Best US airlines for family travel – Top kid-friendly carriers 2026

Amy Lancelotte

By:  Amy Lancelotte

10 minutes read

Last Updated:  3 August 2026

Reviewed by:  Joanna Teljeur

Kids add additional complexity to travel situations that can be challenging anyway. When you’re planning a flight, if there are airlines that support family-friendly travel, why not take advantage?

Whether you’re traveling to visit relatives or friends or taking a family vacation, several factors contribute to having a positive overall experience. We set out to determine the best airlines for families as part of a larger study on the overall top 9 airlines in the US. Here’s what we reviewed:

• Family seating policies
• Availability of kid-friendly meals
• Free stroller check-in
• Entertainment systems
• For this post, we also reviewed extras like pre-boarding, use of car seats, lap seat policies, and bassinets.

In the end, we have a comprehensive guide to the top USA airlines for family travel in 2026 and beyond. Here are the country’s top 6 airlines for families, all scoring the highest number of points in our study:

American Airlines

From our extensive research, American Airlines is definitely one of the leaders for family-friendly flights. It has all the things parents typically value when traveling with kids. As the largest airline in the USA based on scheduled passengers, it’s good to know that flying American with kids is relatively easy. 

• Kid-centric meals upon request, which should sound tasty to children between the ages of 2 and 5. Baby food is also available, though both types of meals should be requested at least 24 hours before your flight. 
• The in-flight entertainment system has many options that will appeal to children.
• Families with kids under 2 years old can request pre-boarding once at the gate.
• Free stroller and car seat check-in.
• Changing tables are provided in the restrooms, and bassinets are available at the gate on certain flights (no advance reservations).
• When you don’t pay for seat selection, American Airlines guarantees that a child under 15 on the same reservation will automatically be seated next to at least one accompanying adult.
• When you fly domestically, American Airlines allows children under 2 to fly free, seated on your lap. International flights incur a small percentage charge of the adult fare for lap seats. 

United Airlines

We know that American Airlines ticks all the family travel boxes, but United Airlines does, too. Children under 2 can either fly on a parent’s lap or book their own seat to any destination. It's up to you to bring an approved car seat, but chances are good that you’re traveling with one anyway. You can also use a CARES harness in place of a car seat.

• Allows pre-boarding for families with kids under the age of 2.
• No seat selection charge to book seats together (1 adult and up to 2 kids) if your kids are under 12. 
• If something changes and you can no longer sit together as a family, United permits you to change to another flight free of charge.
• Bassinets are available in economy on some international flights, and you can even pre-book these. 
• Free children’s travel kit complete with a puzzle, an activity book, and crayons to keep the young ones occupied on the flight.
• Kid-focused programs available on the seat-back entertainment system. 

When the kids are feeling hungry and you forgot to pack something, aside from child-friendly meals, United also has free snacks. Although they can change on each flight, the mini natural fruit bars are usually a hit. As for drinks, the only options for children would be water or orange juice, so there’s a little room for improvement here.

Delta Air Lines

With its impressive status as the most comfortable airline in the US, Delta is another good choice for traveling families. 

• A comprehensive entertainment system to keep the kids occupied.
• Lap seat policy for kids 2 and under, with some discounts for kids who need their own seats, depending on the destination.
• Snacks and meals tailored to children.
• The infant seat you need during the flight isn’t part of the standard baggage allowance. The same goes for a breast pump or an associated cooler bag.
• Offers SkyCots on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Delta gives anyone who needs extra time to board early access to the flight.
• Families traveling with a stroller or car seat (or both) can check these in for no additional luggage fee. 
• Delta takes family seating seriously and honors requests to seat everyone together whenever possible. Contact them ASAP if you don’t have seats assigned together.
• Child-specific special meals can be pre-ordered and cater to the preferences of kids over 2 years old.

Hawaiian Airlines

Aside from its status as the most reliable airline in the US, Hawaiian Airlines is also a good option when flying as a family.

• Kids 13 and younger are guaranteed to sit next to an accompanying adult for free.
• No charge for a lap child under 2 on domestic flights; 10% fee of seat fare internationally.
• Parents can book a bassinet on most international routes.
• Strollers are always accepted without a fee as checked baggage; you can carry them on as well if they meet the size requirements when folded.
• If your family has tickets in different boarding groups, you can still board together using the highest boarding group.

While on your Hawaiian Airlines flight, it’s easy to keep everyone entertained. The In-flight entertainment will delight younger audiences as the airline has a “Keiki Pack” (Keiki means child in Hawaiian) with age-appropriate content. 

As for dining, you can also request kid-friendly meals, which must be pre-ordered at least 48 hours before the flight to complete the positive family travel experience.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, so they share many of the same policies and a passenger service system.

• Children under 13 are guaranteed to be seated with one adult.
• Free stroller check-in.
• Kids’ meals can be requested 48 hours in advance on international flights
• Families with kids under 2 can take advantage of group A boarding, just after passengers with disabilities and First Class/Atmos Titanium members.
• Families can also all board together using the highest boarding group, even if everyone isn’t seated in the same section. 
• The in-flight entertainment system has over 800 TV shows and movies to keep both kids and parents occupied on a flight. The catch? You need to bring your own device.
• Bassinets can be reserved only by passengers in Premium Class on A330 and 787 aircraft.

JetBlue

JetBlue, with its roomy seats and high position on our list of the most comfortable airlines in America, is another worthwhile (and low-cost) option for family travel. They focus predominantly on domestic trips but also have routes to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

• The system will automatically seat children 13 and under with an accompanying adult as soon as you book, with no additional fee.
• Stroller and car seat check-in is free.
• Car seats or booster seats are permitted as long as your child has their own seat booked.
• Lap infants are accepted for children up to the age of 2. There is no cost to add them to the reservation, regardless of the flight’s destination. 
• Lap infants do not get any checked baggage, but you can bring an extra diaper bag.
• Families with strollers or car seats get courtesy boarding after group 3.
• No JetBlue bassinets are provided.
• JetBlue has in-flight entertainment that kids will enjoy, with plenty of cartoons and even live TV on all flights. 
• The free snacks and drinks service includes juices, water, granola bars, and animal crackers, although the choice of snacks does vary by flight.

Note: If you’re planning to use a child restraint during your flight, you must select a window seat, as these can’t be used between two occupied seats.

USA vs. the world: How do US-based airlines stack up?

It’s a shame that not all airlines are created equal when it comes to family-focused travel. US-based airlines can actually learn a lot from others. Here are a few of the best airlines in the world for traveling with kids and their extras:

• Emirates – This UAE-based airline really caters to kids on board. In addition to the usual perks, kids get toys, over 100 channels, and other goodies to spark their imagination.
• Lufthansa - Recognized by Skytrax as the world’s most friendly airline in 2025, Lufthansa focuses on traveling with kids rather than just making them an afterthought. They are continually developing new kid-specific programs, and they have dedicated family check-in policies and lots of great food and entertainment.
• Air Canada – On the same Skytrax list, Air Canada is the top airline for families in North America for 2025. There’s no additional charge for kids under 14 to sit close to an adult, families with children 5 and under can pre-board, and free activity packs are available on board for extra entertainment.
• Singapore Airlines – With free advanced seat selection for families, a toy or activity pack, and a whole channel geared towards children’s programming, families can do a lot worse than Singapore Airlines.
• British Airways – There’s a dedicated check-in zone at Heathrow Terminal 5 and kid-specific areas in the BA lounges. Families automatically get pre-boarding, and kids can watch hundreds of movies and shows or enjoy the free Skyflyer activity pack.

Summary

Our criteria and methodology

To determine the best airlines for kids, we asked the following questions of the 10 airlines we reviewed:

• Family seating policy – Does the airline guarantee that children will be seated next to at least one accompanying adult on the flight, even if you don’t pay to select seats?
• Free stroller check-in – Does it cost money to check your stroller? What about a car or booster seat?
• Child meals – Is it possible to request a kid-friendly meal or snack? 
• Entertainment system – Is entertainment available on the seatbacks or as part of a free streaming service?
• Pre-boarding – Will the airline permit families to pre-board? If so, under what circumstances?
• Bassinets – Can families use a bassinet while on board to avoid bringing their own?
• Lap seats – Are children permitted to sit on a parent’s lap at no additional cost? What are the age ranges?
• Safety – Does the airline allow the use of car seats or other child safety restraints on its flights?

Plan your family trip with the most kid-friendly US airlines

When looking for the best airlines for kids in the USA, any one of these 6 has some great things to offer. American, Delta, Hawaiian, and United hit the mark in all our categories, but others, like JetBlue, can offer excellent value. 

The best advice is to pre-book as much as possible to keep your journey kid-friendly, such as your seats, meals, and lap seat tickets. Then, you can have a stress-free experience on the day of travel. And if you run into any stress related to canceled flights or delayed flights, AirAdvisor can help ease the burden.

FAQ

Is it worth paying extra for seat selection when traveling with children?

If you're traveling with young children, paying for seat selection can be worthwhile. Although all our top airlines have policies that guarantee younger kids will sit next to an accompanying adult, sometimes the seats just aren’t available. Play it safe and pre-book seats if you can.

What are the best discount airlines for families in the US?

JetBlue is the only official US airline that tops our list of the best family carriers for 2026. With a family seating policy, kids’ meals, good entertainment, and a standard lap seat policy, this airline offers good value without sacrificing convenience.

What should I pack in my child's carry-on?

Bring snacks, refillable water bottles (to fill after security), entertainment, headphones, a change of clothes, wipes, medications, chargers, and comfort items like a favorite blanket or stuffed toy.

Can I bring baby formula, breast milk, and baby food through TSA?

Yes. The TSA allows parents to bring reasonable quantities of baby formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby food in carry-on baggage, even if they exceed the standard liquid limit. These items may receive additional screening.

Author:

Amy Lancelotte

Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Creator

Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with more than seven years of experience producing research-driven articles for global audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.

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