With the busy school summer holiday period approaching, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is helping savvy parents plan ahead by comparing the different facilities available for parents travelling with infants and children on major airlines. The research is available in a comprehensive guide and can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website at www.aph.com/childrensfacilities.

The research compares the facilities for infants and children across 20 major airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic, highlighting the onboard changing facilities, children's meals, difference in cost for a child's ticket and the stipulations for children when travelling unaccompanied.

Of the 20 airlines researched, nine airlines charge an infant fare when sitting on a parent's lap at 10% of an adult fare, whereas the remaining 11 airlines allow infants to travel on an adult's lap at no additional cost. Meanwhile, for a child's fare, the rates differ depending on the airline. For example, for travellers flying with American Airlines, a child's fare is 25% of an adult's fare but with Atlantic Airways, a child's fair is 50% of an adult fare. In comparison, a child's fare with Air France includes a 15% reduction off an adult's fare for a short-haul flight and 33% off on a medium- and long-haul flight. In addition, only four airlines out of the 20 require a child fare seat to be purchased if passengers are travelling with two infants.

When it comes to onboard facilities, all of the airlines except for Atlantic Airways provide bassinet seats for long-haul flights upon request or reservation.  Depending on the aircraft, nappy changing shelves are also available on all 20 major airlines. For passengers travelling on long-haul flights, children's meals must be requested 24 hours in advance for most airlines, except for Air Canada which will take requests 18 hours in advance. Meanwhile Emirates and Etihad make it easier for travelling parents and are the only two airlines that do not require children's meals to be requested in advance.

Additionally, some airlines offer amenities during meal time, such as Singapore Airlines which provide nappies and disposable bibs, and Qantas Group which can supply baby food, milk and bottles if needed.

When it comes to additional benefits for travelling with children, two airlines were found to stand out including Malaysia Airlines, which offers a dedicated child-free zone available on select aircrafts. In addition, on all long-haul Etihad flights, an in-flight nanny is available and various activities are provided for infants and children, including arts & crafts, hand puppets, drawing competitions, face-paintings and magic tricks.

For children travelling alone, Aer Lingus will not accept reservations for unaccompanied children under the age of 12 years and British Airways requires children to be over 12 years old in order to travel in a different cabin class without their parents. Furthermore, Qantas Group requires infants to be at least seven days olds before flying and Swiss Air requires newborns less than a week old to have a health certificate prior to flying.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH),

Visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

ENDS

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK's award winning long stay airport parking operator and booking agency, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company for a fifth year running at British Travel Awards 2014. This year APH also celebrates its 35th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

Media Enquiries

Sarah Salord / Lauren Hill / McCluskey International / 020 8747 2170 / aph@mccluskey.co.uk