There are very few people out there who actually enjoy going to the airport. The long lines, the overpriced food, and the crowds of people all as impatient to get to their destinations as you are can make being at the airport a stressful experience. If you are traveling with your family, being at the airport can be even more of a struggle.
Not only do you need to keep track of everyone’s boarding passes and other necessary travel documents, by you also have to find a way to keep your kids entertained and close by you at all times. Thankfully, there are actually a number of steps you can take that might even make your time at the airport simpler than you ever thought possible.
If you are planning a family vacation in the near future but are completely dreading the part of your trip that must be spent at the airport, here are a few tips to help you make going to the airport the easiest part of your next vacation.
Keep It Quick
When it comes to being at the airport, one of the most frustrating parts is the amount of time that you spend waiting in lines only to sit around for several hours before your flight even boards. While there are no doubt some time-consuming aspects of being at the airport that simply can’t be avoided, you can make the overall experience much easier on yourself by reducing your time spent there as much as possible. Less time at the airport means less time trying to entertain the kids and less time sitting around or standing in lines.
All you need to do is plan ahead a bit and cut down just a bit of time for every task that needs doing. For instance, by booking an airport parking space online at Parkon.com you can eliminate the time it would take for you to find a spot to park in upon your arrival at the airport. By only bringing carry-on luggage and checking in for your flight online 24 hours beforehand, you avoid standing in long lines at the check-in counter.
In this way you can park, take a shuttle to the airport, and report straight to security with your boarding passes on your phone. This might end up saving you as much as an hour or more, depending on how many people you are traveling with.
Find a Kid-Friendly Lounge
Most major airports these days have lounges that are designed to be family friendly. Look online ahead of time to see if the airport that you are traveling through has such a lounge. You might need to pay for a day pass in order to gain access, but in many cases this fee can be well worth it.
Lounges are quieter and less crowded than the terminal tends to be and there is much more seating to be found. Your airport might even make snacks and games available to children in certain lounges, so make sure to check this out ahead of time.
