According to new research by Kayak, parents can book an adult seat for their child, rather than carrying them on their laps as some budget airlines charge four times more to carry babies on their laps than they charge for a full adult fare.
From Stansted to Bordeaux, Ryanair is selling flight tickets for £4.99 this May compared to £20, which they are charging for travellers to take an infant on their lap. Similar story is found with EasyJet, whose £20.49 fares from London Gatwick to Belfast work out costlier than the infant fare (£22).
With this trend, it means that it could be cheaper for travellers to book an extra adult seat for their baby rather than carrying them on their lap.
This is, however, is not the case with other airlines. For instance, Flybe charges 12 per cent of the adult fare for an infant on any route. British Airways has a similar fare structure, charging 10 per cent.
Suzanne Perry, travel expert at Kayak said that some airlines are considerably more parent-friendly than others. She continued that while a flat fee to carry infants offers better value when the ticket prices are higher, that doesn’t translate so well for cheap flight deals.
Kayak advised that parents should check the policies of each airline before travelling with children. In case the adult fare is less, it is wiser to book an adult ticket for the baby instead. Before booking flights, parents should also be mindful of the baggage allowances offered for infants by various airlines.
