The Travel Meltdown

OK so I LOVED watching Jen's meltdowns. She must be mortified watching her antics on TV -- it's a lesson that cooler heads prevail as the hippies managed to come from three hours behind! However, they are a little too chilled out for me . . . I predict the father / daughter team win the million! Can't wait for next week's finale!

Aren't you lucky to have such a good sister. Your post reminded me of my personal most miserable meltdown which occured on a trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. My kids were so awful to each other that I ended up in tears in front of them in a parking lot. This shocked them so much that they actually behaved themselves at least for the next couple of days.

Laughing and crying simultaneously is a far underrated experience. So is telling a man you usually love that you hate him. Another gem of an opportunity. Fighting until you make your Mom cry, now that's just mean! Sorry, Lisa.

On the last night of a long week working a big convention in Las Vegas, I took a client to a late dinner before heading to the airport for my red eye flight back to Washington, DC. I'd rented a car from Enterprise at my hotel and had to return it to an off-airport site I'd never been to before. In the dark and with little time to spare, I discovered that the printed directions Enterprise had given me to its own location were outdated and impossible to follow. Calling the site on my cell, I got little help and had to stop at another car return to ask where Enterprise was. By the time I found it and Enterprise got me to the airport, my flight had gone. It was the last flight out of Las Vegas and the airline counter was about to close until 5:00 the next morning. I and a small band of other hapless souls scrounged the terminal for the least uncomfortable places to bunk for the night. I made a nest of my luggage on the carpet and got some fitful shuteye until the carpet cleaners arrived. Oblivious to the cadre of campers, they chatted away while vacuuming within close range of us human furniture. If you've never thought about how long it takes to vacuum an airport, I can tell you it takes a very long time. The only plus side of that was being awake to see the line begin to form at the ticket counter at 4:00 a.m. Resigned to my fate, I took my place with the other bedraggled lost. About 18 hours after setting out for the airport I arrived at my destination, vowing never to rent from Enterprise again, a promise I've kept.

Air travel with children, particularly infants and toddlers, demands extra care and planning. It can be quite a challenge to make the trip run smoothly, and you don’t want to be the parent who elicits stares and grumblings from all the other passengers. Since you have the potential to run into problems anywhere along the way, from Heathrow airport parking to losing a toddler in a crowd to trying to stop a baby from crying or a toddler from fidgeting during flight delays, it’s best to be prepared with plenty of contingencies.

Step one: Plan ahead. Make sure you have the following items in your carryon: snacks, baby wipes, tissues, Children’s Tylenol and possibly Benadryl, more bottles and nappies than you think you’ll need, a change of clothes for both you and the children, and plenty of things to keep them entertained. Now is a great time to tantalize with new toys—quiet ones without small parts. Art supplies, like crayons or Play-Doh, can use up nice chunks of time. If the new toys are wrapped, that will enhance their appeal as well as use up extra time.

Step two: Time it right. If your children nap, take advantage of their natural schedules. For example, you might try to schedule a flight that coincides with nap time. Let them enjoy the car ride to Heathrow (or not, but at least if they’re fussing, it won’t be bothering strangers), stay awake through the unloading and check-in, and hopefully be well tuckered out by the time you board the flight.

Step three: Make it as easy on yourself as possible. It’s always preferable to have two adults along: one can handle the luggage and travel details while the other handles the young ones. Even with two of you, rather than dealing with lugging both children and suitcases from the Heathrow airport parking garage to the terminal, arrange for a “Meet and greet.” You can drive directly to the terminal, unload, and have a valet take your vehicle to inexpensive offsite parking. When boarding the flight, you might not want to take advantage of airlines that let families with young children board first, particularly if you have active toddlers in tow. Instead, let one adult board first with the carry-on luggage, while the children expend as much energy as possible in the boarding area. You’ll have a difficult enough time keeping them entertained while confined to their seats without extending that time.

Final tip: expect the unexpected. All the planning in the world cannot help you foresee every possible problem; it can simply make you more ready to deal with it. Be prepared to go with the flow and adjust as necessary, so that you all arrive at your destination ready to enjoy it.