Tips for smart, healthy holiday travel

As if traveling with the kids over the holidays weren’t tough enough, this year we must contend with airline surcharges and swine flu, as well as all the usual annoyances and delays that go along with traveling — especially with children — during the busiest travel weeks of the year.

There is some good news, though. Travelocity’s Genevieve Brown reports that domestic airfare is down 12 percent from last Thanksgiving — hotel rates are down even more.

Good luck to those of you taking a new baby home to meet the relatives this Thanksgiving. (That was my first flight with my babies too.) My “Taking the Kids 2009 Holiday Rules for the Skies” will hopefully keep you healthy and make your travel cheaper and easier this holiday season:

–Juggle your dates. Travel the Monday before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving morning, the week of Christmas rather than the following week and you could save more than $100 a ticket, says BestFare’s Tom Parsons. Those airline surcharges we are hearing so much about are only for the busiest travel days, like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Sunday, November 29.

Airfarewatchdog’s George Hobica adds that you are smart to consider airlines that give “fare drop” discounts like Jet Blue, Southwest and Alaska; they refund the difference if a fare goes down between the time you buy and the time you fly. Other airlines also offer refunds but deduct hefty change fees.

–Book a direct flight, even if you have to pay more, suggests Travelocity’s Brown. And if you have to connect, allow at least three hours between flights. The planes will be packed and if you miss your connection — all it takes is one major storm somewhere — you won’t find enough seats on the next flights for your family. Make sure you get seat assignments too. It will be impossible to get seats together when you arrive at the airport for a packed flight.

–Look for “family designated” security lanes at airports to avoid the icy glares of harried business travelers behind you and your stroller. Allow at least an hour more than you think you’ll need and check in online.

–Travel with carry-on bags not only to save fees (Jet Blue and Southwest currently are the only domestic carriers not charging baggage fees), but also to save time. You’ll get to the gate — and out of the airport at the other end — significantly quicker. As an early holiday gift, get the kids their own rolling carry-on, monogrammed with their name in a favorite color, from Lands’ End or L.L. Bean. (Listening, Grandma?)

If necessary, ship suitcases, snow sports gear and holiday gifts ahead. If you are staying with relatives, rent a crib (it isn’t safe to use the one your mom has had in the attic for 30 years). Google a rental place near where you’ll be staying or check out www.rent-baby-equipment.com or www.jetsetbabies.com. They can deliver diapers!)