For new parents that love to travel, being able to bring their baby along without cashing out for an extra flight is an awesome perk. (For tips on how to make flying with baby as smooth as possible, check out this post). Currently, children under the age of 2 can travel on the lap of an adult in any flight – often for free! Read ahead for everything you need to know about traveling with a lap infant!

Policies

Lap infant policies can be a bit confusing. Currently, all airlines allow one lap infant per adult. And there is no limit to the number of times infants can travel. If you are traveling with more than one child under 2 then you will need to purchase a seat for any additional children; however some airlines offer discounted rates for children.

Cost

Cost is probably the biggest perk in traveling with lap infants. There is no charge for lap infants on domestic flights. International flights vary a bit but generally charge 10% of the adult ticket price, even for award flights booked with points or miles. There is a bit of ambiguity in this number and each airline is different so be sure to call prior to booking.

Lap Infant Safety

There has been a lot of controversy regarding the debate whether all passengers should be properly restrained in separate seats, including children under 2 years old. As of right now, lap infants are the only passengers exempt from being latched into safety belts during takeoff and landing. And adult’s arms are not enough to restrain infants during an emergency.  In Europe, however, flight attendants will hand you an infant belt that attaches to the adult belt and require baby wear it during landing and take-off. The Federal Aviation Administration states that purchasing additional seats for flights would deter parents from flying, therefore choosing to drive instead. And the number of vehicle accidents compared to flight accidents is significantly greater. This is definitely something to consider and you should use your judgement when making this choice.

Things to Know

• For international flights, parents can request bassinets. These are a great bonus because it allows for hands-free travel! Since bassinets are limited and only available for bulkhead seats be sure to call ahead to secure your seat. Fees and charges depend on the airline and there are size and weight restrictions.
• Airlines will require a proof of age so be sure to bring baby’s birth certificate or passport.
• Generally, if a flight isn’t full, airlines will allow you to bring a car seat on board. The gate agents are usually the ones to make that call. So be sure to take your car seat all the way to gate if you want to attempt this.
• Most airlines also allow an additional carry on and checked bag for baby, but again, be sure to check prior to travel!

  

Have you traveled with a lap infant before? What are your thoughts on the safety of it? Let me know!