12 Tips for Flying Ryanair With Kids

Flying Ryanair with kids requires strategic planning to avoid unexpected costs and stress. Choose Family Plus or Plus fares upfront to secure seating together and baggage allowances. Pack entertainment since there’s no in-flight Wi-Fi or screens. Arrive two hours early for family check-in, bring snacks that pass security, and utilize your free baby bag allowance wisely. Stay calm during the flight—your attitude directly affects your children’s behavior. These essential strategies will transform your family travel experience into a smoother journey.

Choose the Right Fare Package for Your Family’s Needs

When you’re booking a Ryanair flight with kids, selecting the right fare package upfront can save you both money and headaches at the airport. The Basic Fare might seem tempting, but you’ll likely need extras that cost more when purchased separately.

For families, the Family Plus Fare is your best bet. It’s designed for groups up to six passengers with at least one child, costing around €20 more per person. You’ll get small cabin bags for everyone, plus 10kg check-in bags per person and one shared 20kg family bag. Most importantly, this fare ensures family seating together without the risk of being separated during the flight.

If you’re traveling with just one or two kids and need standard seating, consider Plus Fare instead. It includes seat reservations and a 20kg check-in bag, typically costing €27-35 more than basic.

Take Advantage of Free Reserved Seating for Children

While Ryanair’s reputation for charging extra fees is well-deserved, they actually offer one family-friendly perk that can save you money: free reserved seating for children aged 2 to 11. Here’s how it works: when you purchase a reserved seat as an adult, you can select up to four children’s seats adjacent to yours at no charge.

This is mandatory if you’re traveling with kids under 12, as safety regulations require them to sit beside an accompanying adult.

You’ll need to choose seats from specific aircraft-dependent rows to qualify for the free allocation. If you select seats outside these designated areas, you’ll pay the full price difference. Children outside these designated zones must pay the full reserved seat price.

The bonus? Early online check-in opens 60 days before departure when you’ve booked reserved seats.

Understand Infant Travel Requirements and Restrictions

Traveling with infants on Ryanair requires careful planning, as the airline enforces strict age restrictions and safety protocols that differ markedly from their policies for older children.

You can’t bring newborns under 8 days old aboard any flight—no exceptions. Once your baby reaches 8 days through 23 months, they’ll need an accompanying adult aged 18 or over, with one infant maximum per adult.

You’ll pay €25/£25 each way for lap infants, who must remain on your lap throughout the flight. Choose window seats since you’ll need dual oxygen masks.

Infants under 12 months can’t occupy their own seat, but you can purchase one for babies 12-24 months with approved car seats.

Bring required documentation including passports and birth certificates. Pack a baby bag weighing up to 5kg with maximum dimensions of 45x35x20cms, which serves as your infant’s only permitted baggage allowance.

Pack Smart With Essential Items for Kids

Since Ryanair’s baggage policies can quickly turn packing into a costly mistake, you’ll want to maximize every allowance the airline offers for traveling families.

Your infant gets a free baby bag (45x35x20 cm, 5kg max) perfect for diapers, wipes, and bottles. Don’t forget you can bring two pieces of baby equipment free per child – think pushchair plus car seat or travel cot combinations.

You’ll use your pushchair right until the aircraft steps, making airport navigation easier. This policy helps eliminate extra fees during busy travel periods when families face the highest costs.

For children aged 2-11, pack a Trunki ride-on suitcase that doubles as entertainment and storage despite exceeding normal size limits.

Arrive Early and Prepare for Airport Procedures

After you’ve packed your family’s bags strategically, you’ll need to budget extra time at the airport since traveling with children adds complexity to standard procedures.

Ryanair recommends arriving two hours before departure for family travel, accounting for potential queues at check-in and bag drop with kids.

You can check two baby equipment items per child free of charge—typically a pushchair plus car seat, booster seat, or travel cot. Don’t pre-book these items; handle them at the airport to save the €15 stroller fee. Additional equipment requires paying the Infant/Child Equipment fee. Remember that any additional baby equipment has a maximum weight limit of 20kg when checked in for a fee.

At security, families often get fast-track treatment despite not paying for the service. Prepare for potential delays due to baby equipment checks, and remember that early boarding isn’t always advantageous with young children.

Bring Entertainment and Comfort Items for the Flight

Unlike most airlines, Ryanair doesn’t provide any in-flight entertainment systems, Wi-Fi, or charging ports, so you’ll need to pack your own arsenal of activities to keep kids occupied during the flight. Download movies, games, and apps beforehand since there’s no connectivity onboard. Pack fully charged tablets, smartphones, or laptops—they’re allowed in flight mode throughout the journey. Don’t forget headphones for personal media consumption. Remember that larger electronics like laptops must be stored securely in overhead lockers or under seats during taxi, takeoff, and landing phases.

Consider purchasing Ryanair’s Kids Snack Box, which includes eco colouring pencils alongside treats like Mini Cheddars and Jammie Dodgers. The airline also sells scratch cards for £2 each and a model aircraft toy with sounds and lights for £15.

Since seats don’t recline and lack extra legroom, bring comfort items like travel pillows to help kids settle in for the duration.

Use Evening or Late Flights to Encourage Sleep

When you’re booking your Ryanair flight, choosing an evening or late departure can transform your travel experience from a battle of constant entertainment to a peaceful journey where your kids naturally drift off to sleep.

Evening flights align perfectly with your children’s bedtime routines, capitalizing on their circadian rhythms that promote nighttime sleep. You’ll spend less time waiting at the airport, allowing your kids to conserve energy for sleeping onboard rather than burning out before takeoff.

To maximize success, keep your children active during the day with outdoor light exposure and physical activity at the airport. Pacifiers can help relieve discomfort caused by air pressure changes during takeoff and landing while also soothing babies throughout the flight. Bring familiar comfort items like their favorite blanket or stuffed animal, and request pillows from the cabin crew to create a cozy sleep environment.

Pack Snacks and Ear-Friendly Treats

Since Ryanair allows you to bring your own food onboard, packing the right snacks can save you money while keeping your kids happy and comfortable throughout the flight. Choose cold, dry, low-odour options like fruit, crisps, cereal bars, and plain sandwiches that won’t create issues during security checks or bother other passengers.

Don’t forget ear-friendly treats for takeoff and landing. Pack chewing gum, hard candies, or lollipops to help your children’s ears equalize pressure naturally through chewing and swallowing.

For babies, bring items that encourage sucking motions. Consider storing your snacks in containers like Amazon snack boxes which pass through security without issues.

Remember that food powders may require additional security screening, so arrive early. If you’re flying internationally, consume any meat or dairy products during the flight to avoid customs restrictions at your destination.

Stay Calm and Positive to Keep Kids Relaxed

Your emotional state sets the tone for your entire family’s flight experience, so maintaining a calm and positive demeanor becomes one of your most powerful tools for successful travel with kids. Children mirror your energy levels and reactions, making your composed behavior a direct model for theirs.

When you stay relaxed during unexpected delays or seat changes, you’re teaching them resilience.

If meltdowns occur, resist the urge to stress. Instead, breathe deeply and respond with patience – this helps your child regulate their emotions faster. Prioritize safety and emotional comfort over external perceptions when dealing with challenging moments. Your positive attitude prevents anxiety from spreading through the family unit.

Remember that other passengers understand travel challenges. Focus on solutions rather than problems, and celebrate small wins like successful takeoffs to maintain everyone’s spirits throughout the journey.

Know Your Baby Bag Allowance and Restrictions

Packing smart becomes much easier once you understand Ryanair’s specific baby bag policies.

You’re allowed one baby bag up to 5kg for infants aged 8 days to 23 months, with maximum dimensions of 45x35x20 cm. This bag’s free regardless of your fare type and replaces any separate cabin bag allowance for your infant.

You’ll also get two free baby equipment items per child – think pushchairs and travel cots. These come with no weight restrictions and are separate from your 5kg bag allowance.

However, car seats and booster seats cost extra: €15/£15 online or €20/£20 at the airport if they’re beyond your two free items. Remember that infants have no cabin bag allowance beyond the designated baby bag, so plan your packing accordingly.

Pack essentials like diapers, wipes, bottles, and feeding supplies in your baby bag to maximize this generous allowance.

Consider Unaccompanied Minor Services for Solo Travelers

Planning to send your child on a solo adventure? You’ll need to look elsewhere than Ryanair. The airline doesn’t accept unaccompanied minors under 16, requiring children to travel with someone over 18.

This policy became even more restrictive in June 2025, when they raised the required accompanying age from 16 to 18.

Unlike competitors like British Airways, KLM, and EasyJet that allow 14-year-olds to fly solo, Ryanair offers no escort services or special facilities for unaccompanied children.

If your child needs to travel alone, you’ll have to book with alternative airlines that provide unaccompanied minor services. Major carriers like United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Air France, and American Airlines all offer these long-haul services for children traveling solo.

Utilize Cabin Crew Support During Your Flight

While Ryanair doesn’t accommodate solo child travelers, their cabin crew provides solid support when you’re flying with your children. You can request bottle warming during flight, though they won’t heat baby food.

Crew members will direct you to changing facilities located at the cabin’s rear or middle, depending on your aircraft.

Throughout your journey, expect regular check-ins from flight attendants who’ll assist with meals, bathroom visits, and entertainment needs. They’ll ensure your family stays comfortable and hydrated while monitoring safety compliance. Remember that only one infant per adult is permitted on the flight, so plan accordingly when traveling with multiple babies.

The crew also helps coordinate equipment handling, from tagging your two free baby items at check-in to arranging pushchair retrieval at your destination. Don’t hesitate to ask for guidance on car seat installation if you’ve booked an extra seat.

The Sum Up

Flying Ryanair with kids doesn’t have to be stressful when you’re prepared. You’ll save money and headaches by choosing the right fare, understanding their policies, and packing strategically. Remember that preparation is your best friend – from arriving early to knowing baggage restrictions. Keep a positive attitude, lean on the cabin crew when needed, and don’t forget that even budget airlines can work well for families when you know the ropes.