Flying with children can be a daunting experience – the extra luggage, sleeping logistics, entertaining a small person for hours in a confined space – the process is a whole lot easier when you choose an airline that specifically caters for families.
Some airlines are far better than others when it comes to fare deals and allowances for those travelling with kids. Yes, the small details count (offering children a colouring kit, providing children meals, changing facilities in the loos, etc) but the initial flight prices are key to getting you on board in the first place.
Read on for seven of the best airlines for families and their deals for those travelling with children this summer.
Be aware when booking that some of these deals are time sensitive.
TUI
The family focused tourism company originating from Germany tops our list when it comes to flight deals for UK families in 2025 – but, caveat, their flight deals mostly come when purchasing a full package holiday. The Free Kids’ Page programme (available with two paying adults) includes flights, hotel, food and drink and transfers for one free child. Holidays are bookable to destinations such as Greece, Turkey, Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, plus the Canaries and mainland Spain, and even long-haul to Florida, to name but a few.
Children under two who sit on a lap can fly for free (and get 10kg of checked in luggage allowance). Children’s meals are provided on flights for those between two and 12 years, but meals are not provided for under twos – so pack food for infants. Pushchairs and/or car seats can be checked into the hold for free and those travelling with children can board the aircraft first.
Also worth noting, TUI planes have baby changing facilities and cabin crew will gladly heat up baby bottles.
Jet2.com
The British low-cost airline also offers stand out deals for families this summer – their Child Free Places scheme means free holidays, including hotels and flights for one child, when travelling with two full-paying passengers.
In addition, families who sign up for a free to join myJet2 account can currently get up to up to £75 off per person as part of the Jet2holidays’ Summer 25 sale, which ends the week commencing 14th April (so book quickly). If you enter SPRING100 at the checkout, you’ll get an extra £100 off. Best of all, these discounts are compatible with Child Free Places.
EasyJet
The British low-cost airline offers infant (under two years) fares for £25 per flight if sitting on a lap. Seats for children aged two to 15 do cost the same as adult full-fare prices, but the airline’s Free Child Places scheme applies on easyJet Holidays (from three to 14 nights long breaks), and includes free flights and accommodation for one child with two paying adults. The child also gets a free 23kg checked bag as part of the deal.
Families with children under five get to board flights early and can take two of the following on board – travel cot, pushchair, car seat, collapsible or non-collapsible pram, booster seat and/or baby back carrier.
British Airways
The UK’s national carrier sadly does not offer major discounts for children – even babies on laps pay 10% of the adult fares and accompanied children pay 75% of adult airfares. That said, British Airways does have a number of extras in place to make the travelling experience more enjoyable for families, including two of the following – a pushchair, car seat, travel cot or baby back carrier – as part of the baggage allowance (and a service that returns your pushchair back to the aircraft door in certain destinations). Infants (under two) also get a free 23kg checked bag.
All children under 12 will be seated with their accompanying adult. If travelling with an infant (under two) on your lap, you can choose a seat for yourself and everyone in your booking for free (up to a group of nine travelling together). On long-haul flights, carrycots and infant seats are free of charge for babies up to two years old. Children’s meals are provided for free on long-haul flights, but not short haul.
Children get a free activity pack on flights, with an eye mask, paw print socks, crayons and a postcard to send home inside. There’s also a big library of CBeebies, Cartoon Network and Disney movies and shows on the inflight entertainment system.
Virgin Atlantic
The UK carrier charges babies on laps 10% of the adult fare (plus any taxes, fees or charges). Children up to the age of 12 get discounted fares (usually between 50% and 80% of the adult fare) then it’s a young adult fare (which is usually a full adult fare) for passengers between the ages of 12 and 16 years.
Those travelling with young children can bring one fully collapsible pushchair and a car seat for free in addition to the checked baggage allowance. Kids meals are available for those between two to 12 years, there’s an abundance of family films, plus a parental block feature on the entertainment system. Children will not necessarily be sitting with their travelling adult (unless they pay to select their seat) within arms reach.
Wizz Air
The Hungarian low-cost airline has a number of discounts for those travelling with children this summer including the Wizz Smart Family package, which offers up to 25% off regular fares and allows free online check-in from 30 days to three hours before take off – check out at the airport costs €40 (£35). It also includes priority boarding and a 10kg carry on bag.
The slightly more pricey (by a few pounds) WIZZ Family Go also offers a 20kg checked bag. Meanwhile, the Wizz Plus Family package offers all the above, but an upgraded 32kg bag, plus free premium seats selection (including front row and extra leg row seats), plus changes without fees to bookings.
It’s worth noting that when passengers travel with children up to 14 years old on Wizz Air, the Wizz Air booking system automatically assigns seats together for one child and one adult passenger in each group, meaning you don’t have to pay for seat allocation and those travelling with children always get priority boarding.
Frontier Airlines
This American carrier doesn’t fly direct from the UK, but it made the list as would benefit British families who frequently fly internally in the US, thanks to its entirely free flights for kids deal. Flights for under 14s are free providing you purchase the DISCOUNT DEN® member fare when booking.
Although caveat, new members pay $99.99 (around £80) their first year of membership, followed by $59.99 (£47) annual membership thereafter (one child free per member).
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