However, getting overseas can be one of the least appealing parts of a holiday. An airline’s customer service and ancillary costs can make or break a journey, especially when travelling with children. What starts out as a palatable fare can quickly spiral when you start adding on seat reservations or extra luggage.
Here’s everything you need to know.
For many, the appeal of a family flight on Ryanair will be low fares, particularly with more than one child. For example, during May half term it has flights between Stansted and Santiago in northern Spain starting from £100 return and south-western France from £120pp.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) most recent on-time performance report shows that almost two thirds – 65.5 per cent – of Ryanair flights leave on time – (within 15 minutes of the scheduled time) and only 0.3 per cent were cancelled in 2024.
Ryanair – like all airlines – has good points and others which could be improved (Photo: ewg3D/Getty)
What it could improve on
In its latest airline survey, consumer association Which? named Ryanair as the worst short-haul carrier. The research gave a star ranking out of five for different aspects of the passenger experience. For both customer service and the booking process, Ryanair scored two stars out of five. Ryanair received a customer score of 49 per cent in the research. This score was based on a combination of passengers’ overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend the airline.
The typical baggage allowance for a ‘free’ carry-on bag is just 40x20x25cm – one of the least generous across all airlines.
EasyJet
What it does well
In Which? research, it scored three stars apiece for the booking process and customer service and received a customer score of 61 per cent.
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What it could improve on
There’s a flat £25 charge for infants under two sitting on an adult’s lap, while Ryanair charges everyone older than that the standard adult fare to sit in their own seat.
Like Ryanair, the airline offers low fares to a wide range of smaller destinations such as Billund – home of Lego – in Denmark and multiple cities in central and Eastern Europe.
CAA data shows that, in 2024, 68.4 per cent of flights left on time, while 0.8 were cancelled.
Wizz Air has pros and cons when it comes to family travel (Photo: Jaroslaw Kilian /Getty)
What it could improve on
Children aged two or over must have their own seat, charged at the same price as an adult seat.
“To guarantee this”, Lavelle says, “the costs range from €8 (£6.75) – €170.88 (£144.75) per passenger.”
Jet2
What it does well
CAA data shows 67.4 per cent of Jet2’s flights left on time in 2024, while just 0.2 were cancelled.
While the airline recommends reserving seats to guarantee a party sits together, Which? research says that “90 per cent of Jet2 passengers who didn’t pay to select seating were seated with their travel companions anyway’.”
Infants under two can travel on an adult’s lap for a charge of £20. There are standard seat, adult fares for children aged two and above.
While 0.3 per cent of flights were cancelled in 2024, only 55.4 left on time, according to CAA data.
Tui says it will seat a child next to at least one adult, although it does advise booking seats together, which range from £15 to £25 per person, per flight depending on the route.
Pushchairs and car seats can be checked into the hold for free, or it’s possible to bring pushchairs weighing up to 10kg onboard, although that counts as the larger piece of hand luggage, which comes with a charge.
The fare for infants who sit on a parent’s lap varies but tends to be around £35. Otherwise, ticket prices are the same as a standard adult fare.
British Airways
The British flag carrier received a 57 per cent customer score in the Which? research. CAA data shows that 66.8 per cent of its flights were on time and it had a disappointing 2.4 per cent of last-minute cancellations.
British Airways has fairly generous policies when it comes to luggage allowance (Photo: Ceri Breeze/Getty)BA says it does its “best to seat your family together based on flight seat availability”.
The airline also offers free seat selection for adults and fare-paying children when check in opens, 24 hours before departure.
What it could improve on
If parents pay for an infant under two to have their own seat, the ticket will be 75 per cent of the adult fare.
Virgin Atlantic
What it does well
Babies on laps are charged 10 per cent of the adult fare, plus any taxes, fees or charges.
What it could improve on
The fare also applies to children who turn two during, or before, the inbound flight.
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