I flew overseas with my baby for the first time. Knowing airline rules was key.

"We got better seats and extra bags, TSA PreCheck made security a breeze in New York, and early family boarding meant we were among the first on the plane. Going in with low expectations made it easier not to get frustrated when something went wrong - a mindset that proved helpful in Zurich, where we found ourselves overwhelmed with unusually long security lines and stricter rules."

"Our baby slept or quietly played for most of both seven-hour flights; he only cried briefly for hunger. Feeding him during takeoff seemed to help with ear pressure, as he didn't make a peep. My husband and I took turns watching him. We each got about three hours of rest on the outbound red-eye, and we were exhausted by the time we reached our chalet in Austria."

"I booked the round-trip tickets for about 25,000 points per person, plus $68 in taxes and fees; the cash price was about $600. Two friends were on the same reservation; we were all heading to a college reunion-style ski trip. I had to separately contact Delta to add our son as an 'infant in arms,' which cost $17."

A family flew from New York to Zurich with their nine-month-old son on Delta Air Lines, combining a seven-hour red-eye outbound flight with a daytime return. The trip succeeded through careful planning, including studying baggage rules, booking premium economy seats, utilizing TSA PreCheck, and taking advantage of early family boarding. The infant slept or played quietly during both flights, crying only briefly for hunger. Feeding the baby during takeoff helped manage ear pressure. The parents maintained low expectations, which reduced frustration when encountering challenges like long security lines in Zurich. Despite exhaustion upon arrival in Austria, the journey proved smoother than anticipated, with the daytime return flight being easier than the red-eye departure.

Read at Business Insider