Age requirements
A child between the ages of three days old until their second birthday is considered a lap infant. There is no cost to add lap infants to a reservation. If the child has their second birthday between the outbound and return flight, a seat will need to be purchased for the return flight.
Lap infants United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and many others have similar policies for domestic flights, with a cutoff age of 2 years old. On international flights, there is no fare for lap infants, but fees may apply. In most cases, you'll need to add the infant to the adult's ticket.
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More often than not, you'll need to pay 10% of the regular fare. This price will be valid until your baby reaches his/her second birthday. This rate does not give you the right to have a separate seat for your child; he or she will fly as a LAP INFANT.
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To prove your child's age to an airline, one of the following documents will suffice: Child's passport (how to get a U.S. passport for an infant and things to know about children's passports) Child's birth certificate. Child's immunization form or other medical records may also work domestically.
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We know how stressful transitions with little travelers (and even some big ones) can be and offer courtesy pre-boarding to customers traveling with children in car seats and strollers, so you have extra time to stow away the diaper bag, secure the car seat and get your kids settled faster.
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Related: Why you should travel while your baby is an infant If you have a trip that spans your child's second birthday, only the outbound flight will be free. On the return flight, you will be required to purchase your now-2-year-old a seat with a one-way ticket.
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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.
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FLYING WITH BABY POLICY (INFANTS UNDER 2 YEARS OLD) Tickets for infants travelling on the parent's lap or in a bassinet are discounted from the full adult fare. When booking online, a request for a bassinet can be made in the Passenger Details section.
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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.
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Infants up to age 2 are eligible to fly free on the lap of a paying adult. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends infants travel in an airline-provided bassinet or a properly secured car seat, most of which are certified for airplane use.
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