Best Family Friendly Airlines

Updated Feb 2018

The quick reference table below shows the Best Family Friendly Airlines – in terms of the extra facilities and amenities they provide over other airlines. (To find out the full details of what your airline provides on board for kids, click on this link.)

I often get asked, ‘what is the best airline for babies?‘ Or ‘what are the best kid friendly airlines?‘ The chart below chart applies for kids of all ages.

Is there such a thing as a family friendly airline?

Airlines are becoming increasingly aware of how important family friendly airlines are to parents. Often, it can be the deciding factor, especially if flying long-haul. Obviously, every family has different priorities which make the flight experience better for them, and these priorities often depend on the age of their child travelling. But in general, everyone likes a helpful airline, with resources to entertain children and good baggage allowances. Many of these airlines offer 10kg for infants checked in allowance on top of the stroller/car seat allowance but others go even further and allow 23kg or more!

Furthermore, good meals options and extra comforts all provide welcome relief for some of the stresses parents have about flying with young children.  Some airlines go the extra mile and provide extra in-flight entertainment, including face painting, cookie making, balloon art and magic tricks! (Look for the balloon icon in the table below for those special amenities). So yes, I do think there are several contenders who can be considered a family friendly airline.

For detailed information on exactly what individual airlines provide on board, including entertainment, activity pack contents, sky nannies, kids lounges, cookie making and SO much more – read this post  on Baby & Child Amenities Available On -Board Your Flight

With this in mind, here are the best of those; my top family-friendly airlines for various ages including details on the best airline to fly internationally with baby.

(Note that with regard to the meals, these airlines provide child and baby meals on request,  but I’ve included

Air New Zealand Sky couch B777 -photo courtesy of Air NZ

those that go the extra mile and include toddler meals too. Also note that Air New Zealand provide a sky couch for an extra fee which is great for families).

You may have noticed that no US based airlines feature on the chart, but I would like to mention Jet Blue. They offer unlimited free snacks and drinks and kid TV channels too. They also allow a diaper bag as carry on.

Best Family Friendly Airlines Compared