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).

I was told global entry gets me Canadian land crossing nexus.

I was told only back into the U.S. There are no privileges crossing in to Canada.

Global Entry cards have radio frequency identification chips, which enable their use at Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) and NEXUS travel lanes when entering the United States at the land borders. You must follow all program rules for SENTRI when using this card at the Southern land border ports of entry.

You may use this card for expedited entry into the United States via the SENTRI and NEXUS lanes. The card is not valid for entry into Canada via the NEXUS lanes.

There messaging is all over the place.

Weird. Guess it's good I haven't tried it! (I've always had other folks in the car with me)