Due to Afa’s work schedule, I often end up flying with the kids alone. He usually joins us over the weekend wherever we are. Flying alone with three children can be daunting, but here are a few tips and tricks that have helped us through the years.

Schedule the Flights

• I actually prefer to take red eye flights with my kids with plans for a very low energy day the first day of arrival. When I flew with my three children by myself, it was much easier to leave at midnight and have them sleep for the entire flight than try to entertain them for six hours alone.
• If flying overnight is not ideal for your family, I suggest flying at nap time. Maximizing sleep time on the flight for the kids makes everyone’s lives easier.
• Don’t plan tight layovers. I scrutinize my layovers as much as the flight times. I won’t plan anything less than an hour if I have the kids with me because that’s asking for a missed connection.

Prepare the Baggage

• I pack one bag with everything for me and the kids in it and check it so that I have less to carry through the airport. It adds $30 each way (unless you are on Southwest), but I consider that money well spent.
• For carryon items, I pack a backpack for every child over two. My kids like having their own bag to carry, and it provides independence and activities while we are in flight. 
• I put the following items in each backpack, as long as the child can carry that much weight. I will put multiple water bottles in my backpack for the kids who can’t carry them.
  • Hoodie
  • Small blanket
  • Empty water bottle (fill it at the water stations after security)
  • Snack that doesn’t require any help to eat
  • Coloring book
  • Colored pencils or crayons
  • Regular book
  • Small toy
• I pack some very special snacks in my bag that I can use as rewards for small things throughout the journey. For us, these are Kit Kat bars – my kids absolutely love them.

Successful Security Screening

• Give each child responsibility. My children tend to rise to the level of responsibility they are given. 
  • I explained to the three year old that he needed to place his bag inside the bin and then be the first person to walk through the metal detector. 
  • I told my six year old that she was responsible for taking her brothers to the benches and waiting with them while I collected all my bags, shoes, etc.
• Children don’t have to take their shoes off 
• Security agents will usually allow a family to go through a metal detector instead of the backscatter x-ray machine
• If you have a child in a chest carrier, the agents will scan your hands on the other side of the metal detector
• Be prepared to fold your stroller completely to go through the x-ray machine. You may not have to do it every time, but I find it better to be ready.

In the Airport

• Make it an adventure! Mindset can be half the battle when I am flying solo with the kids, or even on trips where Afa is there too. I try to approach the journey as an adventure that we are taking together rather than a stressful marathon I have to run on my own.
• Find the play area – Many airports have them these days. They are not full size playgrounds, but there are usually a few small structures for the kids to climb on, and it is far superior to sitting in seats at the gate for an extended period of time.
• Many airports also have art or history exhibits you can walk through. These were good ways to use some of our time before our flights.
• I make a bathroom stop right before the airplane ride and right afterwards. I hate trying to get the kids into the bathrooms on the plane, so I make every effort I can to avoid it. 
• I try to be one of the last people on the flight. Because we are only carrying backpacks, I don’t need any overhead space, so we can minimize our time on the plane by letting a vast majority of people board before us.

During the Flight

• If you have a child under 2 who is on your lap, I recommend feeding them during take off and landing. It will help their ears during the pressure changes. 
  • When I traveled with my nursing babies, I actually nursed them most of the flights because it kept them quiet and put them to sleep. 
• I try not to depend on the in flight entertainment systems – they have failed me too many times. Tablets can be hard to hear on the plane, so keep that in mind if it will frustrate your children. If it’s working during that flight, I consider it a gift from God and use it to its full potential, but I have back up plans in case it is not.
• Set a countdown timer – I figure out how long the flight is and set a countdown timer on my phone so that the kids can have a visual cue as to how much longer we have until landing.
• Let them play with the window shades and tray tables as long as they aren’t being destructive or bothering other passengers. I try to increase my tolerance level during flights. I wouldn’t normally let my kids open and close window shades repeatedly, but if they are happy and everyone around us is happy – by all means, go for it. 

The most important aspect of flying is arriving at the destination in one piece. Be prepared with extra patience and joy so that PERHAPS you can all arrive with smiles.