For many British parents, the first holiday with a baby is a rite of passage—one that 82% of those surveyed describe as a landmark family moment. Now EasyJet is trying to make that milestone a little more affordable by covering the cost of a child's first passport.
The airline's holiday arm, easyJet holidays, will offer a £66.50 (€79.40) discount on bookings that include an infant under the age of two at the time of travel. The offer is available for one child per booking, and must be reserved before 26 November, with travel completed by 31 October 2028.
The promotion comes as easyJet holidays reports a 10% increase in infants travelling this year compared with 2025, even with two months of the year still to go. The company hopes the gesture will encourage more families to take the plunge.
Why the first holiday matters
According to a survey of 2,000 British parents who have taken children under five abroad, more than half described their baby's first trip as “one of their proudest parenting milestones”. The research also found that while the idea of flying with a very young child can be daunting, 48% said it was easier than expected, and 87% would do it again.
Stuart Wright, customer director at easyJet holidays, said: “Travel has a unique way of bringing families together, and a baby's very first holiday is often one of those moments parents remember for years to come. By covering the cost of a baby's first passport, we're helping more families start making those memories that little bit sooner.”
The offer is particularly timely given the broader trend of Europeans prioritising holidays but seeking cheaper options, as noted in a recent ABTA report. EasyJet's move also aligns with the growing popularity of anti-optimised holidays, where travellers deliberately do less.
Practicalities of flying with infants
Most airlines allow infants under two to fly free on a parent's lap, and many carriers—though notably not easyJet—offer bassinets that attach to bulkhead walls. For families considering a first trip, the passport application is often the first hurdle.
In the UK, child passports are valid for five years. Applicants must submit two identical photos of the child, along with documents such as the birth certificate and the parent's British passport to confirm nationality. Children under five do not need to have a neutral expression or look directly at the camera; babies under one do not even need to have their eyes open.
A countersignatory is also required—someone who has known the parent for at least two years, works in or is retired from a recognised profession (such as teaching or social work), lives in the UK, and holds a valid British or Irish passport.
For those who prefer to avoid the paperwork altogether, the UK is already moving towards scrapping passport checks at e-gates by 2027, and discussions about passport-free travel are gaining momentum across Europe. But for now, a baby's first passport remains a tangible symbol of a family's first adventure abroad.
EasyJet's offer is a practical nudge for parents who might otherwise delay that first trip. As the survey suggests, the rewards often outweigh the anxieties—and with the cost of the passport covered, the financial barrier is a little lower.
