Flying With Kids Under 2 Is Basically Travel Hacking

I’m pretty hands off when it comes to sharing parenting advice. Every kid is different and I’m not much for preaching to others — what works for one might not for another.

With that said, there’s one thing I do shout out when I speak to parents of newborns and it’s how amazing travel with young kids is. Traveling by air with kids under two is basically travel hacking and I’ll explain why.

From increased travel allowances to easier reservations, there’s so much to love about this unique period in time and I want to lay out my case, for anyone whose never really considered, or is on the side of the skeptic.

Start Them Young: Flying Under Two

I’d make a significant wager that my four year old, Olive, is better prepared for airport check in and security than most adults. She’s been doing it since she was six months old and loves the ritual. Starting her young has made our travel better, cheaper and more fun than I ever imagined.

For starters, kids have some airline perks others don’t…

• children under two fly *mostly free, on most flights and airlines
• better baggage allowances are available for under two’s on many airlines
• priority boarding goes next level traveling with young children
• people are *almost always nicer in every airport stage
• better seating arrangements and opportunities

Kids Under 2: Flying For “Free”

Kids under two fly usually fly for free, or for 10% of the adult fare. On domestic flights or on US airlines, it’s usually free. Internationally, it’s often for free or 10% of the adult fare depending on airline. On international flights, like a New York to Paris, it really varies by airline so it’s worth considering when looking to book.

Even for those which charge 10% of the adult fare (in points or cash), there’s usually some good that comes with the charge, like having an additional baggage allowance. And let’s not forget: it’s free or 10%. A $100 ticket would cost $10 for the kid!

This totally changes after two and legitimately does make travel harder as we gain a multiple for each price!

For certainty on these situations, there’s no better place than the individual airlines website. A query like “flying with children Virgin Atlantic” should get you to the right airline page with the right info. Virgin, for example, charge 10% of the adult fare, but you get a generous checked baggage allowance for the child.

Most US airlines do not charge anything for lap infants under two years old. If you want your child to have their own reserved seat, that’s another story and you’ll have to pay.

Airline Baggage Allowances For Under 2’s

Each airline really does differentiate with their luggage policies for infants under two traveling. Some offer no checked baggage at all, minus perhaps a car seat or stroller, whereas some really push the boat out.

Delta, for example, will allow one piece of checked baggage up to 20lbs if the infant is on a fare paying 10% of the adult fare and allows car seats and strollers for free, which don’t count against your allowance.

British Airways is similar, with all children under 2 paying 10% of the adult fare and enjoying the standard checked baggage allowance plus two “free” children’s items from the list of stroller, car seat, travel cot or baby carrier. Basic economy tickets on BA do not get the checked baggage allowance for kids but still allow the essential items.

Priority Boarding For Infants & Families

I’ll admit, I’m a very lucky traveler. I’m often up front in first or business class and from time to time my family is too when there’s a great deal or points opportunity. But I’ll tell you what — family boarding always takes the cake.

Way before all the DYKWIA dudes in their ill-fitted polo shirts turn up to clog the priority lane, families are able to whisk through the gates and wait for the moment boarding is ready. Extra time to settle in, put away strollers like the Yoyo which you can take in cabin, or pull out all the distractions is always welcome.

People Are Legitimately Nice With Young Kids

I’ve had cabin crew members offer to take our toddlers for a cuddle just to give us a break to eat our meal they just served. I’ve had people go out of their way to be nice or compliment my kids on how well they behaved. They’ve done 11 hour flights to LA without so much as a peep before.

My point: people really, for the most part, are super nice to traveling families. That’s particularly true with kids under two.

Better Seating In Most Cabins

Most airlines reserve certain rows or areas for people hoping to use a bassinet. That can often work in the favor of family travelers, with first rows of economy or premium reserved for their needs. You typically need to request these over the phone.

Airlines are also highly unlikely to ever separate a family traveling together, so even if you’re booking last minute, things can happen for families which might not happen for two or more adults traveling.

Travel Advice With Under Two’s

Under two is fun, but under like 7 months is absolute magic. It may seem counter intuitive, but the younger they are the better the trip. At those early stages so much of parenting is just feeding and napping and they nap so easily.

With each child, we’ve never hesitated to get them a passport. Those first few months really are ideal for travel so I think we had passports in each of their hands by two or three months old!

As a result, we’ve been able to enjoy great dinners out with baby in a bjorn or sling along for the ride but totally lights out. Eating at 5:30 or 6 also means we can usually get any table at any restaurant in the world. LOL.

If I had a piece of advice, it would be to wherever possible, try to align flight times with typical nap schedules. If you’ve got a two hour flight and your kid naps at 2PM, try to find a flight around then and so forth. It just makes it super easy to settle and have piece and quiet for the duration.

Ignore The Haters And Pessimists, But…

“Oh, get it in now, it’s impossible to travel once you have kids”, “it doesn’t get easier once you’ve got kids involved” — I heard a lot of that before our first child was born.

Four years on, I can confidently say many of my favorite trips have been with our kids. my daughter, Olive, had seen Spain, Sweden, France, Portugal, Morocco, and both Los Angeles and New York multiple times before the age of 3. She’s four now, and we’ve got two kids, with Mylo, about to turn one. It’s still fun. Maybe, more fun.

They’ve gotten better with each trip and genuinely love to travel now. I get in trouble when we don’t have any future trips booked. Olive, particularly, likes to play the flight game at home with old boarding passes.

It’s all about getting it right…

I think there’s a contract that goes along with traveling with young kids, and it’s to try to do your best to keep your kids happy for your own benefit and for those around you.

I hate seeing parents neglect their kids on flight and then have them get upset. I see why people say they hate having kids in the cabin when stuff like that happens. If you are putting in a strong shift though, it’s usually really smooth and people are usually amazed at how much better the experience was than they thought.

If you have more questions than answers, here’s 25 things to think about before flying with your kids.