By the readers of

updated 2:56 p.m. ET June 30, 2008

Good general advice

1. We fly with six kids aged 6 to 12 and get compliments that we make it look easy.

• Everyone wears a brightly colored T-shirt and is responsible for his own carry-on and backpack. Each kid has a different colored carry-on with wheels and a backpack that matches. We only do carry-ons so nothing is lost or missing.
• My husband goes through security first with the valuables, followed by all the kids (youngest to oldest) and then myself. Nothing gets stolen and the kids have time to put their Crocs (so easy!) back on.
• In the concourse, everyone takes a bathroom trip as close to boarding time as possible.
• Everyone pairs up and the shorter kids give their carry-ons to one of the taller kids or Daddy to stow while they’re settling in.
• Everyone gets gum for take off and landing. The kids are reminded to pop their ears continuously as well.
• The kids each get a new book to read on the plane. Baby wipes, Shout wipes, and Ziploc bags are great for messes.
• At our destination, we stop at the first drugstore and buy shampoo, gel, hairspray, and toothpaste. So much easier than carrying or mailing. We leave what little is left for housekeeping staff if they’d like it.
• We use “elevator rules” for everything. Daddy first, then all kids, then Mommy. If we get separated, the first group waits for the second. My husband and I each carry our cell phones just in case we get separated. — Nicol from Rochester, N.Y.

2. The temperature onboard airplanes is completely unpredictable, regardless of the season. It can be stiflingly hot or freezing cold but never, it seems, pleasantly in between. Whenever we fly, I have everyone in my family dress in three layers—tee-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, light sweatshirt or sweater. We’re ready for anything. — Serena from New Rochelle, N.Y.

3. Instead of writing lists and notes to myself to help me remember information when I travel, I use my cell phone as a reminder service. For example, I will leave myself a message with my hotel’s name, address and reservation booking number. I will leave another message reminding myself exactly where I parked my car in the airport parking garage. It is useful for so many things. When I don’t need the information any more, I just delete the message. — Jean from Portland, Ore.

4. Think outside the weekend-to-weekend vacation box. Sometimes shifting your flights one or two days forward or back can make a big difference in airfare. Also, midweek flights are often less crowded, which makes for a more pleasant trip. — Kimberly from Minneapolis, Minn.

5. We use a simple system of keeping track of our miscellaneous belongings when we pass through airport security. I give every member of my family a one-gallon zip-top bag for the contents of their pockets, keys, loose change, etc. (My 6-year-old son’s bag contained a pack of chewing gum, some spending money from his grandma, and a few HotWheels.) The security officers can see what’s inside, everything stays together, and it makes gathering up your stuff much faster on the other side of the x-ray machine. — Daniel from McAlester, Okla.

6. With so many delayed take-offs at airports these days, I know that there’s a good possibility that our plane might get stuck on the tarmac for a long time before we even get in the air. I also know that nobody can use the on-plane lavatories during those delays. So, the last thing my kids and I do in the airport before boarding a flight is to take a bathroom break. — Trish from Lyndhurst, N.J.

7. Book your tickets online and reserve seats in the same row. If you can’t get seats together, politely ask other passengers if they would swap seats so that you can sit next to your children. (Hint: You may want to bring a couple of Starbucks gift cards along as a nice thank you.) Also, have your kids wear slip-on shoes and carry their own backpacks. This makes it easier going through security. — Sherin from Atlanta, Ga.

8. If possible, print out online boarding passes up to 24 hours before your flight to avoid long check-in lines. — Robin from Princeton, N.J.

Editor’s note: Great advice! The huge added benefit is that you can choose your own seats. All major carriers offer this service. The typical restrictions are: (1) you must be traveling on a domestic route; (2) you must have an e-ticket; and (3) you must log on between 24 hours and one hour before your flight’s departure time. You can check your bags at a drop-off kiosk at the airport.

9. I got this tip from watching Peter Greenberg, the travel expert on the Today show. Whenever we fly home from a vacation, my husband retrieves our car from long-term parking and picks up me and the kids at the Departures concourse, rather than at Arrivals. The line at Arrivals is always torturous, whereas there is never a line at Departures. This strategy works great when you call a taxi or town car, too—just tell the dispatcher to pick you up at Departures. — Candace from New York, N.Y.

More from WeJustGotBack.com Click for related stories Tip sheet: Road trips Make friends with a dolphin Pennsylvania farmstays

10. I always tuck a crushable duffle bag into an outside zippered compartment on my largest suitcase, and we have yet to return home without using it. If I check my bag and it happens to be over the weight limit, I just take out the duffle and transfer some of my belongings into it so I can avoid the penalty. Other times, we use it to bring back souvenirs that we bought on vacation. — Jodi from Milford, Ohio

11. Two disastrous experiences have turned me into a staunch advocate of buying travel insurance. Once, our cruise ship was diverted due to stormy weather and we had to spend hundreds of dollars to get home. Another time, our return flight from a ski trip was cancelled due to a blizzard and we were forced to stay additional nights in a hotel. I have come to love a very handy site called QuoteWright, which compares insurance quotes from all the major travel insurance companies, including Travel Guard, Access America, TravelSafe, CSA Travel Protection, and Travelex. You select your travel dates, estimated travel costs, and the kind of insurance you need, and it shows you a chart with payout limits and prices for dozens of policies. You can even purchase the best deal online. — Gerilynn from San Mateo, Calif.

12. Take a tip from a flight attendant and mom of two: If you want to avoid long periods of waiting in the airport, fly as early in the day as possible. Afternoon and evening flights are always more likely to be delayed due to back-ups at the airport. — Laura from San Francisco, Calif.

MORE FROM TRAVEL

Travel Section Front

How to raise a globe-trotter Top celebrity vineyards America's best beer festivals For China’s new Midases, gold tableware Easy, breezy travel beauty tips Send us photos of your favorite place! Couple accused of beach sex: Let us go home Singapore salon has $1,000-per-lb. teas '100 Things' co-author dies at 47 High-end pet lodges popular with owners Travel Section Front   Add Travel headlines to your news reader: