frequent traveler university family travel presentation

Family Travel Made Easy (well, easier)

Summer Hull – Mommy PointsEdward 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 Cards Promotions

TravelEveryday Spending

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 AvailabilityGetting 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 StatusReally 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

In the Airport

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

Travel Gear - Travelmate

Travel Gear – Traveling Toddler

Why We Do This

frequent traveler university family travel presentation

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