TUI Airways with Kids: Our Honest Family Review After a 6.5-Hour Flight

Last Updated on August 9, 2026 by Ina Geißler

Flying with children always raises plenty of questions. Is the airline family-friendly? Is paying for seat selection worth it? What about meals, entertainment and baggage? Before our first flight, we thought of TUI Airways as a typical holiday airline—reliable enough to get us to the beach, but nothing particularly memorable. (If you’re reading this from Germany, you may know the airline as TUI fly.)

After flying TUI Airways with kids on a 6.5-hour flight between Munich and Cape Verde, our opinion changed. While it doesn’t offer the premium experience of a long-haul airline, we found it to be relaxed, reliable and surprisingly family-friendly. If you’re wondering whether the airline is worth it, here’s our honest TUI Airways family review after flying with four children.

Why trust MutterGeisslein?
At MutterGeisslein, I share honest, experience-based advice about traveling with kids. As a mom of four, I’ve spent years flying with babies, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers on airlines all over the world. Every airline review on this website is based on our own experiences, helping families choose the airline that best fits their trip—not simply the most expensive one.

TUI Airways with Kids at a Glance

Airline	TUI Airways
Headquarters	Luton, England
Parent company	TUI Group
Fleet	Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 787 Dreamliner among others Fleet and onboard experience may vary slightly across the different airlines within the TUI Group.
Route network	Europe, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Egypt, Caribbean and more
Codeshare partners	Limited, mainly operates its own leisure routes
Family-friendly	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Family boarding	Standard boarding procedures apply
Kids’ meals	Pre-order meals available (additional charge for all meals on most short- and medium-haul flights)
In-flight entertainment	Not available on most short- and medium-haul flights
Carry-on baggage	Depends on fare type
Best for	Family holidays, package vacations and direct flights to popular beach destinations

If you’re reading this from Germany or mainland Europe, you may know the airline as TUI fly. Our flight was operated by TUI fly, which is part of the wider TUI Group. Since this review is written for an international audience, we’ll mainly use the name TUI Airways, the group’s UK airline. While the branding differs slightly between countries, the overall travel experience is very similar.

Is TUI Airways good for families?

Before booking our first flight, we honestly didn’t expect much. We saw TUI Airways as a classic holiday airline: great for package vacations but fairly basic once you stepped on board.

Instead, we were pleasantly surprised. Our flight from Munich to Sal (Cape Verde) lasted around 6.5 hours, placing it somewhere between a medium-haul and a long-haul journey. That’s exactly the kind of flight where traveling with children can become challenging if an airline isn’t well organized.

Fortunately, that wasn’t our experience. From boarding to landing, everything felt calm, friendly and uncomplicated. The cabin crew created a relaxed atmosphere, the flight itself was smooth and we arrived feeling far more refreshed than we had expected. This review is for you if you’re wondering: Is TUI Airways family-friendly?

TUI Airways seating for families

Choosing the right seats is one of the biggest decisions when flying TUI Airways with kids. If you’re traveling with several children, you may wonder whether paying for seat selection is really worth the extra cost.

-> Follow Europetravelwithkids on Instagram

Is seat selection worth it on TUI Airways with kids?

For our outbound flight, we decided to reserve our seats in advance. Since we were traveling as a family of six, including an older child who didn’t want to sit separately, we preferred the peace of mind of knowing we’d all be together.

Our aircraft had a standard 3-3 seating configuration, so we booked two rows directly behind each other, each with a window seat.

Looking back, we probably didn’t need to pay for seat selection. There were several empty seats on the flight, and we noticed that families were generally seated together.

Our experience without seat selection

For the return flight, we decided not to reserve seats at all. Once again, we were seated together without any problems or last-minute discussions at the gate. While this doesn’t guarantee that every family will always be seated together, our experience with TUI Airways family seating was very positive.

If sitting together is essential for your family, especially when traveling with younger children, paying for seat selection can still provide extra peace of mind. If you’re happy to take a small risk, you may find that the airline seats families together whenever possible.

TUI Airways cabin crew and service

One of the biggest surprises on our trip was the cabin crew. Both on the outbound and return flight, the TUI Airways crew were friendly, approachable and genuinely welcoming towards families. Our children never felt like an inconvenience—instead, the atmosphere on board was relaxed from the moment we boarded until we landed.

On the return journey, we also experienced a significant delay before departure. Throughout the wait, the crew kept passengers informed with regular announcements and remained calm and professional. That open communication made the delay much easier to accept.

On the return journey, we also experienced a significant delay before departure. Throughout the wait, both the cabin crew and the captain kept passengers informed with regular updates, explaining the situation and keeping everyone reassured. That open communication made the delay much easier to accept.

As the flight home progressed, the captain continued to provide updates, and you could almost feel everyone on board hoping we’d make it to Munich before the airport’s night flight curfew. In the end, we touched down just three minutes before the curfew, and the entire cabin seemed to share a sense of relief. It was a memorable ending to an otherwise very enjoyable family flight

TUI Airways meals with kids

If you’re flying TUI Airways with kids, it’s worth thinking about food before departure. Unlike many full-service airlines, meals are not included on most short- and medium-haul flights. Instead, you can pre-order a hot meal before your trip or buy snacks and drinks on board.

Our experience with TUI Airways meals

For our outbound flight, we pre-ordered hot meals for the whole family. Most of us chose sausage with fries, hoping it would be an easy option for the children.

To be honest, it wasn’t a highlight. The meals were perfectly edible, but the children weren’t particularly impressed and neither were we. It wasn’t particularly bad… but it wasn’t good either.

Would we order the meals again?

Probably not. On our return flight, we skipped the hot meals altogether and packed our own snacks instead, which were absolutely fine for a light bite during the journey.

For families, we’d recommend bringing your children’s favorite snacks whenever possible. It gives you much more flexibility, especially on flights lasting five or six hours, and avoids disappointment if the onboard meal isn’t to everyone’s taste.

-> Read more about how to keep your child entertained on a flight

Just remember to check the customs regulations of your destination before packing food, as some countries restrict the import of fresh fruit, meat, dairy products and other foods.

TUI Airways entertainment for kids

One of the most important things families should know before flying TUI Airways with kids is that the entertainment options depend on the aircraft you’re flying.

On our 6.5-hour flight to Cape Verde, there was no in-flight entertainment system and no streaming service available. That meant no seatback screens, no movies and no TV shows provided by the airline, so we made sure to download plenty of films, games and audiobooks before departure.

On long-haul flights operated by TUI Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner, however, the experience is different. These aircraft feature individual seatback entertainment screens with hundreds of hours of movies, TV shows and audio content included in the ticket price. 

TUI Airways is also gradually introducing a wireless streaming entertainment service on selected Boeing 737 aircraft. If your aircraft is equipped, you can stream movies and TV shows directly to your own smartphone or tablet via the onboard Wi-Fi network. As this rollout is still ongoing, it’s always worth checking your aircraft before departure—and we’d still recommend downloading your own entertainment as a backup.

-> Read more about flying long-haul with kids

How we kept our children entertained

Before departure, we downloaded movies, TV shows and games onto our tablets and phones, making sure everything worked offline.

We’d also recommend bringing:

• Tablets or smartphones with downloaded content
• Children’s headphones
• Books and activity books
• Small travel games
• Favourite snacks
• Charging cables and a fully charged power bank

TUI Airways also handed out a small activity pack for children, which was a lovely surprise and kept our younger kids entertained for a while. With a little preparation, the lack of entertainment on our flight wasn’t a problem at all—but it’s definitely something families should know before booking.

TUI Airways check-in, boarding and baggage with kids

As our flight departed very early in the morning, we arrived at the airport before the check-in desks and baggage drop-off had opened. This meant a short wait, but once check-in started, everything was well organized and the boarding process was smooth and efficient.

One thing we particularly appreciated was that all of our luggage arrived safely on both the outbound and return flights. While that may sound like a small detail, anyone who has traveled frequently knows that it certainly can’t be taken for granted.

Strollers and car seats

If you’re flying TUI Airways with a baby or toddler, you’ll be pleased to know that strollers, buggies and child car seats can be carried free of charge, making family travel much easier.

If you plan to use your child’s car seat on board, make sure it’s approved for aircraft use before you travel. Not every European child seat is certified for use on airplanes, so it’s worth checking the manufacturer’s label in advance.

TUI Airways destinations for families

One of TUI Airways’ biggest strengths is its extensive network of direct holiday flights from the United Kingdom to some of the world’s most popular family destinations.

Popular routes include:

• Spain
• the Canary Islands
• Greece
• Turkey
• Cyprus
• Portugal
• Cape Verde
• Egypt
• and the Balearic Islands

…alongside a growing selection of long-haul destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and the United States.

For families, direct flights are often one of the biggest advantages of flying with TUI Airways. Avoiding a connection makes traveling with babies and young children much easier and helps the holiday start the moment you board the aircraft.

Our own journey to Sal, Cape Verde, was a perfect example. Instead of changing planes, we enjoyed a single 6.5-hour direct flight, making the journey much less stressful than many connecting itineraries.

Our TUI Airways experience with kids

After flying TUI Airways with kids, we’d happily book the airline again. No, it isn’t a luxury airline, and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, TUI Airways focuses on getting families to their holiday destination comfortably and reliably.

The friendly cabin crew, smooth organization and relaxed atmosphere stood out throughout our journey. While we’d skip the pre-ordered hot meals next time and come better prepared with our own entertainment, those were minor points rather than real drawbacks.

For families looking for direct holiday flights to destinations such as the Canary Islands, Cape Verde or Greece, we’d have no hesitation recommending TUI Airways with children.

More airline reviews

Still comparing airlines before booking your next family trip? We’ve flown with many different carriers over the years and share honest, experience-based reviews to help you choose the best airline for your family.

You might also find these guides helpful:

• American Airlines with kids: Our honest review after years of flying between Europe and the United States, including domestic and long-haul flights.
• Singapore Airlines with kids: Everything you need to know about flying one of the world’s best-rated airlines with children.
• Iberia with kids: Our experience flying Iberia on both short- and long-haul routes, including family seating, meals and entertainment.
• Ryanair with kids: Our honest family-experience with the lost-cost carrier.
• Wizz Air with kids: How family-friendly ist the pink low-cost airline?

-> Follow this link to find all our advice on flying with children, airlines & more

Is TUI Airways with Kids Worth It?

After flying TUI Airways with kids, we’d happily choose the airline again for a family holiday.

Before our trip, we expected a fairly standard holiday airline—and in some ways, that’s exactly what TUI Airways is. You won’t find luxury service on every route, and depending on the aircraft, you may need to bring your own entertainment and snacks.

What really exceeded our expectations, however, was the overall experience. The friendly cabin crew, relaxed atmosphere and well-organized boarding made the journey feel easy from start to finish. Even when our return flight was delayed, the crew and captain kept everyone informed, and the positive mood on board never changed.

If you’re looking for direct flights to popular holiday destinations such as Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, Greece or Turkey, TUI Airways with children is a reliable and family-friendly choice. With a little preparation—especially when it comes to entertainment and food—you’ll be well set for a comfortable journey.

Would we fly TUI Airways with kids again? Absolutely. Thank you for reading our TUI Airways family review!

Frequently Asked Questions about TUI Airways with Kids

Is TUI Airways good for families?

Yes. Based on our experience, TUI Airways with kids is a great choice for families looking for direct holiday flights. The cabin crew were friendly, the boarding process was well organized and the overall atmosphere on board was relaxed and family-friendly.

Does TUI Airways have family seating?

TUI Airways aims to seat children with at least one adult in the same booking, but this isn’t always guaranteed if you don’t reserve seats in advance. On both of our flights, however, our family was seated together even when we chose not to pay for seat selection on the return journey.

Is it worth paying for seat selection on TUI Airways?

It depends. If sitting together is essential for your family, especially with younger children, reserving seats in advance can provide peace of mind. In our case, we paid for seat selection on the outbound flight but skipped it on the return—and still ended up sitting together.

Does TUI Airways have in-flight entertainment?

It depends on the aircraft. Our 6.5-hour flight to Cape Verde did not offer seatback entertainment or streaming services, so we relied on our own tablets and books. However, TUI Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft used on many long-haul routes feature individual seatback entertainment systems with movies, TV shows and games.

Are meals included on TUI Airways?

On most short- and medium-haul flights, meals are not included and must be purchased or pre-ordered before departure. On many long-haul flights, complimentary meals and drinks are included, although the service varies depending on the destination and route.

Can you bring your own food on TUI Airways?

Yes. We actually recommend it when traveling with children. Packing your child’s favorite snacks can make the flight much more enjoyable, especially if they’re a picky eater. Just remember to check the customs regulations at your destination if you still have food left when you land.

Can you take a stroller on TUI Airways?

Yes. Strollers and buggies can be carried free of charge, making TUI Airways a convenient option for families traveling with babies or toddlers.

Can you use a car seat on TUI Airways?

Yes, provided it is approved for use on aircraft. Before you travel, check that your child seat carries the appropriate aviation certification, as not all European car seats are permitted on board.

What hand luggage can children bring on TUI Airways?

The hand luggage allowance depends on the fare you’ve booked. Before traveling, it’s worth checking the latest baggage rules for your ticket, as allowances may vary between fare types and destinations.

Which destinations does TUI Airways fly to?

TUI Airways serves many popular holiday destinations, including Spain, the Canary Islands, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Portugal, Cape Verde, Egypt, Mexico, the Caribbean and selected destinations in the United States. Most routes are designed around direct leisure travel, making the airline particularly popular with families.

Would we fly TUI Airways with kids again?

Absolutely. Our experience with TUI Airways with kids exceeded our expectations. The friendly crew, relaxed atmosphere and straightforward journey made it an airline we’d happily choose again for future family holidays.