Birthdays should always be celebrated, but in the world of travel and family holidays, seeing your child hit their next age milestone can also mean the end of free flight tickets, discounted transport fares and lowered attraction fees.
From the moment your toddler turns two where they’ll need their own plane seat, to when you’re paying the adult entry fee to a theme park for your 12-year-old, holiday costs that were once inexpensive or non-existent can begin to creep up on you. By 16, any child discounts you’ve relied on largely become a thing of the past.
Money expert Hannah Mayfield has worked with specialist travel insurance comparison site PayingTooMuch to break down the hidden ‘birthday tax’ that families who are going away might face as their youngsters grow up – and provide tips and tricks to help work around these costs and keep your family trips affordable.
Age 2 – The first big jump
Your little one turning two signals the need for a separate plane ticket on any flights away – no more travelling on laps! Largely done for safety, this rule is applied immediately from the 2nd birthday onwards. So, even if your child flies on your lap during the outbound and then turns two on holiday, you’ll have to make sure you purchase a full ticket for them on the return.
Hannah’s ‘how to save’: “Plan and book the holiday before that big milestone of their 2nd birthday, and if you know your child is turning two while away, it’s worth ringing your airline ahead of time to avoid any complications or potential added fees.”
Age 5 – Transport starts totting up
Train tickets, bus tickets, tram tickets – all these costs become commonplace when your youngsters turn five, albeit at a discounted rate. While this varies from country to country, the 5th birthday is typically where free fares finish, and you’ll suddenly find yourself forking out a little extra for every short hop on holiday transport.
Hannah’s ‘how to save’: “For the best savings on your train to the airport in the UK, a Family & Friends railcard is a must – these cut child fares by 60% and adult fares by a third). When abroad, look out for city travel cards that cap your family’s daily or weekly spend. A good example is the Swiss Family Card, which offers travellers with children much better value for money than individual tickets.”
Age 12 – Bigger kids, bigger costs
With teenage years knocking on the door, airlines, hotels and other attractions often start charging 12-year-olds as adults, meaning the days of half-price tickets largely come to an end. Theme parks, museums and even some city passes also charge children aged twelve and over as full-paying adults, which can have a real impact on the overall family cost, both on the way to and during your holiday.
Hannah’s ‘how to save’: “Passing the 12-year-old threshold definitely does bump up the cost of family holidays, but there are ways to work around it. If you know you’ll be exploring every corner of where you’re visiting, there are city passes that can offer you great value, and they usually price fairly based on age.
“For example, Rome’s ‘Turbopass’ prices for a ten to seventeen-year-old bracket, which gives you unlimited access to the city, and offsets the ‘across-the-board’ cost spike that can come with your children turning 12.”
Age 16 – All grown up?
By their 16th birthday, your kids are legally allowed to fly solo, even if they’re still part of every family holiday. This means full adult fares for flights (they are no longer exempt from UK Air Passenger Duty), and adult pricing on most attractions, accommodation and transport both in the UK and elsewhere.
Hannah’s ‘how to save’ – “Child discounts might seem like a faint memory by the time your child reaches 16-years-old, but that isn’t quite the case. For one, a timely passport renewal at seventeen will save you nearly £40 compared to the adult renewal cost, and it still lasts the full ten years.
“Also, many European landmarks and museums – such as the Louvre, Vatican and Colosseum – still offer free admission for under 18s, so it’s always worth planning your trips ahead with this in mind.”
Protecting your holiday with travel insurance
One of the few exceptions to the ‘birthday tax’ is travel insurance. Many insurance premiums stay at a flat rate from ages 2-17, so there’s the opportunity to use travel insurance comparison as a savings lever. However, flat premiums aren’t always the case with some providers, and under 18s are still subject to pricing changes based on declared medical conditions. Policies are priced on the individual’s personal circumstances and type of holiday so it’s worth comparing to ensure the whole family is covered with a good policy and a price that works for you.
“Where airlines and theme parks don’t offer much wiggle room, travel insurance is one area where comparing can provide you with the most cost-effective policy that suits your family best and soften the blow from the unavoidable ‘birthday tax’ felt elsewhere.”
