Tested with TallulahJet2 vs Ryanair with a Baby: The Honest Comparison
We've flown Jet2 twice with Tallulah - to Turkey at 4 months and Norway at 13 months. Now we're flying Ryanair to Benidorm. Here's what we know so far, and we'll update this post once we've done the Ryanair comparison.
The Quick Version
Why This Post Exists
Before we flew with Tallulah for the first time, we spent hours Googling things like "is Jet2 good with babies" and "Ryanair vs Jet2 for families". Most of the answers were from forums where someone flew in 2019 and the policy has changed three times since. So here's our actual, recent experience.
We're not travel bloggers who fly business class and review lounges. We're a normal family who fly budget airlines because that's what makes sense when you're spending money on a month-long stay instead of a week in a resort. If Jet2 and Ryanair are the two options you're weighing up, this is for you.
Jet2 with a 4-Month-Old: Turkey
This was our first ever flight as a family. Tallulah was 4 months old, and honestly, we were bricking it. Would she scream the entire way? Would everyone on the plane hate us? Would we forget something essential? (Read the full Turkey trip review for what the holiday was actually like.)
None of that happened. Jet2 were genuinely lovely about the whole thing. From check-in to landing, it felt like they actually wanted families on their flights rather than just tolerating them.
What Jet2 got right (Turkey flight)
- Pram to the gate: We took the pram all the way to the aircraft door. They tagged it at check-in and it was waiting for us when we landed. No faffing about, no extra charge.
- Formula through security: We took bottles of ready-made formula through security with no issues. They tested it (standard procedure) but it took about 30 seconds.
- Spare seat: We didn't pay for a seat for Tallulah (under 2s sit on your lap). But both times we flew Jet2, we ended up with a spare seat next to us. Whether that was luck or Jet2 being considerate, we don't know - but it made a massive difference.
- Novelty passport: The cabin crew gave Tallulah a little novelty passport. Tiny thing, but it was sweet and she now has it in her memory box.
- Decent legroom: For a budget airline, the legroom was fine. We had enough space to have Tallulah on a lap without feeling like sardines.
Tallulah had a bottle of milk on take-off, another on landing, and slept the entire time in between. At 4 months old, that's about as good as it gets. The milk on take-off and landing helps with ear pressure - the swallowing action is the baby equivalent of adults chewing gum. Highly recommend.
Top tip
Give your baby a bottle (or breastfeed) during take-off and landing. The swallowing helps equalise the pressure in their ears and dramatically reduces the chance of them screaming in pain. This worked perfectly for us on all four Jet2 flights.
Jet2 with a 13-Month-Old: Norway
By the time we flew to Bergen, we were old pros. Tallulah was 13 months and a completely different travel companion - mobile, opinionated, and interested in everything (including the stranger's phone in the row behind).
The Jet2 experience was just as good the second time. Same drill with the pram to the gate, same friendliness from the crew. The flight times worked in our favour - we flew early morning, which meant Tallulah was due a nap. She went down without much fuss and slept for most of the flight.
We got a spare seat again. At this age it's even more useful because a 13-month-old on your lap for 2+ hours is significantly less relaxing than a 4-month-old who just lies there. Having that extra seat meant we could spread out, put a blanket down, and let her sit between us with toys.
The Jet2 Verdict
Two flights, two countries, two different ages - and both times Jet2 were excellent. For a budget airline they go above and beyond for families. The pram-to-gate policy alone is worth its weight in gold when you're navigating an airport with a baby. The crew were friendly and helpful every time, and the spare seat (whether intentional or not) made a huge difference.
Jet2 Family Scorecard
Ryanair with a Baby: Benidorm
Coming March 2026
We're flying Ryanair to Benidorm in early March with Tallulah at 14 months. We'll update this post with the full Ryanair experience and a proper head-to-head comparison. Follow us on social media for real-time updates from the trip.
We deliberately chose Ryanair for this trip so we could compare the two. Ryanair has a reputation for being less family-friendly - stricter on baggage, tighter seats, less patient staff. But reputation and reality aren't always the same thing, and their prices for Benidorm were significantly cheaper.
We'll be looking at all the same things: how they handle the pram, whether we can take formula through easily, legroom, crew attitude, and whether Tallulah gets another novelty passport (she won't, but we can dream).
What We'll Compare
| Category | Jet2 | Ryanair |
|---|---|---|
| Pram to gate | Yes, no charge | TBC |
| Formula through security | No issues | TBC |
| Legroom | Decent | TBC |
| Crew attitude to babies | Excellent | TBC |
| Spare seat luck | 2 for 2 | TBC |
| Little touches | Novelty passport | TBC |
General Tips for Flying with a Baby
Regardless of which airline you pick, here's what we've learned from four flights with Tallulah:
- Book early morning flights: Babies are tired in the morning. A 7am flight means you're boarding during nap time. This worked perfectly for both our Jet2 flights.
- Bottle on take-off and landing: The swallowing helps with ear pressure. Both our flights where we timed this well, Tallulah didn't cry at all.
- Take the pram to the gate: Don't check it in with luggage if you can avoid it. You need it in the airport more than anywhere - especially during delays.
- Pack more snacks than you think: At 13 months, snacks are the difference between a peaceful flight and chaos. Rice cakes, breadsticks, fruit pouches. Over-pack.
- Get a clip-on fan: Sounds random, but a rechargeable clip-on fan was one of our best buys. Clips to the seat back, keeps baby cool, and doubles as entertainment. Tallulah was fascinated by it for a solid 20 minutes on every flight.
- Don't stress about other passengers: Most people are far more understanding than you expect. We got more smiles than tuts. And if someone does tut - that's their problem.
- Bring a change of clothes for you too: Not just for the baby. We learned this one the hard way.
- Pack a bottle warmer and steriliser: If you're formula feeding, a portable bottle warmer and travel steriliser are essential. We used ours in Turkey and Norway - most hotels don't have these and you can't rely on finding them abroad.
- Stay the night before if it's an early flight: A 4am alarm call with a baby, then a car journey to the airport, then check-in queues? No. Book a hotel near the airport the night before. Your sanity is worth the £80.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to pay for a seat for a baby on Jet2?
No. Under 2s sit on your lap and don't need their own seat. You'll get an infant seatbelt that clips onto yours. We didn't pay for Tallulah's seat on either Jet2 flight and both times ended up with a spare seat next to us anyway.
Can you take a pram on Jet2?
Yes. You take it to the aircraft door at boarding, they store it in the hold, and it's waiting for you when you land. No extra charge, no hassle. This was the same on both our flights (Bodrum and Bergen).
Can you take formula milk through airport security?
Yes. Baby milk, formula and baby food are exempt from the 100ml liquid rule. You just need to declare it at security and they may test it. We took ready-made formula bottles through Bristol and Gatwick times with no issues. It took about 30 seconds.
Is Jet2 or Ryanair better for families?
Based on our Jet2 experience, they're excellent for families - friendly crew, pram to gate, and little touches like the novelty passport. We're flying Ryanair for the first time in March 2026 and will update this post with a proper comparison. Check back soon.
What's the best time to fly with a baby?
Early morning. A 6-7am flight means you're in the air during natural nap time. Both our Jet2 flights were early departures and Tallulah slept through most of them. Avoid late afternoon flights if you can - that's the witching hour and no amount of snacks will save you.
Our Family Trips
This post is based on our own flights in 2025 and 2026. We paid for everything ourselves. Some links are affiliate links (Amazon) - if you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We'll update this post with our Ryanair experience after our Benidorm trip in March 2026.