Travel Restrictions and Required DocumentationIs your child two years old? Or turning two years old en route? If yes, then a seat is required to be purchased for all flights in which your child is 2 years old.
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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.
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.
A Lap Child may be carried free of charge domestically. For international travel, applicable government-imposed taxes and fees must be paid, and a ticket will be issued for each person, regardless of age.
The infant must be under 2 years of age for the duration of the trip. If they turn 2 during a trip, they will need their own seat for the remainder of the trip.
?Parents of children over the age of 2 are typically required to pay the full adult fare for their kids. ? Whereas kids fly free with an accompanying adult if they are sitting on the adult's lap and are under 2, they would then be considered a lap infant.
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.
Related: Why you should travel while your baby is an infantIf 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.
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.
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.
Standard strollers, folding wagons, and car seats can be used to get to your gate and then checked for free. They'll be returned to you on arrival. Collapsible strollers can be stored in-cabin. Car seats can be used onboard your flight too.
You can choose to keep your baby or toddler in your lap if she's under 2. But children 2 and older have to sit in their own seats. In that case, both the FAA and AAP strongly recommend using a car seat or approved harness (booster seats aren't allowed).
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.