If it's any comfort, I just returned yesterday from a (driving) outing with my 8 year-old son, and other than me getting temporarily lost and him throwing up from carsickness, we really had a nice day.

I kept thinking to myself, wow, I am actually enjoying his company hour after hour, not just in flashes between losing my mind.

Time heals all wounds, and other stuff....:)

LOL Wendy! I think I may have to try some of these tricks to distract MYSELF when traveling. I especially like #4. Delays are also why I bring my heavy laptop along - never underestimate the power of video & games to kill time - on or off the planes. Good luck to all those stranded and safe travels! Lori B

Are the airlines missing a revenue generating opportunity by not having something similar to a VIP lounge, but for families? It would have to be daily rates for the most part, since people don't travel with kids as often. But when I have my 11 and 10 year old kids with me and have anything more than 3 hours or so, I'd pay $30-50 depending on what was available.

Wouldn't that be nice! Some Admirals Club lounges do have children's rooms -- the one at MIA, Terminal D, for instance -- but these are really just soundproof rooms with children's desks and computers. What we really need is a room with a McDonald's PlayPlace-style jungle gym and lots of toys (the toys we have at home but are too large for our carry-ons) so the kids can move and exercise before having to sit still on the plane for hours.

The Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland international terminal is a particularly good kid-friendly lounge. Not only is their a kids room with plenty of games and toys but they even have playstations in the main part of the lounge to help keep kids from hogging the computers. The food and drink selection always includes stuff that kids (of all ages) like too.

Our family just returned from a trip to Paris last week. It was the first time I noticed pay-to-play Nintento kiosks in the boarding area. Nice diversion for the kids if your plane is delayed!

Best of luck on getting out of there.

Today I get to go through both Heathrow and O'hare. Didn't seem like a bad idea when I booked the trip - but it looks like I'll soon be able to take advantage of your top ten list ;-).

LHR AND ORD in one trip?! OMG. My top tip: Medicate yourself. And report back and let me know how you survived, okay? Good luck!!!

LOL Great article Wendy :)

I don't know how you travel with kids. I can't imagine it. It's hard enough traveling with my husband ;)

LHR and ORD were what we flew through on the way back from England. I'd prefer DFW myself. I really like that airport and am hoping to fly through there when I go to Europe next year since they have flights to LHR now. Perhaps LHR will have their new terminal mess worked out by then LOL.

Medicate huh? There's always a bar in every terminal, and for good reason, hehe :D

England was great BTW, we got to spend some time with my husband's cousin while we were there, looking forward to going back next year and hitting up France and Italy while I'm at it :D

Some airports are well supplied with weird and unusual art exhibits, sculpture. Atlanta's has terrific Yoruba art on display in the walk between concourse A and main terminal, a changing exhibit by the T gates, ants crawling on the ceiling of one of the baggage areas, MLK Jr stuff elsewhere-- all good for an adolescent scavenger. Which kid ccan find the weirdest public art display?

Well, I made it, but my luggage didn't

Yes, I'm one of those guys who checks their luggage, against conventional wisdom. To do this, you need to realize that losing your bags is not the worst thing that can happen to you on a trip. I just love the convenience of dropping off my bag and not having to worry about it until I get to my destination. It has made me an expert on lost luggage. But it also allows me the luxury of being the last passenger to board the plane. So I have an extra half hour before the flight to enjoy a latte, check e-mail and make a few phone calls without bothering my fellow passengers. (How much extra time does one want to spend on an aluminum tube of discomfort?)

Anyway, a one hour delay out of LHR - they claimed weather, and there were thunderstorms - and long lines through customs and immigration at ORD made for a close call. After the train ride from terminal 5 and the joys of security screening I made it to my plane with about 30 seconds to spare. They closed the door right after I boarded, and I don't think they were waiting for me.

On arriving at my home airport I went to the baggage claim. United has installed these new automated lost bag claim machines. I used to think these things were pure evil. If this is a function that needs automation, we're all in trouble. Bored, while waiting for the bags to start tumbling out, I played with the machine. It said "enter your baggage claim number", so I did. It replied "Your bag is in transit and will arrive soon, your options are: 1) wait for it, 2) have us hold it for pick up, or 3) arrange for delivery"

I walked over the baggage handling office, and asked the nice clerk behind the counter what this meant. I was told "Your bag missed its flight." She clicked on her keyboard, "It will be here on the first flight tomorrow."

I filled out the claim form on the machine - pretty easy. I had a delivery receipt and was on my way before the bags even started to roll out on the carousel. I'm going to use this machine every time I fly. No point in waiting half an hour (or more) for a bag that won't show. I love these machines!

I need to figure out what the machine says when my bag does make the flight.

My bag showed up on my doorstep the next morning - no problem.

-joe

I used to bring a small soccer ball when my son was younger, much to the dismay of my fellow passengers. We'd try to find a quiet place and usually other kids would join in. It gets easier. My son is 13 now and all he needs is his ipod.

Hi Joe,
Thanks for the nifty tip about the machines at baggage claim. What's your home airport? SFO? I'm flying there in June (with the kids, which means I'll be checking luggage) so will look for the machines then (although we're not flying United).

Hi MaryLiz1,
A soccer ball is a great idea. Sometimes I carry a tennis ball, sometimes a beach ball that I can inflate in the airport and then deflate for the flight. A soccer ball would do a better job of wearing out the boys, though.

PDX is home.

Good luck with the trip. I haven't yet seen the luggage tracking machines anywhere except at United - and only at a few airports.

hi i have a daughter and she takes her ds lite and realy i think that is a great idea if you have children to always every year if you can by an actividy or coloring book i think is great is the actividy books because it has alot of stuff to do and make sure you take crayons