Traveling with children

A journey by plane is exciting – especially for our little ones. Austrian offers a variety of special services for families travelling with children throughout the entire journey.

But what is the exact key for a smooth start of a family holiday?

Here we have put together some useful tips for you about flying with children. So you can prepare for your trip and start a relaxing family vacation.

  1. Do not forget to take the favorite cuddly toy of your child with you on the trip and explain that it also has to go through the security control.
  2. Whether listening together to an audio book or playing online games, it is always a good idea to carry a tablet computer or a laptop in a hand luggage. The Austrian You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.FlyNet  offers a great opportunity to use the WLAN access during the flight.    
  3. The You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.eJournals  offer a variety of magazines, also children magazines. You can download them 24 hrs prior to departure when travelling only with Austrian Holidays ticket. 
  4. How to entertain your child when the flight is delayed? Go exploring – airports are busy and full of interesting places, take a trip on the low escalators or if you have time, do plane spotting.
  5. Ensure that there is no dangerous toy, scissors or nail file in the hand luggage.

Planning your trip

Secure your seats!

When you're travelling together with your children, you want to sit together as well. 

Families traveling with a child under two years of age (without a seat) can book seats for 2 adults and all children under 12 years free of charge for the same booking (online and in the call center). Children over 12 years of age and other adults pay the normal price.

Here's where you can find your perfect seat!

Catering on board of Austrian Holidays flights

On all Austrian Holidays flights you can enjoy our delicious warm paninis. 

Always to find on bord of a Austrian Holidays flight: Alete Baby Food Jars. While on flights lasting 4:00 hours or longer, delicious children's menus can be ordered.

Soft drinks - and for the parents also wine and beer are on board - of course free of charge. We would also be pleased to provide you with a glass of Frizzante for a smooth start of your holiday.

Prams and buggies

The transportation of a foldable baby stroller on Austrian Airlines flights is up to a weight of 10 kg (22 lbs) free of charge. At some airports you may take your stroller to the aircraft. In case your stroller or buggy does weigh more than this value it must necessarily be checked-in. If your free baggage allowance is exceeded the respective You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.excess baggage fee

Please note: Passengers departing from Vienna Airport can be taken to the departure gate and handed over before boarding the aircraft.
On arrivals at Vienna Airport baby strollers will be returned to all passengers via the baggage carousel.

Infant/Car seat

You may bring your own infant car seat on board of Austrian flights. Simply reserve a seat for your child at the applicable child fare well ahead of time.
The infant car seats must be approved for transportation on board an aircraft (TÜV-, FAA- or CASA certified) and must fit on the cabin seat (max. dimensions 43 cm x 43 cm).

Please mind, that you are familiar with the manufacturer's instructions for the child restraint device's use and fitting in a plane as you are responsible to attach it  to the passenger seat.

Unfortunately, our cabin crew will not be able to help you fix the infant car seat in place. If the device cannot be fitted properly, it must be checked-in.

Suitable seat designation

When checking-in, observe following:

  • choose preferably a window seat for your child using the child restraint device
  • accompanying persons should take the seat next to the child
  • seats in emergency exit rows and bulkhead rows may not be used
  • with the use of a car seat other passengers must not be inconvenienced or impeded in the event of a possible emergency evacuation

Restraint Harness

The "You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.CARES " Child Aviation Restraint System is approved for the use on board Austrian flights. If you want to bring such a harness please consider that it is restricted to children

  • weighing between 10 - 20 kg (22 - 44 pounds), and/or  
  • not exceeding a height of max. 1 m (40 inch)    

Please note that children under 2 years require their own seat for fastening this restraint harness and notification to specialcases@austrian.com  is required.

Special menus

Whether you or your child have a special meal request due to health reasons or religious convictions, we have the right meal for you.
Austrian Holidays offers you a choice of 7 different special menus, which can be booked free of charge in Economy Class on all short and medium-haul flights with a flight time of 02:20 hours or longer.
You can find more information under special menus .

Unaccompanied minors

For most children their time on board the aircraft is a real adventure. We inform you about the special regulations so that you can send your child on their way without any worry.

Assistance service for unaccompanied children once more available on direct connections

We can now accept bookings for unaccompanied children on our direct connections. If you already have a confirmed direct flight incl. assistance service for your child, it continues to be valid.  

An assistance service is unfortunately not yet available for connecting flights.  If you already have a confirmed connecting connection incl. assistance service for your child, please contact our Service Center immediately.

You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.Contact our Service Center

Before booking the assistance service for your child, please note the different entry regulations of the countries concerned. These may involve quarantine or the need to take a Covid-19 test.

You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.Entry regulations of the countries concerned

Your child is in safe hands with us

There are many reasons why a child has to fly unaccompanied – but there is no reason for you to worry. Our unaccompanied minors service will look after your child during the trip. Assistance is compulsory for children between five and eleven years old, but can also be booked for children up to the age of 17. This way you can be sure that your child will experience special care even in the event of disruptions to the flight, for example if the connecting flights are cancelled.

With Austrian your child will be looked after throughout. He or she will be received at the airport, taken to the aircraft and handed over to the crew. During the flight your child will be received by our staff and handed over to the specified person collecting them at the arrival airport. In the event of any unforeseen changes we guarantee that they will be looked after and the contact people notified immediately.

This is how you can send your child off on journeys unaccompanied

 

Dealing with documents

Find out about the entry regulations at your destination country in good time before departure. These regulations may vary from country to country. These documents must be given to the child to carry with them.

You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.To entry regulations

Booking a flight

The unaccompanied minors service can only be booked by telephone. Specify the adults who will be handing over and collecting your child. The costs of the ticket and service are charged together and the service applies for each leg of the journey. Assistance applies to connected bookings in order to ensure time for connections.

You can book the unaccompanied minors service at charter.myholiday@austrian.com or via telephone on +43 5 176 676 700

Completing the form

Download the special service form and bring four signed copies with you to the airport for each leg of the flight. For example, if you book a flight from Vienna to Paris and return, you will require a total of eight printed copies.

You will be directed to a possibly non-accessible site. Take care. Be careful.Download special service form now (PDF, 316 kB)

Handing over your child

Come direct to the check-in desk with the documents, or in Vienna direct to the Special Assistance desk in Terminal 3. There your child will be given a shoulder bag to keep the special service forms and the official documents safe. Please bring the photographic ID of the contact person with you for checking. If you wish, you can accompany your child to the gate – our ground staff will do that for you on request. The accompanying person must remain at the airport until the aircraft takes off. The person collecting your child must be able to identify themselves at the destination airport.

 

Fees

In addition to the airfare an assistance fee is charged for the unaccompanied minor service for children travelling alone for each child and each leg of the journey. Different tariffs may apply on other airlines.

Zone Amount Austrian Holidays destinations
Europe EUR 85 Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain
Egypt EUR 95 Hurghada, Marsa Alam

Tips for the well-being of your child

With the right preparation your child will be ready for their adventure:

  • Think about all the documents and photographic IDs for the people handing over and collecting them.
  • Create anticipation, for example by choosing the seat or booking the children’s menu together.
  • Get tips for your journey: Think about the temperate differences between the departure airport and the air-conditioned cabin.
  • Small children may be happier if they have a cuddly toy to take with them.
  • Your child should start their journey fully rested.
  • Talk to your child about the journey and what will happen so that he or she is prepared for all the steps.