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Airline Infant Fees 👶💸: Seriously Expensive?!

July 11, 2026 | Author

World

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🧠Quick Intel


  • Airlines charge fees for infants on laps, with Guardian Money reporting nine separate charges totaling additional costs for a baby on board.
  • Wizz Air charges a flat fee of €32 (£28) for infants on laps, irrespective of the adult ticket price.
  • British Airways and Virgin Atlantic charge approximately 10% of the adult ticket price for infants, while over-twos require their own seat with varying fares.
  • A return flight on British Airways from London to New York in July cost £858.59 for an adult, with an infant ticket costing £30, totaling £162.19.
  • Wizz Air guarantees at least one seat next to a child under 14 for free.
  • Ryanair changed its policy after a Competition and Markets Authority investigation.
  • An infant ticket from Air New Zealand to Auckland costs 15% of the adult ticket, and a return via Vancouver costs 9.6%.
  • A baby's airfare on a lap can cost more than an adult’s ticket, as demonstrated by Lisa Francesca Nand’s £136.50 payment on Wizz Air for her sons’ seats.

    • 📝Summary


    A recent flight from London to New York illustrates the complexities of airfare for infants. Passengers paying for a baby on a parent’s lap faced a variety of charges, with Wizz Air applying a flat fee of €32. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic assessed approximately 10% of the adult ticket cost. A return flight for an adult cost £858.59, including eleven charges, while the infant ticket totaled £162.19. Ryanair adjusted its policy following a Competition and Markets Authority investigation. For children over two, airlines like Wizz Air, Ryanair, and easyJet offered adult fares, while British Airways reduced prices until a child reached twelve. Wizz Air guarantees at least one adjacent seat for children under 14. These varied charges highlight the potential for unexpected costs when traveling with young children.

    💡Insights

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    COMPLEXITY OF AIRFARE CALCULATIONS FOR INFANTS
    Trying to work out the final cost has become incredibly complicated and frustrating. It’s not until you’re a good bit into the booking journey that the amounts become clear. The wide range of charges means that layover destinations make a difference to how much you will pay.

    AIRLINE-SPECIFIC LAP INFANT FEES
    Several airlines employ distinct strategies for charging passengers for infants traveling on their parents’ laps. Wizz Air applies a flat fee of €32 (£28) per flight, regardless of the adult ticket price. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic charge approximately 10% of the adult ticket price, while easyJet and Ryanair offer fares equivalent to those for adults.

    STANDARD FEES AND ADDITIONAL CHARGES
    Beyond the base fare, a multitude of fees are typically applied to child travelers, regardless of their age. These include passenger service charges, carrier imposed charges, and air passenger duty (APD). The cost of APD varies based on the destination and distance flown, and class of travel.

    WIZZ AIR’S SEAT GUARANTEE AND BOOKING CHALLENGES
    Wizz Air guarantees at least one seat next to a child under 14 for free for adults on the same booking. However, Lisa Francesca Nand experienced uncertainty regarding seating arrangements, stating, “it’s never clear how that’s going to work.” The booking system can be “foreboding,” potentially leading to separation from the rest of the family.

    COMPARATIVE FEE STRUCTURES ACROSS AIRLINES
    A return flight, departing from London to New York on 17 July, comes with 11 extra charges for an adult ticket, compared with nine for an infant, and 10 for a child (aged 2-11). These fees make up more than £500 of the £858.59 price for an adult, while an infant fare of £30 becomes £162.19.

    DIFFERING FEE RATES BY DESTINATION
    The cost of an infant’s flight can vary significantly depending on the destination. On an Air New Zealand flight from London to Auckland via Los Angeles the total cost of an infant’s flight comes to 15% of the adult ticket; returning via Vancouver with the same airline comes out at 9.6%.

    THE ROLE OF COMPETITION AND REGULATION
    Ryanair reluctantly changed its policy of charging parents who wanted to be sure they could sit next to their children, after the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation. Prior the change, it required parents travelling with children aged between two and 11, to pay to reserve what it referred to as a “mandatory family seat”.

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