CFA: Holiday travel tips and tricks

(WPRI) - Thanksgiving is just the start of the hectic holiday travel season, which is made even more stressful when traveling with kids.

Generally, holidays are the busiest time of the year for airports. For those that travel year-round for business, it is also the time where kids are most often dragged along.

Experts everywhere agree that preparation is key when heading out with your entire family for the holidays.

Before you make reservations, research each airline to minimize fees. When traveling alone for business, it is easy to just pack a carry-on and a personal item, but more travelers means more bags.

When packing everything into a carry-on won't work for you and your family, look for airlines that offer the first checked bag free. However, make sure to read through weight and size limits to avoid additional fees.

After you arrive at the airport, look for family lanes to expedite the security and boarding process. Also, some airports have friendly areas to pass the time while waiting to board.