Family Air Travel Tricks from the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown!

by Samantha Brown

1. Pack items you think will raise suspicion from TSA in the front pockets of your checked luggage, including lighters, electronics, Swiss army knives, toy guns etc. They will locate them easily and not go thru the rest of your stuff, which could result in your bags not making the flight.

2. Pack a picnic like you were going on a road trip. This way you are not at the mercy of the flight attendant for your food, and, if you should sit on the tarmac for two to four hours, you will be well fed.

3. Ride on Carry On. Have you seen the best invention for a parent traveling with a toddler in an airport ever? It's called the Ride On, Carry On. It looks like a tiny beach chair that safely hooks on to any wheeled luggage and collapses perfectly to fit thru security x ray machines and in the overhead compartments in planes. It allows you to negotiate an airport, make connections and deal with terminal changes with a lot less stress. I saw this in the Houston airport recently and a crowd had gathered around the woman asking her where she got it and how she liked it. She loved it and all the reviews on-line have been extremely positive.

4. Wear slip-on shoes and have your children wear Velcro shoes. The security line with its strip tease of shoes, belts and watches, is stressful for even one person, let alone a family. The hardest thing to do while juggling the control of your clan is to do this while taking off your shoes and untying tiny laces. Make this as easy as possible.

5. When you pack shampoos, conditioners and baby lotions make sure they are not filled to the top* - as cabin pressure will cause the creams to expand and explode.

6. Get your child their own adorable carry-on. It alleviates your burden and your child will feel so proud since they now look like all the grown-ups in the airport.

7. Pack in your carry-on a pair of slippers or big fuzzy socks for your family. During flight your feet become swollen and even in your most comfortable sneakers this can be really uncomfortable. Warm is key. If you just wear your plain socks, your feet will be very cold, as the position of the seat is slightly cutting off your circulation.

8. Before you zip the luggage up, place a piece of paper on top with your name and number - NOT your address. There is such a thing as Too Much Information.

Be sure to check out Samantha Brown's return to primetime with the latest installment of her Passport series, Passport To Latin America, now airing on the Travel Channel. For more info, please visit www.travelchannel.com.

*Keep in mind to check your airlines current policy when it comes to allowing these substances on your flight.