Samantha Brown Has a Genius Tip for Boarding a Plane With Kids

From lugging bags to getting through security, travelers already have enough to contend with when going out on their own. But throw in a kid or two, and the entire process can feel downright overwhelming. Luckily, travel expert Samantha Brown has a tip for making the boarding process with kids a lot easier. 

“A lot of people like to preboard with children under 2. They think it’s great to get on the plane first. Here’s a better way to use the preboard,” Brown said in a clip posted to Instagram. 

“Think about this. If you use the preboard, your child is sitting in the plane for a good 45 minutes more than the flight time,” Brown added. “And this is a really stressful time for kids. Bags are going over their heads; people are really stressed. They can feel it. And what happens is, once they get to a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, that’s when the child releases the stress they’ve just felt.” 

So, what should parents do instead? It’s simple. All you need to do is divide and conquer. 

As Brown explained in her video, partner number one should take advantage of the preboarding process by bringing all the luggage and any other must-haves on the plane first. They can get settled and prepare the seats for their kids’ arrival.

“Partner number two waits in the gate area with the kids, keeps them worn out, walks them around, and doesn’t board until the very last zone is called,” Brown added. “Then, you walk your children on board, you get them settled, and the plane leaves — hopefully, in 10 to 15 minutes.” 

This way, you can minimize time on a plane with kids, ensuring a smoother flight for them, you, and your fellow passengers from takeoff to landing. And in case you need a little more assistance, just check out this time-saving packing hack for traveling with kids.