In 2026, the answer depends heavily on the route and the specific airline. For domestic flights within the US and many short-haul European routes, "child" tickets for ages 2–11 are often the same price as adult fares, though infants under 2 (lap children) typically pay only 10% of the base fare plus taxes. On international long-haul routes, however, many legacy carriers still offer a "Child Discount," which is usually between 25% and 33% off the adult base fare. Some budget airlines, like Norwegian, may offer child tickets at 75% of the adult fare plus airport taxes. It is a common myth that children always get 50% off; in reality, total costs for children are often quite close to adult prices because taxes and fees (which make up a large portion of the ticket price) are usually charged at the full rate regardless of the passenger's age. Always check if a "Young Adult" category exists for those aged 12–15, as some carriers provide slight breaks for this group.