Because of the often high cost of travel, I have become very picky about how I get from Point A to Point B. However, living in the West Coast, flying often makes the most sense. Since I often travel with my kids, I look for airlines and routes that are family-friendly. Recently, I learned I need to start looking at even more: the airport through which we are traveling.
Nothing is worse than a long day of travel - often starting early in the morning - with kids who just want to get to their destination. But, when you toss in a non-family-friendly airport...well, things have just about become impossible. This is where my kids and I found ourselves on a recent trip: in Salt Lake City.
I used to love traveling through the Salt Lake airport. They had numerous play areas where my kids could let loose and use up some energy before our next flight. When you have two to three flights in a day, these play areas are a lifeline for family travel. But, Salt Lake has taken out all of their play areas to make room for art galleries - something my kids don't find relaxing and, because I'm too busy trying to keep them from trouble, I can't enjoy.
With all of the travel that takes place during a day (and all the opportunities a cranky kid has to diminish the quality of travel for others), I would think that airports would like to be known for offering a slight reprieve for families who just need to give their kids a break. Or, maybe airlines need to reconsider where they offer connecting flights so that they can decrease stresses for both passengers and employees when a child just can't sit still for one more second...I'd prefer this happen on the ground instead of in the air.
Here's one mom saying she won't be traveling through SLC anymore...at least not until it once again becomes a family-friendly airport.
Nothing is worse than a long day of travel - often starting early in the morning - with kids who just want to get to their destination. But, when you toss in a non-family-friendly airport...well, things have just about become impossible. This is where my kids and I found ourselves on a recent trip: in Salt Lake City.
I used to love traveling through the Salt Lake airport. They had numerous play areas where my kids could let loose and use up some energy before our next flight. When you have two to three flights in a day, these play areas are a lifeline for family travel. But, Salt Lake has taken out all of their play areas to make room for art galleries - something my kids don't find relaxing and, because I'm too busy trying to keep them from trouble, I can't enjoy.
With all of the travel that takes place during a day (and all the opportunities a cranky kid has to diminish the quality of travel for others), I would think that airports would like to be known for offering a slight reprieve for families who just need to give their kids a break. Or, maybe airlines need to reconsider where they offer connecting flights so that they can decrease stresses for both passengers and employees when a child just can't sit still for one more second...I'd prefer this happen on the ground instead of in the air.
Here's one mom saying she won't be traveling through SLC anymore...at least not until it once again becomes a family-friendly airport.
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