Saturday, October 6, 2012

My Six Stages Of Airport Travel With Kids


This past summer, we drove to Minnesota to visit our family up there.  Driving from Kentucky to Minnesota is a long trip. With two kids. Under age four.

So, we decided this time around we would fly up there as it would be much quicker and less troublesome.

Oh, how naive we are.

If I may, let me share with you my six stages of airport travel with kids.

STAGE 1

The night before travel. After finally packing everything up at 2:00am, I try fall asleep.

Can't fall asleep.  Somewhat worried and apprehensive about traveling tomorrow.

Hope all goes well.

STAGE 2

Everyone is ready to go. Getting ready to pack the car and leave the house.

Receive email saying flight is delayed an hour.

Little frustrated but glad they notified us.

STAGE 3

Getting ready to leave a second time. Receive another email saying delayed another hour.

Starting to get a little hacked but still, glad they told us before we left. Feeling blood pressure become slightly elevated.

Kids are getting antsy.

STAGE 4

With no notification from airline, we head to the airport to check-in.

After our ride takes off, we find out it is delayed another two hours. Was not notified.  Feeling angry.  Like maybe I would like to punch the airport personnel in their nether regions.

Kids are starting to get fussy. They are tired and want to eat.

Go to airport restaurant. 

Hubby and I start drinking. 

Spend $1000 on crappy airport food. Kids won't eat any of it.

STAGE 5

Discover the flight is delayed another hour.

Blood is boiling.

Curse Hubby out on group text with his family.

EVERYONE BETTER STAY OUT MY WAY.

Kids are whiny and fussy.

STAGE 6

Dejected.

Hopeless.

We are all sprawled out on the airport floor in front of ticketing counter.

Hoping if we make enough of a spectacle they will try to rebook us and get us the heck out of here.

Kids are licking the carpet.

I don't even care.

CONCLUSION

Finally, they re-booked us to fly out the following day at 6:30am WITH a connection. (Um, that's why we paid extra for a non-stop flight?! Hello?!?!?! Igmos.)

All flights were on time, kids were slightly crabby, and Baby LT stuck his hand in the airport toilet.

All in all, I call it a win.

17 comments:

  1. I'm sooooo scared to travel with our boys... 4 and almost 2. Farthest we've been is the OBX (we live in VA) and we drove. I need to just do it... can you send me some of your bravery? lol

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    Replies
    1. Mia! You can do it! Traveling with kids is crazy but if you plan ahead (and drink beer in the airport if needed), then you can survive it! ;) Think movies on iPad and M&M's. Worked for us!
      Thanks for visiting! :)

      Delete
  2. """Curse Hubby out on group text with his family.""" this line made me spit out my tea...

    As long as you all are in one piece it was a good trip, right?

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    Replies
    1. Um, yeah...I thought I was texting him but sent it to his family via group text. Ah well! Everyone had a good laugh about it later.
      Thanks for visiting! :)

      Delete
  3. I find the more children I bring, the more the flight is delayed. Sooo frustrating!

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    Replies
    1. No doubt, Gina. Traveling with kids is not for the faint of heart! :)

      Delete
  4. OMGOSH!!! THAT is HILARIOUS!!!!! What a total DISASTER!!! You crack me up with how you shared your story! Oh those nightmares of travelling. Flying especially because the flights are ALWAYS delayed and kids cannot CANNOT deal with that! What a mess for you! "Licking the carpet"..."Hand in the toilet"... hahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! LOVE.

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    Replies
    1. Chris, glad you enjoyed it! When Baby L put his hand in the toilet, I thought I would stroke out. But after he was thoroughly disinfected, I could laugh about it later.
      Good to *see* you! :)

      Delete
  5. As someone who has flown many times with young children, yes! This. And my kids would be totally licking the carpet, too. Stopping by from SITS!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by from SITS! Glad you visited! :)

      Delete
  6. Stopping by from SITS! What a disaster. Sounds like a little more alcohol would have been in order!

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    1. Martha, yes! If delayed four times in the airport with small children, alcohol is definitely prescribed!
      Thanks for visiting! :)

      Delete
  7. HAhahah I laugh at your misery but I have SO been there! Traveling with a 2 and 4 yr old and I was preggo. flight was delayed and I threw a big hissy insisting that we get a room NOW since the last 2 times I flew through Phoenix I slept in the airport b/c they cancelled ALL flights and ALL hotels were booked. We eventually did though our luggage was already bound for California. They ended up closing the airport about an hour later.

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    Replies
    1. Robbie, that travel trip sounds like a nightmare! It is difficult flying with little kids but I think it is worth it bc it is shorter than driving in many instances.
      Thanks for visiting! :)

      Delete
  8. All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.

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Thanks for reading and commenting!