Air travel – unless you are lucky enough to regularly enjoy business/first class – is stressful enough even without a baby. Add a baby, and it can all feel even more daunting! There is lots of advice out there about flying, and I don’t want to rehash it all here, so these are just a few tips that really worked for us.
AIRLINE POLICIES AND LUGGAGE ALLOWANCES FOR BABIES
Most airlines define a “lap infant”, as a child under two years old. They can usually travel for free on an adult traveller’s lap on domestic flights, and on a discounted “infant fare” for international routes. Most airlines then define a “child” as between the ages of 2 and 16.
Most airlines permit you to take several bulky baby items, for free. Generally this means a pram, car seat, travel cot, or something such as a framed hiking carrier. These will either be checked in with your hold baggage, or taken off you at the boarding gate to be stored for the flight. Different airlines have different polices, so I have done my best to summarise them all for you below.
| Airline | Infant Fare | Free hold luggage allowance for baby equipment | Cost of additional seat for infant |
| Aer Lingus | £25/€25 one-way 10% of adult fare on flights to/from the US | 1 pram + 1 car seat, booster seat or travel cot | Full adult fare |
| Air Canada | Free on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on international flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat or booster sear free of charge. | Full adult fare for flights within Canada + USA Child’s fare on international flights |
| AirFrance | Free on domestic flights 15% of adult fare on short-haul flights33% on long-haul flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat free of charge | 15-33% of adult fare depending on route |
| Air Malta | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram free of charge | Full adult fare |
| Air New Zealand | Free on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on international flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat free of charge | Full adult fare on domestic flights 75% of adult fare on international flights |
| American Airlines | Free on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on international flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat free of charge | Full adult fare |
| British Airways | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 10kg of hold luggage, included in adult allowance | 75% of adult fare |
| Cathay Pacific | 10% of adult fare depending on route | 1 pram + car seat + 10kg of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Delta | Free on domestic flights % of adult fare on international flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat free of charge | Full adult fare on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on international flights |
| easyJet | £25 one-way | 1 of the following items: pram, travel cot, carrier, car seat, booster seat | Children over 2 years of age must occupy their own seat Full adult fare |
| Emirates | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 carrier + 10kg of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Etihad | 10% of adult fare | 10-23kg of hold luggage depending on route | 75% of adult fare |
| Icelandair | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 car seat | 75% of adult fare |
| Iberia | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram or car seat | Infant fees for additional seats vary depending on route and length of flight. Discounts do not apply to the most economical fares |
| jet2.com | £20 (or local currency equivalent) one-way | 1 pram + 1 car seat, combined weight 10kg | Full adult fare |
| Jet Airways | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 carrier + 10kg of hold luggage | Full adult fare |
| KLM | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 10kg of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Lufthansa | Free on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on other routes | 1 pram or car seat or carrier + 23kg of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Malaysia Airlines | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + hold luggage, combined weight 10kg | 85% of adult fare |
| Norwegian | Free on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on international flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 5kg of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Qantas | Free on domestic flights 10% of adult fare on international flights | 1 pram + 1 travel cot + 1 car seat +10kg of hold luggage on international routes | Full adult fare on domestic flights 75% of adult fare on international flights |
| Qatar Airways | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram or travel cot + 10-23kg of hold luggage depending on route | 75% of adult fare depending on route |
| Scandinavian Airlines | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 23kg piece of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Singapore Airlines | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 travel cot or carrier + 23kg of hold luggage within US and 10kg outside of US | 75% of adult fare depending on route |
| South African Airways | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram or car seat + 23kg of hold luggage | 75% of adult fare |
| Swiss | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 23kg of hold luggage | 65% of adult fare |
| TAP Portugal | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 10kg of hold luggage | 70-96% of adult fare depending on route |
| Thai Airways | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram or car seat | 75% of adult fare |
| TUI | Infant fees vary depending on route and length of flight | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 10kg of hold luggage | Full adult fare |
| Turkish Airlines | Up to 15% of adult fare depending on route | 1 pram + 10-23kg of hold luggage depending on route | Infant fees for additional seats vary depending on route and length of flight |
| United Airlines | Free on domestic flights Infant costs varyon international flights | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 23kg of hold luggage | Full adult fare on domestic flights 75% of adult fare on international flights |
| Virgin Atlantic | 10% of adult fare | 1 pram + 1 car seat + 23kg of hold luggage | 75-85% of adult fare depending on route |
| Wizz Air | €31 one-way | 1 pram or car seat | Full adult fare |
THE PRACTICALITIES
Baby Milk – on almost all airlines, you are permitted to take sufficient baby food, milk and sterilised water that you need for the journey. In the UK, there is no legal limit on the amount you can take, however this will vary by country. Breast milk can be carried in hand luggage, even if you are not travelling with your baby.
Baby Equipment – as the chart above shows, most airlines allow you to take some baby equipment – such a pram or a travel cot – for free, in addition to your hold luggage.
Pram on Board? – there are a number of pram/stroller models that claim to be “cabin approved”, meaning you can take them right onto the flight with you and store them in the overhead locker. However, the reality is that different airlines have different size restrictions. For example, Emirates permit any folding travel pram on board provided there is space on the plane, whilst Jet2 don’t allow any prams in the cabin, regardless of size. So it is always worth checking on airline websites before you book.
Our Babyzen Yoyo has been permitted into the cabin on all flights we have been on with The Baby (although we have not always bothered, finding it easier to use a soft carrier on board).
FLIGHT TIPS WITH A BABY
Change nappies before the flight – plane bathrooms are teeny tiny, and the fold down changing tables are even smaller and absurdly slippery. Trying to wrestle a small octopus out of a dirty nappy in such circumstances is best avoided if possible. If the flight is short enough, make use of the extra space in the airport and change your baby beforehand. If you have to change on the plane, take a travel changing mat to make it a bit less stressful.
Take Sanitising Wipes – I am not a big germophobe, but planes are often particularly grubby. And babies have a passion for licking and chewing any surface they can get their hands on. And repeatedly dropping their toys on the floor and then licking them. Sterilising wipes were our saviour!
Don’t assume you have the bassinet – on longer flights, don’t assume you will automatically be allocated a bassinet because you booked an infant ticket. There are usually only two on each plane, so contact the airline to book in advance if you need it.
Make favourite toys extra exciting – I have found that keeping favourite toys out of the way a few days before travel to crack out on the plane makes them extra absorbing come the flight! I also always pack the big guns in my hand luggage… in our case, Gidros the Dragon, Henrietta Hippo and a spoon (I can’t explain this one, he just loves it!).
Choose the right toys – in addition to The Baby’s favourites, before his first flight we also bought him this sensory toy, which proved to be perfect for having multiple textures and ways to explore, and possible to hang off the seat in front. It has become a firm favourite, along with the spinners we (and seemingly everyone else!) got. In addition to sticking to the plane window and fold down tray table, they are also now his nightly bath toys! Likewise, these super packable suction toys have been very popular at home and on holiday, as have these versatile silicon animals.
Work around naps – We once had a horrendous experience flying to Mexico with three small children in the row behind us that shouted, screamed and kicked our seats the entire way. I felt so sorry for their poor mother who was doing everything humanely possible to tempt them to stop, but to no avail. It made us very committed to trying to ensure The Baby doesn’t impact on those travelling around us as much as is possible. Whilst I firmly believe he has every right to be there and to enjoy his holiday… so do our fellow travel companions!
For example, on our most recent trip abroad we booked a flight which meant The Baby was due a sleep on the taxi ride to the airport, then his second nap on the flight. We did everything possible to keep him awake and stimulated in the airport, so that by the time we got on the plane the poor little thing was exhausted! Whilst I know all the advice about not feeding your baby to sleep, when travelling I think it a glorious design of evolution which helps parents arrive on holiday not too frazzled! So, I always feed The Baby as we taxi onto the runway (not least to help the pressure in his ears on take off). Combined with the sleep pressure we have hopefully built up – touch wood! – this has almost always led to sleep on take off, and a fairly decent nap on me for the first part of the flight.
FEAR OF FLYING AND TRAVEL WITH BABIES…
Finally, a rather specific one for my fellow “fear of flying” sufferers! I am a fully committed member of the utterly, and completely, terrified of flying club. I *really, really, really* hate flying. Despite my passion for travel and exploration, since a horribly turbulent transatlantic flight when I was a teenager, I am the crazy “we are all going to die” person sobbing from the moment I step into the airport. If I can take a train/boat/walk somewhere instead, I will. Even if it takes weeks to get there!
I was therefore really concerned about flying with The Baby. Both as I was worried about being able to look after him, but also about how anxious I would be. It definitely didn’t reduce my anxiety (translation – total terror!) but having no alternative but to focus on his needs and caring for him, meant I forced myself to be calm in a way The Poor Husband doesn’t usually benefit from as my travel companion. All this is simply a long winded way to say, if you are similarly afraid of flying, and don’t know how to factor in a baby, you can do it!
Now where do I book a boat to Australia…
Be sure to check out my other tips and tricks for travelling as a family – as well as my destination and adventure guides for choosing where to head with your little explorer!
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