“The past 10 years have been the best in America’s aviation history with 153 fatalities. That’s two deaths for every 100 million passengers on commercial flights, according to an Associated Press analysis of government accident data.

The improvement is remarkable. Just a decade earlier, at the time the safest, passengers were 10 times as likely to die when flying on an American plane. The risk of death was even greater during the start of the jet age, with 1,696 people dying — 133 out of every 100 million passengers — from 1962 to 1971. The figures exclude acts of terrorism.

Sitting in a pressurized, aluminum tube seven miles above the ground may never seem like the most natural thing. But consider this: You are more likely to die driving to the airport than flying across the U.S. There are more than 30,000 motor-vehicle deaths each year, a mortality rate eight times greater than that in planes.”

You can read their entire article at http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/safer-fly-deaths-record-low-15265870

It’s reassuring to know that U.S. airline travel continues to make strides in safety.

Few of us are flying first class anymore, but planning ahead and expecting the unexpected can make traveling with kids more palatable than Mr. Benchley might have imagined

Start by remembering all the problems that made past flights less than pleasurable for you and your child and think of remedies for those issues this time. You can’t control delays and annoyances, but you can put sufficient toys, snacks, and money in your carry-on to turn an unscheduled layover into tolerable together time.

Here are some hints to make plane travel easier on the wee ones.

Book Early for Best Selection

Airports are booooring. And if waiting around in them makes you cranky, it’s going to be worse for your child. Although they’re more expensive, nonstops are less stressful and time-consuming. And re4member, connecting flights require getting off a plane and spending time in another airport before boarding the next flight. Any delays can mean a mad dash to the next gate at best and missed connections with long layovers at worst.

Talk about Things

Explain things ahead of time. Even if your child has flown before, explaining each stage of the process and flight will allay any anxieties. Make sure young children realize that there will be bumpiness and engine noises so they don’t get scared. If practical, visit the airport ahead of time so that part of the trip is familiar at least.

Comfort Is the Goal

Let your kids wear comfortable play clothes and don’t forget to pack extra clothes in the carry-on, especially when traveling with toddlers. Airplanes tend to be cold and airline blankets are fast disappearing. Make sure all children have a sweater or jacket at their seat.

Stick Together

If your airline offers reserved seating, it will be worth an extra fee to keep your kids with you tfor reassurance or refereeing. Cutting costs by skipping sear reservation can be disastrous for parents traveling with small children.

Safety and Security

Children who require car seats will be safest (and probably more comfortable) using their seats on the plane. But remember, the car seat or harness must contain a label indicating it is approved by the FAA for air travel.

Children and all children’s items — including strollers, diaper bags and toys — must go through TSA screening. Equipment such as folded strollers small enough to pass through the X-ray machine must be placed on the belt.

Babies and children must be removed from strollers or infant carriers before passing through the walk-through metal detector at the security checkpoint. Toddlers old enough to walk unassisted should walk through detectors on their own.

Breast milk, juice, formula and medications are allowed on flights in reasonable qualities, even if they exceed the usual 3.4 ounce limit for liquids. These items must be declared at the security checkpoint.

Air pressure changes during takeoff and landing can cause ear pain in babies and young children. Bottle or breastfeeding babies or providing a pacifier to encourage swallowing may help the ears adjust to air pressure changes. Sucking on lollipops or eating crackers encourages toddlers to swallow, while older children may find relief by chewing gum.

Your forethought and planning can help your kids have the last laugh on Mr. Benchley.

Water bottle
Yes, TSA staff will confiscate a water bottle – if it contains liquid. But an empty bottle poses no threat and should go right on through with your carry-on. Whether it’s a fancy sports bottle or a re-cycle from the supermarket shouldn’t matter (clear is probably your best bet though). Once you’ve passed the checkpoint, you can refill for free at the airport water fountain, instead of paying $2 to $3 per cup of beverage on some flights.

Bar food
No, not pretzels and beer-nuts. We’re talking food in bar form – like granola bars, protein bars, candy bars. More and more airlines are charging even for a bag with a few tasteless crackers. Bag snacks like cookies and chips are fragile and take up too much room in your carry-on. Security shouldn’t have any problem with the bars.

E-reader
The average e-reader isn’t a lot bigger than a smartphone. Models from Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble’s (Nook) and Sony (Reader) are priced between $140 and $200. For travelers, the biggest benefit over smartphones and even tablets is battery-life of days, rather than hours for their closest cousins.

Their large capacity (1500 books or more) will ensure entertainment through even the longest weather delay and more books are easy to download as long as there’s a wifi connection. They can also pull up periodicals. Most are also equipped with MP3 players, dictionaries and translators and slip easily into any carry-on.

Noise-canceling headphones
Sure, the plastic earphones that came with your MP3 player can pipe sound to your noggin. So why pay extra for fancy headphones? Well, will those earplugs screen out a seatmate’s chatter, the whine of a jet engine or a toddler, or Regis Philbin on the TV at the gate?

Besides, one-size-fits-all earbuds really don’t. They can slip out of big ears and hurt little ones. A decent pair of headphones is much more comfortable. Check them out.

A pillow-and-blanket pack
Some airlines have decided that you should pay up to $15 for the pillow and blanket they supply – if they even supply them. And you just might want them if you’re stuck in a drafty terminal, trying to sleep on a steel-and-plastic bench. Several companies make sets that fit into small tote bags for as little as $15. You always know you have them, not to mention you know whose head has been on them.

So how can you keep travel woes from crushing your holiday spirit? Harriet Baskas, a travel writer for msnbc.com’s popular weekly column, The Well-Mannered Traveler, and the author of the “Stuck at the Airport” blog, posted tips for holiday travel last year. Let’s review a few of her suggestions.

Get plenty of sleep
It’s tempting to stay up late packing and clearing off your desk before a trip. But sleep-deprived travelers are cranky travelers and likely to find everything about travel extra irritating. So get a good night’s sleep.

Prepare Ahead
Do everything you can before you leave home. Reconfirm reservations the night before your trip and check your flight information before you leave the house (especially if weather is bad on either end). Print out your travel information. If driving, make sure you have current maps.

Arrive early
Whether traveling by train, plane, bus or car, get an early start. Airlines advise being at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. But at holiday time, it’s wise to build in extra time to allow for crowds at airports or train stations, not to mention extra busy highways. Keep this in mind for your return trip as well.

Dress for TSA
At airport security checkpoints, you’ll still need to remove your shoes, coat, big belt buckle and other metal objects. Computers, however, can now stay in their (TSA-approved) cases.

Know what won’t pass inspection
Travelers give up tons of prohibited items at airport security checkpoints. So take a moment to read through the TSA’s current list of what is permitted and prohibited for carry-on.

Pack smart
Security officers may require you to unwrap gifts in your carry-on bag, so it’s best to carry presents and wrapping paper separately. X-ray machines can’t always see through piles of books, CD’s and other dense items, so spread them out in your bag.

Have a survival kit
It should include snacks, a charged cell phone and a backup calling card, a small flashlight, sanitizing wipes, entertainment (books, DVD or music player, cards, etc.) and some extra cash. Earplugs and an eyeshade are a good idea, too.

Be ready for problems
Load your cell phone and/or laptop with phone numbers for your airline, hotel, car rental agency, and your trip information, if possible. Make sure you also have it all on paper in case your electronics are lost or out of service. And make sure someone at home has a copy of all that information.

Know how to complain
If things go wrong, it isn’t smart to yell at the people who are working the holiday and just trying to do their jobs to help you with your problem. If you can’t calmly resolve a problem on site, take good notes, get names, and follow up immediately with a phone call and/or letter when you get to your destination.

Know that your kids know how to travel
Whining, crying, unhappy kids in an airport, on a train, or in the back of the car are no fun – for anyone. Make sure yours are prepared for the adventure. Bring along small, quiet toys, books, snacks and activities. And tell them what the travel day will be like and how to behave in public.

Happy holiday travel!

[A version of this article appeared last year.]

To see how airports are making holiday travel more fun this year, check out the http://stuckattheairport.com/ blog by Harriet Baskas.

The airline industry trade organization Air Transport Association supports the rules. The International Air Transport Association, however, is critical of Secure Flight, citing inefficiencies in the process. It feels that the Department of Homeland Security is asking too much information on passengers too often.

Although the new rule imposes demands on the travel industry, travel agencies – online and brick-and-mortar – and computer reservations systems are on board. Expedia, Orbitz, and other major travel sites provide online updates. The National Business Travel Association also provides resources to support the program.

Some airlines had already adopted these new provisions. Since mid-September, American Airlines has required all passengers to comply and provide the data for all tickets purchased. American also requires a “redress number” for passengers who have been assigned a TSA-issued code for those whose names have erroneously appeared on the watch list. United Airlines also had been requiring passenger compliance.

So when you book air travel you need to be certain of all personal information you provide for you and for others you are booking for. your traveling companions. In particular, make sure that names and dates provided match other I.D. – especially passports – and that changing information related to marriages, divorces, adoptions, and any other relevant circumstances. Typing in a wrong letter or number could mean denied boarding and a ruined trip.

You may need to build extra travel time into your plans for the holiday season. The rules and processes will still be new and may cause check-in and boarding delays.

On the TSA site the agency has a guide to Secure Flight with a complete set of Frequently Asked Questions about the program.