Family-Friendly Airline Rankings

We scored 48 airlines on how well they support families travelling with strollers, car seats, toddler beds, and young children. Scores combine gear policies (60 points) and family amenities (40 points) into an overall score out of 100.

Overall score out of 100, combining gear policy score (max 60) and family amenity score (max 40).

Rank	Airline	Overall	Gear	Amenity
#1	Etihad Airways	80.9	45.3	35.6
#2	ANA All Nippon Airways	80	46.7	33.3
#3	Singapore Airlines	78.7	46.7	32
#4	British Airways	77.3	45.3	32
#5	LATAM Airlines	74.7	46.7	28
#6	Cathay Pacific	73.7	45.3	28.4
#7	Air Canada	72.9	40	32.9
#8	Japan Airlines	71.6	36	35.6
#9	American Airlines	68	38.7	29.3
#10	Qantas	67.6	36	31.6
#10	Emirates	67.6	32	35.6
#11	WestJet	67.1	40	27.1
#12	Air New Zealand	65.3	33.3	32
#12	Air France	65.3	33.3	32
#12	TAP Air Portugal	65.3	33.3	32
#12	Korean Air	65.3	37.3	28
#13	Virgin Australia	64	46.7	17.3
#13	SAS Scandinavian Airlines	64	37.3	26.7
#14	Lufthansa	63.5	33.3	30.2
#15	Aer Lingus	63.1	38.7	24.4
#16	Qatar Airways	62.3	26.7	35.6
#17	Swiss International Air Lines	61.3	33.3	28
#18	Turkish Airlines	60.4	32	28.4
#19	EVA Air	59.6	28	31.6
#20	KLM	59.5	33.3	26.2
#21	AirAsia	57.8	40	17.8
#22	EasyJet	57.7	45.3	12.4
#22	Norwegian	57.7	37.3	20.4
#23	Icelandair	56.9	40	16.9
#24	Virgin Atlantic	56.5	26.7	29.8
#25	United Airlines	56.4	25.3	31.1
#26	JetBlue Airways	55.6	32	23.6
#27	Finnair	53.7	25.3	28.4
#28	Delta Air Lines	52.4	25.3	27.1
#29	Hawaiian Airlines	50.6	29.3	21.3
#30	Alaska Airlines	48.9	29.3	19.6
#31	Iberia	48.4	25.3	23.1
#31	Wizz Air	48.4	36	12.4
#32	Jetstar	47.6	32	15.6
#33	Southwest Airlines	42.7	32	10.7
#33	Avianca	42.7	30.7	12
#34	Ryanair	39.1	29.3	9.8
#35	Copa Airlines	38.7	28	10.7
#36	Frontier Airlines	38.2	25.3	12.9
#37	Spirit Airlines	36	22.7	13.3
#38	Sun Country Airlines	35.6	22.7	12.9
#39	Volaris	30.2	21.3	8.9
#40	Allegiant Air	27.1	22.7	4.4

Rank	Airline	Gear	Stroller	Car Seat	Sleep
#1	Virgin Australia	46.7	10	12	10
#1	Singapore Airlines	46.7	10	12	10
#1	ANA All Nippon Airways	46.7	10	12	10
#1	LATAM Airlines	46.7	10	12	10
#2	British Airways	45.3	10	11	10
#2	EasyJet	45.3	10	11	10
#2	Etihad Airways	45.3	10	11	10
#2	Cathay Pacific	45.3	10	11	10
#3	Air Canada	40	5	12	10
#3	AirAsia	40	10	11	7
#3	WestJet	40	5	12	10
#3	Icelandair	40	5	12	10
#4	Aer Lingus	38.7	5	11	10
#4	American Airlines	38.7	10	6	10
#5	Norwegian	37.3	10	12	3
#5	SAS Scandinavian Airlines	37.3	10	12	3
#5	Korean Air	37.3	10	12	3
#6	Qantas	36	10	12	0
#6	Wizz Air	36	10	11	3
#6	Japan Airlines	36	10	12	0
#7	Air New Zealand	33.3	10	12	0
#7	Lufthansa	33.3	10	12	0
#7	KLM	33.3	10	12	0
#7	Air France	33.3	10	12	0
#7	TAP Air Portugal	33.3	10	12	0
#7	Swiss International Air Lines	33.3	10	12	0
#8	Jetstar	32	10	11	0
#8	Southwest Airlines	32	5	6	10
#8	JetBlue Airways	32	5	6	10
#8	Emirates	32	10	11	0
#8	Turkish Airlines	32	10	11	0
#9	Avianca	30.7	8	9	3
#10	Ryanair	29.3	5	11	3
#10	Alaska Airlines	29.3	10	6	3
#10	Hawaiian Airlines	29.3	10	6	3
#11	EVA Air	28	10	6	0
#11	Copa Airlines	28	10	6	3
#12	Qatar Airways	26.7	5	12	0
#12	Virgin Atlantic	26.7	5	12	0
#13	Delta Air Lines	25.3	10	6	0
#13	United Airlines	25.3	10	6	0
#13	Frontier Airlines	25.3	10	6	0
#13	Iberia	25.3	10	6	0
#13	Finnair	25.3	10	6	0
#14	Spirit Airlines	22.7	5	6	3
#14	Allegiant Air	22.7	5	6	3
#14	Sun Country Airlines	22.7	5	6	3
#15	Volaris	21.3	5	6	3

Rank	Airline	Amenity	Bassinets	Kids' Meals	Pre-board	Lap Infant
#1	Emirates	35.6	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#1	Etihad Airways	35.6	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#1	Qatar Airways	35.6	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#1	Japan Airlines	35.6	Yes	Yes	Yes	Low
#2	ANA All Nippon Airways	33.3	Yes	Yes	Limited	Low
#3	Air Canada	32.9	Yes	Yes	Yes	Free
#4	Air New Zealand	32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#4	British Airways	32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#4	Singapore Airlines	32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#4	Air France	32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#4	TAP Air Portugal	32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Low
#5	Qantas	31.6	Yes	Yes	Limited	Low
#5	EVA Air	31.6	Yes	Limited	Yes	Low
#6	United Airlines	31.1	Limited	Yes	Yes	Free
#7	Lufthansa	30.2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Low
#8	Virgin Atlantic	29.8	Yes	Yes	Limited	Low
#9	American Airlines	29.3	Limited	Yes	Yes	Free
#10	Cathay Pacific	28.4	Yes	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#10	Turkish Airlines	28.4	Yes	Yes	Yes	Low
#10	Finnair	28.4	Yes	Yes	Yes	Low
#11	Swiss International Air Lines	28	Yes	Yes	Limited	Low
#11	Korean Air	28	Yes	Yes	Limited	Low
#11	LATAM Airlines	28	Yes	Limited	Yes	Low
#12	Delta Air Lines	27.1	Limited	Limited	Yes	Free
#12	WestJet	27.1	Limited	Limited	Yes	Free
#13	SAS Scandinavian Airlines	26.7	Limited	Yes	Yes	Low
#14	KLM	26.2	Yes	Yes	Limited	Low
#15	Aer Lingus	24.4	Limited	Limited	Yes	Low
#16	JetBlue Airways	23.6	No	Limited	Yes	Free
#17	Iberia	23.1	Limited	Yes	Yes	Moderate
#18	Hawaiian Airlines	21.3	Limited	No	Yes	Free
#19	Norwegian	20.4	Limited	Limited	Limited	Low
#20	Alaska Airlines	19.6	No	No	Yes	Free
#21	AirAsia	17.8	Limited	Limited	Yes	Low
#22	Virgin Australia	17.3	No	No	Limited	Free
#23	Icelandair	16.9	No	Yes	Limited	Low
#24	Jetstar	15.6	Limited	No	No	Low
#25	Spirit Airlines	13.3	No	No	Yes	Free
#26	Frontier Airlines	12.9	No	No	Limited	Free
#26	Sun Country Airlines	12.9	No	No	Limited	Free
#27	EasyJet	12.4	No	No	Yes	Low
#27	Wizz Air	12.4	No	No	Yes	Moderate
#28	Avianca	12	Limited	Limited	No	Low
#29	Southwest Airlines	10.7	No	No	Yes	Free
#29	Copa Airlines	10.7	Limited	No	No	Low
#30	Ryanair	9.8	No	No	No	Low
#31	Volaris	8.9	No	No	Yes	Free
#32	Allegiant Air	4.4	No	No	No	Free

How we score airlines

Each airline receives a score out of 100, split into two categories:

Gear Score (60 points)

We normalize the raw gear points (max 45) to a 60-point scale.

Factor	Max Points	How it's scored
Stroller carry-on	10	10 if allowed with full dimensions published, 7 if partial dimensions, 4 if allowed with no dimensions, 5 if conditional, 0 if not allowed
Stroller gate check	5	5 if free, 3 if conditional, 0 otherwise
Car seat certification	10	10 if any certification accepted, 8 if none required, 4 if FAA or EASA only
Car seat ease	5	5 if no seat purchase required and both facings allowed, scaled down for restrictions
Sleep devices	10	10 if allowed with approved product list, 7 if allowed without list, 3 if unclear, 0 if banned
Checked gear allowance	5	5 for 3+ free items, 3 for 2, 2 for 1, 0 for none

Amenity Score (40 points)

We normalize the raw amenity points (max 45) to a 40-point scale.

Factor	Max Points	How it's scored
Bassinets	8	8 yes, 4 limited, 0 no
Kids' meals	5	5 yes, 2.5 limited, 0 no
Family pre-boarding	5	5 yes, 2.5 limited, 0 no
Kids' entertainment	5	5 yes, 2.5 limited, 0 no
Lap infant fee	5	5 free, 4 low, 2 moderate, 0 high
Changing tables	4	4 yes, 2 some aircraft, 0 no
Baby kit	4	4 yes, 2 premium only, 0 no
Family check-in	4	4 yes, 2 limited, 0 no
Family seating	5	5 guaranteed, 3 best effort, 0 no policy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most family-friendly airline?

Etihad Airways ranks #1 overall with a score of 80.9/100, combining gear policy and family amenity scores across 48 airlines.

Which airline has the best gear policies for families?

Virgin Australia leads our gear rankings with 46.7/60, scoring well on stroller carry-on, car seat flexibility, and sleep device policies.

Which airline has the best family amenities?

Emirates scores 35.6/40 for amenities, covering bassinets, kids' meals, pre-boarding, and lap infant fees.

How do you score airline family-friendliness?

We score each airline on gear policies (60% of the total: stroller carry-on, gate check, car seat certification and flexibility, sleep devices, checked gear allowance) and family amenities (40%: bassinets, kids' meals, pre-boarding, entertainment, lap infant fees, changing tables, baby kits, family check-in, family seating).