AK on the GO

AK Fam has been there. We know the stomach-tightening, teeth-clenching feeling of packing up kids and kaboodle and heading out for the holidays. Be it across the state or across the country (or further than that), holiday travel has morphed into a frenzied flash mob that officially begins today.

If you are one of the fortunate to already be at your destination, good for you! If you are still standing before open suitcases or unwashed piles of clothes, waiting for the packing fairy to arrive and save you, know this; we’re here. Sit down, take a cleansing breath, and read along for the latest news on the family travel front lines…and do follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our real-time, real-life travel adventures. Or, misadventures.

Playin' it cool at the airport.

1) Plan. Plan. Oh, and plan. Who will take you to the airport? Who will pick you up? Which kid will be managed by which parent? Who will board first with the car seat? These are important questions that should be addressed ahead of time. Think I’m kidding? Last week on my return flight from Portland, I actually listened to a couple arguing in front of me in the ticketing line. Dad said “I thought you called the shuttle service to pick us up!” Mom said, “What, are you nuts?!”(she didn’t actually say ‘nuts’) “I had three kids to pack for, you big bazonga!” (No, she didn’t say ‘bazonga’ either). Point is, assign jobs to your significant other, your older kids, and everyone else in the party who is old enough to read and understand a job and your language of choice.

Look mom, I have shoes on! New TSA rules state Kids under 12 can now do this.

2) Embrace the TSA. Not really, because I still think they are one of our most inefficient governmental agencies, which is not saying much. But, in a fit of almost-intelligence last month, TSA instituted the Brilliant Announcement that KIDS CAN KEEP THEIR SHOES ON. Wow. Whoopee. But there it is. Kids under 12 can now keep their shoes on during the security process to, get this: save time. But see the photo above? That is AK Kid showing off his “on-shoes,” before we hit the screening area last week, and how excited were we that it would take less time through security? Way. See the photo below? That’s AK Kid, waiting, waiting, and waiting some more for Mom and Dad to finish their security screenings, whereby both of us adults had to practically undress neked before it was discovered that the Holy Screening Machine was broken. Right. Anyway, you get my point, and kids can leave their shoes on. Good to know, now. We’d hate to have TSA get cranky at you for following the rules.

AK Kid waits for us. And waits, and waits, and waits. Nobody can look bored, better.

3) Pack it in, and out. We’re backpackers, and a well-known mantra among our cadre is the “Pack it out” rule. When traveling with kids, we add the “Pack it in” rule, too. You’ve heard about it a lot lately, in fact. Moms asking for milk on crowded flights, babies running out of diapers, older children losing battery power for the DS. Mercy, it’s mayhem, all right. So, bring extra snacks, drinks (if flying, do read TSA’s requirements, please), power cords, cell phones, books, quiet toys, and other activities for kids. Driving? Get an in-car charger; I’ve been saved by mine more than once, ironically on what should have been “short drives” that turned into marathon traffic jams. Eek. Carry gallon zip-type bags for trash and/or wet stuff (because it will happen, guaranteed, if you don’t bring them), and cups or bottles with sippy lids, even for the big kids. Ever been on a turbulent flight? That’s why I started bringing zipper bags; an entire cup of bright, red cranberry juice spilled by my own child ended up staining my white shirt last week. Uh huh, they’re never too old for a sippy.

Not everything will fit in the overhead bins. Be prudent this holiday season.

4) Check it. God almighty, have you seen the “carry-on” bags people are trying to bring aboard airplanes these days? Let me ‘splain it to you, Lucy: Baggage fees are going up and up, people want to carry on as much as they can, luggage companies respond by making bags that just.barely.fit.the.requirements, you buy. Then, you and 200 other smart airline consumers try to squeeze those bags into overhead bins not designed to hold 201 barely-legal bags. We parents compound the problem with our very-required car seats, and all the equipment I mentioned above. I know, I’m sorry, but I think we should check our bags. Alaska Airlines Club 49 members now receive two free checked bags per member, and many airlines also offer free “at the gate” checking for carry-on luggage on full flights (which seems to be all of them). The whole thing stinks more than old cheese, but during the holidays, sometimes we just need to suck it up. Don’t hate me for saying that.

A little downtime can help promote more cheer among young family members.

5) Keep cool. Flying late at night? Try, try, to have everyone packed and fed and rested hours before you leave the house. Set out a quiet craft or project at home and let the kids have at it while you sip a cup of tea and relax, a bit. Flying early in the morning? Send everyone to baths and bed early; even if they are excited, at least they are corralled. Get to the airport two hours early. Just do it. Don’t argue with me. Take that holiday bonus and go out for a meal at the terminal, or at least pass out Christmas cookies to the kids. Read the paper, walk down the different gate areas, or, hey, get a massage at one of those crazy stations scattered around the airport. If driving, take the least-traveled route, and make a surprise stop at a roadside attraction, or have a meal together at a local diner. When was the last time you all sat down together to eat, anyway?

The whole point is to create a concept of “joyful journeying,” and the more effort we parents put out, the greater liklihood our kiddos will respond in kind. And that, my friends, could be the greatest gift of all.

Hey, visit my Alaska Travelgram Radio co-host’s website, too, for more ideas on stress-free holiday travel. Scott McMurren is a travel guru, and sometimes he really knows what he’s talking about.

Happy holidays!

BIG NEWS! In case you have been busy with other things and missed yesterday’s big announcement regarding Alaska Airlines’ launch of their brand new benefit program for residents of Alaska, we’re proud to be the Alaska family travel website to crack the code for readers, explaining “The Club” in a bit more detail.

As a corporate “Thank You” to all Alaskans for their 80 years (can you believe it?) of patronage to Alaska Airlines, residents of the 49th state can now opt to sign up for Club 49, a free program open to anyone (yes, kids, too) who is a member of the Mileage Plan program. What does this mean for you, me, and everyone in the family? Take a look:

1. Every person who is registered for Club 49 (sign up HERE), is eligible for 2 FREE checked bags on any flight into our out of Alaska. As long as the flight begins or ends in Alaska, this policy stands. Parents will no longer have to haul carry-ons full of stuff in hopes of avoiding gazillion-dollar baggage fees, children slung over their shoulders like sacks of potatoes. And, residents of rural areas will have twice as many opportunities to return to their communities with staples for an easier life (Costco, watch out).

2. Club 49 members will receive two annual 30% discount certificates for last-minute travel (Alaska refers to them as “YAS” fares) when flying to, from, or within the state on Alaska Airlines. Yes, it’s not a free trip, or even as great as the $99 companion fare, BUT, for those folks who need transport to medical care, are on bereavement flights, or just  need to get the heck outta town, this can alleviate some of the sticker shock. Book within four days of departure and everyone goes for 30% off, provided they are members of the Club. Example: We may need to make a last-minute trip south due to the death of a family member; instead of paying $1,000 for a ticket, we’ll only pay $700. Yeah, it’s not perfect, but it helps. Don’t forget to sign up the kids!

3. Alaskans who join Club 49 will receive a weekly email newsletter, in addition to the already-great Alaska Airlines Insider that comes out on Tuesdays. Before it, actually. Each week, great deals will be featured to and from cities all around the U.S., perfect for planning next summer’s family vacation, or this winter’s ski getaway.

Not a Mileage Plan member, yet? It’s easy to sign up. Sign up the kids, too, because this is truly one of the ways we Alaskans can reap the benefits. Club 49 just sweetened the pot.

OTHER BIG NEWS! AKontheGO is pleased as crowberry punch to announce a new partnership with our friends at Alaska Communications to provide our readers, listeners, and general lurkers with the finest in Tweets, blog posts, and Facebook updates, not to mention phone service when we’re out in the middle of who-knows-where trying to engage same in a meaningful conversation.

Why did we choose Alaska Comm? Simple. They are listening to me. When I was in Juneau fretting because my wireless was on the fritz and my hair was becoming frazzled from pulling it out by the roots after I had flung my laptop across the hotel room…(okay, that didn’t happen, but it was about to), the folks at Alaska Comm listened, conferenced among themselves, and fixed.the.problem. Fixed it so that AK Fam could continue on our two-week Alaska State Ferry journey with little service interruption and one calm AK Mom. Thank you very much. I don’t care how many whoozie-whats-its or widgets-wazoodles; I just want it to work, and they understand that. Simple. Local. Got it.