FTU Tampa Family Travel Tips Presentation

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Family Travel Made Easy (well, easier)

Summer Hull – Mommy PointsEd 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 or stretch your miles in coach.

• 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

• Airline Availability Issues• Best Lodging For Families• Elite Status and Families• Travel Logistics for Families• 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)• American’s Asia flights (especially in first class)• LAN’s South America routes from Miami• Asiana especially Seattle – Seoul• Virgin Australia Los Angeles – Brisbane• Good luck with 3 business class seats on Cathay booking 6+

months out• West Coast on Korean (via Ultimate Rewards)• 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 (Delta partner, no fuel surcharges, and tons of business class space – and connections to places like India)


Coach won’t kill you


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.


Great Deals for Domestic Travel• Southwest Companion pass for 110k

points. Two card sign-ups + a little extra.• Southwest $59/$79/$99 sales• Avios for short flights on AA or Alaska • 25k RT from West Coast to Hawaii• Barclay Arrival Card • Follow @theflightdeal and

@airfarewatchdog to learn about great limited time sales


Best Lodging for Families


Is a hotel room best?

Once you start talking about more than one kid, a standard hotel room isn’t always the

best option.

However, points can still play into the equation.


Studio: 12,000 Hyatt pointsOne Bedroom:15,000 Hyatt pointsTwo Bedroom: 23,000 Hyatt pointsThree Bedroom: 30,000 Hyatt points

Hyatt Vacation Club


Hyatt Vacation Club• Available in cities like: Key West,

Breckenridge, Aspen, San Antonio, and more.

• Typically offered on a relatively short-term basis (usually 60 - 90 days prior to arrival)

• Book points rates over the phone


Hyatt Suites• Diamond members get 4 suite upgrades

per year on any rate.• 6,000 points gets an upgrade to a suite

for up to 4 nights, including 2BR at HH• Hyatt allows you to book a suite on

points for less than a 50% premium over a regular room.


SPG Suites • You can use points to book suites and

deluxe rooms via SPG on points or cash and points.

• Sometimes the additional surcharge, especially for deluxe rooms, is minimal.

• Ask about cash upgrade prices was $25 to go from base room to one-bedroom in Whistler


50% Discount for 2nd Room • Many hotel programs will offer a 50%

discount on a connecting room for children, but you have to ask.

• More common in Europe than the US, but still happens here.

• I got 50% off connecting room at the Walt Disney World Swan (SPG)


Look to All Suite Properties• Use Hilton Hhonors points to stay at

Embassy Suites.• Hyatt points to stay at Hyatt House

properties with 1 or 2 bedrooms.• Marriott points to stay at TownePlace

Suites or similar.• Club Carlson property Radisson Suites

Oceanfront in Melbourne, Florida


Elite Status and Families


Why Elite Status?


Status or Pseudo Status• At least get mid-tier status like Hilton

Gold via credit card• Some cards like United Club card give

very status-like benefits• Status benefits extend to some extend to

other family members• Worth the incremental push to get

status, but don’t worry too much about it


Pre-Check is a Game Changer• Get it via Global Entry, NEXUS, elite

invitation, or soon by applying online• Will cost $85, Global Entry is $100, or

NEXUS is $50 (and free for kids)• Good for five years• Will have to do fingerprints, background

check, etc. • Children 12 and under piggyback!


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.• Easier if they are in bottles or sippy cups.• Under 12 years 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. • 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• Air Canada charges flat charges in miles


Where to Sit on the Plane• Sitting together requires advanced

planning and/or on-board negotiations.• E+!!!!• 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 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.


iPad Apps For Young Kids

• Storybots (storybots.com) Ages 2-9

• Woo! Button (Ages 1-3, ask for link)

• Bookboard.com (Ages 2-12)

• Cake Doodle, Cookie Doodle

• Toca Hair Salon/Toca Train

• ToddleTube


Travel Gear - Travelmate


Travel Gear – Traveling Toddler


Why We Do This

FTU Tampa Family Travel Tips Presentation

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Transcript of FTU Tampa Family Travel Tips Presentation