Family travel: Your Guide To Flying With Kids
 DIY holiday booking and increased airport security, has turned airline travel for families into more of an endurance test than the exciting start to a holiday.
We've done the legwork for you to come up with a comprehensive list of the services offered by the main airlines from priority boarding to children's meals.
BMI
Family facilities: On their long-haul flights BMI offer kiddie packs suitable for ages 4-8, 9-12 as well as children's meals and a dedicated children and family audio and video selection.
Do they pre-board families? Yes on both short and long-haul flights.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Yes.
British Airways
Family facilities: BA allow families to check in online before they arrive at the airport. You can check in your entire family on ba.com from 24 hours before departure – with groups of 6 people checked in as one transaction. This means being able to choose seats, pre-order a kids meal and print off your boarding passes. Once you're at the airport you'll be able to check-in luggage via a Fast Bag Drop.
Do they pre-board families? Yes.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Yes.
Easyjet
Family facilities: There are no specifically child-friendly meals or packs once you're on-board. They do however have a range of snacks and drinks available.
Do they pre-board families? No – you have to purchase Speedy Boarding. This is bookable online from just £5.50 or at the airport from £7.50 per person.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Yes.
Flybe
Family facilities: The on-board menu features various meals and snacks suitable for children. Passengers can pre-select seats in advance of travel for free if travelling in Economy Plus. Economy passengers are charged £5 per seat, per sector if booked online and £8 per seat, per sector if booked via the call centre.
Do they pre-board families? Flybe invites passengers with young children to board the aircraft at the same time as those customers who have pre-assigned their seats.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Yes.
Jet2
Family facilities: Families can pre-book seats together at a cost of £3.99 per seat and this can be done during the booking process or anytime after the booking has been made online.
Do they pre-board families? Although Jet2 doesn’t pre-board families as a general rule the airline will try to be as accommodating as possible for a family with a pushchair or a baby.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Yes, subject to local conditions. You can also pick it up as you get off the plane, once again depending on how your destination airport operates.
Monarch
Family facilities: Children’s meals are available on charter, but not scheduled flights. But both services offer children’s packs on board to keep youngsters happy. Infants do not receive a meal on board as part of the normal catering service, however parents are welcome to take their own baby food on-board and the crew, where possible, will help with heating bottles or jars of baby food.
All Monarch aircraft have nappy changing facilities on-board in at least one WC.
Do they pre-board families? Families with small children do get to pre-board and there’s no extra charge for it. You can pre-book seats together at a cost of £12 per passenger for a return trip short haul and £18 per passenger long haul.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Yes.
Ryanair
Family facilities: There's plenty of snacks and child-friendly food on board, but you'll have to pay for it.
Do they pre-board families? Ryanair offer Priority Boarding from £4 per person per journey if you book online.
Can I take my buggy to the aircraft door? Pushchairs can be used up to the entrance to the plane (provided that local conditions permit this). After landing your pushchair will be available at the aircraft steps. Be aware that while buggies are carried free, Ryanair charge £8 to carry a car or booster seat or travel cot.
Tips for flying with children:
- Ask cabin crew if you can delay having your meal until you've fed your child.
- Change nappies just before you get on board – much easier than using the tiny plane loo to do it!
- Try and save some milk or water in a bottle for children to drink when taking off or landing as the sucking action helps relieve the pressure in their ears.
- Many airlines allow children aged between six months and three years to use a car-seat as long as a seat has been purchased for them. You must check individual airline websites to see what type/size of car seat is acceptable.
- Travelling with twins? If you're on your own check the fine print – some airlines will only allow one infant (under six months) per adult travelling.
- Remember that although you'll need more baggage when travelling with infants than at almost any other time of your life, this is not reflected in baggage allowances. Infants have no additional baggage allowance.
* All information correct as of 16 June 2008.
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