Flying with Kids

Find all the essential details and tips for travelling with kids. Discover family friendly flying with TUI Airways.

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Before you travel

Hassle free check-in

At most airports, we only require one person from each party to check in and drop off bags. So, as long as you’re all under the same booking reference, there’s no need for your whole group to queue. The person checking everyone in will need to be over 16 and have everyone’s passports. To find out if this option’s suitable for you, just ask one of our friendly TUI staff at the airport.

Pushchairs and car seats transported for free

If you're flying on a TUI flight (package or flight only), you can check in pushchairs and/or car seats into the hold for free. You can also bring your pushchair with you onboard, as long as it weighs less than 10kg, is no bigger than 55x40x20cm and has a hand luggage label provided during check-in. This'll count as your larger piece of hand luggage for an adult on the booking, meaning you can have this and one smaller piece of hand luggage that fits under the seat in front of you. There is the option to use your pushchair at the airport and hand it to a member of staff at the gate before you board, but please make our ground staff when you check in as you will need a label for this too. Just so you know, pushchairs and car seats will be returned on the luggage belt when you arrive, and there’s occasionally a long walk between the aircraft and the luggage reclaim area. Any pushchairs need to be completely collapsible. Please note, if you're travelling with an infant under 2, they don't have a hand luggage allowance.

Priority boarding

If you’re travelling with young children, we’ll invite you to board the aircraft first, so your little ones have time to settle before everyone else comes onboard

Travelling with children who don't share your surname

If you’re travelling with children that don’t share your surname, please bring some form of proof to the airport that shows you have permission to travel with them or confirms your biological relationship. This could be a signed letter or a birth certificate. This will help speed up your journey through the airport by giving our team peace of mind that a child’s not travelling without permission from their parent or guardian.

Family-friendly luggage allowance

When you fly with TUI Airways as part of a package holiday, it will include at least 20kg of checked-in luggage per adult or child and 10kg for Under 2s. If you’ve booked any of the following packages with TUI Airways flights, you'll get 25kg of luggage allowance per person: TUI River Cruise, TUI BLUE, Sensatori by TUI BLUE, Holiday Village, A La Carte. If you've upgraded to Premium on long-haul flights with TUI Airways, you'll also get 25kg of luggage, regardless of your holiday type. Couples who’ve booked one of our Wedding packages will receive 25kg hold luggage each when flying with TUI Airways, too. Just so you know, all Marella Cruises and all Marella Cruise & Stay holidays have a 20kg luggage allowance per person. All adults and children over 2 also get 10kg of hand luggage for the cabin and a personal item that can go under the seat. For the full terms and conditions, see our luggage allowance page. Under 2s on a package holiday get a 10kg checked-in luggage allowance. You'll also be able to take a pushchair and/or car seat with you on both flight only and package holiday bookings free of charge. Buggies are able to be taken onboard as long as it weighs less than 10kg, is no bigger than 55x40x20cm and has a hand luggage label provided at check in. This'll count as your larger piece of hand luggage, meaning you can then only take a smaller personal item that will fit under the seat in front of you. Find out more about our luggage allowances including for Flight Only and pushchairs at the airport and on board here.

On the flight

Family-friendly flying

You and your family will be in good hands when you fly with us – our team of over 2,500 cabin crew are experts at looking after little ones in the sky. You’ll find baby changing facilities onboard all our planes, and we can heat up baby’s bottles for you.

Children's meals

Complimentary meals and drinks are served on all our long-haul flights. Menus vary depending on your destination and flight time. Children’s meals will be provided for anyone aged 2 to 12. Just so you know, we don’t provide meals for under 2s, so you’ll need to bring something onboard. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements, too.

Children's entertainment

Kids will be provided with their own headsets for use with our seatback entertainment system. It’s full of child-friendly games, movies and TV shows, so they’re bound to find something that takes their fancy. Check out our in-flight entertainment page for a sneak preview.

Children's activities

On our long-haul flights, we’ll welcome your little ones onboard with an age-appropriate kid’s pack to keep them entertained while you get your holiday started. It’s stuffed full of holiday and aeroplane-themed activities!

Flying with children FAQs

Can I bring milk and baby food onboard?

You can bring milk and baby food onboard. Just so you know, they may need to be screened separately at security.

What’s the minimum age for my child to have their own seat?

To comply with Irish legislation, children under 6 months old must sit on an adult’s lap and be secured with the strap provided. Children aged between 6 months and 2 years can also sit on an adult’s lap – or, you can purchase a seat for them.

Can I take my pushchair on the plane?

You can bring your pushchair with you but, due to space limitations in the cabin, it must be transported in the hold. You can usually keep it with you until you board – please check with the member of staff when you check in.

Will my baby change bag count towards hand luggage allowance?

Yes. Our hand baggage allowance is 10kg and the maximum dimensions are 55 x 40 x 20cm.