Ryanair's recent decision to scrap its family seating policy is a welcome move, but it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the complex and often costly world of air travel with children. While parents can now sit next to their kids without paying extra, the fees and charges involved in flying with infants and young children can still add up significantly. In some cases, the cost of flying with a baby can even exceed the price of the adult's ticket. This raises a deeper question: is the current system fair and reasonable for families, or is it a hidden profit-making scheme for airlines?
One thing that immediately stands out is the lack of transparency around these fees. As Rory Boland, the editor of Which? Travel, points out, it's not until you're well into the booking process that the true cost becomes clear. This makes it difficult for families to plan and budget effectively, and can lead to frustrating surprises down the line. For example, Wizz Air charges a flat fee of €32 per flight for an infant to sit on an adult's lap, regardless of the price of the adult ticket. This is clearly unfair, and raises the question of whether airlines are taking advantage of families in this way.
From my perspective, the current system is a complex web of fees and charges that can be difficult to navigate. While some airlines offer discounts for children over two, others charge the cost of a full-grown adult. This makes it hard for families to plan and budget effectively, and can lead to unexpected costs. For example, Lisa Francesca Nand paid over £136.50 to sit next to her sons on a Wizz Air flight, more than a third of the cost of their actual tickets. This highlights the need for greater transparency and clarity around these fees, and for airlines to be more upfront about the true cost of flying with children.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the way in which these fees can vary widely depending on the airline and the destination. For example, on an Air New Zealand flight from London to Auckland via Los Angeles, the total cost of an infant's flight comes to 15% of the adult ticket, while returning via Vancouver with the same airline comes out at 9.6%. This raises the question of whether airlines are taking advantage of families by charging different fees for the same journey, and highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight in this area.
In my opinion, the current system is a complex and often confusing web of fees and charges that can be difficult for families to navigate. While Ryanair's decision to scrap its family seating policy is a welcome move, it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the broader issues around air travel with children. What many people don't realize is that these fees can add up significantly, and can often exceed the price of the adult's ticket. This raises a deeper question: is the current system fair and reasonable for families, or is it a hidden profit-making scheme for airlines?
If you take a step back and think about it, it's clear that the current system is not working in the best interests of families. The lack of transparency and clarity around fees, combined with the wide range of charges that can vary depending on the airline and destination, makes it difficult for families to plan and budget effectively. This highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight in this area, and for airlines to be more upfront and transparent about the true cost of flying with children. One thing that immediately stands out is the way in which these fees can add up significantly, and can often exceed the price of the adult's ticket. This raises a deeper question: is the current system fair and reasonable for families, or is it a hidden profit-making scheme for airlines?
