Flying with Kids
Seating your family together, entertainment that lasts, snacks and ear pressure, and getting through boarding.
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FlyingWith editorial team
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Seat rules for children differ by airline and country, and some airlines charge to choose seats in advance. Select seats together when you book, and if the app won't put a young child next to an adult, sort it out with the airline before travel day rather than at the gate.
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General advice: applies wherever you fly
The basics
Seating your family together
Seat rules for children differ by airline and country, and some airlines charge for choosing seats in advance. Select seats together when you book, and if the airline's app won't place a young child next to an adult, contact the airline before travel day rather than waiting for the gate.
Read the guide: Flying with Kids: An Age-by-Age GuideEntertainment that lasts
Download shows before you fly, since in-flight Wi-Fi is unreliable. Bring a mix of quiet, screen-free activities for takeoff and landing (sticker books, magnetic games), and pack one small 'surprise' item they haven't seen before.
Snacks, ears, and timing
Pack more snacks than you think you'll need. Something to chew or sip during takeoff and landing helps little ears adjust to pressure changes, and where you have a choice, book flights around nap times rather than against them.
Managing the boarding process
Most airlines offer families pre-boarding. Take it, so you can get settled before the aisle fills up. If your child is nervous, ask the crew for a set of wings or a peek at the cockpit; many are happy to help break the ice.
Plan beyond the flight
Include the airport transfer and room setup in the family plan. Confirm the beds, occupancy, arrival time and any child-seat arrangements with the relevant provider. Give each child a simple arrival task, such as watching for the luggage or keeping their small bag together, without making them responsible for travel documents.
Take it with you
What to confirm with your airline
Everything here is drawn from the advice above. Airlines and airports set their own rules, so these are the things to ask about for your own flights.
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Helpful guides
How to Choose the Right Seat for Your Travel Situation
Choose by situation: an aisle near the front for quick access, a window to sleep, and for mobility needs an aisle seat with a movable armrest. U.S. rules require those on at least half of the aisle seats in eligible rows of aircraft with 30 or more seats.
Flying with Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide
Plan around your child's age and book seats together when you can. On flights to, from and within Canada, airlines must help seat children under 14 near a parent or guardian at no additional charge; in the U.S., check the DOT family seating dashboard for your airline.
Flying with a Severe Food Allergy
No airline can promise an allergen-free cabin. Tell the airline when you book, keep epinephrine on you, and on flights covered by Canadian rules, request a buffer zone at least 48 hours before departure.
Travelling Abroad with a Child: The Consent Letter
If a child crosses a border without every parent or guardian, carry a signed original consent letter. Canada recommends one and strongly recommends having it notarized; destinations and airlines may have their own rules.
One Adult Flying with Two Young Children
Before comparing fares, enter the children's exact ages on every flight date. In Canada, one passenger cannot be responsible for more than one infant under two during a flight, so if both children are under two, another passenger must accompany one of them.
See all 10 helpful guides
Using a Car Seat on an Aircraft
A car seat that is legal in a car is not automatically accepted on an aircraft. Check the certification label, the manufacturer's aircraft instructions, the width of the seat and the operating airline's policy before you travel.
Carry-On Checked at the Gate? What to Take Out First
Take out spare lithium batteries and power banks first. FAA rules require them to stay in the cabin when a carry-on is checked at the gate. Then remove what you need before baggage claim, such as medication, documents, phone and valuables, and ask where you will collect the bag.
Airport Transfer Checklist: Compare the Whole Journey
Compare the journey to your exact address, including the final walk, luggage and any access needs. Get the meeting point, total cost and delay or cancellation terms in writing before paying for a transfer.
Paris Airport Hotel or City Stay?
For time in Paris, start with a city base near the places you plan to visit. For an early departure or late arrival, compare a stay near the airport on your ticket. Check the terminal route and check-in arrangements before paying.
Montréal: YUL Airport Hotel or City Stay?
Start near YUL when reaching the airport or getting to a room after a late arrival is your main priority. Start downtown for a city-based itinerary, or in Old Montréal when your plans centre on the old city and waterfront. Compare the complete journey before choosing the cheapest room.
Questions before you book
What should I check before paying for family seats?
Compare the total fare with your seating needs included. Ask how the airline handles family seating on your ticket and what happens if the aircraft changes. Keep the booking and seating confirmations together.
What belongs in the bag we keep at our seats?
Choose activities, snacks, a change of clothes and essential supplies you can reach without opening every bag. Let children practise finding their own items before leaving. Keep important documents under an adult’s control.
Travel essentials
Complete your travel plans
Choose the service you need, then compare the offer and its terms with the provider.
Mobile data for your trip
Compare an eSIM with your carrier’s roaming offer and a local SIM. An eSIM only helps if your exact device and the plan suit the trip.
Affiliate partner options
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Build my eSIM shopping list →Checks before choosing
Installing an eSIM and starting its validity period can be different events. Follow the chosen plan’s instructions. The checklist is a reminder, not an automatic device check.
- Check the device model, purchase region and network lock with the provider before paying.
- Compare the countries covered, data allowance, validity start, hotspot rules and any speed limits.
- Check whether calls and SMS are included. Save maps, the hotel address and installation instructions for offline use.
Getting from the airport
Compare the airport’s official public transport and taxi information with a prebooked transfer. Choose based on the whole journey to your accommodation.
GetTransfer is a transfer marketplace. Availability and suitability depend on the offer; a listed vehicle does not confirm accessible transport or a child seat.
Affiliate partner options
Affiliate links through Travelpayouts. FlyingWith may earn a commission on an eligible purchase or paid service.
Take these details to your airport pickup quote
Copy these questions into your request. A marketplace listing alone does not confirm a child seat or accessible vehicle.
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Checks before choosing
- Confirm the exact terminal, meeting point, luggage space and contact method if your flight changes.
- Ask for written confirmation of any child seat, pet or mobility requirement before payment.
- Read the total price, waiting policy, cancellation deadline and refund method for the specific offer.
The provider handles prices, booking terms, payment and support. Review the details there before paying.
Sources checked
Destinations to explore for this trip
- Tokyo: Senso-ji, Shibuya & First-Trip Planning
- Morocco: Casablanca and Marrakech
- Albania: Tirana and the Southern Coast
- Algarve with Kids: Albufeira and Marinha
- Chicago: Airports, Riverfront and City Stays
- Egypt: Giza Pyramids, Cairo & Where to Stay
- Osaka: Universal Studios Japan & Where to Stay
- Montréal: YUL Arrival, The Ring & Where to Stay
- Marseille: Airport Arrival, Porte d’Aix & Stays
Travelling with others? Split costs without accounts.
This page is general preparation guidance. Rules change, and this page does not state any official one: where an official detail matters, the linked guides quote it, cite the authority that sets it and show the date it was checked. Confirm anything that affects your booking with the airline, the airport or the authority concerned. The date at the top is when this page's text last changed. It is not a verification of any rule.
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