Smart Phones in the Sky

I have always been geeky proud of the fact that I am an early adopter of new technology. My very first digital camera was one that did not even have a display screen on the back, it was a big and cumbersome thing, and it ran on 4 AA batteries. The images were blurry, and I do not even believe that the resolution was 640x480 to be honest. BUT, it was a digital camera, and I did take it all over the world with me, torturing my friends as I explained how it worked. It died a tragic death when my sister dropped it into a bathtub. Even drying it out would not revive it.


The next camera that I had was a Sony Mavica. It used a floppy disk as the drive, and it was a miracle to me. I was able to pop in the disk,and it had a display on the back, as well as some (primitive) special effects, a lens case, and a zoom. I took thousands of photos with this camera, and finally passed it onto a niece when I got a newer camera because my PC did not have a disk drive. The last that I spoke to her about the camera, she had gotten an adapter for it, so that the camera would take a memory stick, and then she was able to download the photos directly to the computer again. I said "How long has it been since you used it?", and she told me that it had been about 2 weeks, that she keeps it around as a back up camera.  That made me feel really good, even though I thought that the camera would have been a long gone relic by now. 

This brings me to my topic. Smart Phones. My first cell phone was one of the Nokia's that everyone seemed to have in the 1990's. The major deal with those phones was that the faceplate was changeable, and, when you removed the faceplate, there was a little smiling face looking at you. I know it had a game on it, too. It was called snake I believe. Anyway, technology changes, and one of the last Nokia's that I owned had issues with constant low battery life. That did not delight me.

Around the time that my contract was due to expire, Blackberry released a color model of its' smart phone. Color. It seemed like such a big deal at the time. I called the people with Sprint/Nextel, and I quickly signed up for the phone. It arrived by mail about 10 days later. I wanted to like it so much, I really did. The phone was too wide for my smaller hand, causing cramps, and I would have to either cut calls short, switch to speaker phone, or resort to calling back from another phone. Additionally, the phone did not have a strong battery life, and I found the motions to access features to be counter intuitive. I was very glad that Sprint took the phone back. Apparently, a lot of women were having the same problems with the phones that I was.


Since that time, I have been through a lot of phones. I have had the Razr. (Hated it. Too damn delicate) to the Krzr (Loved the one for reception. I was able to use it downstairs/underground when I worked at Disney, and Disney is notorious for the areas downstairs suffering from poor reception. But I hated it for delicateness and poor battery life) There have been many phones in between then and now. A pal of mine offered to let me use their Apple iPhone when they first came out. They were going to be out of the country for 3 weeks, and wanted me to babysit the phone for calls. I jumped at the chance to use the phone I had only seen on tv and the internet. 


I tried it and I did not like it. I explained that I liked the phone that I was using at the time (Palm Centro) because it had better reception, better battery life, and the calls did not drop like they did on the Apple, as well as the fact that making a call on the iPhone was a pain in the butt. 


Which leads me to the next part of this.


 I am not a bad person because I do not like Apple. I am happily a non Apple product user. I use the Creative Zen in place of any Apple music delivery product. I do not want to jump through all of the hoops that I saw when Apple released its' iPod. 
Having to use their software to manage my music seemed like a bother, when I could simply drag and drop to my Zen. Additionally, the battery life on my Zen is nothing short of incredible, and I have been very happy with it. I feel no need to go past 30G of music (and other media). If I need more than that, I should probably take some things off and replace them  from my player. 


I like the phone that I am using right now. I have a Palm Pre. I like this phone a good deal. I know that iPhone can do 9 zillion things that my phone cannot do, but personally for me, the small size is nice for my smaller hand, I only have to charge it about once every 24 hours (unless I am involved in a gab fest with someone. Recently, I was on the phone with a gal pal for over 3 hours, and I still had battery left.) 


Which brings me to my final point. I AM an early adopter of technology, when the technology that I am using wears out, or becomes too difficult to maintain or use. I do not jump on the bandwagon of the latest and greatest gadget just to be able to say that I have it. Sure, there are loads of things that I would like to have, and that I want, and even some that I will tell you that I need, but, being on a budget limits purchases to what I really really need. 


So here is my point. In Dallas, a man who wanted the new iPhone paid 500.00 to a kid in line who had waited all night. He stated that it was worth the money to not have to wait, and to be guaranteed a new iPhone. Seriously. I do not even know where to go with this. Obviously, he has disposable income. That is awesome. But to throw $500.00 simply for a place in line is beyond crazy. 


Coincidentally, on the same day of the new iPhone release, I had to go to Best Buy to get my Palm Pre looked at. What a horrible situation that was, but, I was happy because I was able to get my needs met, my phone serviced, and I am a happy customer. This is not the same for all of the people that were there, waiting in line for the iPhone. People were angry, shouting, yelling, and saying terrible things. What is that going to do? Each store has limited stock. That is how it is. Do you think that acting like an ass is going to get you a phone when they are sold out? No. Because they are sold out. 


Ads are being run on the internet now, creating a false embarrassment, addressing people who have "old phones". Is your phone old? The ad asks. Do you have an old cell phone? Are you embarrassed? That is absolutely ridiculous. We are in a horrible economy right now. People are jobless, and here are ads that are touting the merits of having a new phone. Give me a break. If it works, meets your needs, and is functioning the way that you need it to, then you are fine. Save your money. You don't need a new phone. 

Breaking News! Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Fargo

A Continental Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing when a fire occurred in the galley. Flight attendants were able to put out the fire. 

Have you ever been stuck on a plane during flight delays?

Have you ever been on a plane when they were having delays? My last flight, from Tuscon, Arizona, to Dallas, Texas was one like this. I had boarded and was sitting in my seat when an announcement came over "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. I have stopped the boarding process because we are having some troubles with one of the systems. If you could please put down your window shade, it will keep the plane a mite cooler in case they turn off our auxiliary power, which is what is keeping us cool right now. I will let y'all know what is going on as soon as we have more information. Looks like we will delay getting into Dallas, but I am hoping that we can push once we are in the air and make our landing on time. Thanks for flying with American. We do know you have a choice, and that is why I want you to be comfortable on the trip." 

I sighed and closed the shade. No big deal, right? All that we needed to do was get some small thing fixed. 

Twenty minutes later, an new announcement came to us. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your pilot again. Mechanics are looking us over with a fine tooth comb, they want to make sure that you are safe and comfortable.  Some of you have some connections in Dallas that you are concerned about. As of right now, you will be able to make those connections, except for those who are flying to Dublin. A flight attendant will be coming to you and talking with you. Everyone else, sit back, relax, and we will get going as soon as we can."

My seat mate was a first time flyer, and she was nervous. I explained that this was safer than a car, and that loads of people flew all over the world. No big deal. She relaxed and we chatted, talking about the weather, her school plans, and her hopes to one day be a scientist working with NASA. Very nice small talk. 

The following announcement is when things got ugly for some on the plane. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen. It is your pilot again, and it looks like we are having some serious problems with the AC, but the great mechanics down below are working hard on this problem. We should be up in the air in about a half hour.  For those of you having connections, it looks like we are going to be twenty minutes late right now. I will let you know as soon as we know, and I will be allowing folks to continue boarding in about 15 minutes. Thanks for your calmness and patience, we all appreciate it."

Suddenly, a man popped out of his seat. "I need to get off this plane. I won't make my connection!" He shouted. A flight attendant came to him, looked at his ticket, said to him "This is too close. Maybe a gate agent can help you." and he was helped off the plane. Several more people got off the plane, some not even letting the flight attendant see their tickets. People began acting very agitated, saying things about the plane. It was very chaotic. I just sat there. 

Another announcement from the cockpit came. "Hello folks. Looks like some of you have decided to make connections in other ways, and I can understand that. We will be opening boarding again, and leaving as soon as we have all on board. Even though we have had some passengers leave, this is a standby flight, so we are still sold out. If your things are in a seat, please stow them at this time. Thanks for flying American, and thanks for your continuing patience."

Passengers were loaded, and we took off. In the air, we were told that we would be arriving slightly late. We did arrive late....by less than 10 minutes. The flight was smooth, the landing was smooth, and the service was fine. I thanked the crew on the way out the door, and I was glad to be in Dallas. Others were complete morons, shaking their head at the pilots as they walked out, and uttering oaths of never flying American Airlines ever again. 

I get very irritated with bad travelers. There is no reason to treat people like that. It was in no way the crews' fault that the AC was not working. It was a good thing to get it fixed. Sometimes, people need to get over themselves. 

Virgin Air leaves passengers on plane for hours, temps soar near 100 degree mark

Due to bad weather, Virgin Air was forced to make a detour. They landed the plane at appx. 8:20 pm, but the plane was unable to get to the jetway until many hours later. 
This writer is certain that Sir Richard was not amused.  The rule that went into effect in April of this year in the United States, prohibiting passengers from being left on the tarmac for more than three hours does not somehow apply to international flights. 


Breaking news addition to this story. The pilots are claiming that they were not allowed to the jetway until customs officials arrived. The pilots are stating that they were threatened with arrest if they did not comply.  I will keep all posted on this and add news as it breaks. 

Colgan Air adds new Route To Plattsburgh

No, that is not a typo for those not in the know. Plattsburgh is the recipient of a new route, offering fares as low as $59.00. 
Colgan Air brought a 34 seater to the mix, and the plane was fuller than expected for the new roll-out of route, which is exciting. 

What to Wear on the plane

Advice abounds everywhere on what to wear on the plane. Some people go for comfort, some go for fashion, and some go in between. 


I personally like to dress up when I go for a flight. It makes me feel more special. It makes me look like I have a purpose, and it makes me more apt to fit in with the nice people in first class, should I get bounced up there. :) 


Fabrics that breathe are your friend. If you are going to be on a plane for a long time, double knit polyester is not your pal. no matter how wrinkle free it is. A better bet is a linen/cotton/silk/bamboo or some other mix of natural fabrics that will allow you to feel more comfortable. 


I like fabrics that have a touch of lycra/spandex in them, to help them keep their shape better. TravelSmith makes a nice line of things, but some feel as though they are pricey. I have not ordered from them personally, but my grandmother, who used to travel extensively, swore by their things. This dress, in either plum, pepper, or mint would be a great gift to the writer of this blog! 


Sunglasses. Man or woman, you need sunglasses. They are good from everything to holding hair in place, blocking sunlight and bright light, hiding puffy eyes, and, they can be a style statement. I always have at least one pair of sunglasses with me when I travel, because if one pair gets lost, I am not having to make do with a pair that don't make me feel great. 


Shoes. Make sure that the shoes you choose to wear are comfortable and easy to get off and on in the security line. Waiting behind women who have to unlace espadrilles that go all the way up to their thigh is not a great way to spend a few moments of my life. Same for lace up boots. Same for anything with buckles. Opt for a secure slip on. If you have never been to an airport before, even though they are not cute, bring a pair of flats with you to get through the airport in. I have a pair of Mary Jane's that stay in my travel bag. They are cute enough, and my feet thank me by the end of an airport jaunt. 


Underclothes. Wear things that are practical, but comfortable. Ladies, this is no time to wear that bra that cuts into your rib cage. Men, this is not the time to wear the jeans that bite into your waistband. Comfort, but attractive. 


Hats. I don't know what to say. I do love a hat on a man. My man looks smashing in a fedora. BUT, I don't think he would like if the hat got smashed on the trip. 


Layers. If you are a temperature sensitive person, dress in layers. Bring a small blanket. Don't use the one that the airplane has. Goodness knows how many people have used it before you. 


Blazers/Jackets. Dark suit? Take it to a tailor or a drycleaner and get a bright lining sewn into it. You will be less likely to leave it behind. 


I can go on and on, but think about how long you will be gone on the plane, and plan accordingly.

Airline passenger arrested after fight over bag

Frontier Airlines had a passenger on their plane who refused to allow the bag that they were carrying to be checked. They were asked to leave the plane and refused. Click the link above to get more details. 

PSA Flight Attendants File for Federal Mediation

PSA Flight Attendants File for Federal Mediation

Emirates is having its' inaugural hiring session in Houston

Emirates Air is having its' inaugural hiring session in Houston, Texas! 

A free upgrade to First Class

I was once boarding a flight from California to China. I was really tired, and, although I was looking forward to being in China, I was not looking forward to the horrible seat that I had. Center seat. Rear. Coach. 

I checked in at the counter, and sat down with my laptop, wishing that I could fall asleep in the terminal before I had to make the 13 plus hour flight. Finally, they began calling for boarding. I was the first group after first class, wearing my new navy blue suit and matching pumps and bag. I looked really great, if I do say so myself! I tucked my laptop in front of me, dropped my handbag on top of it, and buckled in, knowing that I was going to be a massive cramp when I woke up. 

The couple who arrived seated themselves. One on the aisle and one on the window. I offered them to sit together, since they were chatting over me, and they, of course, declined. The flight attendant came and checked on all of us. 

"Here on business?" She asked me.

"Yes. I have a job interview in China" I replied. 

The couple began speaking over me loudly, arguing with one another. The flight attendant heard them, and turned around. 

"Everything okay?" She asked the couple. 

"Is there a chance that she can get moved? When we looked at Seat Guru, the seat in between us was supposed to be empty. We want the seat space so we can stretch out."

"Well, people buy seats, and as they do, the plane fills up"

The couple hotly debated this with the flight attendant, and she explained it over and over again that tickets were for sale on a plane even at the ticket counter, and, if they wanted the seat in between them to be available to them, they needed to purchase it. It was not a good day to be explaining things, they kept getting louder and louder. 

"I will go have a look at the seating chart and see if there is a seat anywhere else. Ma'am, would you be okay moving to a different seat?" The flight attendant looked at me and smiled. 

I smiled back. "Sure. As long as we get to China, I am happy to sit on a lap" She laughed and left. 

"No offense, Miss, We just like the extra space." The man said when the flight attendant left.

"None taken" I replied, knowing that we were going to get to know one another very well over the next 13 hours.

The flight attendant came back. "Grab your stuff, I managed to get a different seat for you, Ma'am" She said.

I got out into the aisle, and she softly told me when we were out of earshot "We have a first class seat for you. Just relax. Those people would have been torture."
I wanted to hug her, but I gushed "Thank You" over and over again. 

"No problem. Just relax. No worries. Good luck with your job interview."

When we got to my seat, I got the coveted 1A. The Cadillac of seats, it allows you to get off first. "I am so very sorry about the mix-up, miss" the flight attendant said as she ushered me to the seat. I said "No problem" and sat down,  eternally grateful to the wonderful flight attendant who came to my rescue. 

Upgrading to first class is a rare treat when it is something granted to you by the airlines. First class has better seating on longer flights, better food, and, I hate to say it, better attitudes from some of the flight attendants who work those flights. On long transatlantic flights, the extra room, the amount of recline in the seat (Some fold out into flat twin beds) really make it worth the extra money for someone who is able to do that. 

Luckily, in my instance, there still was a first class seat available. If not, I would have been reseated in coach somewhere, but, I was really happy to get on the plane. The only reason that I was able to be moved up is that a flight connecting with ours was stuck hours away, so there were available seats. If the flight attendant had not been told by the people I was seated with of their predicament, I would have been stuck there. 

A friend of mine who travels for her job (She is a sales rep for a drug company) tells me that when she has enough air miles to upgrade, she saves those little jewels for the long haul trips, such as La Guardia to Los Angeles, and similar. She has told me that she never asks the cabin crew for movement to the front because they simply cannot do it. If you ask, and the passenger next to you sees you get moved up, they are going to want to get moved up too. Soon, the whole plane will want to be moved to the front, which we all DO want, but it is an impossibility. 

Stepping into the space known as the Galley (the little kitchen area) to ask about seating before the plane takes off is a major no-no, too, according to a friend of mine, "Jim" who is a long term (30 years plus) flight attendant with a major carrier who flies internationally. "Here I am, getting all of my things ready, running through check lists, and when a passenger comes to me wanting a beverage, a snack, a meal, or, best of all, a seat in first class, I make a note of that passenger, decline the request, and if there DOES become a seat available in first class, they will not get it."  He continues and explains "There are so many safety things going on during pre-board and then boarding, we have to be really focused on getting those things done, and not be rude to the passengers, but, make sure we get the things done that are really important. Plus, when you want to be chatty with us while there are passengers behind you, that slows the whole flow of boarding down. It creates a cluster around me, and I have things to get done!" 

If you ever ARE upgraded, please don't be an ASS-enger instead of a Passenger. First Class is not some luxury spa retreat where the flight attendants are providing massages, meals, personal entertainment, laundry service, or any other silly thing. It is a nicer seat, a nicer meal, and free beverages both alcoholic and non-alcohol. That is all. It is not a place where you can boss the flight attendant around like your personal servant, it is not a place where you get to jump the line in front of other first class passengers, and, I assure you for everyone flying in coach, the lavatory in the front of the plane is the same as the one in the back of the plane, but you will get dirty looks if you use the front lavatory from the people in First Class if you go up there from coach. 

If you ever are upgraded, please thank the nice person who upgraded you. ASK if you can write a letter to the company to thank them for the upgrade. If they say yes, write down their name, the airlines, the date and the flight number right then. DO send a letter if they say it is okay to do so. Please remember this. Letters are a valuable tool that allow feedback to come from someone else and give airline personnel a much needed pat on the back. 

That is all. You may return your seats to their upright position now. 

Airline removes passenger from plane for being too fat!

Poor Sandy Russell. He was supposed to be flying from London, England to go to Toronto, Canada via Air Transat and see his dying aunt. He is a big man, he admits it. He has a 51 inch waist. He was not allowed to continue on the flight unless he was able to come up with the extra 928 pounds (appx $1379.90 as of this writing)  to be able to fly as he was going to have to book a second seat due to his girth. 

Mr. Russell is big enough that they were unable to put down the armrest because of his size. 

The flight attendant took him off the plane, and explained this to him. He explained that he was handicapped, and that he did not have the monies needed to be able to get the second ticket. 

Sadly, Sandy's aunt passed 2 days later of colon cancer, and he was unable to be able to say his final farewells.

I do feel sorry for this man, and I do feel sorry for the airlines, and I do feel sorry for passengers who have to involuntarily be literally pressed into sharing a seat with people of a larger size. 

I flew once from Dallas, Texas to London with some friends. As we were sitting in our seats, waiting for the plane to take off, a flight attendant came to our group and asked if I would be willing to switch with another passenger since I was "so little" because the airline had placed two large passengers together, and they were not comfortable. I declined, because I wanted to be seated with my friends. The flight attendant was agitated, and she told me that if I did not relent, she was going to have to ask one of these people to dis-board the plane. I expressed sympathy, but said that I did not want to move from my friends, that we had planned this trip for over a year, and we lived across the country from one another. She left, and came back a few moments later, offering me miles on my account and an upgrade on the way home to business class. This man had to be someone important to not be asked to leave the plane. I agreed, went and swapped seats. It was the most uncomfortable flight. The man was so large that he kept bumping into me. He was extremely courteous, and would tell me that he was sorry every time that he did it. I said "Don't worry about it. You are like a big teddy bear." 

We both laughed about the predicament. He told me that he was on a diet, and had lost over 150 pounds, but that he was still too big to be flying. I asked him about the news, which had recently featured a man who was asked to buy another ticket because of his size. He told me that when he was bigger, he would always buy two seats to be comfortable. There are many reasons why people are big. I am not even going to go into all of that. Being bigger is just how some people are. But, should those who are bigger in size be allowed to impose themselves literally onto those who are smaller? It is not being mean, as a smaller person to want to have the entire seat that you paid for to yourself. It is a matter of being able to be secure and safe in your space. 

It is not a matter of being mean when you consider the possibilities of an emergency on a plane, and wonder if the size of the person next to you would prevent you from getting safely off the plane. 

Although the flight attendant handled the matter by removing him off the plane, I am sure that there was no way to do it in a manner that would have allowed Mr. Russell to maintain his dignity,simply because of the reason that he was removed from the plane. 

Tragically, as I mentioned before, Mr. Russell was not able to say his final farewell to his aunt, and that is sad. But, in an industry where competition is fierce, customers have access to the internet, and everyman has their own blog (like this one), I am not sure that the airline could have done anything to not generate some negative press. Just so you know, 32 stone is 448 pounds. 

I wish that there were a solution to this one, but I do not know what it is.
 

Happy Father's Day!

To all of the fathers out there, to all of the men who step up to the plate and father children who are not theirs biologically, but yet have children in their hearts, to all of the uncles, grandfathers, cousins, and other men who are parental in nature to children (and adults) all over the world, thank you. 


Love means sometimes telling someone no, even though it hurts their feelings at the time. 
Love means chores, and making sure that homework gets done. 
Love means spending time with someone, even when you have something that you need to be doing. 
Love is active. Merely saying "I love you" does not equate to love. 
Love is meaning what you say at all times, saying what you mean. 
Love is keeping promises. 
Love is wearing your feelings on the outside so that the one you love knows it. 
Love is being one of the people that Father's Day is for. 


To my father, the best one in the bunch. Thank you for doing all of the things that I know about, as well as the things that I do not know about. 
Thank you for putting up with me when I was tedious, and loving me no matter what. Thank you for telling me that "I do not like you right now, but I will never stop loving you".
Thank you for taking me to a football game, even though you did not need to be out in the cold when you were sick. 
Thank you for driving all over Washington, DC with me, and walking through all of the monuments and memorials, just because I wanted to see them. 
Thank you for crying with me at the Viet Nam memorial, and telling me about the time that you were there. 
Thank you, Dad, for always being a dad. I love you so much, but, looking back, I do not think I will ever be able to love you as much as you have loved and still love me. Love, your baby daughter. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Delta Airlines lands wrong airport due to low fuel!

In news briefs, a Delta Airlines flight was forced to make an unplanned landing when it was noted that the plane did not have adequate fuel to make it to the intended destination. 
Passengers were then offered a bus ride to get them to Hartford. 

In favor of Striking while the Strike Iron is hot, British Airways inflight plans to strike again

In breaking news, plans have been announced by Unite, the workers union representing 75 percent of the 38,000 BA employees, to strike yet again. 
Citing reasons such as retaliatory actions against 70 flight attendants since the disputes have begun, Unite is releasing the latest information on their strike. 


In what appears to be a very complex situation, BA has resolved to remove travel perks in order to squelch the strike. 


I hope and pray that a resolution will come soon that both sides of this heated debate are content with. I will post news about this situation as it arrives to me. 

Entertaining Children on flights

When you are flying with small children and babies, there are some things that you need to bear in mind when you travel. 

Children are not small adults. I get very upset internally when I hear someone say "Oh, she is 13, going on 30" or similar age comparisons. It is possible to have a child who is quiet and stable, responsible, and yet, s/he is still a child. It is unfair to expect a child to be able to entertain themselves for the several hours that you will be spending at the airport/on the plane/in transit to your final destination. 

With babies, the task is even harder because you cannot explain the process to them at all. If you tell an infant/baby that they are going to have a big, fun, exciting adventure today, they are going to look at you, perhaps smile or coo, and then go back to what they do best, which is eating, urinating, defecating, crying, sleeping, and whatever else it is that babies do. 

Here are some tips to make sure that you and your baby and or child have a better trip when you travel. 

Bring small noise free toys when you travel. No one wants to hear a loud toy in the airport, in the airplane, or anywhere else that you go. Great baby toys are soft, stuffed toys that do not jingle, buzz, beep, click, etc. Baby books are a wonderful thing to bring, especially if they have a lot of illustrations of different brightly colored things. A friend of mine took sheets of photocopy paper and stuck stickers all over the front and the back of the papers until they were covered, and then laminated them front and back. The child (age 3) and his baby sister (9 months) would take the sheets out of her diaper bag and she would ask them to find things. (Where is the tall yellow flower? Where is the short pink flower? Can you find the letter A? Where is the blue train?" It worked like a charm, and she said that other passengers with children were jealous.

Large beads PRESTRUNG on yarn or rope that is already knotted at both ends can be anything from a bracelet, or necklace to a row of cars, trains, or cargo trailers. They can be drug across the meal tray, counted, colors and shapes can be identified, and lots more. Make sure that both ends are knotted securely, and that the beads are not too small for the child/ren that you are traveling with. 

Sticker books, coloring books, activity books, age appropriate are wonderful. So are little readers, comic books, and simple children's magazines. Keep them tucked into your travel bag until you are at the airport. Small children have small attention spans. 

MP3 players are very affordable now. An MP3 player can be a little storyteller on its' own. Tell stories by reading into a mic on the computer, and convert it to a format that is compatible with your player. You can also sing songs and put little messages into the player such as "I love you very much! I am glad we are having such fun on this trip."

Spend time with your children while you are traveling. Turn off the cell phone. Tell the children about the airport. "Over there, that is a place where people go to order a snack before they get on the plane." Point out things where you go. "This table is for mommies who have babies who use diapers. You pull it down, buckle the baby in, and then change the baby". Just because we know what something is does not mean that our little ones do. 

Explain the security process. It can be very overwhelming to adults, let alone wee ones. If they have a toy/blanket that they cherish, explain to them that the people in security need to look at it, and it keeps us safe on the plane. 

Make sure that your children are well fed, in comfortable clothes, and have shoes that fit. Bring extra diapers and formula for babies. Don't over snack a child as a form of entertainment. Bring an extra change of clothes and underclothes for toddlers, as sometimes they can get air sick on a plane. Make certain that everyone gets to the toilet before you leave the house, and, even though there is a bathroom on the plane, let them use the airport bathroom before you board the plane. 

With children old enough to understand, explain what they need to do if they get separated from you. A lanyard with your cell phone number on a feisty toddler can be a lifesaver. They can wear it under their shirt so that no one can see their contact information on it, but use it if it is needed. 

On a trip to Walt Disney World, my eldest niece was separated from me during the parade. She and I had reviewed what to do in the event that happened, and, although it was a little scary for her, she was able to do what we had talked about, and we were reunited in less than 30 minutes. On the contact lanyard, put a photo of you and other adults traveling in the group, as well as a photo of the child. On the ones that I made for my nieces, I put my cell phone number, my sisters' cell phone number, and their siblings' names. The staff at Disney told me that it was wonderful to be able to tell my niece that her aunt was on the way, along with her sister. 

Make sure that you charge your cell phone. If a child DOES get lost, it would be awful if you could not take the call because your battery has run out of juice. 

Explain the boarding and takeoff process to children that are old enough to understand. Explain how the plane will feel when the plane lifts off, how it will "bump the ground" when it lands, and what turbulence is. There are a number of videos on YouTube to watch. I strongly recommend this, especially for anxious children. 

Tell a child who is safe to go to in an emergency. Point out the people in the airport that are safe to go to, My sister used to always tell her children that if they were separated from her, find a mom with children, or a police lady or man. 

Listen to your child. If they are scared of something, listen to them carefully, and address their fears. 

Have fun. Traveling with young ones can be exasperating, but, with proper planning, it can be a lot of fun.