This is a summary comparison built from our full airline-by-airline guides, each one verified directly against the airline’s own policy pages. Click through to any airline below for the complete picture, car seats, pushchairs, bassinets, and more.
Table of Contents
Full comparison table
| Airline | Infant fare | Minimum age | Bassinets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jet2 | Free | 7 days | None (short-haul only) |
| Ryanair | £25 one-way | 8 days | None |
| easyJet | £25-30 one-way | 14 days | None |
| TUI | Route-dependent | 14 days | None |
| Aer Lingus | €/£25 EU/UK, 10% transatlantic | 14 days recommended | Transatlantic A330 only, 11kg max |
| British Airways | ~10% of adult fare | 48 hours | Free, long-haul only |
| KLM | ~10% intercontinental | 7 days | Long-haul only, 10kg/65cm max |
| Lufthansa | Free (Germany domestic), 10% elsewhere | 7 days | Long-haul only, 11kg/67cm max |
| Virgin Atlantic | ~10% of adult fare | 7 days | On request, limited to 4/cabin |
| Qatar Airways | ~10% of adult fare | 7-8 days | On request, 11kg/71cm max |
| Emirates | ~10% of adult fare | 7 days | On request, size-limited |
Fares and policies change frequently and vary by route, always confirm the current rate directly on the airline’s site before booking.
Jet2: the only free option
Since August 2025, Jet2 stands alone among major carriers serving the UK by charging nothing at all for a lap infant, on both flight-only bookings and Jet2holidays packages. On a return European trip, that’s a cost every other airline on this list would still charge you.
Everyone else: what you actually pay
Every other airline in this comparison charges something, structured one of two ways: a flat fee per flight, or a percentage of the adult fare.
Ryanair (£25), easyJet (£25-30), and Aer Lingus on EU/UK routes (€/£25) all charge a fixed amount regardless of your ticket price. Predictable, but the same whether you’re on a bargain fare or a premium one.
British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa (international), Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, and Emirates all charge roughly 10% of the adult fare plus taxes. On a cheap seat sale, that’s genuinely low. On a premium long-haul fare, it adds up fast.
When can a baby fly, by airline
Minimum age varies more than you’d expect, from a strict 48 hours to a more cautious 14 days, and a couple of airlines apply extra rules for the youngest infants.
- 48 hours: British Airways, the strictest lower bound on this list, though they recommend waiting a full week
- 7 days: Jet2, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Emirates, and generally Qatar Airways
- 8 days: Ryanair
- 14 days: easyJet, TUI, and Aer Lingus (recommended, some sources cite 7 days with a doctor’s note)
FAQ
Do babies fly free?
Only on Jet2, currently the sole major airline offering completely free infant travel, since August 2025. Every other airline on this list charges either a flat fee (Ryanair, easyJet, Aer Lingus on EU/UK routes) or around 10% of the adult fare (British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Emirates).
Do babies travel free on planes?
Generally no, most airlines charge something for a lap infant even though they don’t occupy a seat. Jet2 is the exception among major carriers serving the UK.
When can a baby go on a plane?
It varies by airline, from 48 hours (British Airways) to 14 days (easyJet, TUI, Aer Lingus). Most sit at 7-8 days. Check the specific airline’s policy, and consider a doctor’s note for a very young newborn regardless of the stated minimum.
Which airline is cheapest for flying with a baby?
Jet2, since it’s free. Beyond that, it depends on your adult fare: percentage-based airlines (BA, KLM, Lufthansa, Virgin, Qatar, Emirates) can work out cheaper than a flat fee on a low-cost adult ticket, while flat-fee airlines (Ryanair, easyJet) are more predictable on expensive routes.
“Jet2 is free, everyone else takes a cut, check the exact number before you assume.”
If Jet2 flies your route, it’s the easy win. Otherwise, compare the flat fee against the percentage rate for your specific fare before booking, on a cheap seat sale, 10% can beat a flat £25. Whichever airline you land on, check our full guide for the complete picture on car seats, pushchairs, and bassinets.
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