The Winter holiday season is still a busy time as many families escape for winter sun, snow sports or, this year particularly, that long postponed reuniting of far-flung families at Christmas. Whether flying long- or short-haul, we understand the additional planning and preparation which goes into flying with children and we hope the our Family Flying guide will help families enjoy an easy and stress-free journey to their holiday destination.
The guide compares children ticket age categories, luggage allowances, children’s meals, entertainment facilities and seating requirements offered by airlines such as British Airways, easyJet, KLM, Virgin Airways and Wizz Air.
Of the 10 airlines included in the research, when it comes to purchasing children’s tickets nine airlines were found to categorise an infant as aged ‘under two years’ old. TUI however groups children together as aged ‘under 17 years old’. If travelling with teenagers, some airlines split the age categories differently. For example, Emirates consider teenagers as ‘aged 11 – 15 years old’, British Airways categorise ‘young adults’ as ‘aged 12 – 15 years old’, whereas Qatar Airways don’t have a teenager ticket option and consider a child as ‘aged 2 – 11 years old’ and an adult as ‘aged 12 and over’.
All the airlines, apart from Ryanair, offer families priority boarding, allowing less time waiting in the queue and more time settling in on the plane. For infants aged under two, most airlines offer a luggage allowance of between 10kgs – 12kgs with Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic both providing a generous 23kgs to infants with their own seat.
Parent should also check if planning to bring food or order an in-flight children’s meal. If flying with easyJet, then passengers are asked to bring food or milk in a container of 100ml or less and in a resealable (20cm x 20cm) plastic bag. Most airlines provide children’s meals however these do need to be ordered in advance. British Airways, KLM and Virgin Atlantic require passengers to order children’s meals 24 hours before flying, Jet2 48 hours before the flight whereas Ryanair is only one hour before the flight.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infant: 14 days – 2 years
- Child: 2 – 15 years
- Adult: 16+
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Children under two years can have baby changing bag (max 45 x 36 x20cm)
- Children two years and above can have 15kg hold luggag
Children’s Meals:
- Passengers are required to bring baby food, which must be in a baby bottle/container of 100ml or less.
- The container must be in a re-sealable (20 x 20cm) plastic bag.
Entertainment:
N/A
Seating:
- Seats should be purchased for children 2 years and above.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Passengers can carry two additional items for your child in the hold for £0 – Carrycots and Infant Seats.
Child Car Seat:
- Passengers should bring own car seat as there is none available on board.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infant: Under 2 years
- Children: 2-11 years
- Teenagers: 11-15 years
- Adults: 16
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Infants have a baggage allowance of up to 10kg (22lb), which is included as part of the infant ticket price
- Infant tickets include one piece of baggage, regardless of cabin class. This piece must be 23kg (50lb) or less, with total dimensions (length width, height) not exceeding 150cm (59 inches).
- Passengers travelling with infants in any class are also permitted one handbag for inflight necessities and infant food (weight must not exceed 5 kg/11lb) and one fully collapsible stroller or carry‑cot as a carry‑on item, as long as cabin space is available, and you are not bringing a child seat.
Children’s Meals:
- Milk formula and baby bottles are available on board when needed.
- Passengers can also bring own baby meals. Cabin crew will be able to assist with food and bottle warming.
- There are special meals available for children aged 2 to 12. Passengers are able to choose meals for young travellers before or after booking.
Entertainment:
- Children are given headphone.
- There are about 50 Disney films and 100 kids TV channels such as CBeebies, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
- Children can listen to soundtracks from their favourite movies and musicals.
- Adventures such as following the journey on the moving map, or external cameras on Air show channel for pilot’s views of take-off and landing.
Seating:
- Infants under 2 years can either be carried on the lap or request a baby bassinet with a special seatbelt extension.
- Passengers can bring own bassinets or car seats.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Passengers can request or bring their own.
- The bassinets provided on board have specific dimensions, limited and subject to availability.
- Passengers are recommended to add this to the booking or manage booking before flying.
Child Car Seat:
- Cabin crew will ensure the car seat is approved for use on aircraft. Ensure the car seat meet Emirates safety standard.
- Used on board but will have to buy separate seat and pay child’s fare.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infant: Under 2 years
- Children: 0-17 years
- Adults: 17+
Family Priority Boarding:
- N/A
Luggage Allowance:
- Passengers can bring pushchairs and travel cots should not weigh more than 10kg
Children’s Meals:
- Passengers are able add kids’ meals to booking 48 hours before flight.
- Cabin crew can assist with warming baby food.
Entertainment:
N/A
Seating:
- Infants will be seated on the lap of an accompanying adult with an extension seat belt.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Travel cots will have to be checked into the aircraft’s hold.
Child Car Seat:
- Car seats are allowed and have to be suitable for air travel and criteria.
- Car seats for infants 2 years and under are suitable for use on board. If car seat weighs over 10kg, £12 has to be paid for excess luggage.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infants: 0-23 Months
- Child: 2-11 years
- Youth: 12-24 years
- Student: 18-29 years
- Adult: 29+
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Infants under two years have baggage allowance up to 12kg
Children’s Meals
- Restrictions on liquids do not apply to baby food.
- For children 2 years and above, meals can be reserved 24 hours before departure.
- Passengers can bring own meal if preferred.
Entertainment:
- Ability to browse children’s inflight entertainment schedule for the month.
- On intercontinental flights, kids get a playset with a game pencils and stickers.
Seating:
- Children that require carrycots should not weigh more than 10kg on the day of flight.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Carrycots can be booked, subject to availability.
Child Car Seat:
- Passengers are recommended to bring own car seat.
- It is free to check in a car seat.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infant: Under 2 years
- Child: 2-11 years
- Adult: 12+
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Children with own seat can have baggage allowance up to 23kg
Children’s Meals:
- Baby milk, sterilizer, baby juice, baby food (in solid, gel, or paste form) are permitted.
- Children’s meals are to be pre ordered when booking a ticket.
Entertainment:
- Educational kits including stickers, crayons, puzzles, and colouring pages are given to children on board.
- The kit varies depending on the length of the flight.
- Educational programs, video games and kids’ channels are accessible on board.
Seating:
- Car seats and baby bassinets are available on board.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Eligible infant age is 8 days.
- Provides bassinets for infants 24 months and below.
- Maximum weight of infant should not exceed 11kg (24 Lbs)
Child Car Seat:
- Car seats should be used for children 6-36 months.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infant: Under 2 years
- Child: 2-11 years
- Teens: 12-15 years
- Adult: 16+
Family Priority Boarding:
- No
Luggage Allowance:
- Passengers can carry a baby bag up to 5kg for children below 23 months
- Children above 2 years can have a cabin bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm)
Children’s Meals:
- Children’s meals can be pre ordered up to 1 hour before departure.
- A meal deal is available for kids on the menu. The deal includes 1 main, 1 drink and a Kit Kat for £8.
Entertainment:
- Do not provide inflight entertainment. Can bring own electronics on board.
- Devices allowed are tablets, laptops, smart phones, iPod, E-readers, MP3 players and portable DVD players.
Seating:
- Seats must be purchased for children 2 years and above.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Can bring 2 items of baby equipment free of charge.
- Pushchair has to be tagged at the baggage drop or boarding gate.
Child Car Seat:
- Car seats for infant 2 years and above need to have a separate purchased seat.
- Car seat must be certified for used on board.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Children: 0-17 years
- Adult: 17+
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Under two’s receive 10kg luggage allowance
- Pushchairs and car seats carried in hold free of charge
Children’s Meals:
- Meals are provided for long haul flights only.
- Children have to choose from the menu for all passengers as there is no children’s menu.
- Baby milk can be carried on board. Cabin crew can assist with heating milk.
- There are no restrictions on baby powder formula.
Entertainment:
- Entertainment is only provided for long haul flights 7+ hours.
- On flight experience on long haul flights includes movies to keep kids entertained.
Seating:
- Children under 12 years have to be seated with an accompanying adult.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
N/A
Child Car Seat:
- Car seat transported for free
Ticket Age Categories:
- Lap infants: Under 2 years
- Child: 2-11 years
- Young Adults: 12-15 years
- Adult: 16+
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Seated infants have baggage allowance of 23kg.
- Lap infants can have 1 x 23kg bag in any cabin apart from economy light
Children’s Meals:
- children’s meals can be ordered 24 hours before flight.
- There is a menu for children on board, passengers can choose from if not pre- ordered.
Entertainment:
- There are a variety of TV shows and movies for children.
- There is a parental block on the entertainment system.
Seating:
- Passengers 12 and above can accompany a lap infant.
- Only one baby per lap.
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
- Baby cots and bassinets needs to be pre booked before flight.
- Infant 2 years and under are not allowed to use car seats on board.
Child Car Seat:
- Car seats are allowed but must meet requirements and approved for the aircraft.
- Car seats without the right approval labels and requirements will not be allowed on board.
Ticket Age Categories:
- Infant: 14 days – 2 years (Infant fare)
- Child: 2 -14 years (Adult fare)
- Adult: 14-16 years(Adult fare)
- Adult: 16+ years(Adult fare)
Family Priority Boarding:
- Yes
Luggage Allowance:
- Passengers can bring foldable travel cots or stroller which can be loaded in the aircraft’s hold for free.
Children’s Meals:
- Kids snacks and drinks are available for purchase.
Entertainment:
N/A
Seating:
N/A
Carrycots and Infant Seats:
N/A
Child Car Seat:
- Car seats are allowed on board, but a seat has to purchase for it.