Christine Honestly… flying with our big crew can be stressful! Between getting everyone to the airport, surviving security lines, juggling three car seats, luggage, and diapers 🤣 — it’s a lot. Over the years, we’ve actually driven more than we’ve flown, but when we do take to the skies, these are our top tips to make it easier.
🏃♀️ 1. Drop-Off Strategy
Off-site parking: Places like Park ‘n Fly offer shuttles to the airport. Cheaper than on-site parking and super convenient for check-in.
Terminal drop-off: My husband drops all of us (and luggage) at the terminal, then parks and meets us inside — works perfectly at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.
✈️ 2. Book Direct Flights Whenever Possible
Direct flights = fewer meltdowns, less chaos, and no sprinting through terminals.
Frontier Airlines: Direct flights from Cleveland to Florida. Join Discount Den and kids can fly free on select days — a huge money saver!
Southwest Airlines: Look for promos and points deals. A Southwest credit card can get perks like a free checked bag and early boarding.
🎒 3. What We Pack for Flights
🍿 Snacks
Bored kids = bottomless pits. We pack:
- Goldfish
- Z Bars / protein bars
- Beef sticks / jerky
- Fruit bars & raisins
- Mints / gum
- A fun treat like Twizzlers or Fruit Roll-Ups
We pack each kid’s snacks in separate ziplock bags — no fighting, no goldfish monopolies.
✏️ Entertainment
A mix of screens and hands-on activities keeps everyone happy:
- Tablets (download shows for offline viewing)
- Activity or workbooks
- Books for independent readers
- LCD writing tablets
- Alphabet tracing cards
- Toddler busy boards
- Water-reveal cards / lift-the-flap books
- Wax sticks — great for flights and restaurants
🛫 Airport + Boarding Tips
👟 Timing
Arrive ~1.5 hours early to move at kid pace — bathroom breaks, snack stops, and wandering toddlers included.
🧳 What to Check
We usually check car seats and at least one big suitcase, leaving only a few carry-ons and personal bags to juggle.
🧍♀️ Security
- If only one parent has TSA PreCheck, let them take the kids through that line.
- Shoes, laptops, and bags go faster this way.
💺 Boarding
- Take advantage of family pre-boarding when offered.
- Otherwise, one parent boards early with carry-ons while the other lets little ones burn energy before getting on last.
- Tip: Gate agents are often happy to help with seat assignments, stroller tags, or scanning boarding passes.
☁️ In-Flight Survival
🪑 Seating
- Older kids sit together; adults sit with the little ones.
- Seats are booked close together for easy snack sharing, activity swapping, and mid-flight help.
💦 Drinks & Bathrooms
- Bring empty bottles through security and fill before boarding.
- Encourage everyone to use the bathroom before takeoff — trust us.
🧸 Babies & Toddlers
- Bottles, snacks, or pacifiers during takeoff/landing help with ear pressure.
- Keep a few small toys or surprises tucked away for emergencies.
💤 Naps
A blanket, stuffed animal, and white-noise app can work wonders.favorite stuffed animal, and a little white-noise app can help encourage a quick nap (and give everyone a breather).
🚗 Landing + Rental Car Chaos
Landing with a big family can feel like hitting “go time” all over again. Between the luggage, car seats, and kids who are suddenly full of energy — it’s a bit of organized chaos!
🧳 Grab Luggage First:
We’ve found it easiest for one of us to go grab all the checked bags and car seats while the other stays put with the kids. That way, no one is wandering off, and we can keep an eye on everything.
🚼 Car Seats:
Since we check ours, we pick them up with luggage. We have a backpack car seat bag so one do us grabs it for easier transport to the rental area.
🚙 Rental Car Pickup:
My husband usually heads to the rental counter while I hang back with the kids and bags. Once he has all the paperwork done we’ll find the van and load everything in — teamwork makes this part much smoother (and faster!).
🍔 Post-Flight Tradition:
If timing allows we almost always stop for food after landing. Everyone’s tired, hungry, and ready to stretch their legs — and honestly, that first meal after surviving a flight with kids always tastes amazing.
✨ Final Thoughts
Flying with a big family definitely takes planning and patience — but once you land, the memories you make are always worth it. The chaos, the laughs, and the little moments in between are what make family travel so special.
