The Most Family-Friendly Airlines in 2019

Flying can solo can be hard enough but taking to the skies as a large family with the little ones in tow can max out the stress levels. Fortunately, the folks at PlayLikeMum have analyzed as many as 20 major airlines across a wide range of factors, including seat comfort, pre-boarding for families and kids meals, among others to determine the best for flying families. Here are the 10 that fared the best.

France's flag carrier rounds out the top 10 but takes a hit for its lack of pre-boarding for families and onboard bassinets for little ones. Still, Air France scores a three out of five for seat comfort, based on customer reviews at Skytrax, and offers families a handful of perks, including free seat selection, free checked baggage and free kids entertainment.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to celebrate its 100th birthday this fall and is the oldest carrier in the world still operating under its original name. It wins every category that families care about with the exception of onboard cradles. It also scores a three out of five for seat comfort.

Etihad Airways is the only airline in the top 10 that doesn't offer customers free seat selection. Otherwise, this popular Middle Eastern carrier has everything a traveling family could want, including complimentary kids entertainment and free checked baggage.

Like its fellow European carrier KLM, Lufthansa finds itself just outside of the top five in part because it doesn't offer families an onboard cradle. Nonetheless, the German carrier excels in a majority of the areas PlayLikeMum analyzed, including no lap fees.

Award-winning Singapore Airlines ranks sixth among this year's most family-friendly airlines. While the carrier scores an impressive four out of five for seat comfort it gets a strike in the all-important pre-boarding for families category.

Australia's Qantas Airways rounds out the top five most family-friendly airlines in the world. Travelers flying Down Under with young children won't find many flaws with this safe and eco-friendly carrier.

Regardless of how you feel about Sir Richard Branson, it's hard to argue that Virgin Atlantic isn't one of the best airlines for families. The carrier excels in all areas only trailing the best in terms of seat comfort, according to PlayLikeMum's research.

One year after coming out on top with Emirates as the world's most family-friendly airline, British Airways has dropped a spot to number three. The U.K.'s flag carrier checks all of the key boxes but earns only a three out of five for seat comfort.

Qatar Airways continues to set the standard for air travel, winning travelers over with a one-of-a-kind business class and a family-friendly operation that includes free kids meals and entertainment along with comfortable seats and pre-boarding.

Sadly for Americans, no domestic carriers made the cut this year (American Airlines finished highest at 12th). Emirates remains the world's most family-friendly airline in the world, excelling in all nine areas. The Gulf carrier was also one of only three airlines PlayLikeMum analyzed that scored at least a four out of five for seat comfort.