Air Travel Isn't What it Used to Be

You know, some day our children are going to laugh at us when we tell them that airlines used to serve meals, and that taking your baggage with you on vacation was free. Flying is just not the glamorous adventure it was when I was a kid. Anyone seen those little salt and pepper shakers lately? Or wine in real glasses?

I actually like to fly (I hate airports, but that's another story), but I have 2 big advantages. My sister is a cosmopolitan type who accrues many hotel points and airline miles and distributes upgrades generously. Thus, I have flown with Jack in first class twice this year, and it's heaven. Not only do you get your wine in a real glass, but the purser shows you all the wine and asks you what you want, and then opens the bottle especially for you. And they call you by your name, as in "Mrs. _______, would you like the omelette or the fruit and yogurt plate, and perhaps some fresh coffee?"

I also bring a child along, and as any seasoned traveler will tell you, a child is like gold. Anyone who works in a plane or in an airport is so sick of looking at and listening to unhappy, exhausted people who would rather be anywhere else in the entire world. Enter a starry-eyed child who loves airplanes and airports and thinks people who work there have the COOLEST JOBS IN THE WORLD, and doors magically open. Hatchet-faced flight attendants smile. Cookies appear. Two seats together will be found on even the fullest plane. Baggage will be carried and checked at the gate. If the child doesn't scream, kick seats or refuse to sit down/get up, so much the better.

And children are small. If you sit next to one, you have 50% more room than if you were sitting next to an adult.

My two tips for traveling with a child:
1. Bring more Cheerios than you think you need.
2. Don't bring toys with lots of parts. They'll get dropped, roll to the back of the plane and disappear. Books are good, all the pages are attached and they pack flat. Or a crayon and some paper. When your child asks "Why only one crayon", tell him it's Red Day, or whatever color you happened to bring.