What's the alternative - go somewhere else? stay home? Why would you assume that another destination will be safer? I personlly would prefer to fly to/from somewhere where stringent safety checks are in place - and the rest of us who live here are stuck with it.
Did the inhabitants of NY all leave after 9/11?
Sorry to whine- I am probably being very unfair. I wouldn't relish a 7 hour flight without a book or 6. Perhaps they will set up in flight libraries?

Even though "Buttface" and "Dork" (Karens words) may not be able to bring on DVD players, there's still inflight movies, audio, bothering other passengers, etc. for entertainment ;-)

If your kids can't understand that they are privileged to be doing what you propose to do - if they are going to cause havoc because they don't have DVD players ..

well, I'd leave them at home; or all stay at home; or give them a crash course in how it would be to live in Mali or Bangla Desh.

Sounds as if that might be a gap in their education.

Perhaps hotel rooms will be cheaper and tickets to the big shows will be more available.

Would you believe that people actually survived airplane trips without DVD players? 'Tis a real hardship, but it can be done, despite the deprivation of a Constitutional right.

We have a vacation planned for London in 2007 and are also traveling with children.

It is too soon to see what they will allow and won't allow in a few months so no need to worry about it now. If for any reason they still don't allow hand carried luggage then my kids will just have to do with the tv screen and games they have on the plane.

The only that worries me is the checking in my digital camera and laptop I don't think I will feel comfortable with thinking they will be safe in checked luggage but we will see what they will allow come January

I won't continue to drive home the point how sad it is that they can't go anywhere without a dvd player. Even WITH a dvd player 7 hours can be a long flight. Start weening them off the boob tube now so they'll have an easier time.

Ohmygosh people. I am not talking about constant TV watching at home, I am talking about bringing a convenience that I know keeps my kids quiet and occupied. That's a good thing on a plane, right?

My youngest son has high functioning autism and is hyperactive. Flying used to be very challenging with him. He had trouble sitting still, despite all the stuff we would bring along. Then we started flying with a portable DVD player and it made everything so much better. He was happy, we were significantly less stressed. He didn't talk until he was 6, so the suggestion to talk to my kids wasn't that helpful. He's come a loong way, but we have to plan a lot more before we do anything with him than we would a typical child, like my older son, who could easily "survive" practically any travel contingency.

We are very fortunate b/c many children with autism do not like changes to routine, but my son loves to travel. He's been all over the country and he's flown enough times that we think he's ready for an overseas flight. I want to make the experience a good one for him, for us, and our fellow passengers on the plane.

If any of you have any suggestions for keeping a child with autism occupied on a 7 hour plane flight with nothing to do, please let me know. (And since he still has issues with processing, talking to him for 7 hours won't really help).

Of course, my boys will "survive" without a TV on the plane. But when I plan anything, I hope that the experience is better than merely "surviving" it. If I can make plans to make things go smoother, I do.

I could "survive" without a dishwasher, but I don't want to. I could survive without the internet, and long ago people survived without electricity. I guess I'm overreacting b/c I'd prefer to have those conveniences.

fuzzylogic - please also let me know how to best educate my children, especially the one with autism. My school district isn't doing the best job; I've really had to help them with that.

Okay, I've just heard from my travel agent (from whom I purchased my airline ticket). I have interpreted the TSA website as saying "carry-on luggage is okay flying into the U.K., just no gels or liquids". My travel agent says I have interpreted the website correctly.

She also suggested that I "hang loose" (in these troubled times? :) ), because the code level could change after the summer season ends.

Karens, although we're looking way into the future here, it's possible that you might be able to use a DVD player on the way over, but not the way back. Have you thought about renting one? I haven't done that myself for trans-Atlantic air travel, but I hear that you can. Maybe that would simplify things.

Good luck to us all.....

Keep the kids up real late the night before the flight so that there good and tired. Maybe add a little Benadryl before boarding and hope for the best.

They should have a couple of movies on the flight, and maybe can also provide a deck of cards. There's always hangman and connect-the-dots, if you can bring or they can provide, paper and pencil.

Good luck! I certainly would not cancel a trip becasue of this.

karens,
I hope you'll be able to bring your DVD player for the kids. I bet that you will! Kids get restless very easy when they have to sit somewhere fo 8 hrs straight. It certainly isn't like travelling in a car where you can stop, get out, walk around and rest. I have a 10 year old and a 15 month old and I wouldn't even think twice about letting the 10 year old occupy himself with movies and a video game for whatever kept him happy and comfortable! We flew on a 4 hr flight with my son when he was 7 and did not have DVD or in flight movie or anything. We brought along some oragami and some string games (like cats cradle, jacob's ladder) and we made those little pincher fortune-teller things that you do with your hands (I had remembered how to do them from my school days, but I'm sure the directions are in an oragami book) that occupied us for most of the flight. Just throwing some ideas out for you. I don't know if 11 and 13 y.o. boys would think that was just totally boring (my 10 y.o would still enjoy it) but it was worth mentioning just in case. Good luck!

I think the people flying right now are the ones that have the biggest problem. You have some time so not only could this all change but the airlines will have time to prepare. I really can’t imagine that they won’t have cards and other things to help keep the kids busy with. There are also different channels to watch. Sometimes that entertains them even more than their own stuff. The Benadryl sounds good but it might be a tempting habit – mommy needs some quiet time, open wide. (kidding!!)

I can't wait for prices to drop!

Last year I was in London a few weeks after the bombings, practically had the city to myself..

Hi all. Thanks for your replies.

Well, I was able to secure round trip FF tix from PHL to Heathrow via Toronto on Air Canada for next July.
They are on a 24 hour hold and I have to confirm tomorrow or they get put back in the system.

I was able to get 4 tickets at the 50,000 award level, which from what I understand is not easy to do. (No direct flights were available). For tickets that cost $900/each, this is a remarkable deal. Especially considering that my husband will go from gold to silver level FF next year, and his mileage earning will signficantly be decreased. (Now on USAir silvers earn only a 25% v. 50% mileage bonus. That stinks).

I'm still not thrilled about the current ban on all carry-on items from the UK. We could survive without a DVD, but without books and other carry-on items, etc. I have no idea what we would do. Benadryl is not a sedative for me or my boys - it is for my husband, it knocks him right out. So, that's an option for him!

I'm not sure why I'm posting this; guess I'm still not sure what to do, and I really have to make up my mind fast. I suspect you all are like me - we want to continue to travel!

I feel bad for the poor flight attendants on the planes from the UK with a planeload of passengers with nothing to do and who are stressed out from the current situation.

Yay! Electronics are now allowed...for now anyway!