Traveling with small children brings its ain set of hassles: Can you bring your own car seat on the plane? Will the gate agent announce preboarding for families with young children? Can you bank check a stroller at the gate?

Airline policies change frequently, so it's a good thought to phone call ahead or check your airline'southward website every fourth dimension yous fly to make sure you know what to expect.

Standard practices for airlines based in the United States

Most U.South. airlines follow these policies on domestic flights (though information technology can't hurt to double-bank check before you lot buy your ticket):

Typically babies must exist at least seven days old to fly. Some airlines allow younger infants with a doctor's written permission. Others extend the minimum age up to fourteen days or have additional restrictions.

Lap babies (younger than historic period two) fly free on domestic flights, usually one per paying adult. (Y'all may demand to present proof of historic period.) This does relieve you money, just it'southward of import to note that babies riding in airplanes are safest riding in regime-approved automobile seats. (The label should read, "This restraint is certified for utilise in motor vehicles and aircraft.")

Your airline might let yous to bring your motorcar seat on board if the flight isn't total, but at that place'due south no guarantee you'll get an extra seat if you haven't bought a ticket for your child.

The FAA has banned the apply of supplemental lap restraints, or "belly belts," in airplanes. Booster seats and harness vests may be used during flight, but not during taxi, takeoff, or landing.

Children historic period 2 or younger sometimes receive a special discount when you purchase a seat for them, particularly when y'all're traveling internationally.

When you lot buy a seat for your child, you'll demand to bring a authorities-canonical car seat for him to sit in on the plane. Airlines usually crave that a car seat be placed in a window or center seat away from exit rows. Some airlines impose additional restrictions.

Children historic period 2 and up must have a ticket for their own seat.

You tin can bank check your collapsible stroller when you lath and option it up every bit you exit the airplane. Some airlines may require beefy and non-collapsible strollers to be checked at the ticket counter, notwithstanding. It's a practiced thought to check your airline's stroller policy before your trip.

illustration of baby sleeping in airplane seat

Important questions to enquire earlier you fly

Airline policies for families vary widely. Many rules, including whether to let preboarding, are at the discretion of the gate agent. The best advice is to call ahead and ask the post-obit questions, simply be prepared for possible changes at the gate.

  • Is there a seat disbelieve for a kid younger than 2? (This question applies if yous'd like to pay for a seat for your child rather than holding him in your lap during the flight.)
  • Practise you lot offering seat discounts for children 2 and older? If so, for what ages?
  • Will you require proof of my child's historic period and identity? If then, what proof is required, and when do I present it? (As crazy as it sounds, some babies have been stopped from boarding because their names are similar to suspected terrorists on "no-wing" lists. Conveying a government-issued birth document or passport may help avoid such snarls.)
  • Tin can nosotros get seats in a bulkhead row? (Bulkhead seats have more than room to stand and maneuver, only less room for stowing carry-ons.)
  • Are bassinets available on the flight? When should I reserve one? (Bassinets are available only for lap babies, and can exist used only in bulkhead rows.)
  • Exercise all of your rows have extra oxygen masks? If non, can you seat us in a row that does? (This is important to ask if you're traveling with a child who doesn't have his own seat.)
  • Practice you allow preboarding for families with pocket-sized children? If then, will there be a preboarding annunciation or do we have to ask at the gate?
  • Do lap babies become a baggage allowance?
  • Does a car seat count as a carry-on? If I have to check information technology at the gate, does it count confronting my baggage allowance?
  • Can we bring our stroller on lath? Will it count as a acquit-on? (This question applies if yous want to wheel your child downward the cabin aisle rather than checking your stroller when yous board.)
  • Do you lot have diaper-changing facilities on the aircraft? (Well-nigh big airplanes take 1 restroom with a changing table.)
  • Do you offer children'due south meals? What'due south included? How far in advance should I guild 1?
  • Tin you warm my baby's bottle during the flight?
  • Is in-flying sound or video amusement for children bachelor?
  • Can my spouse or loved one go security clearance to accompany me to the departure gate if I need assistance?
  • Exercise you lot offer help with maneuvering through the concluding when making connecting flights? How can I arrange for that?

Additional questions to inquire international airlines

Keep in mind that everyone – even a newborn – needs a passport to travel internationally. Make certain apply for your kid's passport well before your trip.

  • What do you charge for babies younger than 2? (For international flights, all children need a ticket, fifty-fifty those who sit on your lap and don't have their own seat. A lap baby's ticket often costs at least 10 percentage of the price of a regular ticket.)
  • Exercise you offering seat discounts for children age 2 and up?
  • Can my child sit in his ain car seat? If not, can the airline provide a car seat that's safe and advisable for my child?
  • If my child has a different last proper name, will I need additional documentation at the airport?