Need to Know: Flying Aer Lingus with a Baby or Toddler
Will you be flying Aer Lingus with a baby or toddler? Or are you still on the fence deciding between Aer Lingus and another airline for your family’s upcoming travels? This is the
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone! I’m kicking off a new series here I hope will be quite helpful to those of you planning to fly with an infant, baby, or toddler.
I’m tagging these posts with NTK, short for “Need to Know,” as this is where I’ll share some of the important details parents flying these airlines with young children—and possibly car seats, bassinets, strollers and extra truck—should know in advance, and in some cases may never have guessed on their own. 😉
Here are some things you should know before flying Aer Lingus with a baby or toddler (or young children):
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But first — pin this to your travel board for future reference and to help others!
THE UPSIDE OF FLYING AER LINGUS WITH A BABY OR YOUNG CHILD:
On long-haul flights, Aer Lingus offers family-friendly amenities and conveniences, including free airplane bassinets (sky cots) for overseas travel, child meals by request on flights to/from the USA and Ireland, and even grants a FREE lap child checked luggage allowance of up to 22 lbs. (10 kg.), plus one diaper bag and a compactly folding stroller.
Aer Lingus flight crew members will also heat bottles or baby food for you. However, there are some important differences from other airlines you should know before booking.
FLYING AER LINGUS WITH AN INFANT?
Infants on Laps: If you’re planning to fly Aer Lingus with an infant, be warned that they do NOT allow children younger than 6 months to ride in their own seats, whether you pay for the seat or not.
You will be provided with a (mandatory) lap child safety belt (AKA belly belt or loop belt ) that attaches to your safety belt for your lap-held infant less than 6 months.
From 6 months up to 2 years, your baby can still ride on your lap with the airline’s loop belt (or “infant belt). Note: If your child turns 2 years before the return flight, a child’s ticket for his own seat must be purchased.
Don’t miss “Five Great Ireland Family Vacation Destinations” – and tips for when you get there!
Pricing for a lap infant or toddler on Aer Lingus flights is:
- European routes – Flat rate of €25/£25 each way or equivalent (excluding taxes and charges where applicable)
- Ireland – North American routes – 10% of the adult ticket price
Bassinets are available on overseas flights with Aer Lingus, BUT they must be reserved in advance and are available on a first come, first served basis. (See Five Things You Should Know Before Flying with an Airline Bassinet for tips.)
Alternatively, you can reserve an extra “comfort seat” (additional airplane seat) for your infant to use during the flight for the discounted child fare. Call Aer Lingus to request adding this seat to your booking. Be sure to see the next section if you’re thinking of using a car seat on Aer Lingus.
PLANNING TO USE A CAR SEAT ON AER LINGUS? READ THIS FIRST!
Aer Lingus has some very strict and unusual car seat rules. Suffice to say, it’s complicated! Here’s what you should know:
For Aer Lingus regional flights (operated by Emerald Air), NO CAR SEATS are allowed on these flights.
For all other Aer Lingus flights: Only children 6 months up to 36 months (3rd birthday) are allowed to fly in car seats. However, the car seat must be forward-facing with a 5-point harness. Aer Lingus does not allow car seats to be installed rear-facing on its aircraft.
A child discount is available for kids 2 years up to 11 years on transatlantic / overseas flights with Aer Lingus. You should see the applicable discount applied while booking online.
Don’t miss these helpful posts:
Flying with a Baby or Toddler Ultimate Advice Index (start here!)
How to Travel with a Car Seat (without losing your mind)
Seven Easy Ways to Get Your Car Seat Through the Airport
Five Things to Know Before Flying with an Airplane Bassinet
Review of CARES Flight Safety Harness
The Worldwide Directory of Baby Gear Rentals
Best Lightweight Travel Strollers
More Airline-Specific Advice:
American Airlines with a Baby or Toddler
Alaska Airlines with a Baby or Toddler
China Airlines with a Baby or Toddler
Gulf Air with a Baby or Toddler
Ryanair with a Baby or Toddler
Southwest Airlines with a Baby or Toddler
Virgin Atlantic with a Baby or Toddler
Remember there are many more tips for flying with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in the new revised and expanded edition of Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.
Have a choice of airlines? Take advantage of the Airlines Comparison Chart to compare 46 airlines to find the best airline for your needs at the time of your family’s travels.
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks
