How old can a child be and still fly free?

We're here to take you and your family wherever you need to go. 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).



People Also Ask

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

Does a 2-year-old need a plane ticket? Yes – once kids turn 2, they no longer qualify as a lap infant. They'll need their own ticket and their own seat to fly. However, some airlines may have slightly different rules or promotions, so it's worth doing a little research.

MORE DETAILS

We're here to take you and your family wherever you need to go. 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

Only kids qualify for a free fare We define “kid” as anyone 14 years of age or younger on the first day of your travel. Lap children do qualify but should be booked at time of initial booking as a child instead of a lap child.

MORE DETAILS

?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.

MORE DETAILS

YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR YOUR CHILD IF YOU: Have a child that is 2 years old or older. Have a child that turns 2 during the trip. Prefer the child sit in a seat with an FAA-approved child safety seat. Already have a child that will be sitting in your lap, regardless of age.

MORE DETAILS

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.


MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Friends or acquaintances may tell you that age verification is not required for your lap child, but that is absolutely not true. While children don't need an ID for TSA, to fly as a lap infant and document to the airline that they are indeed under 2 years old, you need to be prepared.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

If a child turns 2 years during the trip, they need to have a child ticket instead of infant ticket, due to the seating on the return flight.

MORE DETAILS

If your child is traveling alone, with only one parent, or with a non-legal guardian, they will require a Child Travel Consent signed by both parents or legal guardians. A Child Travel Consent is sometimes called a letter of permission to travel.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Do babies fly free? Babies and toddlers under 2 years old aren't legally required to occupy an airplane seat and can instead travel as a lap infant on their parent's ticket. Lap infants are generally free of charge, although you may pay a percentage of the full fare if you're traveling internationally.

MORE DETAILS

You may book a flight for children ages five through 11 who will be traveling unaccompanied in one of the following ways: Online at Southwest.com®: After you enter the child's passenger information and proceed to check out, you will be asked whether they'll be traveling with someone over the age of 12.

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

A wise friend told me that as long as you realize that traveling with young kids is not a vacation, it's worth it. Even if they won't remember anything of their early travels, I'm convinced we're laying the groundwork for a lifetime of well-adjusted adventures.

MORE DETAILS