Suzi, you are very welcome! It wasn't the way we intended the day to go, but it worked out fine. And now we have an amusing story. Good luck at the doc, I'm glad you're able to get in so soon. Fingers crossed for an easy fix!

I have a question, but first, backstory: the three of us (M, Peanut, and I) are travelling to Waterloo, Ontario next month. It's a 5+ hour flight and Waterloo is an almost two-hour drive from the Toronto airport. Also, this will be Peanut's first time on a plane. She's been a champ on road trips, but we have no idea how she'll react to being cooped up in a tiny metal tube. Also, we're travelling during the day, so probably no sleeping from her.

Question for those who travel to & from Canada a lot: is it worth it to get Global Entry through TSA? I know there's a Canada-only program, but there's apparently no interview stations for that in California, and I would absolutely be willing to pay the extra $150 if it meant that all three of us could just breeze through Customs both ways. We're all travelling on U.S. passports, so at we have that at least.

Also, if any parents have any suggestions on keeping Peanut entertained, I will happily take them. I'm loading up the tablet designated as hers with movies & shows & games, and my hope is that she doesn't get to play with the tablet often, she'll be happy with that for most of the flight.

One thing I noticed when I was flying (without a child of my own) was a mother allowing her daughter to run and jump while they waited for boarding. On boarding, the girl sat down and fell asleep ... for almost the entire flight. It might help.

I love global entry. It makes into the US customs painless, and comes with TSA pre-check, which is as close to going through security while still managing to feel like a person as we have available.

Downside is that everyone in the group, including kids, has to have it

I've never flown in/out of Canada, so I can't help there, but in general the airport is going to be way worse than the plane (because you wait in line and then..you wait in line some more...and then you wait in line AGAIN, and it drives kids BANANAS), so anything you can do to spend less time in line is probably a good idea.

If you can find it, my kids prefer grape-flavor chewable Dramamine over orange. (Sadly, the children's version is non-drowsy so it will not help her sleep.) Bring a change of clothes for both of you just in case.

Lollipops are good for preventing earache for kids who are too young for gum.

Sweet-talk the flight attendants into letting you walk her up and down the aisle once every hour.

Some parents recommend getting a grab bag of little toys and opening one every 30-60 minutes, but I think those parents never met a kid with an iPad.

I too love global entry, if only because then I also always get precheck. But it definitely helps skip customs lines, too. I don't know about for getting into canada (it is faster by car, but I maybe didn't use a lane I could have on my way in th other week, flying, but the line was nonexistent anyway), but for coming back to the us.

juliana, I highly recommend it, but I doubt you'll have it in time for a trip next month. You have to get conditionally approved, but appointments at busy airports are booked months out. You can complete your interview on arrival at SFO, but you have to have your conditional approval, and it won't help with expedited entry on this trip. It also won't help with entry into Canada; only NEXUS works for Canadian customs. I will say the last few times I've gone to Toronto, the lines at Pearson haven't been crazy, and I've gotten through quickly. The good thing is you get PreCheck with both NEXUS and Global Entry.

If you think you'll really need the expedited Canadian airport entry and/or be crossing into Canada by car frequently, get NEXUS. Global Entry does not give you access to the special expedited lanes at land crossings. Regardless of which program you choose, all three of you will have to sign up for it.

If you can't get enrolled into a trusted traveler program for this trip, I really recommend the Mobile Passport app: [link] Sometimes you get through passport control and customs faster than Global Entry, because the lines are shorter. I switch between the two depending on how busy the GE lanes are. It won't do anything for you going into Canada, but it will smooth the entry back into the U.S.

I just remembered M is a dual citizen. It used to be that he'd have to enter Canada on his Canadian passport, but that's no longer the case. This is a good thing to keep in mind though should things change. [link]

(I have to enter Italy on my Italian passport and the U.S. with my U.S. passport.)

+1 on Maria's recommendation of the Mobile Passport app.

I miss being able to fly directly to Waterloo from Chicago. It simplified the whole process.

Maria I was told global entry gets me Canadian land crossing nexus. Privileges but everyone in the car has to have it, and I haven't had that happen bedore

Going to be in Philly Monday the 24th (also 25th and 26th, but those days are entirely consumed).