Eleven-year-old Erica of Auburn, Ala., comments about flying: ”It seems they just want to get me on and off. It would be better if flight attendants talked to me. I`m treated like luggage sometimes.”
Erica is one of a group of junior jet-setters interviewed across the country for a Uniglobe Travel (International) survey. To get more information about the growing ranks of young frequent fliers, Uniglobe polled children 12 or younger who fly a minimum of five times a year, unaccompanied by an adult. Reasons for flying vary, but more children are traveling alone because of marital breakups, holidays and family visits.
The undisputed star of its survey, Uniglobe says, is Mike Brewer, 6, of Portland, Ore., who has racked up 70,000 air miles. He flies 15 times a year between Portland and Orange County, Calif., and ranks in the top 2 percent of Alaska Airlines` frequent fliers. His ticket automatically is upgraded to first class every 10,000 miles.
Most of the children surveyed said they were reasonably satisfied with the quality of service they receive, but suggested that the airlines could earn brownie points by offering hand-held video games, comic books and crayon sets.
Pet peeves included not enough washrooms, adult-oriented menus and long lines at airport check-in counters.
Here are the junior jet-setters` top 10 travel tips:
1. Window seats are great for short flights, but aisle seats are better if you want to see the movie.
2. Chew gum (it keeps your ears from getting plugged when taking off and landing).
3. Wear comfy clothes on the plane (don`t let them dress you fancy).
4. If you`re likely to get homesick or bored, take along a teddy bear, coloring books, comics, Game Boy or a family picture.
5. Make sure the airline has a children`s menu and order ahead.
6. Always take snacks and goodies in case they don`t have them on the plane.
7. Never order a sandwich with tomatoes, because they`re soggy.
8. Try to fly in the morning during the summer because there`s less chance of a bumpy ride from hot-air currents.
9. Help your mom or dad pack because they`ll forget all the good stuff you really need.
10. Ask the flight attendant if you can visit the cockpit.
More tips for kids:
In another survey, Hampton Inn hotels asked children aged 5-15 what it takes to keep them happy while on the road. Here are their suggestions:
– Pack plenty of reading material. According to the survey, books and magazines are the most popular take-along items on family trips.
– Doughnuts top the list for breakfast. For dinner, pizza ranks No. 1, followed by seafood, hamburgers, spaghetti and beef items.
– Florida, with a visit to Walt Disney World, is the top spot to vacation, but California and Hawaii aren`t too shabby.
