Fingers crossed that some or all of these ideas will help ease your way across the Atlantic.

Ah, air travel. No longer glamorous for most...it can be downright disastrous for some. But don't despair -- with a little planning, you can start your trip off smoothly.

Before you get to the airport

1. Book a longer non-stop flight rather than options where you have to change planes.

2. Try to get a flight that is wheels up an hour or so before normal bed time.

3. Load up the iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Nintendo DS, or whatever device you have with new shows or movies...but don't let the kids watch them before they are in-flight.

4. Load up on snacks in your backpack.

5. Buy a new book, plush or toy as a surprise bonus for good behavior on the flight.

6. If traveling with an infant, inquire with the airline to see if you can score a bassinet. On some aircrafts, bassinets are available that mount to the wall in the bulkhead seats. 

At the airport

1. Think about transitions--do your kids need the familiarity of the family truckster or would a taxi/Uber be an exciting start to the trip?

2. Get there early. With the vagaries of security lines, do yourself a favor and get there early enough to not worry about a long, slow line.

3. Ask if you can go through a priority line or if there are specific lines for kids.

4. At the gate, check in with the gate agents -- get a stroller tag (if needed) and otherwise just say hello and let yourself be known. Gate agents might give you some special consideration or let the pilot know that kids are headed their way. Also, see if bulkhead seats are available. These have more legroom, which is especially helpful with smaller kids who need to stand and wiggle but won't be bothersome because there's no seat in front of them to kick!

5. Let the kids explore.

6. Get them snacks or McD's if it helps.

7. Let them run if they need to -- at the point when boarding starts, make your kids run. Most other passengers will recognize that you are trying to burn off the kid version of jet fuel before getting on a flight. If it annoys others, that is their problem.

8. If you have older kids, make sure they recharge up their phones before getting on the flight.

9. Put on pjs before boarding -- this will help them recognize that nighttime and bedtime are imminent. Plus they will look that much cuter scoring a few extra sympathy points with other passengers. 

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Boarding

1. Make a big deal about getting on the plane. As mundane as boarding is to adults, there is a certain ceremony and routine to the act of checking a ticket, walking down the jet bridge and finding a seat. Use this to remind your little ones that this is a special occasion and certain behaviors are needed.

2. Have your kids say hello to the attendants and pilot. A show of manners early will pay off for potential silliness later.

3. Let the kids find the seats. Letters and numbers are a matching game which will be much more fun for kids than adults.

4. Tell them their seat is a "special bed" -- it will be their spot for several hours. Might as well play it up as a magical bed for sleeping rather than a tiny place to sit.

5. Have the kids help organize their area -- because their seat is their special bed for the night, help them organize where they should put a book, toy, snack, water, plush and blanket.

6. Ask the attendants if they have a kids pack or can spare a flight pack from business class for the kids. Many carriers will offer special goodies for kids on long-haul flights.

Takeoff and the first 20 minutes

1. Make a big deal of takeoff -- Taxi and takeoff is another experience that adults take for granted but for kids it is still a fun and new experience. Play it up to take attention and reinforce that this is a step in the airplane bedtime routine. 

2. Feed babies and toddlers -- takeoff can hurt little ears so give a bottle to the littlest ones...even toddlers to help them adjust. If breastfeeding, the rumble of takeoff is a good time for a quick feeding. 

3. Gum for the older kids -- ears pop at takeoff. A simple stick of gum alleviates that and is also another little treat that makes the flight a special occasion. 

Once you level out 

1. Be stingy with snacks -- hopefully the excitement of the trip has held their attention for a bit. The first snack and dinner won't be far away. Try to make the kids hold out.

2. Pick the in-flight entertainment. 

3. Get a drink for mom and dad.

4. Try to make the kids eat as much of the in-flight meal as possible.

5. Brush teeth and go potty.

6. Make it bed time. 

Hopefully from there it is smooth sailing with sleeping kiddos. Remember that the big flight at the start of the trip is all about balancing excitement with an infusion of routine.