Does a 5 year old need a seat on a plane?

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.



Yes, a 5-year-old child must have their own purchased seat on an airplane for both domestic and international travel. According to FAA and global aviation regulations, the "lap child" policy (where an infant can sit on an adult's lap) only applies to children under the age of two. Once a child reaches their second birthday, they are legally required to occupy their own seat and be secured with a seatbelt during takeoff, landing, and turbulence. A 5-year-old will typically be charged the standard child fare (if available) or a full adult fare, depending on the airline's pricing structure. While they are no longer required to be in a car seat, most safety experts recommend using a CARES harness or an FAA-approved car seat if the child is particularly small, as standard airplane seatbelts are designed for adult frames. Additionally, at age 5, many airlines allow children to fly as "Unaccompanied Minors" (for an extra fee) if they are traveling without a parent, though policies vary by carrier. Always ensure your 5-year-old is seated next to an adult in your party; many airlines now guarantee family seating at no extra cost to ensure children are not separated from their guardians.

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Most U.S. airlines will permit children who have reached their fifth birthday to travel unaccompanied. Kids ages 5 through 11 who are flying alone must usually travel pursuant to special “unaccompanied minor” procedures. On some airlines, these procedures are required for unaccompanied children as old as 14.

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Planning your trip
  • Infants on lap. Children under two can sit on a parent's lap during flights to any destination.
  • Infant seats. Alternatively, infants can have their own seat if you bring an approved car seat.
  • All other kids. Children older than two will need a ticket and their own seat on the plane.


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Although children who have not reached their second birthday are permitted to travel as lap children, the FAA strongly discourages this practice and recommends that you secure your child in an approved CRS in their own seat for the entire flight.

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You may transport this item in carry-on or checked bags. For items you wish to carry on, you should check with the airline to ensure that the item will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane.

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If the conditions are satisfied, airlines that assign seats and guarantee fee-free family seating will provide adjacent seat assignments to the adult traveling with a child age 13 or under no later than on the day before the flight.

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In fact, most regular airlines now charge for seat selection anyways. It's often around $10-$30 per seat per flight segment, so if you cave in and pay for that, it can add up quickly. You shouldn't do it. No matter which airline you're flying on, don't ever pay to select a seat.

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Your child's height and weight 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).

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If you're traveling with a toddler or infant that may fuss and kick the seat in front of you, have your three other family members fill those seats to avoid passenger complaints. If that's the case, three seats directly behind and in front of one another is your best bet.

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A Child Travel Consent gives a minor child permission to travel without their parents or legal guardians. Use this form when your child needs to travel alone or with another adult, who is not their legal guardian (e.g., a grandparent, friend, or teacher).

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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate. That said, flying is still the safest form of transport.

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