If you are going abroad with young children over the school holidays, this information might come in handy.
Flying with little ones can sometimes be a challenge. And the rules around what you are allowed to carry on the plane may cause confusion for families.
Here, we have rounded up details from some of the main airlines regarding prams, travel cots and car seats. We have explained the rules for each firm, including easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2.com, British Airways and TUI. Though if you have any specific questions, it is best to contact your airline directly.
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easyJet
You can carry two additional items for your child in the hold for free, if you require them. For every infant or child you can bring up to two of the following items free of charge to go into the hold, in addition to your cabin bag allowance:
- travel cot
- pushchair
- double pushchair
- buggy
- car seat
- collapsible or non-collapsible pram
- booster seat
- baby back carrier
You can check these in at the Bag Drop before you go through security, or if you need to use any of them to get to the boarding gate, staff will collect them from you before you board the plane and put them in the aircraft hold. They will be available to collect at the baggage reclaim when you arrive at your destination.
If you wish to bring any of these items with you in the cabin, they will need to be stowed in the overhead locker, should not exceed 56 x 45 x 25 cm, (including any handles or wheels), and need to be purchased as a ‘large cabin bag’ when you book your flight.
More information is available here.
Ryanair
With Ryanair, you can carry two items of baby equipment free of charge per child (one pushchair + car seat, booster seat or travel cot)
Children's pushchairs can be used up to the aircraft steps and after landing the pushchair will be available at the aircraft steps (provided local conditions permit this). Remember to ensure that your pushchair is tagged at the baggage drop desk or at the boarding gate.
Other items of baby equipment in addition to the two free items can be checked-in upon payment of an Infant/Child Equipment fee (maximum weight 20 kgs). More details are available here.
TUI
The airline states on its website: "TUI carry pushchairs and car seats in the hold of the aircraft free of charge. Please be aware that due to lack of space on board the aircraft, these items are not allowed in the cabin.
"You will usually be able to use your pushchair at the airport and hand it to a member of staff at the gate before you board, but please confirm this with ground staff when you check in."
See here for more information about travelling with children.
Jet2.com
If you’re travelling with an infant or child, a collapsible pushchair and/or a car seat and/or a travel cot can be carried in the hold free of charge, as long as the total weight of these items doesn’t exceed 10kg. Anything exceeding this will be charged for in line with the airline's excess baggage policy, subject to space and availability.
Travel cots - You’ll need to check any travel cots into the plane’s hold at the Jet2.com check-in desk.
Pushchairs - You can take a pushchair to the plane, where it will have to be collapsed and loaded into the hold by the Jet2 team. You can pick it up again on the baggage reclaim carrousel at your destination.
Car Seats - You can check in car seats up to 10kg into the hold for free. If you check in a car seat over 10kg, you’ll be charged a standard excess baggage rate.
More details are available here.
British Airways
Each infant and child can take up to two of the following extras checked into the hold:
- Fully collapsible pushchair (stroller)
- Car or booster seat
- Travel cot
- Baby back carrier
When it comes to pushchairs, the size is important if you want to be able to collect your pushchair at the aircraft door on arrival. Walking distances from arrival terminals to baggage collection vary across airports and some may be longer than others.
British Airways offers a service that returns your pushchair back to the aircraft door in certain destinations. There are strict parameters on the size of pushchairs, so please check below if your pushchair qualifies for this service.
- It must be a single piece, slimline, fully collapsible pushchair.
- Maximum dimension size including wheels: Height 38cm, Length 117cm, Depth 38cm
- If your pushchair is within the dimensions it will be tagged with an orange Return To Aircraft Door label, with your customer information included, before being placed in the hold. You can then collect it on arrival at your destination. Please contact the cabin crew for assistance.
- If your pushchair is bigger than the dimensions it will not be delivered to the aircraft door on arrival. Instead, you can collect your pushchair on the baggage carousel in the baggage hall at your destination, along with your checked baggage.
Please note, this service is not offered at all destinations, so ask at check-in whether aircraft pick-up is possible. See here for more details.
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