Booking flights and hotels for a family trip: a short checklist

Travelling with children is easier when the booking is right the first time. These are the points that most often cause trouble.

Count travellers by age on the day of travel

For flights, an adult is 12 or older, a child is 2 to 11, and an infant is under 2. An infant sits on an adult's lap and pays a small fare. Each adult can take a limited number of infants, so a family with several babies should check before booking. A child who turns 12 before the return flight may need to be booked as an adult, so check both dates.

Have every name and date of birth ready

You need each traveller's name as on their document and their date of birth. For an international trip you also need passport details. Keep them in one note on your phone so entering them takes minutes.

Choose seats together if it matters

Many airlines assign seats at random unless you pay. If you want a family sitting together, add seats during the booking where the airline offers them, or at web check-in.

Hotel rooms and guests

Hotels price by room and by guests. Enter the number of rooms, how many adults are in each room, and the age of each child. The age changes the price and whether a child can share the bed. Every hotel has its own limit on how many people a room takes.

Carry proof of age

Airlines may ask for proof of age for an infant or a child, such as a birth certificate or a passport. Keep it with the tickets, and carry a photo ID for every adult. For an international trip, every traveller, including a baby, needs their own passport.

Read the cancellation policy for both

A family trip has more moving parts, so a refundable room or fare is worth a look. See our guides on hotel cancellation policies and refundable fares.