What this guide will help you understand
- What families should prepare before travelling
- Pushchair and child-equipment considerations
- Security guidance for milk, food and medicines
- Useful family facilities inside the terminal
Preparing before you leave home
A little preparation can make check-in, security and the wait before boarding easier when travelling with children.
Check that each passenger has the correct travel documents and a valid boarding pass. Confirm your airline's baggage, pushchair and check-in policies before leaving home. Pack medication, spare clothes and anything your child will need during the flight in hand luggage rather than placing essential items in the aircraft hold.
Allowing enough time
Families often need additional time for unloading, check-in, toilet visits and moving through the terminal.
The airport recommends being checked in and ready to pass through security at least two hours before departure. Allow longer if you are checking luggage, travelling with a pushchair, carrying outsize equipment or receiving extra assistance. Also check your airline's check-in and bag-drop closing times.
Pushchairs and prams
The procedure for carrying a pushchair or pram is decided by the airline.
Depending on the airline's rules, you may be able to check the pushchair in at the check-in desk or keep it with you until boarding. Confirm the allowance and procedure with your airline before travelling, including whether the pushchair is included free of charge.
Car seats and other large child equipment
Car seats, travel cots and other bulky items may be treated as checked or outsize baggage.
Each airline sets its own allowance and charges. Ask your airline whether the item is permitted, whether it must be checked in and where it should be taken at the airport. Larger items may need to be screened separately, so allow additional time.
Checking in with children
Families checking hold luggage need to use the correct check-in or bag-drop area.
Jet2.com passengers normally use Check-in Hall B. Passengers travelling with other airlines normally use Hall A. If you checked in online but still have hold luggage, use the relevant bag drop and make sure every bag has a printed baggage tag before placing it on the conveyor.
Travelling with hand luggage only
Families with valid boarding passes and no hold luggage can normally proceed directly to security.
You do not usually need to visit a check-in desk if everyone already has a valid boarding pass. Both mobile and paper boarding passes are accepted at security. However, you must still comply with your airline's cabin-bag size and weight limits.
Baby food, milk and security
Check the latest official hand-luggage rules before packing milk, food, water or medicine for a baby.
The airport directs passengers to the current UK government guidance on hand-luggage restrictions. Confirm the rules for baby milk, baby food, sterilised water, medicines and cooling products before travelling. Keep these items accessible because security staff may need to inspect them separately.
Packing essential items
Important items needed during the journey should remain in your hand luggage.
Avoid placing medication, keys, money, valuables, fragile items or anything needed during the flight in checked baggage. Include spare clothing, nappies and other immediate child-care essentials in your cabin bag, while staying within your airline's baggage allowance.
Food for children
Several airport venues provide familiar meals, snacks and drinks.
Current choices include Burger King, Greggs, Starbucks, Cabin Bar and Tap & Brew. WHSmith also sells snacks before and after security. The Six Eight One Lounge may provide a children's menu during school holidays. Check opening hours if you are travelling early in the morning.
The airport lounge with children
The Six Eight One Lounge is promoted as suitable for families.
The lounge provides family seating, buffet food, drinks, Wi-Fi and flight-information screens. A children's menu may be available during school holidays. Children can use the main lounge, while the separate 65-seat quiet area is intended for adults and business travellers.
Toilets and changing facilities
Terminal refurbishment may affect the location and availability of some facilities.
The airport states that there is currently no Changing Places facility before security because of ongoing refurbishment. Toilets are available outside the terminal front before security. Ask airport staff or check the latest terminal map for the nearest baby-changing and accessible facilities.
Keeping children occupied
Bringing familiar entertainment can make waiting inside the terminal easier.
Consider downloaded programmes, books, small toys or child-friendly headphones. Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal. Power-bank rental stations are located near Check-in Hall A and after security near Gates 1 and 2, although downloading important entertainment before leaving home remains sensible.
Fast Track with children
Families can use Fast Track, but most children need their own ticket.
Infants under two years old can use Fast Track free of charge and do not need to be included in the booking. Every passenger aged two or above requires a separate ticket. Fast Track provides a separate queue but all passengers still complete the normal security checks.
Twilight check-in for Jet2 families
Eligible Jet2.com and Jet2Holidays passengers may be able to drop off hold luggage the evening before departure.
This may reduce the number of bags a family needs to handle on the morning of an early flight. Other airlines at Leeds Bradford Airport do not currently offer a day-before bag-drop service. Check Jet2's eligibility rules, times and conditions before making plans around Twilight check-in.
Check important information before travelling
Airport charges, opening hours, transport schedules and security policies can change. Confirm time-sensitive details directly with Leeds Bradford Airport, your airline or the relevant transport operator before your journey.