Mammoth Blog

Does even the thought of packing up the whole family for a flight have you dreading the holidays, even though they're still a couple of months away?

Family travel doesn't have to be a nightmare and, on The Saturday Early Show, Laura Begley, deputy editor of Travel + Leisure magazine, shared some ideas for lightening the stress load when flying with the kids ar holiday time.

Begley says it's not too late to get a good deal on holiday flights. Bookings have been down due to the poor economy, so there are more open seats available then usual. To find a good deal, try SmarterTravel.com. It has lots of good prices and great package deals.

Six Commandments for Flying with Kids:

# Book early morning flights

# Travel on Saturday

# Fly non-stop

# Check airline baggage policy (on set carry-on diaper bag)

# Keep the kids entertained (on set products, coloring books, kid camera, portable DVD player)

# Hang on to your stroller (stroller with detachable car seat)

Travel + Leisure Show-and-Tell Items for Family Air Travel

# SkipHop Duo Diaper Bag $54 www.skiphop.com

# Toshiba Portable DVD Player - SPD71S $129.99 www.toshiba.com

# Fisher-Price Kid Tough Digital Camera $50 www.fisher-price.com

# Range of activity books/crayons

# Maclaren Easy Traveler $75 www.maclarenbaby.com

Book early morning flights: Basically, early morning flights are the least likely to be delayed. And when you're traveling with kids, you don't want them to be tired or cranky. Because cranky kids = stressed-out moms and dads.

Travel on Saturdays: According to our research, Saturday is a much quieter day at the airport. Most people leave for weekend trips on Friday, and there are no business travelers on a Saturday, so the airport is relatively empty and easy to navigate.

Fly non-stop: For families, the most stressful time is getting on and off the plane. If you fly non-stop, you have fewer headaches to deal with. You also have to deal with all the stuff, bags, carriages, toys, kids going to the bathroom, etc - it's just easier to do it once. I think it's worth the extra money. First, you'll get there faster, have less hassle and, most importantly, the possibility of delays is lessened. And long delays and kids are a terrible mix. Also, a lot of airlines are eliminating (United, for instance) pre-boarding for families - so boarding with the kids will be that much harder.

Check airline baggage policy: You really want to do this. A lot of people don't realize that many carriers don't count the stroller as a checked item, so you won't be charged if you bring it along. But you must check with the airlines. Also, it's good to note - if you have a kid with a ticket, your child can bring one carry-on item, a personal item, and have a checked bag. So, even your one month-old can actually carry-on an adult-sized suitcase! Continue>>>