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BY EMILIE LE BEAU low lines, long waits and snippy people. Happy holidays.
Traveling to visit family or friends for the holidays is exciting, but crowded airports and packed planes can make flying far from fun. The holidays are a hectic time to fly, and some days are worse than others. Expect the airport to be jammed on Dec. 23 and Dec. 26, says Michele Perry of TripAdvisor.com. And Thanksgiving is the most traveled holday in the United States. Even off-days may be extra busy this year. Airlines have cut flights to save money because fuel prices are high. That means more people on fewer flights. "I think everyone is crankier when it's crowded," Perry says. "Approach it knowing that and try to maintain your sense of humor." There are plenty of ways kids can keep their sense of humor and maybe have some fun. First, Perry recommends wearing comfy clothes like sweats or slip-on shoes. That way it's easier to curl up and get comfortable in your seat. The seats might be small, but kids still can sleep. Bring a small pillow. Stores at the mall - or even the airport - also sell special travel pillows that wrap around a passenger's neck and make snoozing easier, Perry says. Packing snacks also can help keep away a case of crabbiness. "Think about food for both the airport and on the plane," Perry says. Airport grub can be expensive and, she says, is "not the most desirable food." And most airlines offer only an in-flight snack. Pretzels, peanuts and cheese sticks can help you stay full without feeling sick, Perry says. Keeping busy also can help kids ward off grumpiness. Perry recommends bringing a GameBoy, iPod or Walkman to pass the time. A portable DVD player and a funny movie also is a great way to go. Hannah S., 8, turns plane time into playtime. She travels twice a year to Florida to visit her grandparents, and has been on even longer flights to places such as Barbados. "I usually draw with my brothers," she says. "And we play some card games with my dad." Hannah also tries to sit in the window seat so she can watch the miles pass. "It's just really cool to see all the things below you. It looks so small from there," she says. Like Hannah, most kids who are flying usually have seats next to their siblings or parents. But a packed flight can mean kids have to sit by other passengers they don't know. If you're stuck next to a stranger and uncomfortable about it, Perry recommends listening to music with headphones. "People are unlikely to talk to someone with headphones on," she says.
Being squished in a seat next to someone you don't know also can present new olfactory sensations. Stuck next to someone with bad B.O.? Try putting on flavored or scented lip balm to help mask the odor, Perry says.
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