A FLIGHT expert has told parents why they should avoid a free flight perk whenever they fly, even if it costs them extra.
Flying with a child can be difficult at the best of times, so it may be tempting to make the most of the fact that, under a certain age, they can fly for free.
However, parent and frequent flyer Ben Schlappig believes that opting to bring kids on without paying can be dangerous and not to mention really uncomfortable.
Some airlines allow infants to fly for free, or for much cheaper, if they sit on their parents' laps, which can be a great way to save money on holidays with young ones.
Nevertheless, Ben believes it's better to opt for the more expensive option if possible, and pay for a separate seat for children.
Firstly, in his opinion, it can be the safest option, particularly if there's any severe turbulence.
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He told One Mile at a Time: "They’re in no way strapped in, and in the case of severe turbulence, there could be some danger.
"There’s simply no denying that it’s safer to have your baby strapped into a car seat rather than just holding them for the entire flight."
While severe turbulence is rare and not that likely to happen, there's also comfort to think about.
Ben said it is much better putting children in their own seat, rather than on parents' laps, which can be incredibly uncomfortable.
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He continued: "Travelling with him as a lap infant is not easy. For one, he’s really heavy, so holding him for hours on end isn’t easy. And it’s not just that you’re holding him, but he’s squirming the whole time, wants to explore everything, etc."
Ben isn't the only one to recommend paying for a seat if possible either.
Sun Online Travel's resident flight attendant previously wrote: "If there's turbulence, or an emergency landing, you've really got to try and protect yourself and no matter how tightly you're holding your child, there's always a risk they can be thrown through the cabin.
"If you're looking after the kid, you're putting both them and yourself at risk.
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"I'd prefer them to be strapped in, if possible, and not crawling about, leaving themselves at risk of injury if there's any turbulence."
They aren't alone either, with some cabin crew members in America wanting to ban parents from holding their kids for flights, saying that unexpected turbulence could be unsafe.
Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA told the Washington Post: “We’ve seen airplanes go through turbulence recently and drop 4,000 feet in a split second.
"The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It’s just physically impossible.”
The association is hoping to bring in new rules that would require all passengers, regardless of age, to have their own seat, with a seatbelt of their own, to ensure they're kept safe.
Ben Hoffman, president-elect of the American Academy of Paediatrics told the Washington Post that he also agreed and said that the safest option is for all passengers to have their own seat.
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Meanwhile, a flight attendant has revealed the best plane seats for kids – and why parents with babies should never fly at night.
And a former flight attendant has shared where it is best to sit on a plane if you don't like screaming babies.
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