Travel nightmares like cancelled flights, flight delays, mechanical issues, winter storms and lightening unfortunately happen from time to time. While on a recent business trip to New York City, I received a text and email messages from United Airlines stating that there might be a travel disruptions due to weather. As a result, United was waiving change fees to provide travelers with additional flexibility. My colleague and I were booked on the 7:15 p.m. evening flight but definitely did not want to be stuck in NYC during the unexpected winter storm. We tried to change our flight online to the afternoon departure, but the only options available were for the following day, when the storm was predicted to be at its worst. After waiting on hold for a United Airlines customer representative for over 30 minutes, I learned that the only way to possibly fly standby on the full 3:15 pm flight was to inquire at Newark Airport.After our meetings concluded around noon, my colleague and I decided to go straight to Newark. The United representative at the counter checked the flight and indicated she could not help us but directed us to someone else. The second representative did some additional checking but told us that she also could not process a change but that possibly the representatives at Travel Assistance near the gate could help us. We proceeded through security with our 7:15 p.m. tickets and headed straight to Travel Assistance, which had no line. The representative confirmed that the 3:15 p.m. flight was fully booked but that no one was on the standby list. We asked if it would be possible for us to fly standby, and she indicated that the change would require a $75 fee. I inquired about the travel waiver in place because of the storm, and she said that while she did not see the 3:15 p.m. flight as an option for the fee waiver that she would go ahead and process our standby tickets. We were delighted to find that there were a few available seats after boarding completed and were absolutely relieved to be heading home well in advance of the storm. It turned out that our 7:15 p.m. flight was only slightly delayed, but just about all flights were cancelled the next day.
My travel companion was impressed with how my “savvy traveler” skills scored us the standby seats, but I assured her that I did not utilize any specialized knowledge. Instead, I just made sure to be nice while navigating through Newark. It is important to recognize that not every representative has the ability to make a specific change; however, each representative may be able to lead me to someone who can help. And, customer service representatives are far more likely to help kind travelers as opposed to unpleasant ones, even when there is a valid issue.
Airport board every traveler wants to see
When dealing with travel disruptions, try to remember these five things:
#1: Be kind: This is the most essential travel rule.
#2: Recognize limitations: Not all airline employees have the authority to make every kind of change but may be able to direct travelers to someone who can help.
#3: Phrase requests as questions: I find it helpful to ask questions like, “Is this a full flight?” or “Is it possible…?” rather than, “I want….” or “I need….”
#4: Be patient: Some waiting is inevitable in any travel disruption situation.
#5: Travel with carry on luggage whenever possible: It is much easier to accommodate a last-minute travel change if checked luggage is not involved.
Travel disruptions are no fun for anyone, but making travel adjustments can make them less painful.
Check out our other Travel Tips for more advice about traveling with kids.
Los Angeles has much more to offer tourists than just Hollywood and Rodeo Drive shopping. It’s a wonderful city on the Pacific Ocean filled with art, history and culture, and we definitely recommend visiting Los Angeles with kids.
The last time I was in Southern California was my post-bar exam cross-country road trip 15 years ago, so I was thrilled when a conference I regularly attend was scheduled at the Millennium Biltmore. As I started making travel arrangements, I convinced my mom to join me. Because my dad isn’t a fan of big cities or flying, my mom’s opportunities to visit major metropolitan cities over the past 20 years generally involve travel with me. We’ve visited Atlanta, San Francisco, New York City, Boston and also driven from Northern California to Ohio together. She was hesitant at first to fly all the way to California for only two days, but she ended up having such a wonderful trip that she wondered how she could have ever questioned coming along.
Traveling to Los Angeles With Kids
I found direct, round trip flights with perfect timings on Spirit Airlines for the amazing price of $108 each. We’ve flown Spirit several times with great experiences. As is typical for many budget airlines, Spirit allows each passenger to bring one personal item that is the size of a regular backpack for free, but there are significant charges for larger carry-ons or checked luggage, especially if you are not a member of their $9 Fare Club (which actually costs $59.95 annually). Because I needed to bring conference attire and several pairs of shoes, I had to add-on a carry-on that cost an extra $70. But, even at $179, the cross-country flight was very reasonable.
Because the flight was so inexpensive, I decided at the time of booking to bring my nine-year-old son along as well. I thought that this trip to Los Angeles would be an amazing experience for him – even though it meant missing two days of school. As a mom of three, it is rare to get some one-on-one time with any of my kids, especially while traveling. So, I was pretty excited about this special trip with him as well. My mom was already on board, so he would be in good hands while I was attending conference activities. Not surprisingly, he was ecstatic to learn that he would be joining us.
Accommodation in Los Angeles With Kids
The Millennium Biltmore is a historic-cultural landmark that is located in the financial district downtown and opened in 1923. The lobby, bar and main concourse are magnificently decorated with old-world charm. Our room was spacious and updated. Like many historic hotels, the bathroom was small but more functional than many others we have seen. We didn’t have a chance to use the Roman-style pool or gym during our short stay but definitely would if we had more time. We found the concierges and hotel staff extremely helpful and attentive and would highly recommend this hotel.
Local Transportation in Los Angeles With Kids
The Metro in Los Angeles is one of the newest in the world and still very much under construction. The Metro currently consists of six lines that opened between 1990 and 2012, and further construction is ongoing. We understand that the Purple Line Extension will reach the La Brea Tar Pits in 2023.
Nancy grew up in LA and has never used the Metro and claims she never will. I was intrigued about this idea of a Metro that native Angelenos would refuse to use. The guidebooks I consulted were not very helpful in identifying where the Metro would be most helpful. During a day of texting about LA transportation options before our trip, Nancy pretty much dared me to ride the Metro, and so, I knew I had to at least once. With the help of the Millennium Biltmore hotel concierge, we learned that the Pershing Square Metro stop for the underground Red Line that went directly to Hollywood/Highland was only a short walk from the hotel. So, we decided that this was our opportunity to try the Metro.
It turns out that while the Metro may have limited routes, it is a great way to get from downtown to Hollywood. We each purchased our Transportation Access Pass (“TAP”) cards for $1 each at a vending machine right inside the station. A one-way Metro fare is only $1.75 for adults, and $1 for K-12 children (although honestly, I never saw this K-12 fare as an option in the vending machine and paid $1.75 for each of my son’s fares). The senior rate fare for my mom was $.75 during peak times and $.35 during off-peak times. An all day pass for the Metro and buses cost $7. Because I was not sure whether we would take more than one trip, we only added a one-way fare on each TAP card. After securing and loading our TAP cards, we proceeded to the platform and waited only a few minutes for our train.
Metro vending machine inside the Pershing Street station
The Metro station and car were both clean. It was easy to use the Metro map and follow the well-marked signs. The seats reminded me of those on London’s Underground. While the car was crowded when we boarded, we were all able to sit by the time we reached the next station. Each stop was announced over a speaker system, and we arrived at Hollywood/Highland in less than 20 minutes. As we exited the station, we found ourselves right next to the Dolby Theater in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard.
Our Metro experience was so pleasant that we took it to Santa Monica after my conference was over the next afternoon. Because rush hour had begun, the Uber fare to Santa Monica at the time averaged between $50-$60 each way, and our combined Metro fare ran under $10 for the round trip. Our trip on the Metro Expo Line took about 45 minutes with no loss of time for traffic. Most of the ride was above ground, so we enjoyed the cityscapes during our journey and even caught a glimpse of the Hollywood sign. Taking the Metro Expo Line back downtown after dinner was a no-brainer.
My mom and son used the DASH bus to travel from our hotel to the Disney Concert Hall and report that it was also fast and efficient. Cash fare for these local bus routes are $.50 each ride. Other than our trips to Hollywood, Santa Monica and the Disney Concert Hall, we traveled by Uber. Except during rush hour, Uber is a very fast, efficient and relatively inexpensive way to travel in Los Angeles. We found that the cost of an Uber was often less than or equal to the cost of parking. Trips between LAX and Los Angeles and from one attraction to another generally cost between $11 and $27.
Our only Uber challenge was when we were trying to get from the Getty Center back downtown at 4:00. Rush hour is serious business in LA and starts earlier than you expect. The Uber time estimates were woefully inaccurate. It took our driver over an hour to drive what was initially estimated to be nine minutes and then our journey downtown was another hour. If I were to do this again, I would definitely have an Uber take me to the Sepulveda Station of the Metro Expo Line and then take the Metro back downtown.
If you are not renting a car in Los Angeles, it is pretty much essential to be prepared to use either Uber or Lyft. If you are new to Uber, you can use the code “catherined4256ue” for $5 off each of your first four rides, and I’ll get a $5 credit after you take your first ride.
With the crazy traffic and under-utilized Metro, it is no surprise that there is a definite car obsession in Los Angeles. My son has recently become interested in identifying sports and luxury cars on the road and was in absolute heaven looking out his window on the streets of Los Angeles. Viewing the cars valet parked at the Millennium Biltmore was a particular treat as he counted Rolls Royces, Porsches and Lamborghinis.
Visiting Washington, DC, is something everyone should do at least once in their life. There are tons of guidebooks and websites with detailed information about all there is to do in DC and no first visit to DC is complete without a visit to the National Mall, an obligatory family photo in front of the White House, and a visit to one of the many Smithsonian museums that offer free admission and easy access via Metro!
Having lived and worked in DC for nearly a decade, I’d like to share with you five off-the-beaten-path Fun Family Activities! These are activities and places that those of us who call this beautiful place a home enjoy visiting on weekends and days off with our kids.
#1: Gravelly Point
Gravelly Point is managed by the National Park Service and is located in Arlington, VA just south of DC. It’s a wonderful place to spend the afternoon, picnicking, biking, and plane spotting, as the Park is located just north of Reagan National Airport. Although the parking lot can fill up very quickly and there are no amenities other than restrooms (so pack in your own food!), it’s a wonderful place for budding aviation fans to spend an afternoon outside. Note that the planes are close and very loud, so if your child is sensitive to loud noises, the Park’s proximity to the airport may be a deterrent.
#2: The Tidal Basin
Nearly every visitor to DC makes a point of visiting the National Mall and the monuments, but I’m always stunned by the number of people who skip the Tidal Basin. In my humble opinion, the Tidal Basin offers some of the best views of the Washington Monument and it’s worthy of a visit even when it is not cherry blossom season (although if you have the opportunity to visit during cherry blossom season, please do! Despite the crowds, it is gorgeous and worth the walk). The Tidal Basin offers a small refreshment stand, restrooms, and paddle boat rentals, so this is a great way to enjoy a nice day outside with the family.
View of the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial from the Tidal Basin.Paddleboat in the Tidal Basin during peak cherry blossom bloom.
#3: Hiking Trails
Catching a glimpse of the Potomac River
Washington, DC is home to a great number of hiking trails. The Billy Goat Trail is one of the most popular trails in the DC Metro area. The trail itself can be challenging due to rocks, but if your kids are older (I’d recommend a minimum of five+, depending on maturity and previous hiking experience) and up for the challenge, it’s definitely a worthwhile experience. If the Billy Goat Trail sounds like too much, plan a visit to Rock Creek Park, which boasts over 32 miles of trails. The Park also offers a number of activities, such as horseback riding lessons, golf, and a boat house where you can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. Finally, Theodore Roosevelt Island is a national memorial located in the Potomac River. No cars or bicycles are permitted on the Island and access is via a footbridge. If you’ve ever spent time in DC visiting the National Mall and museums, I encourage you to take a hike and explore one of the many areas maintained by the National Park Service! You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll forget that you’re in the Nation’s Capital!
#4: Go for a Bike Ride!
The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18 mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island. At any time of day and in any kind of weather, you can find people on the trail biking, running, or just walking along the Potomac River. Happily, a local company, Capital Bikeshare, offers a safe and relatively inexpensive way to explore the trail as you can rent both bicycles and helmets from the company and drop them off at any one of 440 Capital Bikeshare stations located in the DC metro area.
Mount Vernon, George Washington’s country estate, is located just 18 miles south of Washington, DC and is a fantastic way to spend the day for the entire family! Although the Estate is highly recommended as a place to visit in many tourist books, its distance from DC likely causes many to pass it over as an option during a quick visit to DC. I am here to encourage you to go! Visit! Over the years, we have visited Mount Vernon many times and it is one of our favorite places to take out of town guests. Not only does the Estate allow you to visit the Mansion that George and Martha lived in, but the Estate also boasts farm animals, gardens, stables, and live demonstrations by period actors. Throughout the year, the Estate will offer special programs that coincide with the season. For example, one year we visited one early December and happened to catch the Pardon Turkey!
We have also visited during the Fall Harvest Family Days, which feature hands on 18th century activities and demonstrations. It’s a great way for the family to experience a little bit of Colonial America.
My mother and son, roasting apples dipped in caramel water over an open fire.
Although portions of the Estate are wheelchair (and stroller) accessible, the vast majority of the grounds are not (and the Mansion itself is not). The Estate also has as excellent gift shop, a food court, and a sit-down restaurant that serves hearty and satisfying food.
I hope you enjoyed my off-the-beaten path list of Five Fun Family activities and encourage you to think outside the box next time you are in DC!
When traveling with children, it is important to arrive at the airport early because getting to your plane will take longer than it would if you were traveling without children. For families traveling with lap children under age two, make sure to go to the check-in desk upon arrival to inquire whether the flight is full. There is no fee to make this request, but also no guarantee that the seat will stay open. Nonetheless, many times, we were moved to a row where we could take advantage of an empty seat, and gate attendants often blocked a seat in the system or even assigned it to us so no one would take it when there were sufficient extra seats on a flight. After I knew what to expect, flying with kids was so much easier.
Car Seats for Kids
There are few instances where it makes sense to bring a car seat on board. You have to weigh the difficulty of getting the car seat to the gate against the potential benefit of having the car seat onboard. If you are guaranteed or likely to receive a vacant seat for your infant, and their infant seat locks into your stroller, it might be worthwhile. The car seat will have to be installed at window seat because there is no access around it. Many children sleep better in a car seat than in their parents’ lap. We have done this a few times because it always “seems like” a good idea, but basically, my babies usually prefer sitting with Mom or Dad, and it is a struggle to get the seat to the plane and then also to figure out a way to fit the seat into the overhead compartment to take advantage of the empty seat.
A car seat might be useful for a child under two and a half who is in a paid seat. If you have purchased a seat for your infant or toddler, you are likely going to want to take advantage of it, but a child under two and a half may have trouble sitting in their own seat with a belt during takeoff and landing. We have not traveled with a child between ages two and two and a half, but flight attendants have double and triple checked on my petite children when flying in a required paid seat under aged three.
Strollers for Kids
We rarely check strollers during the check-in process because we find the stroller extremely useful in getting to the gate. It can be a long walk, and a stroller can also serve as a partial luggage cart to store a few backpacks and jackets underneath. I often tuck my baby carrier in a convenient spot and pull it out if our baby gets fussy or we determine it is more effective to use the stroller as a full-fledged luggage cart after relinquishing ours before security.
TSA PreCheck for Kids
We do not have TSA PreCheck but understand it is a great perk. Going through security with kids can be a bit of adventure. Luckily, most airports shepherd us to the family/express line. In addition to the usual TSA rules, strollers need to be collapsed and run through the x-ray machine. It’s helpful to put your shoes in the first bin, and take the baby out of the stroller only after you have placed all other items on the belt and taken your shoes off, if necessary. If you have a non-walker with you, an adult can carry the child through the metal detector, but the child generally has to be removed from a carrier or sling. Walking toddlers are encouraged to walk through on their own, but I have been told many times that it is also fine to carry one of mine through.
My husband and I often have a brief strategy session where we identify who is responsible for which items and even assign specific items to our boys to collect. After your items come through the x-ray, open the stroller and put your baby in first before gathering the rest of your items.
Play Areas for Kids
Play areas are becoming more popular in airports. Our favorite was in Doha, Qatar, which had a massive indoor playground and also smaller satellite playgrounds on different concourses. My 20-month old daughter who had learned to walk at the end of the previous summer was finally steady enough to climb up a slide on her own. So, she had her first independent playground/slide experience in Doha’s airport.
Pittsburgh International Airport also has a play area sponsored by the city’s amazing Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Our kids had a blast in this interactive area. I chuckled when I noticed that it was clear that a parent had actually not designed the space that had several full and half walls obscuring the view from the stadium seating created for parents.
Play Area at Pittsburgh International Airport
Boston’s Logan International Airport also has Kidport play area that is wonderful for kids and rocking chairs overlooking the planes.
Kidport at Boston’s Logan International AirportRocking chairs with a view of airplanes
If you are traveling with a stroller, make sure to check in with the gate attendant and get a tag for gate-checking. Unless directed otherwise, you bring your stroller down the jet way and leave it as you enter the plane. You may need to wait on the jet way after deplaning for the stroller to arrive.
In the Airplane With Kids
We found that traveling with babies was easier than toddlers. Our babies really liked to be held and cuddle and could get comfortable in our laps. When traveling with a baby, make sure to nurse or feed the baby a bottle during take off and landing to help prevent ear pressure.
When flying during a time where it is optimal that your kids to sleep, do everything possible to make sure that they do sleep during the flight. This may require adjusting their bedtimes in the days before you travel. Once the plane is cruising, you can raise the arm rests and have your child use your legs as a pillow and rub their backs until they fall asleep. They generally should be able to remain belted while they rest. We were really lucky when traveling from Boston to Doha because the plane had so many empty seats that my husband and two boys were each able to take a row of three seats for themselves and stretch out overnight while my toddler daughter and I shared the fourth row.
If sleeping is not an option, I let each of my kids pick a few books and small activities to bring with them. I was really concerned about the 30 hours of transit time between Cleveland and Bangalore, but the in-flight entertainment on Qatar Airlines was so amazing that I generally found that I had over packed “activities” for the flight. One book, a few Suduko puzzles, a small journal and a deck of cards is usually plenty, especially if you have in-flight entertainment or some shows downloaded on an iPad and necessary earphones. Other family favorite travel games include picking a category (e.g. food or location) and going through the alphabet in order taking turns naming an item in the category that starts with your letter, e.g. Apple, Banana, Cucumber….
If you are prepared for your airplane trip with kids, the experience will be smoother for everyone.
Most of our trips require airplane travel, which requires research and preparation. Here are five ways to prepare for a flight with kids:
#1: Booking Flights
Booking flights is the first step in travel planning. Because we now need five air tickets, flight cost is a huge consideration for any vacation. My husband and I are not loyal to a certain airline, so we have not accumulated useful points on any one airline to use for vacations. We also have not mastered credit card points like Nancy. Instead, we look for direct flights that fit our schedule at the lowest possible cost. We have been able to take advantage of some great fares because of our research and willingness to drive from Cleveland to airports in Akron, Pittsburgh and even Toronto airports.
We are constantly monitoring flight costs to various destinations we would like to visit. While we are often tediously thorough when making purchases of household items (like the time we looked at dining room chairs at more than 20 different stores before we made a purchase), we are able to react quickly, make a decision and book a flight when we find a deal. Several times, we have booked a flight within tw`o hours of finding it – even if we were not focused on a particular destination, and we regularly mull for less than a few days after we have identified a specific flight.
There are a wide variety of travel websites, but I favor Google Flights, because it is easy to search the lowest return fares in a calendar view. Also, fares for budget airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are included, but it is necessary to search Southwest Airlines separately. We also monitor Travelzoo and once set aside Martin Luther King weekend for a potential trip and then took advantage of a weekend fare sale announced the previous Tuesday to fly to New York City.
Families flying with a child under age two likely do not have to purchase a separate seat for their infant or toddler, but may need to pay taxes or fees. Some airlines make it challenging to add a lap child during online booking, and we have had to call the airline directly to have a lap child added to our itinerary. Some families try to pick a time of day that fits best into their children’s nap schedule. Our kids have never had strict sleeping schedules, and that gives us more timing flexibility. We try to find direct flights that depart from Cleveland early in the morning and return late at night to optimize our time at our destination and avoiding additional hotel costs needed for an evening arrival or morning flight home.
We always try to select window and aisle seats. When we needed only four seats, we aimed for two windows and two aisles in the same row. If the middle seats remain empty, we had the opportunity to spread out. Extra fees for seat selection are relatively common. While we never pay this extra fee, we always make sure to check-in online exactly 24 hours before departure. Websites like Airline Checkins and apps like Airline Flight Check-In World will check passengers in to their flights as soon check-in is available, but I have never personally tried these services.
#2: Check Baggage Policies
Before booking a flight, it is really important to review the airline’s baggage policy. It used to be standard for airlines to permit all passengers to carry on one small suitcase and a personal item and often check one suitcase as well with no fee. However, a fee for checked luggage is now almost standard, and it is becoming more common for budget airlines to charge for carry on items larger than a backpack. Domestic airlines continue to allow families to check in or gate check strollers and car seats, but WOW air permits only a free stroller or car seat for children under seven.
We recently booked a flight to New Orleans for $83 round trip, and the least expensive baggage charge was an additional $42 if the bag was added during booking. That is more than 50% of cost of the seat. It is important to consider baggage fees when comparing fares and also often necessary to add desired luggage at the time of booking to avoid additional fees. Cheapflights has a great summary of airline’s baggage allowances and policies regarding children for a quick comparison.
#3: Packing
It’s helpful to use a packing list (like our ultimate packing list) when preparing for any vacation. For families traveling with a baby who is either nursing or likely to lie on a parent’s lap during the flight, an inflatable travel nursing pillow is very helpful. It fits easily in carry-on luggage and is easy to inflate after boarding. Our babies (and our arms) were so much more comfortable when we brought this with us.
Before you leave for the airport, re-check your airline’s baggage size and weight guidelines and make sure your bags are not too big or too heavy. Although most airlines do allow some wiggle room, it is always safest to know that your luggage will not create an issue. Make sure that any liquids in a carry on are packed in containers of 3.4 ounces or less and that all liquids fit into one quart-sized re-sealable plastic bag per person.
Infant and child “nourishments” are exempt from TSA’s normal liquid rules, but make sure to review TSA’s guidelines on traveling with children for rules about formula, breast milk, juice and baby food. Basically, reasonable quantities of formula, breast milk (even for mothers traveling without their babies), juice and baby food typically is permitted through security, but it may be subject to extra security tests. I was asked once in London almost 10 years ago to “taste” the milk from my son’s bottle, but that is no longer common practice.
#4: Identification
On domestic flights, identification is generally not required for children but is especially important for lap children and older teens who may appear to be over 18. It’s best to have a birth certificate or immunization record to prove the age of any lap children traveling without a passport. Even though I don’t know if we have ever been asked for proof of age, it is not worth the risk to try to slip a two year old through as a lap child as there is a possibility of needing to purchase a last-minute, full fare ticket for a child.
#5: Preparing the Kids
Especially if we have an early morning flight, it is important that our children know exactly what the “plan” is. I once explained to my boys that we were going to wake them up in the middle of the night and have them change into the clothes hanging on their ends of their beds, brush their teeth, put on shoes and get in the car. We would then eat breakfast on the way to the airport. It was going to be dark, and they were going to be tired but could sleep on the plane. And, by the afternoon, we would be eating lunch at our resort on the Caribbean. My kids woke up when they heard us getting ready and came to ask if it was time to get dressed and were extra well-behaved throughout the whole journey (which even included an Ebola virus scare), and we did have a lovely lunch in Mexico.
After our meetings concluded around noon, my colleague and I decided to go straight to Newark. The United representative at the counter checked the flight and indicated she could not help us but directed us to someone else. The second representative did some additional checking but told us that she also could not process a change but that possibly the representatives at Travel Assistance near the gate could help us. We proceeded through security with our 7:15 p.m. tickets and headed straight to Travel Assistance, which had no line. The representative confirmed that the 3:15 p.m. flight was fully booked but that no one was on the standby list. We asked if it would be possible for us to fly standby, and she indicated that the change would require a $75 fee. I inquired about the travel waiver in place because of the storm, and she said that while she did not see the 3:15 p.m. flight as an option for the fee waiver that she would go ahead and process our standby tickets. We were delighted to find that there were a few available seats after boarding completed and were absolutely relieved to be heading home well in advance of the storm. It turned out that our 7:15 p.m. flight was only slightly delayed, but just about all flights were cancelled the next day.
