Flying with a Baby Under Two: UK Airline Costs and Points Tips Explained

Flying with a baby can feel like a circus act, with luggage, car seats, snacks, and (hopefully) naps. But here’s the good news: infants usually fly at a bargain rate, even in premium cabins. This guide forms a part of our Family Flying series here at Points Well Made.

It always pays to check out each airlines policy when flying with a two year old.

What’s more, using points with airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic can significantly reduce the stress (and cost) of family travel.

UK Airlines: Baby-Friendly Policies at a Glance

Here’s a current snapshot of what major UK-based airlines offer for children under two:

Airline	Lap Infant Fare (Under 2)	Separate Seat Option	Infant Baggage/Equipment
British Airways	10% of adult fare in Avios or cash + taxes	Child fare applies; you will need an approved car seat	Cabin bag + pushchair/car seat; bassinet available for long haul
Virgin Atlantic	10% of adult fare in Virgin points or cash + taxes	Must pay full child fare for separate seat	23 kg hold bag + pushchair/car seat; bassinet available
easyJet	£25 per flight	Full fare adult ticket	Pushchair/car seat allowed; no baggage unless bought with seat
Ryanair	€25 per flight	Full fare adult ticket	Pushchair + car seat or travel cot allowed
Jet2	£20 per flight	Full fare adult ticket	Pushchair + car seat allowed
Loganair	Usually £10 per flight	Child fare for separate seat	Free pushchair or car seat

Airline Infant Redemption Policies (Using Points)

British Airways (Avios): If you’re booking a reward flight using Avios, an infant under two years old travelling on your lap will typically cost 10% of the adult Avios fare, plus taxes, fees and charges. You can also choose to book a seat for the infant at the full rate in Avios. This applies across all classes, including long-haul and short-haul.

Avios seats on British Airways flights can be hard to find, even when cash fares are still available, due to a limited number of reward seats released per flight. BA guarantees a minimum of 14 Avios seats on every flight:

• Four in Club World

• Two in premium economy

• Eight in economy.

These are released 355 days before departure, if you have the luxury of being able to plan ahead that far!

First Class isn’t included in this guarantee but may open up later. While booking early helps for high-demand routes, additional Avios seats often appear unpredictably throughout the year.

For those with British Airways Club Gold status, the Gold Priority Reward option allows you to unlock any cash-available seat using double Avios, offering more flexibility at a higher cost.

Virgin Atlantic (Virgin Points): Virgin Atlantic also charges 10% of the adult fare in points when an infant flies on your lap, plus any applicable taxes and fees. If you'd like your infant to have their own seat, you’ll need to pay the full points price for a child ticket.

Virgin Atlantic recently changed their policy so that every seat is available to purchase with points. The good bit of this is every seat is up for grabs. The bad side of this is that dynamic pricing is a thing, so you could be looking anywhere from 6,500 points to around 350,000 points for a ticket depending on whether you travel during peak or off-peak times.

Whether you're heading off for a sunny family holiday or visiting relatives, planning ahead will help

Tips to Make Flying With a Baby Easier

1. Book early for Avios availability – Reward seats go fast.

2. Select seats wisely – Window seat with carrycot or bulkhead on long-haul flights are ideal.

3. Double-check infant age on flights – If your child turns two mid-journey, you’ll need to book a separate seat for them from that point onward.

4. Know the luggage limits – Lap infants typically don’t get checked baggage, but you can still bring essential kit like strollers and car seats.

5. Mix points and cash – Put one adult on points and the other, plus child on cash fare; earn more Avios while keeping costs down.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Travelling with a toddler doesn't have to break the bank, especially if you're savvy with Avios and infant policies. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic pair points flexibility with generous lap-infant fares, checked baggage, and stroller allowances, while low-cost carriers offer simpler but effective options.

Whether you're heading off for a sunny family holiday or visiting relatives, planning ahead on Avios might mean more fun, less fuss, and maybe even a bulkhead seat with a carrycot thrown in.

Always remember that if your child turn two whilst you are on holiday then you will need to buy a child's ticket for the return journey.

Please do email us if you’d like help finding the best value routes for your family, or combining this advice into a printable family travel guide!

Helena

Points Well Made is a passion project of Sam and Helena with a loyal following. If you like what we do, and wish to help us continue to create the content you love, please consider buying us a Kofi, or subscribing monthly. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.