Flying With a Baby: Airline Policies Compared (2026)

By BabyTravel UK Editorial Team · Last updated March 2026

Booking your first flight with a baby raises a lot of questions — and the answers vary wildly depending on which airline you fly. How much does an infant ticket cost? How old does a baby need to be to fly? Does the airline have bassinets? Can you bring a nappy bag as an extra item? This page answers all of that in one place, so you can compare policies before you book rather than after. For a full guide to the day itself, see our complete guide to flying with a baby.

Airline infant policies compared: full table

The table below covers the 10 airlines most commonly used by UK families for both short-haul and long-haul travel. Lap infants are babies travelling on a parent's lap without their own seat (standard for under-2s). A "bassinet" is a sky cot attached to the bulkhead — only available on certain aircraft and must be pre-booked.

Airline-by-airline breakdown

The table above gives you the essentials at a glance. Below we've added the details that matter most to families — the small print that can catch you out if you're not expecting it.

Ryanair

Ryanair charges £25 / €25 per infant per flight — so a return trip costs £50 per baby. Infants must be at least 8 days old and travel on a parent's lap. Ryanair allows one extra infant bag per baby at 5 kg and 45x35x20 cm, which sits separate to your adult cabin bag. No bassinets are available on any Ryanair route. There is a maximum of one infant per adult, and no more than four infants per flight. Ryanair does not allow car seats in the cabin — pushchairs must be gate-checked (free of charge).

For help packing that 5 kg infant bag efficiently, our baby hand luggage checklist covers exactly what to prioritise.

easyJet

easyJet's infant fee is around £25 per flight, though this varies by route and season — always check at the time of booking. The minimum age is 14 days. The infant bag allowance mirrors Ryanair: one extra small bag per infant, 45x36x20 cm. No bassinets on any route. If your child has their own seat, a car seat may be used if it fits the seat and seatbelt. easyJet operates a strict one infant per adult policy.

British Airways

BA charges 10% of the adult fare plus taxes for a lap infant — on long-haul routes this can add up to a meaningful sum. The minimum age is 7 days. On long-haul flights, bassinets (sky cots) are available free of charge at the bulkhead, up to a maximum weight of 12.5 kg — you must pre-book these as they go fast. The infant gets their own cabin bag allowance (usually a small bag), which can usefully hold your nappy bag contents.

BA permits both forward and rear-facing car seats in the cabin provided your child has their own seat. BA also accepts approved child restraint devices for young babies, including the CARES harness for toddlers. If you're wondering about taking your pushchair, see our guide to taking a pushchair on a plane.

Jet2

Jet2 stands out as the only major UK airline to offer completely free infant travel (from August 2025). Under-2s fly as lap infants at no charge, which makes a real difference on a family package. The minimum age is 7 days. There are no bassinets — Jet2 operates short and medium-haul routes only. Your nappy bag counts towards your personal item, so pack it inside your main cabin bag if possible. If your child has their own seat, a car seat is permitted provided it is airline-approved.

TUI

TUI's infant fees are route-dependent and can change — the airline recommends calling to confirm the current charge before booking. The minimum age is 14 days. Despite operating Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on several routes, TUI does not offer bassinets. The nappy bag must fit within your adult 10 kg cabin bag allowance, so factor that in when packing. Car seats are allowed if your child has their own seat.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air charges around £27–32 per one-way infant flight (varies by route). The minimum age is 14 days. There are no bassinets. Unlike most other airlines, Wizz Air only permits rear-facing car seats — forward-facing car seats are not allowed in the cabin. The infant bag is an extra item (40x30x20 cm, up to 10 kg) which sits on top of your standard cabin bag allowance — one of the better allowances among budget carriers. One infant per adult maximum applies.

Vueling

Vueling charges a flat infant fee ranging from around €14.99 on short hops to €154.99 on longer routes. The minimum age is 7 days. Vueling gives parents an extra 5 kg baby bag on top of their standard cabin baggage — similar to Wizz Air's approach. No bassinets are available. Both forward and rear-facing car seats are permitted when a seat is booked for the child. Vueling flies mainly within Europe and from Spain, making it relevant if you're connecting via Barcelona or Madrid.

TAP Air Portugal

TAP charges 10% of the adult fare for lap infants. The minimum age is 8 days. Bassinets are available on A330 and A321LR long-haul routes — free of charge, up to 11 kg baby weight, and for babies up to 12 months — but must be pre-requested. On short-haul Airbus routes, no bassinets are available. Your nappy bag must fit within your adult carry-on allowance. TAP maintains a list of approved car seat models — check this carefully before travelling. TAP is useful for families flying from Lisbon or Porto, or transiting through Lisbon to Brazil and South Africa.

KLM

KLM is one of the more family-friendly options for long-haul travel. It charges 10% of the adult fare, but notably has no stated minimum age (from birth). Bassinets are available on intercontinental flights — maximum 10 kg and 65 cm in length. KLM also offers the most generous nappy bag allowance: a dedicated extra bag up to 12 kg, separate from your standard cabin luggage. Forward and rear-facing car seats are permitted when a seat is purchased for the child. Amsterdam Schiphol is a major hub for onward connections, particularly to Asia, North America, and Southern Africa.

Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus charges €25 / £25 per infant for EU and UK routes, and 10% of the adult fare for transatlantic flights. There is no hard minimum age, though 2 weeks is recommended. Bassinets are available on transatlantic A330 routes only, up to 11 kg. The nappy bag must fit within your 10 kg carry-on allowance.

The standout restriction: Aer Lingus does not permit car seats in the cabin — they are not allowed regardless of whether a seat is purchased for the child. If you were planning to use a car seat on the flight, you will need to gate-check it instead. For families used to using an approved car seat in flight, this is worth knowing before you book. If you are travelling with a car seat, our guide to using a car seat on a plane explains what's involved.

What about pushchairs and car seats at the airport?

All 10 airlines above allow you to check a pushchair for free — this is standard across the industry. You can usually take a pushchair to the gate (gate-check), which means you have it available through the terminal and hand it over at the aircraft door. It is then returned to you either at the jet bridge on arrival or at baggage reclaim — confirm with your specific airport and airline before you fly.

For compact options that can go in the overhead locker, our guide to the best cabin approved strollers for airplane travel covers the key models. And if you're deciding whether to bother with a pushchair at all versus a carrier, our sling vs pushchair for travel guide may help you decide.

On car seats specifically: most airlines permit approved car seats in the cabin when a seat is booked for the child, but rules vary. Wizz Air only allows rear-facing; Aer Lingus prohibits them entirely. Always check your airline's current approved car seat list. Our full guide to car seats on planes explains the rules in detail.

Travelling with breast milk and formula

All airlines are required to comply with UK airport security rules on liquids when departing from UK airports. Breast milk and formula are exempt from the standard 100 ml liquid limit in the UK — you can carry as much as you reasonably need for the journey. You may be asked to remove it from your bag at security and in some cases to taste it. Our full guide to taking breast milk through airport security UK covers exactly what to expect at each stage.

Do babies need ear protection on flights?

No airline requires ear protection for babies, but cabin noise levels can be uncomfortable for young infants, particularly during take-off and descent. If you are travelling with a very young baby or a baby who is sensitive to noise, baby ear defenders or earplugs designed for infants are worth considering. Our guide to whether babies need ear protection when flying looks at the evidence and the options.

Tips for your first flight with a baby

If this is your first time flying with your little one, preparation makes the difference. Think through your packing carefully, get to the airport with plenty of time, and don't underestimate how much feeding and distraction you will need on board. Our detailed first flight with a baby guide walks through everything from booking seats to getting off the plane.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which UK airline is cheapest for travelling with a baby?

Jet2 is the only major UK airline to offer completely free infant travel — babies under 2 fly at no charge (from August 2025). On other airlines, budget carriers like Ryanair and easyJet charge a flat fee of around £25 per flight. Long-haul airlines such as BA and KLM charge a percentage of the adult fare, which can be higher in absolute terms on expensive routes.

What is the minimum age to fly with a baby in the UK?

Most airlines require babies to be at least 7–14 days old. The most common minimums are 7 days (BA, Jet2, Vueling) and 14 days (easyJet, TUI, Wizz Air). KLM has no stated minimum age — newborns can technically fly from birth. Always carry your baby's birth certificate and, if flying within the minimum window, a letter from your midwife or GP confirming fitness to fly.

Do any short-haul airlines offer bassinets?

No. Bassinets (sky cots) are only available on long-haul and intercontinental routes, and only on aircraft with bulkhead rows configured to accept them. On short-haul flights with Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Wizz Air, and Vueling, you hold your baby on your lap for the duration. This is standard — not a budget-airline restriction.

Can I take a car seat on the plane?

Most airlines allow an approved car seat in the cabin when you purchase a separate seat for your child. The key exceptions are Aer Lingus (car seats are not permitted in the cabin at all) and Wizz Air (rear-facing only — forward-facing car seats are not allowed). For all others, check the airline's approved car seat list — not all models are accepted. See our car seat on a plane guide for full details.

How does the nappy bag count towards luggage allowances?

It depends on the airline. Ryanair and Wizz Air count the nappy bag as a separate extra infant item (small bag, 5–10 kg) on top of your standard cabin allowance — a genuine bonus. easyJet also allows an extra infant item. On BA, the nappy bag contents go in the infant's own cabin bag. On TUI and Aer Lingus, it must fit within your standard 10 kg adult carry-on, so pack carefully. Our baby hand luggage checklist helps you prioritise.

Do I need a passport for my baby to fly?

Yes — every traveller including newborns needs their own passport for international travel. There are no exceptions. For EU travel from the UK, a passport (not just an ID card) is required. Passport applications for babies can take several weeks, so apply as early as possible. The UK Government passport guidance covers the application process in detail.

What happens to my pushchair at the airport?

You can usually take your pushchair all the way to the gate, where you hand it over just before boarding (gate-check). It is then loaded into the hold and returned either at the jet bridge on arrival or at baggage reclaim — ask your airline or check the airport's family travel guidance. Gate-checking is free on all major UK airlines. See our guide to taking a pushchair on a plane for more detail.

How often do airline baby policies change?

More often than you might expect. Jet2 introduced free infant travel mid-2025; several airlines adjusted their infant fees and luggage rules during and after the pandemic. Policies can change without a public announcement. Always check your airline's family travel or infant travel page directly when you book, and again before you fly — don't rely solely on comparison pages like this one. We review and update this page quarterly.