Household Bills
Easyjet hikes prices for under-2s
Travelling with an infant on Easyjet has just got more expensive after the airline hiked prices for kids under the age of two.
The infant fee, which is charged for a child sitting on an adult’s lap, has increased from £22 to £25.
The airline has also bumped up costs for checking your bag in at the airport.
If you check your bag in at the desk, rather than in advance online, you’ll now pay £40 up from £37.
And if you get to the boarding gate and your bag is too large for the cabin, you’ll have to pay £50 instead of £47.
An Easyjet spokesperson said: “The infant fare is a fixed price to keep it simple and provide value for money. Whilst our cheapest fares can be similar to the infant fee this simply demonstrates that our lowest fares help families keep down the cost of their flights.
“The infant fee covers a luggage allowance for parents of two items of hold luggage like a push chair, travel cot or car seat and covers the airport charges levied on easyJet.”
Travelling with infants
If you’re flying with a child under two, you can either buy them a seat or have them on your lap.
If you choose the lap option, most airlines will still require you to pay a fee, which varies depending on the airline and the distance you’re travelling.
Sometimes it might be cheaper to buy your infant a seat, especially on low-cost airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair, which offer flights for just £9.99.
Some airlines allow infants to fly for free on domestic flights – Air France, for example allow under-2s to fly for free within France.
Another thing to watch out for is baggage allowances for infants, which also differ between airline.
Emma Grimster from TravelSupermarket said: “If you’re travelling with an infant, make sure you read the small print not only on the price of the infant ticket, but also on what luggage allowance you have for the baby’s belongings.
“This can vary between airlines and could significantly increase the cost of the infant ticket should you wish to increase your allowance. Always compare the total price before making a decision and booking your flights.”
A snapshot of infant charges:
| Provider | Cost for Infant – under 2 years old |
| Jet2 | £20 each way |
| Ryanair | £25 per flight |
| easyJet | £25 per flight |
| British Airways | Usually charged 10% of adult fare, plus taxes |
| Virgin Atlantic | 10% of adult fare |
| Flybe | 12% of adult fare |
| Aer Lingus | £19 per flight short haul and 10% of adult fare on long haul |
| Thomas Cook – Flight only | 10% of adult fare |
| Etihad | 10% of adult fare |
| Qatar Airways | 10% of adult fare |
Source: TravelSupermarket. Correct as of 15.10.18
