Last week, we reviewed a checklist of items needed to cover with kids (from toddlers to teens) before traveling internationally. In these blogposts, ID Guardian offers a series of checklists for when your kids fly and travel internationally.

So far, we have run down the checklist for how to prepare for the trip. Now comes the big day where the bags are packed in the car or airport shuttle, and your kids set off for the airport. International airports like Dulles, O’Hare, Heathrow, and Changi are busy places, and for a child it can be overwhelming. However, with some planning (such as the visit you paid at your departure airport before the trip), your child will look at the hustle-and-bustle of the airport not as frightening, but as a lot of fun.

Now that you have arrived at your airport of choice, here are a few things to consider.

On Departure Day:

• Arrive at the airport at least three hours early. While it is true TSA recommends showing up two hours before boarding time, there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself an extra buffer. Another hour can help you keep a clear head through bag check-in, security clearance, and finding your gate, all while making sure your identity and your child are all within reach and secure. If it causes you concern of what to do with the extra time, bring a portable media player or favorite activity book.
• Keep your passports close. This is the most important document your child possesses, along with their birth certificate and Social Security Number. Keep it on your person at all times, but don’t ruin the “first international travel” experience by not letting your child handle their identification. (The best way to teach responsibility is to allow for interaction.) When you are close to identity checkpoints or Customs, give your child their passport. Impress upon them the important of holding on to it; and then once cleared, retrieve the passport and keep it with yours.

With just these two tips, you will find that the stress of baggage check-in and security check points is (nearly) close to nothing. Why?  Because, with your extra time, you are not in a hurry. Rushing tends to contribute to making mistakes. Airports are hectic by nature; but with solid preparation and keeping a cool head, you can keep your child and their Personally Identifiable Information (PPI) secure. Follow these tips (or review them with teens before they arrive to the airport) and you will reach your departure gate with time to space and peace-of-mind.

With the plane having rumbled down the runway and your child  watching the “SkyMap” and tracking your progress, just like in the Indiana Jones films where the red line followed the intrepid archeologist to his next exciting destination, your child’s adventure is now officially underway.

During Your Travel Abroad:

• Keep your PII secure. Now that you have reached your destination, regardless if you are staying with friends or in a hotel, keep passports, credit cards, and any other photo identification you brought with you on your person at all times. If you do not feel comfortable sightseeing with your family’s passports in your possession, check to see if your room has safe. It may cost a few dollars, but it can be a wise investment. Another alternative is to carry your PII in something other than a coat pocket or purse. If you’re wearing pants with pockets, carry your PII  in your front pocket, a tougher target for pickpockets.
• Find out the contact information of your country’s Embassy or Consulate in your destination country. In the case of your passports or wallets being compromised, it is a good idea to know where to turn to for help. Find out where the embassy is in relation to where you are staying. Also have on a small card, preferable attached to the earlier mentioned pre-paid phone card, the phone number of the Embassy, Duty Officer, or Consular Section. If you find yourself in trouble at any time, your country’s Embassy should be the first number you call.

More safety tips and travel information can be found online at the State Department’s website, Travel.State.Gov, and at TSA’s Traveling with Kids website.

The tips we offer here are not meant to make you nervous about your child traveling outside your country’s borders, but to grant you a sense of security. By taking a moment to assess the safety of your PII and your child’s PII, you will be sure to have a fantastic time in foreign lands.

Oh, and along with all of these travel tips, do make sure to pack spare batteries and media cards for your cameras. You will need them in order to capture all the fantastic adventures that await you overseas.

Related posts:

1. Following Young Indiana Jones: International Travel with Kids (Part I)
2. Why Identity Protection for Kids Matters
3. Be Safe While Traveling
4. Candid Kids Can Be Safe, Too
5. IN THE HEADLINES: The Growing Problem of Travel Agents — Identity Theft