Air Travel with Tiny Tots

Recently one of our Twitter followers, @Tleaving, asked for insight on making traveling with an infant less stressful. While we cannot guarantee a hassle-free trip when traveling under any circumstances, not just when flying with a little one, we advocate educating yourself as much as possible prior to departure. Knowledge is power when traveling.

But, back to the subject at hand, flying with baby. How do you make it easier? With this question in mind we forraged through the interweb and found a whole host of tips, tricks and secrets that are intended to help you, the parents!

We started with the new website, ByeByeWithBaby.com. This robust site compiles a comprehensive listing of places where mothers can nurse, change diapers and other family friendly locations. They contacted all of the airports in the country, including HIA, and logged locations of nursing rooms, changing tables and play areas for children.

Before you arrive at any airport for a trip, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Transporation Security Administration's (TSA) policies for clearing the security checkpoint efficiently with your children and their carry-on belongings. A full run-down of what we're about to paraphrase is available online.

When packing a your children's carry-on please note that medications, formula, juice and breast milk are permitted in reasonable quantities and are not required to be in the zip lock baggy with your gels, aerosols and other liquids. The TSA recommends only carrying liquids and gels that are needed for you and your child's immediate comfort.

When queing at the security checkpoint begin by collapsing and folding up strollers and other child-related equipment as all kiddie items, including diaper bags, toys, blankets, strollers, car seats, backpacks, baby slings, etc must go through the x-ray machine; there no exeptions. If these items will not fit on the conveyor belt to go through the machine, please be prepared for a TSA employee to hand inspect that item.

You and your munchkin need to walk through the metal detector after all of your items are on the conveyor belt. You are permitted to carry your child through and will not be separated from your child at any point during this process. If you need an extra hand gathering your items from the x-ray machine once you've cleared security, feel free to ask a TSA employee for assistance.

Oh, and another quick security checkpoint tip, as this question is frequently asked, if your child is under 18 and flying with you, you do NOT need ID for them.

FlyingwithKids.com had much to say about what to do once you've arrived at the airport and after security, so we pulled out what we found to be the most helpful of their tips:

• When you've checked in for your flight, ask the attendant if the flight is full. If it's not an overly full flight some airlines will allow you to move your seat next to a vacant one which affords you more room for you and your child.
  
• Keep a small bag with a diaper, wipes, and rash cream readily available for those unexpected "uh ohs" that happen!


• If you have a larger, squirmier child that requires a diaper change once you're on the plane, as the flight crew if they have a space you can use to change the diaper, as the changing tables in some aircraft bathrooms are quite small.


• ALWAYS test the temperature of in-flight meals before sharing them with your children, often the foods are quite hot.


• Disposable bibs are a great must-have for in-flight meals.


• If you have formula that needs warmed, you are often able to ask the flight crew to warm it for you with enough notice.


• Most strollers do not fit in the overhead bins of smaller aircraft, research the bin restrictions of the aircraft you're flying on before you get there.


• An infant front-pack is often helpful for carrying your baby when you're also trying to haul luggage with you through a terminal.


• If you don't purchase a seat for your child (under the age of 2) you will be expected to hold the child during the flight.


• Print out a copy of the Federal Aviation Administration's Childproof your Flight brochure, you won't regret it!

One final tip that we'd recommend is bringing along items that you know are familiar and comforting to your children: a favorite, toy, blanket or book. And, if your child is of an age that you can explain to them a basic understanding of what it's like to fly on a plane, prepare them for what to expect.

There are many, many resources online for increasing the success of your air travel experience with your children. We recommend additionally perusing:

• 5Ts to Happy Travel with Tots


• Before You Travel by Air with Baby

Have we missed anything you think is pertinent to traveling with your children? What tips and tricks can you offer to parents of young children for air travel?

Lady Travel Talk: My Must-haves When Traveling Internationally

We are pleased to introduce our 8th guest blogger of the Lady Travel Talk, a mini-series tailor made for female travelers. This series covers a host of topics related to the travel experiences of each of the ladies contributing to the series.

Today's guest blogger Benet J. Wilson is a reporter for Aviation Week. She oversees the Aviation Week business aviation channel at aviationweek.com/biz. You can read more from Benet on her personal travel blog as well.

Today Benet describes what she's not willing to travel without when flying internationally.

Before I had my daughter four years ago, I was a regular world traveler. But after she was born, I cut back – drastically – because I hate being away from her for too long.

But it was back in the saddle for me recently when I was sent to Geneva, Switzerland, to cover the 2010 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, the industry show of record for this region of the world. I was going to be there for a week, and I was excited to be leaving the country again after more than two years from my last trip.

So it was time to take out the suitcase and start packing. I have the I Heart Travel-Packing app on my iPod Touch, because my memory isn’t what it used to be, so I need all the help I can get. Believe me, it is NOT fun to realize you've reached your destination and forgotten to pack underwear. This app has sample lists for men and women; it also allows you to create your own list and create a master catalog where you can drag items for new lists. Plus if the worst happens – lost luggage – you have a list of what you packed.

I usually choose a neutral color theme – blue, black or taupe/beige – and pack accordingly. It’s amazing how an outfit can look different with a different jacket, sweater, scarf or accessories, and I chose black for this trip. I also take an extra pair of shoes.

There are also things I refuse to leave home without. One is a roll of toilet paper. Yes. TP. No offense, but European toilet paper is pretty harsh, and after a day I am not happy. I bring my own wash cloths. Again, European hotels don’t tend to have them in restrooms, and I like having my own. I also bring a vial of Dr. Brommer’s liquid Peppermint soap for its myriad uses – body wash, clothing wash and soothing foot wash after a long day of hoofing it at shows.

In my purse, I keep the following: hand sanitizer, Ibuprofen, Claratin allergy medicine, Tylenol PM, Neosporin, Cortisone, Band-Aids, hand lotion and cough drops. I also keep baby wipes from when my daughter was younger. They serve myriad purposes, including hand cleaner, facial refresher and seatback tray table and lav cleaner.

I have a back pack that holds all my work equipment (laptop computer, iPod, digital camera, video camera, chargers, notebooks, pens, etc.). I love the Bijoux Terner $10 dollar stores at airports across the U.S., and I love their pashima scarves. They can serve as a pillow, a blanket and a stylish wrap year round. I also keep portable snacks and a small emergency kit with vitals in case my luggage gets lost (and it has happened several times).

I hope my tips have helped. I’d love to know: what items are must-take for you on trips? What do you keep in your carry-on bag? What are some of your packing tips?

You're in Good Hands with HIA's ARFF

Have you sat in a plane on the tarmac at Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) and witnessed a large bright green truck driving by you? “What the heck was that,” you may ask your neighbor. What you saw was one of the fire fighting vehicles in the HIA Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) department. There are seven vehicles in the total fleet; three frontline fire fighting vehicles, a rescue truck, a medical quick response unit, an attack vehicle, and a rescue boat. Each piece of equipment in the fleet, when not in active use, is stored at HIA’s on site fire house/station.

Along with housing the vehicles, the fire house is home to 14 full time fire fighters when they are on duty. The team includes a chief and four platoons comprised of a captain and two firefighters. There is one firefighter which floats from shift to shift filling in for fire fighters on vacation. The majority of the guys that make up the team have prior military and aircraft rescue backgrounds. Each of them is trained in fire fighting, emergency medical treatment, hazardous materials, and basic water rescue. The HIA ARFF department is one of 37 fire departments in the state that has received recognition for 100% participation in the Pennsylvania Fire Service Certification program with personnel certified in the following specialties: airport fire fighter, hazardous materials responder, fire inspector, fire instructor, and fire officer. There are no buts about it, these guys know what they’re doing!

The platoons start each day the same way, with role call and updates with the chief followed by equipment and vehicle checks. They pay special attention to all of the details of the equipment and vehicles they use in a given day to insure everything is operational, clean, and ready to respond when needed. After their checks the platoon on duty will complete any necessary training for the day, and then head off for fire inspections, verification of the fire suppression equipment in the terminal, perimeter, fuel farm and fuel equipment checks. Platoons also respond to medical calls and standbys throughout their day. A standby is when a ARFF vehicle is needed on site while a plane is being refueled with passengers are on board the aircraft.

The fire fighters have a lot of responsibilities when they are on duty and these responsibilities require a number of specializations to be held by the platoons. They are qualified in structural and aircraft rescue fire fighting, medical emergencies, HAZMAT, and water rescue. While these duties are similar to that of a municipal fire fighter, the environments in which these duties are performed vary. A municipal fire fighter responds to emergencies in the community, whereas the ARFF platoons work to prevent unique hazards in a customer-oriented environment. Their's is a very centralized operation with a focus on prevention and inspections.

So, the next time you’re sitting on the plane waiting to take-off and a large green vehicle crosses your path remember that Chief Frank Wirth promises that ‘you are in good hands’ with the HIA ARFF. He oversees a team of thirteen fire fighters who focus on your safety, fire and incident prevention and teamwork. Chief Wirth, a life-long fire fighter, emphasizes that the ARFF department is a team of responsible fire fighters who are well trained and work well together.

Have you seen any of these fire fighting vehicles during your trips to/from HIA? Did you tour a fire house/station as a kid? What impressed you the most about the experience?