Can I book flight for unborn baby?

Please make a reservation after your baby's birth. But you may make a reservation for yourself first on the website.



No, you cannot book a flight for an unborn baby in 2026 because airlines require a legal name and date of birth to issue a ticket or add an infant-on-lap to a reservation. Additionally, many international security protocols require the baby to have a valid passport or birth certificate, which cannot be obtained until after birth. The standard procedure is to book the adult's ticket first. Once the baby is born, you simply call the airline or use the "Manage Booking" tool to add the infant to your itinerary. For "Infant on Lap" travel, you will typically pay a small fee (often 10% of the adult fare plus taxes). If you wish for the baby to have their own seat, you will need to book a separate child fare. In 2026, airlines are very accustomed to this process, and as long as there is an adult on the booking, adding a newborn is a routine task. Just be sure to check the airline's minimum age policy, as some carriers require the baby to be at least 7 to 14 days old before they are allowed to fly for health and safety reasons.

People Also Ask

If you have a beautiful, healthy baby that is cleared to fly, you have a couple of options for when you can add your lap child to your reservation. You can either add the lap child at the time of booking or you can call at a later date and add the child.

MORE DETAILS

Infants under 2 years old can travel at no charge in the lap of their parent (any age), or an accompanying adult 16 years or older traveling in the same cabin. We welcome infants as young as 2 days old, but infants less than 7 days old require a 'Passenger Medical' form to be completed before your flight.

MORE DETAILS

Infants or children under 2 years of age can travel on the lap of an adult for free (within the United States) or at a reduced fare (for international travel).

MORE DETAILS

Do babies need an I.D.? Babies from the U.S. don't need an ID when flying domestically, says the TSA. This is actually true of anyone under the age of 18. But they will need a passport to fly internationally.

MORE DETAILS

What documents do I need to fly with my infant? If you're traveling internationally, your baby will need a passport regardless of their age. For domestic travel, it's a good idea to bring a copy of your child's birth certificate in case you need to verify their age and/or your parental status.

MORE DETAILS

Popular rumor claims that people born on airplanes get free flights for life. Any truth in that? Sadly, it seems to be something of a myth. Very few airlines are known to have granted a newborn free flights for life.

MORE DETAILS

How much does a child ticket cost? The price of a child ticket will differ from airline to airline. Some airlines offer discounted prices for children, whereas others have a flat fare for adults and children. On average, discounted airline tickets for children are around 25—33% cheaper than adult tickets.

MORE DETAILS

Most international flights allow children under 2 to fly as lap children, but with one big difference — it's usually not 100% free. Typically, if you're flying on a revenue ticket, you must pay the taxes and fees for your lap infant plus, in some cases, 10% of the fare.

MORE DETAILS

Children. TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States.

MORE DETAILS

If your upcoming trip is an international one, you're probably wondering whether or not your baby will need a passport. The answer is yes: Every person, no matter how young, needs a passport if she will be leaving one country and entering another.

MORE DETAILS

The best time to fly with kids While you can't always fly at the optimal time (based on your child's age, that is), it's great when you can. The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three.

MORE DETAILS

Can a child fly free on their 2nd birthday? No. After the age of 2, your child will need to purchase their own seat. Some airlines offer discounts for younger passengers, however, in many cases (especially when booking with miles or points) you will be responsible for paying the full fare for your child's seat.

MORE DETAILS

Once your child is 2 years old, you'll need to purchase a seat for them. The FAA recommends that children under 40 pounds continue to use a car seat and that children over 40 pounds use the seat belt on the airplane seat.

MORE DETAILS

Children 2 or older are required to have their own seat, a ticketed adult fare. Children under 5 can't travel alone under any circumstances.

MORE DETAILS

Each airline will have its rules about who can sit where, but a bulkhead seat is generally considered an excellent option for families traveling with young children. The bulkhead is at the front of the cabin and sitting in those seats usually guarantees you some extra leg room.

MORE DETAILS