Shopping for a family that's always at an airport? A holiday gift guide from The Points Guy, written by a travel writer closing in on 17 years of trips with her own kids, rounds up gear that earns its place in a suitcase — with picks aimed at everything from babies to teens.
For the littlest travellers, the standout is the Doona, a car seat that converts into a stroller in seconds without removing the baby. It's the one purchase the author says she'd make "a million times over," ideal for taxis, terminals and flying with an approved car seat in a purchased infant seat. The catch: it's rated for babies up to 35 pounds and 32 inches, and many kids outgrow it before their first birthday. For the toddler-to-kindergarten crowd, Younglingz ride-on suitcases in unicorn, fire truck and motorcycle themes let kids aged roughly 2 to 6 — under 80 pounds — scoot through long terminal walks, while the Away Kids Carry-On (in colours like berry pink and dragonfly blue, plus a Toy Story edition) gives preschoolers luggage of their own, complete with TSA lock and compression panel.
On the tech side, the guide suggests AirTags' second-generation trackers for every bag and backpack, and Anker's MagGo power bank, which shows charge time remaining and can take an iPhone to about 50% in half an hour. For teens chasing the nostalgia of physical photos, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 prints instant 2-by-3-inch shots — just remember film is sold separately. Cheapest crowd-pleaser of all: LCD drawing tablets, which the author credits with entertaining a whole delayed gate once; they're mess-free, drop-resistant and cheap enough to buy spares.
Adults aren't forgotten. Vuori's Halo Essential Wide Leg Pants get the nod for plane comfort — DreamKnit fabric, three lengths, and pockets, which the author calls non-negotiable on travel days. For bags, Calpak packing cubes earn a long list of praise: pack by person or day, fit more in, and, as a bonus, they can help reduce the odds of bringing bed bugs home. Her favourite hack is a cube packed with the first night's clothes so nobody digs through every bag on arrival. Quince's expandable carry-on gets a thumbs-up as a lightweight, smooth-rolling bargain that fits overhead bins — though some stricter airlines may ask you to unexpand it at the gate.
Who's this for? Anyone buying for travelling families this holiday season, or assembling their own kit before a 2026 trip. A few practical notes from the guide: Away has run solid Black Friday sales and periodic Chase Offers worth $50-plus; Amazon promotions can knock $15-40 off purchases like the Younglingz when redeemed with a few Amex Membership Rewards points; and Lululemon (a Vuori alternative) can be bought through portals like Rakuten for cash back. It's also worth double-checking airline size rules before committing to expandable or specialty gear — and checking weight and height limits on anything ride-on or convertible before you buy.
