With February half term coming up and the Easter holidays just around the corner many families will be going on trips abroad. Travelling with kids can be challenging at the best of times, but it can also be complicated when it comes to booking flights.
Airlines have different policies depending on your child’s age, so it’s worth checking with your operator what they are when you book your tickets. It’s also important to know what items you can bring on board if you have an infant with you, as well as if they have any baggage allowance.
We’ve rounded up the infant and child policies for Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI and British Airways below. If you need further information check with your airline's website before you travel.
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Ryanair
Ryanair class infants as those aged eight days to 23 months (inclusive) - babies aged seven days and under are not allowed to travel on its flights. Adult fares, fees and taxes are applicable to infants who reach the age of two before their return journey.
On Ryanair flights, an infant can sit on an adult's lap with an infant seat belt provided by the cabin crew. Infants sitting on an adult’s lap do not have a luggage allowance but you can carry two items of baby equipment free of charge per child, for example a pushchair or travel cot, and the accompanying adult can bring a baby bag weighing up to 5kg in addition to their own cabin bag.
You can book a separate seat for your baby but you will need to call Ryanair’s call centre before booking to arrange the seats. If you have a child aged two or older who needs a car seat then you will also have to contact Ryanair regarding seat allocation.
If you have purchased a seat for your infant then they have an allowance of a small cabin bag. Children who are under 12 must be seated next to an adult they are travelling with and Ryanair has dedicated rows where seats are free for children for up to four children per adult.
easyJet
Under easyJet’s policy, infants are those aged 14 days to two years old. Babies under 14 days old are not allowed to travel. You’ll have to book a separate seat if your child is older than two years old, or turns two while travelling.
Passengers with children under five will be boarded early. Two additional items can be taken into the hold for free, such as a travel cot or pram. Infants can sit on an adult’s lap or can be seated separately.
Infants with booked seats and children over two years old have the same cabin bag and hold baggage allowance as adults. If you’re travelling with an infant seated on your lap you’ll only be able to bring an additional baby changing bag, which must be placed under the seat in front of you.
For an infant sitting in a separate seat you can bring a changing bag along with whatever baggage you’re allowed depending on your seat. For each infant or child you can bring up to two extra items to go into the hold in addition to your cabin bag allowance such as a travel cot, pushchair or car seat.
Families travelling with children are advised to check in as early as possible (at least seven days before your flight) to ensure you can sit together, and the airline states that it will make sure each child under 12 is seated as close to an accompanying adult as possible.
Jet2
Jet2 says that infants under two on the date of the flight can travel for a small charge of £20 (or local currency equivalent) per flight and the minimum age for a child is 14 days old. Infants can be sat on an adult’s lap or can be seated separately with a car seat.
You can bring a collapsible pushchair and/or car seat and/or travel cot which can go in the hold free of charge, as long as the total weight doesn’t exceed 10kg.
TUI
On a TUI Airways flight infants are classed as less than two years old on the day of travel, but older than 14 days. Children aged two years and older are subject to a full adult fair, and also have their own seat and a full baggage allowance.
Infants under two won’t have a seat and will sit on an adult’s lap, however, you can pay extra to book a seat for your infant which comes with a full luggage allowance. Baby change bags count towards your 10kg hand baggage allowance.
British Airways
British Airways has the following ticket options for infants and children: infants are from 0 - 23 months, children from 2 - 11 years, young adults from 12 - 15 years and adults over 16. Infants can sit in an adult’s lap or a separate seat can be booked but you’ll need to contact BA directly if booking a seat for an infant.
If your infant reaches the age of two during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday - but you won’t be charged extra for it and you’ll only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.
If you're travelling with an infant, their free checked baggage allowance includes one standard 23kg bag in the hold, for all cabins. This does not apply when you and your infant are on a hand baggage only (Basic) fare, where there is no free checked bag allowance.
Each infant and child can take up to two of the following checked in: fully collapsible pushchair, car or booster seat, travel cot and a baby back carrier.
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