the child seat more secure during the flight. Wait until everyone is off the plane before disembarking. This will make removal of the seat and other carry-on items easier on you.

SECURITY SCREENING PROCESS

At the X-Ray Machine:

All carry-on baggage, including children's bags, child-related equipment that will fit through the X-ray machine must go through the X-ray machine.
When you arrive at the checkpoint, fold your child-related equipment. Secure items that are in the pockets, baskets, or attached to the equipment and place it on the X-ray belt for inspection. Plastic bins are provided to deposit such items.
If any of your child-related equipment does not fit through the X-ray machine, security officers will visually and physically inspect it.
Ask a Security Officer for help gathering your bags and child-related equipment, if you need it.
NEVER leave babies in an infant carrier while it goes through the X-ray machine.
To see what you can and can’t bring on board, please refer to our prohibited items page.

The Walk-Through Metal Detector

If your child can walk without your assistance, we recommend that you and your child walk through the metal detector separately. If you are carrying your child through the metal detector and the alarm sounds, our Security Officer will have to additionally screen both you and your child.
Remove babies and children from their strollers or infant carriers so that Security Officers can screen them individually.
You may not pass the child to another person behind you or in front of you during this process. Do not pass your child to Security Officer to hold. Security Officer may ask for your help screening your child.

USE OF CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM EXPLAINED

The safest place for your little one during turbulence or an emergency is in an approved child restraint system (CRS) or device. A CRS is a hard-backed child safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft. A child safety device is an FAA-approved alternative to using a hard-backed seat and is approved only for use on aircraft. It is not approved for use in motor vehicles. For example, the FAA has approved a new harness-type device appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. The FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a CRS or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do.

Make sure your CRS is government approved and has "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" printed on it. Otherwise, you may be asked to check the CRS as baggage.
Make sure a child safety device is approved and has "FAA Approved in Accordance with 14CFR 21.305(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only" on it.
Measure the width of your CRS. It should fit in most airplane seats if it is no wider than 16 inches.
The FAA recommends that a child weighing:
-- Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS;
-- From 20 to 40 pounds use a forward-facing CRS;
-- More than 40 pounds use an airplane seat belt.
Ask your airline for a discounted fare. Many airlines now offer discounts of up to 50 percent for children less than two years old. Buying a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use a CRS or device.
Reserve adjoining seats. A CRS should be placed in a window seat so it will not block the escape path in an emergency. Do not place a CRS in an exit row.
If you do not buy a ticket for your child, ask if your airline will allow you to use an empty seat. If your airline's policy allows this, avoid the busiest days and times to increase the likelihood of finding an empty seat next to you.
Ask your airline if they can provide a CRS for your child. If so, you may not be permitted to bring your own CRS on board, and may need to check it as baggage.
Arrange for your airline to help you if you need help making a connecting flight. Carrying a CRS, a child, and luggage through a busy airport can be challenging.
Be sure the shoulder straps are properly adjusted and fasten the airplane seat belt around the CRS or device.

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Parents or guardians of children with disabilities should:

Tell the Security Officer if the child has any special needs or medical devices.
Tell the Security Officer if you think the child may become upset during the screening process as a result of his or her disability.
Offer suggestions on how to best to screen the child to minimize an outburst.
Ask the Security Officer to help you put your and the child's carry-on items on the x-ray belt.
You will not be separated from the child during the screening process.
If your child needs to be privately screened, you should escort the child and remain with him or her throughout the process.
Tell the Security Officer what are the child's abilities are (e.g. can the child stand slightly away from equipment for a hand-wand inspection, walk through the metal detector, or need to be carried through the metal detector by the parent/guardian.)
The Security Officer will not remove the child from his or her mobility aid (wheelchair or scooter). You are responsible for removing the child from his/her equipment.
If your child can’t walk or stand, the Security Officer will conduct a pat-down search of your child in his or her mobility aid, and will visually and physically inspect the equipment.
Infants will remain connected to their apnea monitors while they are screened.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ON A PLANE

The Federal Aviation Administration does not regulate unaccompanied minors. Each airline has its own standards, condition and fees in regards to this matter. Please contact the particular airline for specific requirements. Check this web page with a list of some major international airlines and their policies regarding carriage of unaccompanied minors.