Jet With Kids

The other day I was helping a friend book a flight for her family of 5. Our goal = middle of summer, 4th of July weekend
flights for her, her husband, and their 3 children. An hour into our search, we find the flight that works: the right connection, the right days, the right airports, even the preferred airline.

And then she says to me,”OK, well I am going to take the kids to the park since they have been patiently waiting for the last hour. Then I will book these flights later tonight. Thanks for your help!

Before she could even think about moving away from the computer, I exclaimed, “NO! You need to book this flight NOW!” There has been more than one time in which I’ve felt elated about a flight thinking “wow, what a great deal; the perfect flight at an unbelievable price!” And then, sometimes even minutes later - it was gone.

Simple advice - from someone who has learned the hard way… BOOK the flight when you find a good deal. Do not wait - because it will NOT always be available. Especially if you are booking multiple tickets or during high season. If it is a good deal, it will NOT last long.

True, sometimes you will be lucky - but more often than not the airlines are not going to offer many seats at “that great deal!” If you see it and you need it - book it!

Other tips for booking a family flight:
1. Consider using a travel agent when possible. He/she has access to all of the airline pricing and will be your advocate
in case of cancellations or other unforeseen disruptions.

2. To get the best deals, be flexible with your dates and times. Often times the cheapest flights leave on Tuesday or Wednesday early morning or late night.

3. If you use an online discount service to book your flight, always check directly with the airline to see if they have the same or cheaper rate. (If there is a cancellation or delay, the airline tends to be more helpful when you booked directly
through them)

4. Always be aware of the time of day when you are flying with children - take into consideration naptime, mealtime, etc. and be prepared if you fly during those times.

5. And remember…reserve seats when you book your flight or as soon as they are available (it can be difficult to get seats together for a family of 5 if you wait until the last minute). Having a seat assignment is better than not, try to get windows and aisles -they are better to barter with! Otherwise your family will probably end up with middle seats spread out all over the plane and it will be difficult to ask anyone to switch seats so that you can be together with your family.