The World’s Most Family-Friendly Airports and Airlines
The Best Airports and Airlines for Traveling Families
Traveling with children can bring added challenges, especially in the event of unexpected flight delays or cancellations. The Family Vacation Guide recently examined on-time departure times and cancellation rates for 50 of the busiest airports in the world and analyzed other important factors for family-friendliness such as free access to Wi-Fi, the number of places to eat available and the number of things to do.
While three U.S. airports made the top 10, including Los Angeles, Orlando and Seattle, Asia and Europe dominate for the most part. The Family Vacation Guide also dove deeper into the 36 largest airlines around the world to determine the most family-friendly carriers. The research included factors such as seat comfort, family pre-boarding, kids meals and onboard entertainment. Although Hawaiian Airlines made the top 10, Asian airlines also dominated this top 10 for 2022.
As the world reopens and more families resume international travel, it’s worth taking a look at the leading airports and airlines for family travel.
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain is Europe’s second-largest by size but boasts the highest on-time percentage of any airport in the top five at 91 percent. In addition to punctuality, the airport offers families unlimited free access to Wi-Fi and as many as 80 different places to eat. MAD’s overall family-friendly score of 7.09 out of 10 is the fifth-best in the world.
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiucimino International Airport
Italy’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, which serves Rome, narrowly edges out Madrid with a family-friendly score of 7.19 and an incredible 111 things to do ahead of your next flight. A cancellation rate of just 0.60 percent also helps FCO climb the rankings.
Haneda Airport
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport ranks third with a family-friendly score of 7.25. The Family Vacation Guide points out that travelers passing through have numerous entertainment options, including car racing and flight simulators. Families also have a whopping 225 places to eat to choose from ahead of takeoff.
Frankfurt Airport
With unlimited free access to Wi-Fi and more than 300 things to do and places to eat combined, Germany’s Frankfurt Airport is the most family-friendly airport in Europe and the second-most accommodating to families in the world.
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport is the world’s most family-friendly with a score of 8.73. The airport’s on-time rate of 90.5 percent and its cancellation rate of just 1 percent are among the best in the world. Meanwhile, passengers can look forward to more than 200 things to do and nearly 230 places to eat.
Singapore Airlines
Tying China Southern Airlines with a fifth-best family-friendliness score of 72.22 percent out of 100, Singapore Airlines checks the vast majority of the boxes for flying families but a seat comfort score of just six out of 10 holds it back from reaching the upper echelon.
Hainan Airlines
China’s Hainan Airlines fares better with a family friendliness score of 77.78 percent. Despite not offering free seat selection, the airline is propelled by its seat comfort score of 7 out of 10 in addition to free checked bags and kids’ entertainment.
Qantas
There’s a three-way tie for the number one most family-friendly airline in the world that includes Australia’s flag carrier Qantas. Earning a family friendliness score of 83.33 percent, Qantas’ kid-friendly Joey Club entertainment is one of the many benefits for families visiting Australia.
Korean Air
Another top airline that doesn’t offer families free seat selection, Korean Air was still able to earn the highest score for family friendliness as it scored an 8 out of 10 for seat comfort, serves in-flight kids meals and also offers free kids entertainment.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines is also one of the most-family friendly carriers in the world in 2022 with a score of 83.33 percent. The Family Vacation Guide points out that the airline has added a convenient seat map showing customers where all of the flight’s babies are so that they can choose to sit elsewhere when booking a ticket.