Airport Hacks
Tips for getting through the airport with kids, carry-ons, and your dignity intact.
Airports are a strange alternate universe — overpriced water, confusing signage, and people sprinting in flip-flops. Now add a toddler. And snacks. And a stroller.
Here’s how I navigate the chaos with just enough grace and a few tricks up my (comfy) sleeve.
1. Dress Like a Woman Who Knows What She’s Doing
A comfy chic outfit and clean sneakers go a long way. Bonus points for a crossbody bag with room for wipes, snacks, and boarding passes. You will bend, crouch, and possibly sprint - dress accordingly.
2. Use a Pouch System or Lose Your Mind
Digging through a tote bag for your child’s gummy worms while holding a boarding pass in your teeth is… humbling. Any any pouch system will work. The more pouches, the merrier. HERE is my curated list of family must-haves for airplane and airport travel, if you need it.
snacks
more snacks
kid entertainment (split by category or by kid, or both if you are a real genius)
medical + hygiene stuff
docs + passports
emergency/back up clothes
bonus: wet bag. if you know, you know.
3. Do NOT Skip the Stroller
Gate check that bad boy. You will absolutely need it — as a Sherpa, a snack station, a nap zone, a kid wrangler.
And don’t bring one of those cute tiny travel strollers that folds into a purse and holds exactly one juice box. Let me tell you that those tiny travel strollers absolutely do NOT work on cobblestone roads (or any surface that isn’t the linoleum floor of a shopping mall), have zero storage in that basket underneath (if there is a basket, there is a 3 lb weight limit which won’t even hold a water bottle) and can barely hold a tired toddler. Do I even have to mention the inevitable sad slouch every parent has when pushing one? And HOW are they more expensive?
Bring your regular stroller. It’s free to gate check anyways, and future-you will cry tears of gratitude. There is literally no need to have it in the overhead bin above your head instead of having it waiting when you step off the plane.
4. Get Strategic With Check-In
Car seat? If you’re not using it on the plane, check it at the check-in counter for free. HOT TIP: fill that thing with diapers, wipes, coats, and everything else bulky before zipping it into the car seat bag. No one looks inside.
Bringing a pack and play? Same story. Just don’t call it a pack and play - call it a “stroller.” (Yes, really.) You’re only allowed two free baby items, and “stroller” gets waved through because most airlines consider strollers and car seats necessary for travel (not travel cribs or pack and plays).
5. Skip the Line (Legally)
Use family lines wherever available — most airports offer some version of this at security (or will take mercy on you).
And if you’re flying internationally:
Check if you’re eligible for Global Entry
Use Mobile Passport Control at U.S. airports — it’s free and fast
Traveling with a stroller? Don’t forget to gate check it and use it as a cart until the very last second
6. Board Last — With a Twist
Unless you need to install a car seat or claim overhead space, boarding last is clutch. Why trap a toddler in a seat for longer than necessary?
Our trick? Divide and conquer. One parent boards early to:
Set up seats (carseats if bringing)
Pull out snacks, headphones, toys, blankets
Stash bags and get organized
The other parent stays back and runs the kids ragged in the terminal, then boards last. Everybody wins.
7. Toddler Treadmills + Airport Kid Zones
Those flat airport walking escalators? They are your best friend. Have your toddler walk the opposite direction (obviously only if no one else is on it and you are supervising them), it’s a built-in treadmill that wears them out without leaving your gate.
A safer bet: a lot of airports have secret play areas, family lounges, or kid-friendly zones. Look this up before you get there. It’s the difference between chaos and a soft landing when you’re stuck during a delay.
8. Feed the Kids at the Gate, Not in the Air
Plane trays are disgusting. Give them something solid and familiar before boarding. This is particularly a priority if you have kids who are picky eaters: I assure you they will not eat the airplane meals or peanuts.
Bonus: Do not forget to bring an empty sippy or water bottle and fill it post-security. Avoids spills, tantrums, and overpriced Smartwater.
9. Don’t Forget About You
Pack snacks you don’t want to share. Download a podcast. Wear moisturizer with SPF. Being prepared for your kids is great — being kind to yourself is better. HERE is my list of a few little pick-me-ups for your carry on, if you need, as well as a list for the carry-on basics, right HERE.
Bottom Line: Airport travel with kids isn’t a vacation - it’s a mission. But with the right hacks, a little humor, and the perfect pouch system, you won’t have to sweat through your travel outfit before you’ve boarded the plane.