Frequent Traveler University Family Travel Presentation

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Family Travel Made Easy
(well, easier)
Summer Hull – Mommy Points
Edward Pizzarello – Pizza in Motion

Who Are We?
MommyPoints.com
PizzaInMotion.com

Miles and Points Matter for Families
• More people = more $$$
• Staying connected to family
• Tight budgets with daycare, groceries,
doctor’s visits, diapers, and much more
• Emergency trips
• Showing our children the world

Travel Regularly (Almost) For Free
• If you have good credit, and are willing to
do a little work your family can travel
frequently almost for free.
• You can travel in first or business class.
• Stay in very nice hotels and/or suites.
• Show your kids things that they otherwise
would just read in books or see in movies.

Perhaps best of all, traveling with
kids can be fun and pretty easy!

Family Travel Made Easy Agenda
• Earning and Redeeming Miles and Points – Family
Specific Issues
• Elite Status & Families
• Travel Logistics for Families
• Planning the trip
• Lap infants and infant fares
• What to pack
• Where to sit on the plane
• How to survive the flight
• Helpful Travel Gear
• Q&A

Earning & Redeeming Miles
and Points for Families

Earning A Lot of Points
Families need more miles and points than
single travelers so we have to try harder and
get the family involved.

Credit Card Bonuses x 2
Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility,
and Disclosure Act of 2009 = problems for
stay-at-home parents as of October 2011

Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington,
and Wisconsin.

One Million Miles and Points
in Three Years

Availability Issues and School
Schedules

Tips for Availability
• Start looking 11 months out
• Consider different cabins or different
flights
• Consider “off season” destinations
• Combine revenue and award tickets
• Fixed value points
• Expert Flyer
• Use award booking services

Tips for Availability
Getting multiple business class seats on international flights can be
very tough. According to Gary Leff, who books tons of these awards:
• Anywhere - Brussels (Newark, JFK, Chicago, Washington Dulles on
United and Brussels Airlines)
• New York JFK – Vienna on Austrian
• American’s Asia flights (especially in first class)
• LAN’s South America routes from Miami
• Asiana especially Seattle – Seoul
• Virgin Australia Los Angeles – Brisbane
• Most Air France routes when using Air France KLM Flying Blue
miles (transferrable instantly from Amex Membership Rewards,
but you pay fuel surcharges)
• Saudi Arabian (seriously – a Delta partner, no fuel surcharges, and
tons of business class space – and connections to places like
India)

Book Something, then Keep
Looking
Get to know your airline change policies,
and then you can book awards that will
work, but keep checking to try to improve
them.

Elite Status and Families

Why Elite Status?

Airline Elite Status
• Most airline elite status starts at 25,000
paid flown miles per year and goes up
from there.
• First class upgrades, preferred seats,
early boarding, extra miles, better
service, etc.
• Not practical for everyone and some
benefits can come via airline credit cards.

Airline Elite Status
• Can leverage many benefits to other
family members.
• AA up to 8 get preferred seats, free bags,
etc.
• United Platinums 8 get E+ seats
• United status carries over on awards if
the miles are booked from an elite
account

Hotel Elite Status
• Free breakfast, late check-out, lounge
access and upgrades are huge for
families
• Mid-tier status can often be obtained by
credit cards or promos
• Some top tier can be obtained via
spending on credit cards

Hotel Elite Status
• Hilton Gold via Citi HHonors Visa gets you
free continental breakfast for two +
possible lounge access + internet
• Hyatt Platinum via Hyatt Card or UA Club
Card gets 2PM late check-out + internet
• Club Carlson Gold via Club Carlson card
internet + welcome gift

Hotel Elite Status
Really good stuff comes into play via top tier
status such as Hyatt Diamond!
Mattress runs can make sense if you are
close to the number of required stays.

Travel Logistics for Families

Planning the Trip
• Be realistic and conservative.
• Consider bringing grandparents or second
set of hands.
• Choose flight times carefully and take
sleep/feeding schedules into account.
• Think about where the kiddo(s) will sleep.
Do you need one room or two? Suite?
• Where on the plane should you sit?
• Car seats?

Packing
• Bring more than you think you need, but
not so much that you can’t carry it.
• Focus on things that can’t easily be
obtained where you are going.
• Keep the baby things together in one place
as much as possible, and carry that bag on.
• Checking bags is likely a necessity.
• Decide what you will do about stroller and
car seat.

Carry-on Bag
• Snacks and drinks for the kiddos -
especially for departure and landing.
• Diapers, wipes, and more diapers.
• Change of clothes.
• Toys, DVD, iPad, movies, colors, stickers,
etc.
• Blanket and/or comfort item.
• Extra bottle and formula.
• Sense of humor and free drink coupons!

Get kids to carry
and pack their
own bags

Checked Bag
• Carry-on essentials for you, but your hands
will already be full, so try and check
everything that you do not really need
• Take advantage of elite status or credit
cards that provide free checked bags to
avoid fees. (or fly Southwest!)
• Use curbside checking or get help into the
airport.
• Use luggage carts.

Strollers
• Make life in the airport and destination
much easier, but some strollers are
required to be checked.
• American Airlines weight limit doesn’t
allow Bob strollers to be gate checked.
• Be ready for heavy lifting through security
– especially if you are traveling alone.
• Can rent strollers at some locations (like
Disney), so determine which way is easiest
for your family.

In the Airport
• Can carry through some liquids for
infants/toddlers, but have to be tested.
• Multiple bags may require multiple tests.
• Easier if they are in bottles or sippy cups.
• Under 12 yrs old can keep their shoes on.
• Don’t hesitate to use a backpack/leash if
you need to for safety reasons – especially
if you are travelling alone.
• Don’t get there late, but super early isn’t
good either

Airport Lounges
• Having an airport lounge to go to can make
things much easier.
• Snacks, drinks, nicer restrooms, agents
ready to help with seats, rebooking, etc.
• Most important are family rooms with
doors that shut and toys to play with (AA).
• Can get day passes or annual member
• United Club Card, Amex Platinum, 12
passes for $33 via Executive Privileges Club

Lap Infant
• Children under two are permitted as lap
infants, but whether or not that is a good
deal depends on your family.
• Safety issues during turbulence.
• Limited space
• Keep in mind the baby’s temperament –
won’t know that until they are born.
• Little C would have been a disaster as a lap
infant!

Lap Infant
• Ask if there are any open seats if you have
a lap infant.
• 10% miles/fare + taxes internationally
• Bring the birth certificate to prove age.
• Have car seat available if you want to take
advantage of complimentary seat.
• Nursing covers
• Once infants/toddlers become mobile at 9-
12 months, it becomes much harder to
manage lap children.

Lap Infant
• 10% of fee may mean lowest fare, or
highest fare for ticketed cabin.
• Hang-up and call back
• BA charges 10% miles + 10% YQ
• Air Canada charges low flat fees
• Etihad and Qatar 10% miles in economy
• Virgin Atlantic 1,500 Miles for Upper Class,
750 miles for Prem. Eco, 200 miles for Eco
• Cathay is evil at 25% fare to/from US

Where to Sit on the Plane
• Sitting together requires advanced
planning and/or on-board negotiations.
• E+/Main Cabin Extra!!!!
• First/Business if you can do it.
• US Airways issue – don’t add baby until at
the airport.
• If in a car seat, the kiddo can probably kick
the seat in front of them.

Where to Sit on the Plane

• Most airlines allow families with young
children to board early (Southwest between A
and B group)
• Isn’t always announced, so go ask.
• Consider having just one person board and
bring the kid on later.
• Get your child in the seat and get out of the
aisle while you install the car seat or CARES
harness.
Boarding

Surviving the Flight
• Plan activities for the whole flight +
• Eat on-board to take up time.
• Make sure they are thirsty when they get
on so that they will drink after take-off
• Suckers and gummy bears are good
• Do one activity as long as it works.
• If they fall asleep – don’t move.
• Movies, DirecTV, ear phones, etc.
• If it isn’t hurting anyone, let them do it.

If All Hell Breaks Loose
• Try really hard to keep a sense of humor.
• The flight will eventually end.
• Show others you are doing everything
you can, but don’t get too worried about
what others think.
• Hand out ear plugs, drinks, whatever.
• Just keep trying to meet your child’s
needs.
• Get up, walk around. Switch off. Drink a
beer.

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