Travelling with Children and Babies on Flights

As mum of 6 kids, I have had to carefully plan each holiday from luggage and what to take, to what is considered acceptable on each airline. Each one has different policies and so had to be researched carefully prior to booking.

Aer Lingus clearly states that children under the age of 12 must travel with an adult and cannot be unaccompanied. This is not such a big deal since we all travel together, but this is the main policy that they focus on and it is difficult to find alternative information about travelling with children on their website. It does state however that only one adult can be responsible for two infants at a time (i.e. Children under 2 years) However this policy fails if the infants are twins under 6 months, as only one infant is permitted to it sit on the adults knee at a time, and no infants under 6 months are allowed to sit on a baby seat. Catch twenty-two! You must bring your own baby seat for the infant, and in some cases, the infant may be charged child prices. In addition to this, your older children, until the age of 16, are not permitted to put the infant on their knee, despite being charged an adult price from the age of 12 years. You can book them with an adult (including your 12 year old child) on the website, but once you try to board, the additional infant under 6 months is not allowed on... With Aer lingus, you can book a pushchair as hand luggage with each infant and use it until you reach the gate to board the plane.

Ryanair have a clear policy, one infant under 23 months per adult, and children under 16 years are not allowed to have an infant on their lap. You cannot put them in a baby seat and book a seat for them, like aer lingus, as they must sit on the adults knee. So if you have 2 children under 23 months, they cannot travel with this airline. Like aer lingus, a pushchair can be booked for each infant. However, if you wish to take a travel cot with you, you will be charged extra, and it will not form part of the baggage allowance.

Jet2 charge every child over 2 years the same as adult prices. Like Ryanair, only one infant can travel per adult and it must be on their lap to get it at the infant price. You can place your child in a car seat but only if you pay full fare for the airline seat. However, you may carry the car seat and buggy free as long as it is not too heavy. Unlike the other airlines, children cannot fly unaccompanied until they reach 14 years.

Easyjet allows two infants per adult. Once the child reaches two, it must sit in it's own seat. You cannot take two infants under 6 months (no good for twins) and once over 6 months, the extra infant must sit in a car seat. You must be 16 to have an infant of your knee, and you must be fourteen years old to fly unaccompanied. On the website, it does not mention whether or not it is free to bring a pushchair. Be careful when calling easy jet as they use a high toll number (0906..)

British Airways website provides clear information about travelling with children. An adult can be responsible for more than one infant as long as the second infant is over 6 months. Children can flight unaccompanied over 12 years. Pushchairs etc can be checked in as part of the infant baggage allowance so check the weight. They supply car seats if you want to put your infant in a second seat, but you will be charged child prices if you do not want to have the infant on your lap. Children up to 6 months have to travel on your lap.

Booking with large families: This is almost impossible as we always have to use two bookings. This is the same regardless of whether it is an airline or a travel agent online. If you manage to book eight people on one booking, you can be sure that there will be a problem when you get there. So call them rather than book online, it might take ages, but it is worth the hassle rather than having a stressful start to your holiday.

Finally, baby food.. be prepared to taste it at the airport now as this is a requirement to prove that your child's food is not really a poisonous substance... It might taste awful but be prepared.

It sometimes is not easy to find the appropriate information you require for booking with children on the websites. Before you book, you must be sure that the airline has the necessary requirements for your family. While some airlines have the same policies, they are not all exactly identical and you cannot assume that it will be suitable for you, and the last thing that you want is to get to the airport and have to turn away. So, if you cannot find it on the website, give them a call. Be sure before you buy because many operators will not give a refund.