Airborne Babies: Luggage Allowances & Infant Premiums
Are you planning a first holiday with your infant? Wondering about baggage allowances and surcharges for flying with a baby? Such questions can make an already challenging situation more stressful, but thankfully, starttravel.co.uk has put together all the information you need for a hassle–free flight with your little cherub(s).
Scroll to the bottom to see a list of major airlines and their current baby/infant surcharges.
Your flying–with–baby questions – answered
What's the minimum age an infant must be before they can fly?
Airlines differ on this. Most carriers insist a baby must be at least 14 days old, but you should contact your airline to find out about their exact policy.
Infant and child: what's the difference?
Airlines differ on this definition, too, but most regard a little one as a 'child' once they turn two years old. Once they turn 16, they are considered an adult. Once again, check with your airline to be sure.
Flying with infants and young children: top tips
- Download games and movies on to your tablet/phone to keep them occupied –
even if you have in–flight entertainment (it often fails to hit the mark in terms of what your child likes).
- Bring favourite toys with you. You could even wrap them up and give them to your little one(s) when they get really bored.
- Make any sleeping last as long as possible by taking a pillow on–board
- Take some healthy snacks for older kids and a drinks bottle for smaller ones.
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Baby and infant air travel: carrier charges and regulations |
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Airline |
Infant/baby fare* |
Free stowed luggage limit for baby equipment** |
Fee for extra infant seat*** |
|
Aer Lingus |
£19 one–way 10 per cent of adult fare on flights to/from the United States |
1 stroller/pushchair + 1 car seat, booster seat or travel cot |
Full adult fare |
|
Air Canada |
Free on internal Canadian flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 1 piece of stowed luggage. Weight restrictions depend on route |
Infant/baby charges for extra seats vary – dependent on flight route and flight length |
|
AirFrance |
Free on internal flights 15 per cent of adult fare on short–haul flights 33 per cent on long–haul flights |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 10kg of stowed luggage |
15–33 per cent of adult fare – dependent on flight route |
|
Air Malta |
10 per cent of adult fare 15 per cent of adult fare on short–haul flights 33 per cent on long–haul flights |
1 stroller or pushchair |
Full adult fare |
|
Air New Zealand |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat |
Full adult fare on internal flights 75 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
|
Alitalia |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Children under 2 years of age are not permitted to occupy their own seat; they must be on adult's lap |
|
American Airlines |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat |
Full adult fare |
|
British Airways |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Extra seats can only be booked for infants of 6–23 months 75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Cathay Pacific |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 10–23kg of stowed luggage – dependent on flight route |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Delta |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare on internal flights 50 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
|
easyJet |
£22 one–way |
2 of the following items: pushchair, baby buggy, carrier, travel cot, car seat, booster seat |
Children over 2 years of age must occupy their own seat Full adult fare |
|
Emirates |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 carrier + 10kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Etihad |
10 per cent of adult fare |
10–23kg of stowed luggage – dependent on flight route |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Flybe |
12 per cent of adult fare |
1 stroller or pushchair |
Full adult fare |
|
Icelandair |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 23kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Iberia |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair or car seat + 23kg of stowed luggage |
Infant charges for extra seats vary – dependent on flight route and flight length |
|
jet2.com |
£20 one–way |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat, combined weight 10kg |
Full adult fare |
|
Jet Airways |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 carrier + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare |
|
KLM |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 10kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Lufthansa |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on other routes |
1 pushchair or car seat or carrier + 23kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Malaysia Airlines |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + stowed luggage, combined weight 10kg |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Monarch |
£20 one–way |
1 pushchair or travel cot + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare |
|
Norwegian |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 5kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Qantas |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 1 travel cot + 1 car seat +10kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare on internal flights 75 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
|
Qatar Airways |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair or travel cot + 10–23kg of stowed luggage – dependent on flight route |
75 per cent of adult fare – dependent on flight route |
|
Ryanair |
£20 one–way |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat or booster seat or travel cot |
Full adult fare |
|
Scandinavian Airlines |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 23kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Singapore Airlines |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 travel cot or carrier + 10kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare – dependent on flight route |
|
South African Airways |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair or car seat + 23kg of stowed luggage |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Swiss |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 23kg of stowed luggage |
65 per cent of adult fare |
|
TAP Portugal |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 10kg of stowed luggage |
70–96 per cent of adult fare – dependent on flight route |
|
Thai Airways |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair or car seat |
75 per cent of adult fare |
|
Thomas Cook |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare |
|
Thomson |
Infant charges vary – dependent on flight route and flight length |
1 pushchair or car seat + 10kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare |
|
Turkish Airlines |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 10–23kg of stowed luggage – dependent on flight route |
Infant charges for extra seats vary – dependent on flight route and flight length |
|
United Airlines |
Free on internal flights 10 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 23kg of stowed luggage |
Full adult fare on internal flights 75 per cent of adult fare on international flights |
|
Virgin Atlantic |
10 per cent of adult fare |
1 pushchair + 1 car seat + 23kg of stowed luggage |
75–85 per cent of adult fare – dependent on flight route |
|
Wizz Air |
£24 one–way |
1 pushchair or car seat |
Full adult fare |