Travelling with children doesn’t come cheap, especially if you’re aiming for the school holidays when prices tend to rise.
But with the right know-how, you can save money on flights, with one hack potentially saving parents a whopping £600 per year.
Read on for the money-saving tips that’ll make your first pool-side Piña Colada so much sweeter.
1. Don’t fork out for children’s seats on flights
If you’re taking a flight with young children, you’re probably going to want to sit next to them.
But making sure your family sits together on a plane can be costly as many airlines charge fees for pre-selecting seats, which can range from £10 to £30 per seat per flight.
For a family of five, taking two holidays a year, this could add an extra £600 to the cost of travelling.
Airlines rely on the fear factor to convince you to cough up for allocated seating, and passengers worry if they don’t pay up, they’ll be split up.
Yet while this does apply to Ryanair – where it stipulates that at least one parent should pay a booking fee – you shouldn’t need to fork out for the fees thanks to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines that say airlines should aim to seat children under the age of 14 close to an adult in their party for free.
If this isn’t possible, they should not be separated by more than one aisle or more than one seat row.
It also says parents should not have to pay to avoid a situation where their child is seated in a different part of the aircraft.
Err on the side of caution and check in early for peace of mind.
Most airlines say that they will always try to seat groups on the same booking together. So, check in as soon as you’re able to and you should get to sit together, as long as there are seats available next to each other that haven’t been snapped up by folk who paid to reserve.
2. Embrace parental perks
Did you know that some airlines will let you check in car seats and collapsible pushchairs for free?
Even some of the cheaper airlines with a reputation for frugality have surprisingly generous baggage policies for parents.
Hiring seats and buggies while you’re away can be a costly affair, so this hack could save you hundreds.
Whether you’re checking in a car seat or a pram, it’s a good idea to wrap it in plastic wrap and lots of tape.
You might also be able to sneak a couple of towels in there to save space in your suitcase.
3. Pack a lunch for the airport
Four soggy sandwiches, two weak ¬coffees and a couple of juice cartons will easily top the £20 mark inside departures. Not a celebratory start to the holiday. So, take a packed lunch instead (swerving the soup course – no liquids allowed).
4. Make full use of the duty-free bag
If you’re flying long-haul, then chances are you’ll have booked a bag. But airlines differ on their rules regarding what weight allowance you have, especially when it comes to carry-on luggage.
If you only have one carry-on bag allowance, then head to duty-free and get yourself a bag to put extra belongings in. Most airlines will allow you onto the aircraft with a full duty-free bag at no extra cost, so use it to its full potential.
Even if you’ve only bought yourself some chocolate at the World Duty Free store, you can fill the bag with extra bits if your hand luggage is overflowing.
5. Get into the airport lounge for no extra cost
You don’t need to fly business class to access an airport lounge. There are certain credit cards, bank accounts and frequent- flyer clubs that’ll get you through the door at no extra cost.
Alternatively, you could pay for a one- off pass.
These can start from around £20 per person – and if you find a lounge that offers free food and drink, it’s easy to make this money back.
6. Long layovers for less
If you’re looking to save money during long layovers, day use hotels at airports are a savvy hack that can make your travel experience more comfortable without breaking the bank. These hotels offer rooms for a few hours during the day, allowing you to relax, shower, catch up on work, or simply unwind before your next flight and you only pay for the hours you need.
Check out platforms like DayBreakHotels, HotelsByDay, and Dayuse.com for availability.
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