Ryanair has recently removed the fee for parents to reserve seats next to their children, but hidden costs associated with traveling with kids can still add up significantly. Families might find themselves paying more for an infant on their lap than for their own ticket. While some airlines offer discounts for children over two, others impose full adult fares.
In a case reported by Guardian Money, one family encountered nine additional fees for taking a baby on board, ultimately leading to unexpected expenses. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, expressed frustration over the complexity of calculating total costs when traveling with children.
### Under-twos
Some airlines may advertise lower ticket prices, but the fees for infants can be higher. For instance, Wizz Air charges a flat fee of €32 (£28) per flight for infants riding on parents’ laps—higher than some adult fares.
Boland criticized the logic behind charging in-lap infants as much as they do, arguing there’s no justification for charging a small child more than an adult. Wizz Air justifies its fees by stating they are in line with industry standards.
Seat arrangements vary by airline, with some offering flat fees while others base charges on a percentage of adult fares. In addition to seat fees, other costs apply, escalating the overall expense for families.
### Older Children
Children over two must occupy their own seats, leading to widely varying fares. While airlines like Wizz, Ryanair, and easyJet charge adult prices, British Airways offers discounts until children reach 12 years.
Additional fees can be substantial. For example, during a trip with Wizz Air, a mother paid £136.50 to ensure she could sit with her two sons, which was over a third of the cost of their tickets. Wizz Air guarantees at least one seat next to a child under 14 but warns families about potential seating issues if they don’t book together.
### Fees, Fees, Fees
In addition to the ticket price, airlines impose various fees. For a British Airways flight from London to New York, one round-trip adult ticket included 11 extra charges compared to nine for infants and ten for children. These additional costs significantly inflated ticket prices.
British Airways claims all charges are listed clearly during booking, with reduced pricing for children. However, extra fees may arise from taxes, airport services, and immigration charges, which can differ based on travel routes and layovers. For example, an infant traveling from London to Auckland via different cities can incur varying charges.
### Conclusion
Overall, parents need to navigate a web of fees and complexities when booking flights with children, making it crucial to scrutinize the total costs associated with family travel.
