Infants, which are defined as younger than 2 years old, don't always need a plane ticket as long as they are seated on their parent's or a designated guardian's lap. Requirements vary by airline. See chart below for details about infant fares on the most popular domestic and international airlines.
In general, lap infants, referring to children under 2 years of age who sit on an adult's lap on board, can typically travel for free (mostly on domestic flights) or at a discounted fare (for international routes). 1 stroller + 1 car seat or booster sear free of charge.
Lap infant fares on international flights
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.
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.
A baby must be under two years of age to qualify as a lap infant. Once your infant turns 2 years old, they will be considered a child and will need to travel in their own seat.
Infants under 2 years old can travel at no charge in the lap of their parent (any age), or an accompanying adult 16 years or older traveling in the same cabin. We welcome infants as young as 2 days old, but infants less than 7 days old require a 'Passenger Medical' form to be completed before your flight.
Domestic (Australia & New Zealand) In Australia and New Zealand infants (0-23mths inclusive) who do not occupy a separate seat are carried free of charge. There must be one adult for every infant booked or a fare must be paid. Once a child turns 2 years they must occupy a seat and pay the applicable fare.
Australian Domestic
On QF flights, an infant not occupying a seat travels free of charge. No ticket is required. If a seat is booked for the infant, a ticket must be purchased. If one adult is travelling with two infants, a seat must be purchased for the second infant.
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).
Diaper bags, soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don't count toward your personal item or carry-on.
You may bring your child's car seat and stroller free of charge as checked baggage. You can check these items with your other baggage, or wait until you reach the gate area. Strollers can be checked at the gate or with your regular checked baggage at the ticket counter.
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.
Qantas baggage allowance for little ones includes a collapsible stroller and collapsible cot, bassinet or baby capsule. The easiest thing to do once you arrive at the airport is check your stroller in and use one that's available free of charge from the airline.
Comparing international child fares
Unlike infants, most airlines treat child fares as the same as adult fares, although a small discount may apply. Children usually get the same adult luggage allowance, but some airlines still allow children to check-in items such as strollers for free.
Infants up to the age of two can only travel accompanied by an adult on their lap. The ticket prices are roughly 10 per cent of the economy fare provided they don't occupy a seat. With some airlines, a flat price of Rs 1,000 (for Air India), Rs 1,500 (for GoFirst and Indigo) and Rs 1,750 (for SpiceJet) is charged.
Also from time to time you may find deals where the discount is less than half the normal airfare and sometimes (rarely) children travel free. Children below 2 years of age, or infants who are not occupying a paid seat, only have to pay 10% of the full adult fare on most airlines for domestic and international flights.
When travelling with an infant or small child, you can bring any combination or all of the following items as checked baggage for free: a pram, a stroller, a portable cot and/or a highchair. You won't have to pay the oversized item fee for any of these items. The infant fee applies per infant, per flight.
All airlines are different, but most generally consider a “child” to be aged between 2 and 11. Children who fall into this bracket must have their own ticket and occupy their own seat.
When our first child was born, our pediatrician told us that it's hardest to fly with kids between 6 months and 2 years old. He had a point. Around 6-7 months kids start crawling and they don't want to sit still on an airplane for a long period of time.
If you think it is unlikely that your baby will sleep during the flight, then choose to fly early in the morning when your child is at her happiest. Flying around nap time, can improve your odds to get a sleeping baby.
You can either add the lap child at the time of booking or you can call at a later date and add the child. Note that even after your child has been born, most airlines have minimum age requirements to fly, usually starting at 7 days old. Check with your airline to confirm how young your baby can be when they fly.
You can travel with your stroller free of charge as checked baggage. Strollers can be checked at the gate or with your regular checked baggage at the ticket counter.