Travelling with your tots in tow needn't be a nightmare. Airlines are always coming up with new ways to entertain and accommodate young travellers, helping to make your journey as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. We've compiled a comprehensive table of the family-friendly facilities, services and entertainment offered by each of the major airlines.
| Pushchair Policy | Onboard facilities | The menu |
|---|
| Pushchairs must be checked in with the baggage but can be handed down at the gate if required. | | Children's meals can be preordered by contacting the Reservations Office 24 hours before departure. Baby food warming facilities are available onboard. |
| | Skycots can be provided for infants. Free gifts and toys are available for children and cartoons and family films are screened during long-haul flights. Inflatable height-enhancement cushions are available for smaller children on request. | Bottle and baby food warming facilities are available. |
| Families are offered priority boarding. ‘Family Assistants’ help cabin crew to welcome and assist families. Special events for children are organised at selected airports during holiday periods. The Flying Blue loyalty card scheme allows children to earn ‘miles’ that can be exchanged for plane tickets. |
| Small collapsible pushchairs are included in your carry-on allowance. | Changing tables are available in the toilets of all wide body aircraft. Audio headsets can be purchased onboard to enable children to watch the in-flight entertainments. | Bottle and baby food warming facilities are available. American Airlines do not offer specific meals for children. |
| Pushchairs can be taken to the aircraft door and returned when you disembark. | On long-haul flights children receive courtesy teddy bears and activity packs. Bassinets, changing facilities with complimentary nappies, family films and Nintendo games are available on selected flights. | Children’s meals and bottle warming facilities are available on selected flights. |
| Families are offered priority boarding. |
| Small collapsible pushchairs can be taken to the aircraft door. | Activity books are available on all flights over an hour long and activity packs are available on flights over 170 minutes. Handheld games consoles, on-screen entertainment from Disney and Cartoon Network and family films are available on long-haul flights. | Children’s meals can be pre-ordered online at BA.com and the airline operates a ‘Feed kids first’ policy. Bottle and baby food warming facilities are available. |
| Online family check-in is available 24 hours before departure at BA.com. Select your seats and print off your boarding passes from home. |
| Collapsible pushchairs can be used until boarding and are excluded from baggage allowance. | A selection of toys is available to buy from the in-flight trolley. | N/A |
| Passengers travelling with babies get priority boarding after those who have paid for 'speedy boarding'. |
| Pushchairs can be used until boarding. | All aircraft are equipped with changing tables and bassinets. Seatback TVs screen cartoons and family films and interactive games are available on all flights. Special treats for children travelling on their birthday or other special occasions are available if prearranged with a Reservations Agent. | Children’s meals and baby food is available but must be preordered at least 24 hours before departure. Bottle and baby food warming facilities are available. |
| Families are offered priority boarding. Children can follow the plane’s progress, altitude and airspeed on a dynamic map linked to the onboard computers through the Airshow channel. The Flying Camera channel enables children to enjoy a pilot's-eye view of take-off and landing. |
| One collapsible pushchair can be carried onboard but must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartments. | Cradles suitable for babies weighing 10kg or less can be reserved in advance on intercontinental flights. Activity packs and a range of baby items are available on intercontinental flights. | Children’s meals can be pre-ordered free of charge from KLM Reservations. |
| If you have reserved a seat for your child, you may take your own (car) child seat provided that it will fit between the armrests of the aircraft seat. |
| Pushchairs can be taken to the aircraft door and returned when you disembark. | Sketchbooks, crayons, finger puppets, matchbox cars, jigsaws and card games are available for children during the flight. Cartoons and animated films are screened. A limited number of baby beds are available on long-haul flights. Changing tables are available in onboard washrooms. | Pre-order children's meals when you book your flight or by calling the Lufthansa Call Centre at least 24 hours before departure. Baby food and bottle warming facilities are available on all flights. |
| Pushchairs can be taken to the boarding gate. | Seatback TVs screen family films on long-haul flights. | Children’s meals are available on request. |
| Families with young children are offered priority boarding. |
| Pushchairs and travel cots should be accepted for carriage free of charge. | All aircraft have baby changing facilities. | Bottles and baby food can be heated in hot water by the crew. Monarch does not offer specific meals for children. |
| Car seats may be taken onboard for children aged 6 months to 3 years if a seat has been reserved for that child. |
| One collapsible pushchair, carry basket or bassinet can be checked-in (to be stowed in the aircraft hold) free of charge. | Bassinets must be reserved when booking flights. All aircraft have baby changing facilities and limited supplies of nappies and baby wipes. Complimentary age-appropriate ‘Kids’ Kits’ are available for children and include crayons, activity books and games. | Special child, toddler and baby meals are available if requested when booking your flight. Cabin crew can heat and wash bottles on request. |
| Pushchairs can be taken to the aircraft door (provided that local conditions permit this). After landing your pushchair will be available at the aircraft steps. | Baby changing facilities are available on board. | Ryanair advises passengers to bring their own food. |
| Pushchairs cannot be carried onto the aircraft and need to be checked-in as baggage. | Bassinets can be reserved in advance for babies up to 9 months old on selected flights. All aircraft have baby changing facilities. Toys and games are available and seatback TVs screen films, stories and games during long-haul flights. | Meals for children and infants are available with at least 24 hours notice. |
| One collapsible pushchair can be checked-in (to be stowed in the aircraft hold) free of charge. | Nappies, disposable bibs, feeding bottles and baby wipes are available on request. Seatback TVs screen the Young Ones channel and interactive games. | Children’s' meals are available and can be booked online. |
| One collapsible pushchair may be carried onboard most aircraft. | Baby baskets for infants up to 8 months old can be reserved on long-haul flights. Seatback TVs screen films, music and games. | Meals for babies and children are available. |
| Pushchairs can be put in the hold at the boarding gate. | Baby changing facilities are available on most aircraft. | Children’s meals start from £4 each way and can be preordered online. |
| A car seat may be taken onboard if a seat has been purchased for your child. |
| Pushchairs can be used until boarding. | Baby changing facilities are available. In Premium and Plus, kid’s films are screened in seatback TVs. | In-flight meals can be purchased in advance on some routes. Children’s meals start from £3 each way. |
| There is a restriction on how many infants can travel on each flight so check availability when booking. A car seat may be taken onboard if a seat has been reserved for your child. |
| Pushchairs need to be checked-in at the boarding gate and can be returned to you at the aircraft door when you land. | Bassinets are provided on all international flights. Changing tables are available on certain types of aircraft | Meals for babies and children are available but must be requested 24 hours in advance. |
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| A pushchair, bassinet or car seat can be carried free of charge. | Seatback TVs have dedicated kids’ channels and Nintendo games. Children receive complimentary activity packs. | Children’s meals must be requested 72 hours in advance. Bottles and baby food can be heated in hot water by the crew. |
| Last updated April 2009 |
