Leaving on a Jet Plane

I have been flying solo with the kids over the past few months, with both positive and negative experiences. 

 In no particular order:

• LaGuardia is a dump.  Avoid it.  You may have to go through security in between terminals.  And people are not helpful there.
• Usually other parents are great when you are flying solo with one or two kiddos.  It takes a village to get through it, especially the bathroom and security.  Chances are another parent will help before the TSA worker (who is required to assist the solo parent traveler).
• Southwest is the most family friendly (not surprising), though American has done better lately.
• Flight attendants will typically bend over backwards to help out too - especially if it involves holding a baby. 
• Never schedule a trip during nap or just after nap time = train wreck for a tired toddler. Though chocolate can make exhausted toddler behavior increase exponentially.
• Owen has flown on six trips as a free lap baby (though usually gets an empty seat), with a 7th already booked, before his first birthday. Wow, especially when you consider that his daddy took his first one in college to go skiing in Utah with me.
• Checked baggage fees are so annoying.
• Neighbors who take you and your hubby to the airport two days in a row rock (go Shawn!)
• If you have an emergency landing situation, airports are required to bring out the fire trucks to greet you.

• An aborted take off is very scary when you brake at very fast speeds (last Aug to MN).
• Smelling fire on a plane is never good, especially after you take off.  Getting a new plane is better than getting back on it.  The long delay when you are not at a hub can add hours to a long day (hello midnight arrival last night).  At least I only had Owen with me, and he slept like this in the empty seat next to me:

• It is more scary than comforting when you hear the flight attendant praying aloud on the plane! I just randomly found that by way of People's article on Reese's honeymoon (they cited this blog, really People?).  Lots of prayers uttered by everyone last night on my flight!