Hi all.... Our adult kids want to take our grandkids to Monterey, CA for beach and aquarium in June....... grandkids are aged 2 and 5, parents aged 36..... and I'm willing to contribute the mileage needed.....

The argument comes from me recommending that they connect somewhere in order to fly into San Jose (SJC) for a smaller, easier-to-navigate airport and shorter drive to Monterey...... but the parents prefer the OKC-to-SFO non-stop (even though it leaves OKC at 6am).

My thinking is that a connection allows leaving at an easier time of 9 or 10am.... and arriving at SJC means a much shorter walk through the airport to rental car and getting the vacation started on the road to Monterey...... whatever time and hassle it takes to make a connection at Denver on UA (or LAS on SW) will be less than the hassles at SFO of long walks through crowds going from gate to front door, to train to rental cars, through a big rental car garage....and the same on return to SFO for a 4pm departure for the non-stop to OKC.

Parents' thinking is that the non-stop lets the kids sleep through the flight (and it's only 3 1/2 hours), and no worries about connections, of course. But I envision them losing half-a-day each way since they have to deal with SFO rather than SJC for Monterey......

Advice from the sage souls on FT???? (I've never traveled with kids age 2 & 5)......thanks!