1. Always arrive at the airport with plenty of time to organize yourself and your children calmly. Make sure you've also allowed enough time to deal with the added security checks that are required at all airports now.
2. If possible, have one adult or older child responsible for kids and baggage while another adult checks in.
3. Be at the gate of your airline in plenty of time to pre-board if you have small children.
4. Be sure that your airline has children's meals, or other special meals if needed, by phone before the day the flight departs, preferably while making reservations.
5. Ask the flight attendant to serve your children their meals before starting the general meal service so they don't have to wait and you don't have to eat and struggle with the children at the same time.
6. Consider a small meal in the departure lounge before you board if the kids are getting hungry such as yogurt, cheese sticks, etc. Anything to avoid the kids getting hysterical.
7. Try to book a window seat. Sometimes, if just one parent and one child are traveling together, if you book the window seat and aisle seat in three across, you may get lucky and have all three.
8. Always pack as much food and drink as you think you'll need between your home and your final destination.
