Note from the Editor: This is a periodic piece that will be updated regularly with any fresh information.
When travelling domestically with young children, one of the easiest and most convenient methods for families to cut costs and save money is to take one of the children along as a "lap infant." There is some disagreement on whether or not this is a safe practice, but the vast majority of parents value the cost savings, and young children frequently prefer to be held by their parents anyhow.
It is common to feel overwhelmed and confused while trying to decide when and how to travel with a baby. The following is a list of the guidelines that must be followed when transporting an infant on an adult's lap, as well as some general advice that can make travelling with a child less stressful.
Credit cards that are the best option for families can be found here.
Lap infant rules.
The only age allowed for magic is "under 2."
Your child must be under the age of 2 for them to be considered a lap infant. On the day that they turn 2, they no longer qualify for that free ticket.
If you are wanting to take a vacation and your child is getting close to turning two years old, rescheduling your trip for one or two months earlier could save you some money (though flying with a lap infant and a lap toddler are two very different things logistically).
Related: the many benefits of taking your young child on trips while they are still young
If your child's second birthday falls during your vacation, you will only receive a discount on the flight that departs from your destination.
You will be needed to purchase a seat for your now 2-year-old child on the return flight in addition to a one-way ticket purchase. (There is one exception to this rule, and that is that if your child turns 2 while they are travelling, British Airways will offer you the return seat at the same baby cost.)
You should be aware that there are situations in which purchasing a one-way flight can be more expensive than purchasing a round-trip ticket; therefore, you should compare the prices of both choices if your child is going to turn 2 while you are away.
Vacant seats and newborns seated on parents' laps.
Are you curious about the possibility of securing a free vacant seat for your infant on your lap?
Every traveller has the secret hope that the seat next to them will be vacant, but if they are travelling with a child who needs to be held, this is an especially important consideration. If there is a seat next to you that is vacant, you have just won a seat for your child without having to pay for it because someone else vacated it.
Related: a checklist for travelling with a baby
It is in your best interest to ask the gate agents before you board the plane if there will be another passenger sitting next to you. They may assist you in finding a new seat assignment on the plane that has an empty seat adjacent to it if the aircraft is not completely booked.
If you have a car seat that is approved by the FAA and you think there could be an empty seat next to you on the plane, you should bring it with you to the airport. If you are unable to find an available seat in which to use the car seat, you always have the option of gate-checking it for free, and it will be waiting for you when you arrive at your destination.
Related: Where should we bring the children? 7-holiday spots that offer a pleasant surprise for families looking to travel there
Allowance for carry-on luggage for infants occupying a lap
The baggage allowance for infants travelling on paid tickets is the same as that for adults flying on paid tickets; however, this is not the case when your child is under the age of two and is flying for free on your lap.
On the vast majority of domestic airlines within the United States, children who do not occupy a ticketed seat are not provided with a checked luggage allowance. Their bags will be checked along with the luggage of the child's parents, and they will be responsible for paying any additional baggage fees that the airline may assess.
Related: How to avoid paying more for checked bags
Thankfully, families can get their car seats checked, and the service typically doesn't cost anything extra. It makes no difference whether your child is travelling as a lap infant or on a paid fare; strollers can be brought on board or gate-checked at no additional cost, depending on their size. Additionally, they do not count toward your luggage allowance and are not subject to size restrictions.
In addition to the typical amount of carry-on baggage that an airline allows each passenger, most will let you bring a diaper bag onto the plane with you as a carry-on item. (It is important to note that Alaska Airlines does not provide diaper bags for infants who are travelling on laps.)
The fact that all passengers flying on paid tickets are permitted to check two complimentary bags per person is one of the reasons why Southwest Airlines is such a favoured airline among families. Among other reasons, this is because of the varied luggage restrictions. When travelling with children, the number of additional items that you are required to carry can quickly spiral out of hand, as the majority of parents are aware. It's nice to know that there are no fees for checking luggage.
Carrying more than one infant in a lap when travelling
There is only allowed to be one infant on an adult's lap at any given time.
If you are an adult travelling alone and have two or more children under the age of two in your party, you are required to buy a ticket for one of the younger passengers (and you should also be awarded a gold medal at the other end of the journey).
It is possible for two adults travelling together, or even an older teen travelling with an adult, to carry two youngsters on their laps. This is a convenient option for parents who have twins or children who were born close together.
Be that as it may, you should not be startled if the flight attendant informs you that you will not be able to sit next to each other in the same row. On board most aircraft, passengers are only allowed to have one lap infant per row because of the limited amount of oxygen masks.
Additionally, adults are not permitted to hold infants on their laps in emergency evacuation rows, as well as the rows directly in front of or directly behind the departure rows. There are additional rows on some aeroplanes that do not allow passengers to have infants on their laps.
Related: Your complete guide to taking children of any age on a flight
If you are going to be flying with a baby and the plane has bassinets available, try to get a seat on the row that is designated for them. In most cases, bassinets are only offered on international flights; however, domestic flights that are operated on aircraft that are also designed for foreign travel may have them available.
On overseas flights, infants can travel for free with their parents.
On the vast majority of international flights, infants and toddlers under the age of two are permitted to ride as lap children; however, this service is typically not provided free of charge.
If you are flying on a revenue ticket, you are typically required to pay the taxes and fees for your lap infant in addition to, in certain cases, 10% of the rate. This is the case in most situations. That might not seem like a lot, but over time it can add up to a significant amount.
Related: the airlines that are the friendliest to families all across the world
For instance, the paid children's cost was just $376 for a round journey when I took my children, who were 3 years old at the time and 11 months old at the time, to London.
Even if I had decided against purchasing a seat for my child and instead carried him on my lap for the flight, the taxes and fees that would have been assessed would have been close to $150. I was able to obtain my son his seat on the seven-hour flight for an additional cost of about $200; it was worth it to protect both my back and my sanity.
Related: award travel preparations while carrying an infant on your lap
The cost of adding an infant travelling on an adult's lap to an existing ticket purchased with miles is quite variable and is determined by the airline.
For example, Aeroplan has for a long time had a set fee for lap infant award tickets, which used to range from $50 to $125. However, when the new programme is rolled out, the programme is scheduled to become even more beneficial. Only 2,500 miles or twenty-five Canadian dollars ($18.64) will be required to claim a lap baby ticket award.
Some airlines, like Cathay Pacific, request an additional payment of up to 25 per cent of the adult fare in addition to taxes and fees.
That can easily be a four-figure price if you are travelling in a luxury cabin and only want to carry your infant in your lap. (It should be noted that Air Canada has experienced some system troubles, and as a result, they have occasionally waived the price.)
On an overseas ticket, most airlines will charge you an additional 10% of the adult rate; however, British Airways will charge you an additional 10% of the miles redeemed in addition to taxes and fees. Keep in mind that the cost of tickets can change at any time, so you will want to add your child as a lap infant at a time when the cost is the least expensive for you to observe. This could very well be when you first book your ticket.
Related: the 23 different policies that airlines have regarding infant car seats and bassinets around the world
Consider flying with JetBlue, Southwest, or Alaska Airlines if you are going to be travelling with a lap infant to a relatively close destination, such as Mexico or the Caribbean. When travelling internationally, such airlines only charge the applicable taxes for infants travelling on their parents' laps; they do not charge a percentage of the adult fare.
Compare this to United Airlines, which, even when flying to Mexico, levies an additional price of 10% of the base fare for infants travelling in their parents' laps (though not to Canada).
Where a baby cannot sit on a parent's lap.
Infants are not permitted to sit in certain seats, particularly those that have been assigned to them and have a car seat already installed. This restriction applies to rows that are immediately in front of or directly behind the rows that contain the emergency exits.
This is typically the result of airbags being fitted in some of the lap belts in the vehicle. In the majority of cases, you will come across this in certain seats located in business or first class, or the first row of economy. However, those aren't the only rules in the book; the specifics can change depending on the airline and the aircraft.
For instance, on United, passengers travelling in United Polaris business class on 767, 777, or 787 aircraft are not authorised to bring child safety seats or restraining systems for their children.
Related: areas that do not allow children to travel
Some helpful hints for flying with a young child.
Please bring proper identification.
In a strict sense, the vast majority of airlines demand you to provide evidence of your infant's age to travel with them on your lap.
Documents such as a birth certificate, passport, or even hospital or immunisation records could fall within this category. The majority of airlines will not ask you for that information unless they believe that your child appears to be a toddler who may be older than two years old. You are going to need to get a passport for your child regardless of whether or not you want to travel internationally following the birth of your child.
If you arrive at the counter at the airport and you don't have any papers for your infant, airlines can, in theory, demand you to buy a standard seat for your child even if they don't enforce this policy. When you book a flight on the same day, you not only run the danger of it being rather pricey, but you also run the risk of the flight is full.
Related: 13 common blunders that parents make when they travel with their children
Do not forget to bring any necessary papers with you because Southwest is renowned for requesting proof of age from passengers of any age, even newborns. If you want to avoid any problems, you should include a copy of the documentation in your carry-on bag or take a picture of it and store it on your phone.
How quickly time passes depends on your baby's sleeping patterns.
Babies typically get a lot of sleep, but it's not necessarily on your schedule.
Make every effort to book flights at times that coincide with their normal sleeping patterns. If you can choose a trip that is near to their bedtime or overnight redeye, you may have a greater chance of getting them to sleep for a significant portion of a lengthy journey. This is especially important for journeys that are five hours or longer. If you are taking a flight during the day, try to time it such that your baby can take a nap during the flight.
Having said all of that, an overtired baby may fight to fall asleep, particularly when they are in an unfamiliar setting. You are the one who knows your child the best, so if you think there is no chance that they would sleep on an aircraft through the night, there is nothing wrong with opting for a daytime journey when you are as well-rested and prepared as you can be.
Related: the ultimate approach to getting over jet lag with your little one
Before boarding, make sure to change the diapers.
It is not a pleasurable experience to try to change a diaper in the confined restroom of an aeroplane, and there is also the potential that the flight will be delayed on the tarmac. Because of these factors, it is a good idea to perform a speedy diaper change before boarding the aeroplane to potentially cut down on the number of changes that will need to be performed throughout the flight.
Maintain your diet throughout the flight and landing.
Do you know how, when flying, your ears pop and you have to yawn or chew to make the popping sensation go away? As a result of the fact that infants have not yet learned how to balance the pressure in their ears on their own, takeoff and landing can be particularly distressing for young children.
When you feed them during this time, the sucking motion they produce will help equalise their ears, which will relieve some of the pressure that's being put on them.
Pack extra earplugs
There are times when a baby will cry on a plane no matter what you do to try and comfort them. If you want to, you can carry additional earplugs and give them to the people around you so that they can alleviate some of the discomforts they are experiencing. When travelling with their children, parents may decide to make tiny goodie bags for other passengers as a pleasant gesture toward them to earn sympathy and understanding.
You should not feel compelled to do this; it is merely an option that you can take advantage of if doing so helps you feel less apprehensive about the trip.
Make the necessary preparations for seating in advance.
It is crucial to prepare ahead and determine how your kid will be seated most comfortably before you board the aircraft. Think about the environments in which your child is most at ease: Do they feel more comfortable curled up next to a person, or do they sleep more soundly in the back of a car?
The seating arrangement for your child should reflect both the parent's and the youngster's personal preferences. It is important to keep in mind that you will need to reserve a seat on the aeroplane for your child if you want to ensure that you will be able to transport that child in a car seat next to you.
Related: here are six things to keep in mind while selecting a seat on a flight.
the minimum age required to fly.
The youngest age requirement to fly is different for each airline. Some will let you fly the day after the kid is born, while others need that the child is at least a week or two old before they will let you fly. Some airlines may also require a statement from a doctor permitting them to fly for passengers who are under the age of 18.
How young is too young to fly, taking into account neither the age restrictions imposed by the airline nor those of your physician?
Candice Dye, a physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, recommends that parents hold off on giving their children solid foods until they are at least two to three months old.
She stated that "because they are vaccinated by this time, even if they do develop sick after the flight, they might need less intrusive care because they are already immunised."
There are circumstances in which it is impossible to avoid flying with a newborn baby, such as following an adoption, when travelling to see family, or when travelling for work-related reasons.
Related: What to expect while flying with a baby who is three months old
When planning travel plans for your family, it is essential to consider your child's immunisation status. If at all feasible, you should hold off on taking your infant on vacation until after they have had at least part of their vaccinations.
Bottom line
Although gaining a few additional hours of snuggling time above the clouds might not always be the most comfortable way to fly (at least not for adults), it is an excellent method to keep travel costs down.
It's common for infants to express a preference for sitting on their parent's lap, which is especially true if the mother is already breastfeeding the child, so you might find that purchasing a seat is, in the end, a waste of money.
However, as long as the child is under the age of 2, the choice is ultimately yours to make. Additionally, the answer to this question may change when babies transition from being held on the lap as infants to being held in the lap as toddlers.