Your biggest pre-kid air travel problems were probably how to fit all your toiletries in TSA-approved amounts and what magazines to read on the plane. Now, traveling with kids
in tow often translates to extra luggage and extra opportunities for
your stress level to sky rocket. Thankfully, tips and tricks exist to make your flight experience pleasant and relatively painless. Read on to see what Philly parents have mastered when it comes to navigating Philadelphia International Airport with kids. Print your boarding passes and get to work!
Plan ahead
Laura Swartz
PHL has a notoriously terrible baggage claim, so, if you can, pack lightly enough to avoid checking baggage (though, that can often be tricky with kids!). Good news: Strollers don’t count as one of your carry-ons. Just wheel it right up to the jetway at boarding and gate check it. (Buy a protective “gate check” bag to put your stroller in on the plane so it doesn’t get damaged.) Be sure to bring whatever you need to keep your baby happy on the plane. Essentials like breastmilk and formula are exempt from the TSA liquid limits. Just remove them from your carry-on so they can be screened separately. Make sure to cram in diversions into your carry-on—things like the iPad (don’t forget child-sized headphones), coloring books and stickers. If you forgot to pack any of these essentials, many of the basic “newsstand” stores at the airport have a decent kids’ section with airplane-ready activities. (They’re just pricey!)
Getting to PHL with kids
Laura Swartz
Before you fly out of PHL, map out your best transportation options—not all are easy with kids. While SEPTA may be convenient if you’re traveling light, it can be a nightmare if you’re struggling with kids of stroller age plus lots of bags. Driving is an option (though airport parking is pricey!), as are Ubers (you can either strap in your car seat or request one with a car seat). My favorite option, though, is to drive to an-offsite parking place, like Winner, that’ll take your family right to your terminal and then drive your car back to their parking site until you return to Philly. It’s cheaper than airport parking, and you don’t have to worry about finding a spot and then lugging all of your stuff from the garage to your terminal. Don’t forget to check which terminal you’re flight out of in advance. Terminal F is in a completely different building and you don’t want to get dropped off at the airport without specifying.
Come hungry
Do yourself a favor and look at the list of eateries near your terminal before you go! (We can think of no sadder fate than getting bad airport coffee and then discovering that you could have walked 100 feet further in the terminal for a La Colombe latte and fresh Le Bus muffin.) If you’re flying out of the far-off Terminal F, the silver lining is that you’ve got some of the best kid-approved eats there—Smashburger, Chipotle and Red Mango. If you’re flying out of the rest of the airport, the Terminal B/C Connector is your friend. There, you’ll find a big Starbucks with lots of comfy seating, Pinkberry, and a food court with standbys like Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A and even Geno’s Steaks. If you get a chance to sit down a little longer, Philly favorite Chickie’s & Pete’s has outposts throughout the airport, serving up their signature crab fries as well as other sports bar fare (including a pretty good beer selection). Finally, if you need to load up on bribe-worthy sweets, hit up the Terminal E candy store, Lick.
Keep the kids entertained
Laura Swartz
Regardless of your gate location, you should head to Terminal A-East to let your kids run around the Please Touch Museum’s “Ready For Takeoff” play area. Kids can pretend to fly a plane (or drive the baggage cart if that’s more their speed!), play air traffic controller, locate their destination on the maps, or just run around and go down the big slide. Our three-year-old liked it so much that she asked to go “play planes” again when we returned to Philly.
Laura Swartz
Where: In addition to the play area, Terminal A-East also has a cute Book Exchange lounge with seating, a little library and a plant wall, all made from recycled wood pallets. It’s a nice little area to climb around or just relax with a book and enjoy the décor.,
Know where to go with your baby
Laura Swartz
You’ll find changing tables in the bathrooms throughout the airport. Family restrooms are located next to nearly all men’s and women’s bathrooms. These have a changing table, as well as electrical outlets and a seat (key for nursing or pumping moms). Also for nursing moms, Minute Suites (located between Terminal A-East and Terminal B) offers comfortable Private Lactation Suites for 30 minutes free of charge to mothers who need to breastfeed or pump. And in case you forgot nursing supplies like milk storage bags, lanolin or pads, Minute Suites has a surprisingly good selection of baby products for sale right at the entrance (and even some face masks, in case you feel like multitasking while you nurse!). For members of the U.S. Military and their families, the USO offers a 24-hour lounge in Terminal A-East free of charge.
Delay? It’s going to be okay
There’s nothing more annoying that finding out your plane is delayed, but, thankfully, there’s plenty to do in the airport to keep your crew busy. Much like the rest of Philadelphia, the airport is a great
space for taking in some art. You can find exhibits in every terminal
and public space of the airport, and they are constantly being updated—since
the airport exhibition program started in 1998, there have been more
than 300 exhibits featuring work by local artists. Plus, there’s free Wifi
and charging stations throughout the airport, so you don’t need to worry about draining your iPad battery (or using up all of your data!) while your kids watch videos on YouTube Kids.
