Early check in? How did I not know this?!

[Anonymous]

Wow. Never thought people actually thought that this would be a possibility.... Really people, wake up your kids last minute and put them in the car and when you are at the airport either put them in a stroller, carrier or carry them in your arms and check in like the rest of the normal folk. Travelling is stressful for everyone but just relax and take each minute in stride

If your kids are truly tired, they will fall back asleep in the car and then fall asleep in the airport or when on plane. As they say, keep calm and carry on. If you need to, get to the airport a bit earlier than you would normally so that you can avoid a bit of the rush of people at security. We almost always get sent to the Pre Check lane anyways, when we have our kids with us...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Never thought people actually thought that this would be a possibility.... Really people, wake up your kids last minute and put them in the car and when you are at the airport either put them in a stroller, carrier or carry them in your arms and check in like the rest of the normal folk. Travelling is stressful for everyone but just relax and take each minute in stride

If your kids are truly tired, they will fall back asleep in the car and then fall asleep in the airport or when on plane. As they say, keep calm and carry on. If you need to, get to the airport a bit earlier than you would normally so that you can avoid a bit of the rush of people at security. We almost always get sent to the Pre Check lane anyways, when we have our kids with us...

Don't count on that anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Never thought people actually thought that this would be a possibility.... Really people, wake up your kids last minute and put them in the car and when you are at the airport either put them in a stroller, carrier or carry them in your arms and check in like the rest of the normal folk. Travelling is stressful for everyone but just relax and take each minute in stride

If your kids are truly tired, they will fall back asleep in the car and then fall asleep in the airport or when on plane. As they say, keep calm and carry on. If you need to, get to the airport a bit earlier than you would normally so that you can avoid a bit of the rush of people at security. We almost always get sent to the Pre Check lane anyways, when we have our kids with us...

Have you ever done a flight of more than 10 hours? This is horrible advice. Even if your kids sleep the first 2-3 hours on the flight, they will be awake the rest of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, it is absolutely 100% not possible for an international flight. We tried, when my father was very ill and we were trying to work a flight and not have to bring him to the airport until the last minute, to arrange something, TSA was very clear...no way, no how.

On the other hand, from a safety perspective, it's good to know.

This is not true. The TSA was wrong (not surprising).

I'm the poster who routinely checks in for an international flights online. You do NOT need to show your passport at the airport to check in.

I fly pretty regularly and have never been able to check bags without a passport. I'm not flying monthly, but have flown internationally 6 times this year. What airport are you flying out of? IAD direct or DCA with a connection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, it is absolutely 100% not possible for an international flight. We tried, when my father was very ill and we were trying to work a flight and not have to bring him to the airport until the last minute, to arrange something, TSA was very clear...no way, no how.

On the other hand, from a safety perspective, it's good to know.

This is not true. The TSA was wrong (not surprising).

I'm the poster who routinely checks in for an international flights online. You do NOT need to show your passport at the airport to check in.

I fly pretty regularly and have never been able to check bags without a passport. I'm not flying monthly, but have flown internationally 6 times this year. What airport are you flying out of? IAD direct or DCA with a connection?

My company is based on NYC, so a lot of times it's JFK. Once IAD.

I don't normally check bags, though, so I do online check in, print my boarding pass, and head through security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Never thought people actually thought that this would be a possibility.... Really people, wake up your kids last minute and put them in the car and when you are at the airport either put them in a stroller, carrier or carry them in your arms and check in like the rest of the normal folk. Travelling is stressful for everyone but just relax and take each minute in stride

If your kids are truly tired, they will fall back asleep in the car and then fall asleep in the airport or when on plane. As they say, keep calm and carry on. If you need to, get to the airport a bit earlier than you would normally so that you can avoid a bit of the rush of people at security. We almost always get sent to the Pre Check lane anyways, when we have our kids with us...

Have you ever done a flight of more than 10 hours? This is horrible advice. Even if your kids sleep the first 2-3 hours on the flight, they will be awake the rest of the time.

what are you referring to as terrible advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, it is absolutely 100% not possible for an international flight. We tried, when my father was very ill and we were trying to work a flight and not have to bring him to the airport until the last minute, to arrange something, TSA was very clear...no way, no how.

On the other hand, from a safety perspective, it's good to know.

This is not true. The TSA was wrong (not surprising).

I'm the poster who routinely checks in for an international flights online. You do NOT need to show your passport at the airport to check in.

I fly pretty regularly and have never been able to check bags without a passport. I'm not flying monthly, but have flown internationally 6 times this year. What airport are you flying out of? IAD direct or DCA with a connection?

My company is based on NYC, so a lot of times it's JFK. Once IAD.

I don't normally check bags, though, so I do online check in, print my boarding pass, and head through security.

I think that is the difference. OP asked about checking bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, it is absolutely 100% not possible for an international flight. We tried, when my father was very ill and we were trying to work a flight and not have to bring him to the airport until the last minute, to arrange something, TSA was very clear...no way, no how.

On the other hand, from a safety perspective, it's good to know.

This is not true. The TSA was wrong (not surprising).

I'm the poster who routinely checks in for an international flights online. You do NOT need to show your passport at the airport to check in.

I fly pretty regularly and have never been able to check bags without a passport. I'm not flying monthly, but have flown internationally 6 times this year. What airport are you flying out of? IAD direct or DCA with a connection?

My company is based on NYC, so a lot of times it's JFK. Once IAD.

I don't normally check bags, though, so I do online check in, print my boarding pass, and head through security.

I think that is the difference. OP asked about checking bags.

OP should still be able to use the kiosk to check bags, swiping each passengers passport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, it is absolutely 100% not possible for an international flight. We tried, when my father was very ill and we were trying to work a flight and not have to bring him to the airport until the last minute, to arrange something, TSA was very clear...no way, no how.

On the other hand, from a safety perspective, it's good to know.

This is not true. The TSA was wrong (not surprising).

I'm the poster who routinely checks in for an international flights online. You do NOT need to show your passport at the airport to check in.

I fly pretty regularly and have never been able to check bags without a passport. I'm not flying monthly, but have flown internationally 6 times this year. What airport are you flying out of? IAD direct or DCA with a connection?

My company is based on NYC, so a lot of times it's JFK. Once IAD.

I don't normally check bags, though, so I do online check in, print my boarding pass, and head through security.

I think that is the difference. OP asked about checking bags.

OP should still be able to use the kiosk to check bags, swiping each passengers passport.

She could - but again, this is if she wanted to let her child sleep. I would say, that is not the best idea. I would arrive with my kids tired and ready to sleep on the plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup, it is absolutely 100% not possible for an international flight. We tried, when my father was very ill and we were trying to work a flight and not have to bring him to the airport until the last minute, to arrange something, TSA was very clear...no way, no how.

On the other hand, from a safety perspective, it's good to know.

This is not true. The TSA was wrong (not surprising).

I'm the poster who routinely checks in for an international flights online. You do NOT need to show your passport at the airport to check in.

I fly pretty regularly and have never been able to check bags without a passport. I'm not flying monthly, but have flown internationally 6 times this year. What airport are you flying out of? IAD direct or DCA with a connection?

My company is based on NYC, so a lot of times it's JFK. Once IAD.

I don't normally check bags, though, so I do online check in, print my boarding pass, and head through security.

I think that is the difference. OP asked about checking bags.

OP should still be able to use the kiosk to check bags, swiping each passengers passport.

She could - but again, this is if she wanted to let her child sleep. I would say, that is not the best idea. I would arrive with my kids tired and ready to sleep on the plane.

I don't travel overseas with my child (I am not a masochist), but it can be done, if she really wants to. I agree that it's best to have them tired when they get to the airport.

[Anonymous]

To clarify, this is our first flight internationally taking two kids. We have family overseas who have never met them which is why we are taking this trip. I am not a masochist. I am simply trying to make it as comfortable as possible for my kids. Those of you who are telling me to keep them up so they will sleep on the plane I find interesting… I am considering giving them late afternoon naps instead of letting them sleep up until the minute we leave for the airport. Any other tips from those of you who have done overseas travel with young children (4 and under), I would love more advice – thank you!

-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To clarify, this is our first flight internationally taking two kids. We have family overseas who have never met them which is why we are taking this trip. I am not a masochist. I am simply trying to make it as comfortable as possible for my kids. Those of you who are telling me to keep them up so they will sleep on the plane I find interesting… I am considering giving them late afternoon naps instead of letting them sleep up until the minute we leave for the airport. Any other tips from those of you who have done overseas travel with young children (4 and under), I would love more advice – thank you!

-OP

I don't know why this is "interesting". I travel a lot with my toddler and always prefer when she sleeps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For an 11 pm international flight you are going to be at the airport by 9 PM anyway it including travel time there. What time are you putting them down at home that they're going to be getting any substantial sleep before this? I agree with the past poster that having them fall asleep at the airport would be much more helpful.

Our kids go to bed at 7-7:30pm.
-OP

Afternoon nap is a great idea.

Arrive at the airport, with kids in PJs, around 7pm. Promise dessert post-security. Check in, you'll be at your gate before 8.30. Provide the promised dessert. Kids will be asleep on a bench by 9.

We've done a number of international redeyes, and this MO has been very successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To clarify, this is our first flight internationally taking two kids. We have family overseas who have never met them which is why we are taking this trip. I am not a masochist. I am simply trying to make it as comfortable as possible for my kids. Those of you who are telling me to keep them up so they will sleep on the plane I find interesting… I am considering giving them late afternoon naps instead of letting them sleep up until the minute we leave for the airport. Any other tips from those of you who have done overseas travel with young children (4 and under), I would love more advice – thank you!

-OP

I typically bring benadryl, Tylenol, and a thermometer, and make sure to get the correct dosages from your Dr. My DS who is almost never sick and has had very few ear infections got a fever the first international flight we took. He was miserable, we were miserable, and then he developed a sniffle and was more miserable from the pressure change and his sinuses. The limit on liquid ounces does not apply to these medications. Benadryl can also be used to help get your child to sleep on a long flight. People disagree on this usage, but its something DS' doctor recommended for future flights, and it has come in handy.

We bring a bunch of cheap little gifts for each, wrapped. We originally did this for during our flight, but it turned out to be more useful for all the delays a trip normally has.

[Anonymous]

Second the small individually wrapped gifts for the 4. Year old. Go to the dollar store and get a bunch of cheap toys. Give a new one every hour. Ipad.