How to Master Stress-Free Airport Travel with Your Kids

A trip to the airport with the whole family should be the exciting start to a holiday, not an endurance test that leaves everyone exhausted before take-off. Yet, for many families, it feels more like a military operation gone wrong, such as kids refusing to get dressed, bags that somehow weigh double what they did last night, and one person always misplacing their passport at the worst possible moment.

You probably prepared the night before, you probably purchased some helpful things for travel, and you probably figured that you thought out everything, right? Just sometimes, travel chaos can be chaotic, with or without kids. But sure, with kids, it does seem to really kick it up multiple notches, right? 

So, when it comes to getting to and from airports, as well as the flight, this seems to be way more stressful than train travel, right? So, how can you get the whole family to survive this ordeal and not sour the start of the holiday?

Bribing Your Own Family Works Wonders

Is this one ideal? Well, not always, but desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Well, everyone has a price, kids, partners, even grumpy teenagers who claim they don’t want to go on holiday in the first place. So, it might help to just set up a reward system before leaving: cooperative behaviour earns extra screen time, a favourite snack, or prime seat-picking rights on the plane.

Of course, it depends on the age of your kids, but usually, this means that instead of complaining about waking up early or dragging their own bags, they’re actually trying to be helpful. It’s psychology at its finest.

Use the Departure Board as a Distractor

Airport boredom turns even the best-behaved children into little chaos machines, well, boredom in general seems to do that with most kids. So, instead of scrambling to entertain them, make the airport itself part of the fun. Some airports will cater to this, some don’t it just really depends.

But you can always try to make a game out of something to entertain them (depends on their age of course). For example, the departure board isn’t just for flight information could be built-in game. Who can find the strangest destination? Who can spot a flight delay first? Even younger kids get surprisingly invested in guessing where different flights are heading. They might get bored eventually, all kids would, but in the meanwhile, this could help.

Go to the Supermarket Prior

Stopping at a supermarket or pharmacy on the way to the airport might seem unnecessary, but it prevents some truly inconvenient situations. Actually, even going the day before and packing could work too. You’ve got snacks, painkillers, motion sickness tablets, and last-minute essentials like phone chargers are always priced higher at the airport.

But even worse, some destinations have bizarrely strict regulations on baby formula, medication, or liquids, meaning replacements might not be as simple as popping into a shop at arrival. But sometimes, one quick stop keeps the holiday from starting with an avoidable disaster.

How Will You Get to the Airport?

Seriously, nothing adds unnecessary stress like realising the taxi is late, overpriced, or doesn’t have enough room for all the luggage. The same can be said for someone, like a friend or family member you asked to take you to the airport, only for them to be late or not show up at all. But airport parking offers a far more controlled experience, while it might not seem ideal, it’s honestly not that bad and not nearly as expensive as you’d expect it to be. 

Besides, if you use your own car, you get to rely on yourself, meaning you can show up at the airport as early as you want. You can head straight home the second you all are out of the airport. That alone gives peace of mind.

Consider Security

Now, security is where things usually start to unravel. So this tip might be debatable but families should always choose the queue next to business travellers, not fellow families. But why? Well, frequent fliers know how to get through security without drama. You might not always know who’s a frequent traveller of course, but getting behind someone who appears to know what they’re doing can help.

Even something as simple as scoping out which security officer looks the most alert can save time. But sometimes you can pay extra for pre-check, so you may even want to look into that (and sometimes in some airports families can get priority in security).

Make Gate Changes Work in Your Favour

Alright, so this might be a weird one, but most people groan when they see a last-minute gate change, but these often lead to quieter, more spacious waiting areas. A sudden shift in departure gates means the crowds haven’t caught up yet, making it the perfect time to grab a peaceful spot before the masses arrive.

Airport Lounges aren’t Just for Business Travellers

There’s a common belief that airport lounges are exclusive to business travellers sipping overpriced coffee in tailored suits. But in reality, plenty of lounges offer affordable day passes, and some credit cards even include free access. 

Sure, sometimes other passengers might not like it when families are in there, but who cares? You are almost always entitled to bring your kids into a lounge if you’re a paying customer, sometimes they might be 18+, but it’s usually rare. Besides other passengers can’t gatekeep something like that! Besides, the free food, comfortable seating, and a place to recharge (both phones and patience levels) make them well worth it, especially when travelling with kids.

Check for Play Areas

Depending on the size of the airport, there’s probably a chance of being at least one kids’ zone/ play area. Ideally, you’ll need to look in advance, but you can even ask staff and they’ll look into it for you.

Boarding Last Can Be a Strategic Move

Most airlines allow families with young children and strollers to board first, which can be incredibly useful for getting settled without the rush of other passengers squeezing past. But sometimes, boarding last is the better choice. Honestly, it just depends on the circumstances. 

But you could think about it like this; less time on the plane means fewer minutes spent keeping restless kids entertained in a confined space. If hand luggage space isn’t a concern, waiting until the final boarding call can actually make the entire flight experience smoother.