Ryanair vs easyJet: Baby & Pushchair Rules Compared (2026)
When you're booking a short-haul break with a little one, the price is only half the story. What you really want to know is whether the pushchair comes for free, whether you can keep it until the plane, and what happens with the car seat. Here's how Britain's two biggest budget airlines compare, using their own published rules.
Rules change, so check the official pages linked below before you fly. We last checked them on 14 October 2026.
At a glance
| Ryanair | easyJet | |
|---|---|---|
| Free baby items | Two items per child: a pushchair plus a car seat, booster seat or travel cot | Up to two child items free in the hold (e.g. pushchair, car seat, travel cot) |
| Keep the pushchair until… | The aircraft steps | Gate-checking is allowed |
| Car seat on board | Needs a booked seat. Must be forward-facing, aircraft-approved, max 43 cm wide, with a 5-point harness | If the infant has their own seat, a suitable forward-facing car seat is needed for take-off and landing |
| Infant (lap) fee | £25 per infant, per one-way flight (Ryanair fees) | A fee applies – check the current amount when booking (easyJet) |
| Infant hand luggage / nappy bag (lap infant) | One baby bag up to 5 kg, 45 × 35 × 20 cm (Ryanair) | One baby changing bag, max 45 × 36 × 20 cm, under the seat in front (easyJet) |
| Official source | Ryanair help | easyJet help |
Pushchairs: very similar
Both airlines let you bring two baby items for free. On Ryanair that's a pushchair plus one of a car seat, booster seat or travel cot, and you can push your baby all the way to the aircraft steps. On easyJet it's up to two child items in the hold, and pushchairs can be gate-checked, so you're not carrying a baby through the terminal either.
For a quicker turnaround at the steps, a compact fold really helps. We've listed the folds we like in cabin-size pushchairs, and you can check your own buggy in the pushchair cabin-size checker.
Car seats: Ryanair is more specific
If you've bought your baby their own seat and want to use a car seat on board, Ryanair spells out the rules: it must be forward-facing, aircraft-approved, no wider than 43 cm, and have a 5-point harness. easyJet's rule is that a suitable forward-facing car seat is needed for take-off and landing when the infant has their own seat. Either way, measure before you go. Our car seat on a plane guide explains what to check.
Travel cots: count your two items
A travel cot counts as one of your two free items on both airlines. So if you're bringing a pushchair and a car seat, the cot will need to be paid for. On Ryanair, extra baby equipment costs £15 per item per one-way flight when booked, or £20 later or at the airport (Ryanair fees). On easyJet, check the current fee when booking. Light, packable cots make this easier. See our best travel cots.
Which is better with a baby?
Honestly, on baby equipment it's close to a draw. Both give you two free items and let you keep the pushchair until boarding. Ryanair's stricter car-seat rules matter only if you've booked your baby a seat. In practice, choose on route, times and the total price including the infant fee, then use the rules above to pack.
Pushchairs that make budget flights easier
- Joie pact lite: 5.35 kg, folds to 46.8 × 26 × 54 cm, birth to 15 kg. See the Joie pact lite
- Joolz Aer+: 6 kg, folds to 53.5 × 45 × 21.5 cm, £419 (joolz.com, checked 14 Oct 2026). See the Joolz Aer+
- Bugaboo Butterfly 2: 7.3 kg, folds to 44.8 × 24.5 × 55.5 cm (IATA cabin-compatible), £435 RRP. See the Bugaboo Butterfly 2
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FAQs
Is a pushchair free on Ryanair? Yes. Ryanair allows two baby-equipment items free per child: a pushchair plus a car seat, booster seat or travel cot.
Is a pushchair free on easyJet? Yes. easyJet allows up to two child items free in the hold, such as a pushchair, car seat or travel cot. Pushchairs can be gate-checked.
Can I take my baby's car seat on board Ryanair? Only with a booked seat for your child. The seat must be forward-facing, aircraft-approved, no wider than 43 cm, with a 5-point harness.
How much does it cost to fly with an infant on Ryanair or easyJet? Ryanair charges £25 per infant per one-way flight (Ryanair fees, checked 14 Oct 2026). easyJet also charges a fee for a lap infant – check the current amount when booking on easyJet.