No matter how nice an airport is, at the end of the day it is basically just a place you have to go through on the way to your dream family travel destination.
Airports can feel like a series of obstacle course when travelling with children. The long queues at check in, clearing immigration, the hassle of security check points to finally boarding a plane. And after surviving long flight with your kids – you have to it all over again: clearing arrival immigration, collect baggage, go through customs. Just the thought of it can put parents of travelling.
Get your family travel off to a great start and go through the airport like a pro. Here are our 9 Travel hacks to get your family through the airport quickly:
1. Minimise carry-on luggage
Just bring your little one’s essentials. Preferably use a back pack (See our packing list section).
If you’re travelling to different temperature destination, wear clothing that you can take off or put on easily. For toddlers, bring light and easily foldable stroller which will make going through security checks a breeze.
Most airports will have scales to check if your carry on is small enough to go on the plane. But you wouldn’t want to be shuffling luggage at the airport while the kids wonder off.
2. Dress with the airport security check in mind
Going through security, you know you’re going to be asked to take off your coat, hat, belt and shoes etc. Wear no belt or hard to open boots. Instead wear easy slip on shoes or even better sandals! Guys place your phones, wallets, coins in your wife’s hand bag or carry on.
Make sure you have all liquids in containers totalling less than 100ml – ready in a sealable plastic bag before you get to security. And make sure it is easy to take out.
Remember water or milk for the little ones are allowed, you just need to show them.
3. Don’t rely on online check-ins
By all means use online check-ins. It doesn’t hurt. It can save you a lot of time, but not all airlines are created equal. Even if you have completed check-ins with pre-printed boarding pass at hand, some airlines still make you line up at the airport to reissue another boarding pass when you check your bags. Some baggage drops off line even end up being longer than regular lines!
Don’t start a holiday worried by the plane leaving without you. Check in lines gets busier closer to departure time. Arrive early to avoid rushing.
4. Cruise through immigration
Some airports give family with young children priority, keep an eye out for special lines.
Don’t forget to pre-fill immigration cards and put them into each passport’s photo page with boarding passes. This might sound simple and obvious, but many people don’t do it! Getting the officer to shuffle multiple documents will only make the process longer.
5. Don’t simply line up in the closest line
People are generally lazy. The first line people see usually end up being the longest
Some immigration officers are super slow. If you see your line moving much slower, consider moving. Take advantage of automatic gates if you can.
Try avoiding security queue which have other travelling families with kids in it. Look for one with single travellers – it’s usually faster.
6. Take advantage of early boarding priority for families
Most airlines allow those travelling with kids to board the plane first (well after the first class and business class passengers that is).
A good reason is so that your child enters a very spacious and empty plane, as opposed to being the last one in with all these strangers in your face. It can be overwhelming for adults let alone a child. At the same time you get to avoid long waits for other passengers to get seated.
7. Get off the plane quickly – you’re not quite there yet!
Don’t be stuck at the back of the line
For arrival immigration, again pre-fill your arrival card which is usually handed in flight before landing.
Remember basic details like name of your hotel and number of days you’re visiting in case you get asked.
8. Don’t bring items to declare
Collect all your baggage and go go go.
9. Order airport transfer
– If you can find one that is value for money. Pre booked transfer can save you a lot of time lining up for taxi or other transport.
For places we have visited, Checkout our website’s travel Destinations section. We buy our travel essentials online via Ebay
