Families in flight
Traveling with children? Rest assured our inflight and airport crew will be on hand to help make the trip a comfortable one for your child, and a peaceful one for you. Plus, our kid-friendly onboard options will keep them happily entertained from takeoff to touchdown. For travel tips and resources, here’s your JetBlue guide to a less stressful family flight.
7 tips for easy flying with kids
Pack smartly
Know what you can (and cannot) carry onboard by familiarizing yourself with TSA regulations.
Stuff their backpacks with entertainment
With a free checked bag* for every customer flying JetBlue, your little ones can carry their own backpacks filled with crayons, books, games and their favorite toys.
Arrive on time
Give you and your family ample time (2 hours for domestic travel, 3 hours for international) to check baggage and move through security.
Wear them out
Arriving at the airport earlier means your family can spend more time walking around. Burn off some of that extra energy and tire those little jetters out. For toddlers, T5 at JFK includes a kids’ play area located near Gate 12.
Dress comfortably for the plane and simply for the airport
Wear slip-on shoes, keep jewelry to a minimal and avoid wearing a belt, so you have fewer items to take off through security.
Board early
JetBlue offers pre-boarding for families with children under the age of 2, so you can have early access to overhead bins, secure car seats and get your kids comfortably seated on the plane.
Fly during naptime
Schedule your flight during your child’s naptime. When they’re snoozing, you’re cruising.
*weight and size limits apply.
Help your children learn to read while they soar
Turn traveling time into learning and reading time. Take advantage of the traveling experience to help your child explore new worlds, and build their language and reading skills. Before you take off, download, print and pack the free Soar with Reading Activity Kit.
At the airport
Fast track the family through security
- The 3.4 ounce liquid rule You are allowed to carry liquids in containers of up to 3.4 ounce as long as they fit in a quart-sized, clear zip-top bag.
- Baby milk and food Baby formula, breast milk, baby food in small containers and medicines are allowed through security, but must be presented to a TSA officer at screening.
- Keep kids shoes on TSA now allows children under 12 to leave their shoes on during screening.
- Teddy goes on the belt Let your children know their favorite stuffed animal, toy, blanket and game must go through the x-ray machine (but that they’ll get it back very shortly, of course).
- Traveling for the holidays? Put wrapped presents in your checked baggage, or leave them unwrapped if you carry on. If a TSA officer needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap the gift. Because of their liquid content, snow globes can’t go through security, so check them instead.
- Strollers/car seats If possible, strollers should be folded down. If it doesn't fit through the x-ray machine, the TSA officers will find other ways to screen it. Learn more about JetBlue’s infant baggage allowance here.
For more information on TSA policies regarding traveling with kids, please click here.
Kids travel in style
Raising a future pilot? Visit ShopBlue for JetBlue toys and apparel for children of all ages. (And there’s lots of cool stuff for the grown-ups, too.)
T5 map
Traveling through JFK? Check out the map below for family-friendly options in T5.
In flight
Kid-friendly onboard options
We’ll keep your kids entertained, and you happy.
- Channels for kids With a TV at every seat, your child can choose kid-friendly programming like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network or Animal Planet from the 36 channels of free DIRECTV®.
- Free snacks and juice We’ve got something tasty even for the pickiest little flyer. Kids can enjoy unlimited free snacks and drinks, including Terra Blue Chips, Linden's Chocolate Chip Cookies and Stauffer's Animal Crackers, and choose from orange, cranberry or apple juice. Need something more substantial for your child? Have them try one of our tasty EatUp boxes.
- JetBlue Features® On all flights longer than two hours, we offer at least one kid age-appropriate movie at every seat.
- Inflight reading activities Let your kids take off with reading. We’ve teamed up with Soar With Reading and PBS KIDS to offer free Reading Activities you can print out and take on your next family trip.
Babies onboard
JetBlue offers pre-boarding for families with children under the age of 2, so you can have adequate time to stow away the diaper bag, secure the car seat and get your kids seated comfortably on the plane. See below for more information about traveling with the littlest ones.
Kids flying solo
Flying on their own can be an exciting experience for a child, but a nerve-wracking one for the parent. Rest assured that JetBlue crewmembers will be there to offer guidance and assistance. See below for helpful links about unaccompanied minors (UMNR).
