Flying Ryanair with small children

[ScimitarsAndScarves]

Have taken the plunge and finally treated ourselves to a short break abroad after a difficult few years. It's our first trip abroad since having DC. Bit nervous which I know is a bit daft, but the thought of flying and being in a different country with young children (not babies) is worrying me a bit.

Anyway I happened to mention to a friend that we were flying Ryanair. Apparently this will be hugely stressful with small children - is there anything I need to know, or tips you'd recommend re Ryanair? I just thought it might be a bit of a hassle to board if we didn't have specific seats booked, but we're all sitting together with priority boarding.

Where are you flying from? I would book fast track security as well...

You'll be fine. As you have allocated seating there is no need for priority boarding. I've travelled with young children on Ryan air loads of times and never had any issues.

Where are you flying from? In alot of airports the ryanair flights tend to depart from the gates a million miles away so alot of walking. If your dc are in a pushchair you can keep that with you right up to the aircraft - just make sure you have a tag for it from the checkin desk (theres no charge). But also be aware that alot of gates dont have elevators so you might have to carry dc and the pushchair down a load of steps!

If you've booked to be all sitting together with priority boarding then you will be fine.

It's when people don't book seats together that it's a problem and they get split up, then want people who HAVE paid to book seats to move to accommodate them.

You'll be fine. Just buy some snacks and drinks once you've gone through check in to take on the plane. RA would see you starve to death before feeding you, unless you want to pay 16 euro for a disgusting egg panini.

Oh one other thing, are you checking your luggage in or just doing carry on?

If you've pre-booked seats you'll be fine. We don't check in any baggage but often they will ask nearer boarding anyone is willing to put hand luggage in the hold for free and we always do as it makes getting on and seated much quicker and easier and then much easier getting off the plane without kids and bags to manage.

Thanks all - very reassuring! We're flying from Manchester and were thinking of trying to do it without pushchair but might reassess now, especially thinking about the size of Manchester airport. Egg panini for 16 euros sounds vile!
I think we've just got 2 lots of hand luggage each - this sounds stupid but I'd know if I'd booked hold luggage, wouldn't I? I booked 20kg each so 5kg extra just in case.

One thing I have come across several times with both EJ and RA - if you are one of the last to board for any reason they will make you put your hand luggage in the hold, as all of the overhead bins are full.

This happened to me recently, and it was a PITA taking out of my carry on what I needed for the flight. Should be fine if you're priority, just don't get there late.

If you've booked 20kg each then that will be hold luggage to check in. I would take the pushchair

Yes - was worried about having my carry on luggage in the hold, so am planning on being there early - thanks. Didn't know they let you take a pushchair to the gate - don't they have to put that in the hold?

Yes but they will take the pushchair off you as you get to the stairs of the plane and bung it in the hold then.

You have to book allocated seats with little ones on ryanair now anyway, so you'll be fine.

Tbh I've always found taking a pushchair to the gate a massive pain as you then have to lug/hold hands with toddlers down flights of stairs, carrying a bloody buggy as well! We always ditch it with the luggage - esp as you can stash a couple of bales of nappies or something in the bag with it and save yourself buying them abroad. Although if you only have hold luggage I suppose it means waiting the other end.

It may not be the most enjoyable thing flying with little kids, but it's not massively stressful, only if you make a meal of it!

Check your luggage allowance carefully - all the information is on the website. If you have 2 x 20 kg, that is likely to be hold luggage - did you pay extra for this?

You can take up to 10 kg in a small trolley case/rucksack on the plane but check dimensions, liquid rules etc. Also a small handbag too.

If you want food for the journey, your best bet is probably Pret or Boots meal deal at the airport - check the airport website for what is available in each terminal. Manchester airport is big and busy but things usually work quite well - there's lots of capacity in security and if queues build they shout out for people whose flights are leaving within the next hour to push them to the front.

How are you getting to the airport? if you are driving, Meet and Greet parking is so much easier than any of the long stay car parks and doesn't usually cost much more.

Have a lovely trip wherever you are going. Ryanair genuinely are nicer than they used to be - I once had too much luggage and instead of gleefully charging extra, they advised me how to rearrange my hold and carry on luggage to get under the limits without charging.

Just check all information on the Ryanair and airport website carefully, leave lots of time, double check you have passports, boarding cards, EHIC, travel insurance etc etc and it will all be fine .

As mentioned already you will have to book seats when you buy the tickets. (Anyone travelling with children under 12 does). So you won't risk not being seated together.

As for bags pack the smaller back with what you want on board. If you're one of the people who has their carry on luggage checked into the hold it won't matter (It's only the bigger bag that's put in the hold - you keep the smaller one).

In many ways it's easier to have the bigger bags checked in as you don't have to juggle them and your young children whilst climbing up and down the steps and aisle. It's not a particularly long wait at the luggage belt either - Ryan Air are the kings of the turn around.

Definitely bring the push chair. I tried once without - nightmare!!

Brijmg food and don't shy away from using headphones and films on tablets as in-flight entertainment for the dc. It's the one time it's good to indulge them.

I actually purposefully get near the end of the boarding line with Ryanair so that they put our hand luggage in the hold! It's so much easier than trying to get 4 kids to lug their hand luggage up the steps and saves a fortune of checked in luggage just make sure your phone, kindle etc and any food is in your handbag or a carrier bag as you can take those on . Plus even when plans full and they check in luggage they still let you take on board a child's size wheelie bag or rucksack

Ignore the Ryanair horror stories. As long as you play by the rules i.e. pre-booking seats if you expect to sit together, don't bring outrageously large carry on cases and arrive early for your priority boarding then I've found them to be fine.

Just know that (just like most other airlines) if things go wrong or your flight is delayed they'll do little to support you, so it's always worth having snacks, medical essentials and toiletries in your carry on bag. Also a top tip that I now have after DS was once sick on me on a flight ( thankfully on the descent ) bring a change of clothes for all the party in your hand luggage as well.

Some other tips we have now for flying with DC as we've done it loads:

• Arrive mega early and plan to eat in the departure lounge before flying. I've got DH converted now to this - much less stressful than arriving just in time and rushing and also food at the airport is nicer than eating on the plane. One time we arrived too early to check our luggage in and ended up having our lunch before going through security and that was nice as well.

• Security can be long and stressful - they seem to be pretty brusque at our airport now - but they usually have a families lane which makes it a bit easier. Make sure all electronics and liquids are out before you get in line, try smiling at the staff to make the process easier for both of you

• Be really organised about your carry on luggage as above. If you're also paying for some checked in luggage, then take only what you need in your hand luggage which makes it easier for stowing etc.

• Do bring some games and treats for the DCs on board. Do watch what they eat carefully and be wary of too many sweets or hot chocolate ( see DS being sick as above)

• We always brought the buggy when we needed it. Good to have it when you are abroad and end up doing more walking than you expect.

Have fun !

Just thought of something else as well.

Some people ( very few thankfully) act like a**hats when travelling particularly if they see a family for some reason, not sure why. If possible just try to ignore them, but do make sure your DCs don't give anyone grounds for complaint - so stop them kicking seats in front or running round the plane.

The DCs ears may get sore with depressurisation on descent so give them some water or a sucking sweet at that point or encourage them to blow their noses/yawn to stop the pressure building up.

This is so useful - thanks all. Not feeling as nervous as I was and am even starting to look forward to it! Hadn't thought about change of clothes - thanks.

Need to ring Ryanair as somehow I haven't got priority boarding for me but have for DP and DC so am expecting hefty phone bill and large fees.

A pp mentioned getting fast track security as well - if I'm updating (already checked in) to change priority boarding on my ticket too, is is worth getting fast track security too? Not sure how that works with priority boarding...does that mean if you take ages getting through security there's no point in priority boarding? Am planning on getting there really early anyway so hopefully we'll be able to get through with plenty of time.

I normally wait until last to board so I can have a wander about until I absolutely have to sit down but I can see how much things have changed now we're travelling with DC.