What You Need To Know Regarding Infant Policies Of Top Airlines Of US?

June 3, 2017

Traveling through the air is not everybody’s cup of tea and when you are flying with your infant, toddler or kid, things become trickier. Well, certain airlines have some special allowances for the adults traveling with the infants. Here are the major airlines of US and their rules and restrictions of infant policies.

UNITED AIRLINES’ INFANT POLICY:

DISCUSSING IN DETAIL:

As per the infant policies of United Airlines, only those children whose age is less than 2 years and the one who is traveling within the United States, Puerto Rico, etc. with a parent/adult of 18 or more than 18 years can travel on the adult’s lap free of any charge.
If an adult is traveling with 2 or more than two children, then only one of the children can travel as a lap child. The other child needs to have tickets for their own seats.
Talking about the flight ticket for 2 years old, children less than 2 years traveling internationally without a seat are required to purchase a ticket and also are subject to infant fares and taxes. At the time of reservation, you have to tell that you are traveling with an infant.
The infants traveling between the U.S. and Canada or from Mexico to the U.S. need to pay taxes on the ticket. While the one who is traveling to other international destinations are charged 10% of the adult’s fare at the time of infant ticketing.
And you also need to pay 10% of the front cabin fare in case the infant is traveling on an adult’s lap on front cabin awards.
After the infant turns 2 years old, you need to buy a separate ticket for it and should occupy a seat for the return flight too.

DELTA AIRLINES’ INFANT POLICY:

DISCUSSING IN DETAIL:

If you are a frequent traveler of Delta, then in order to travel with your children up to 2 years old or 24 months old, you need to follow some regulations.
Firstly, you need to inform Delta Air Lines that you will be traveling with an infant on your lap.
The infants under 2 years of age or the Lap children can only be held by the passengers whose age is up to 12 years or more than 12 years.
You are only restricted to travel with only one lap child per head.
In case, an adult is traveling with more than one infant under the age of 2, then he/she is required to book a separate seat for each additional infant.
Delta also offers seats at discounted fares where you can choose to purchase a seat for your infant as long as you have the proper child restraint device.
In short, any child under the age of 2 years old or 24 months can travel for free as long as the infant will be on the lap of another passenger.
In case, the child is traveling internationally then there is a charge of 10% of an adult fare plus taxes.

AMERICAN AIRLINES’ INFANT POLICY:

DISCUSSING IN DETAIL:

In American Airlines, all children up to 2 years old or 24 months of age are not required to book their own seat for travel within the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands Canada, and other destinations.
All you need to do is to inform the American Airlines that you will be traveling with an infant on your lap.
In American Airlines the limit of the age of the adult attached to hold the infant on the lap is at least 15 years of age.
You are allowed to travel with only one lap child per adult. In case, you are traveling with more than one infant under the age of 2 years, a separate seat will have to be purchased for each additional infant.
Facility of child restraint device is also there which let you purchase a seat for your infant.
In case, the infant will be on the lap of another passenger on a flight, then usually there is a charge of 10% of an adult fare including taxes.

SPIRIT AIRLINES’ INFANT POLICY:

DISCUSSING IN DETAIL:

According to the infant policy of Spirit Airlines, only one lap child is allowed per adult and he/she should be more than 15 years old.
An infant is not accepted for the travel and will be denied boarding whose age is 7 days or less or an infant requiring an incubator or another life-support system.
Lap children are not allowed to book a seat at emergency exit rows or in the row which is in front or behind the emergency exit row.
Lap children are allowed to book a seat in the first or second row on some aircraft.
Taxes and fees attached to the traveling of the infant also depend upon destination.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES’ INFANT POLICY:

DISCUSSING IN DETAIL:

In case, you are traveling with an infant with age less than 2 years, then you should be aware of the Child Restraint System (CRS) which enhances child safety on aircraft.
The Southwest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommend the CRS system in order to provide security to the infants and small children whose weight is 40 pounds or less than that.
The child whose age is over 14 days and under two years of age does not need to occupy a separate seat and can travel free of any charge in case they are with an adult of age 12 years or more.
You have not required a boarding pass in case of an infant. All you need is a Boarding Verification Document.

JETBLUE AIRLINES’ INFANT POLICY:

DISCUSSING IN DETAIL:

There is no need for booking of seats for infants under the age of 2 years.
You need to inform JetBlue that you will be traveling with an infant on your lap.
Traveling with only one lap child is allowed per adult.
You need to buy additional seats in case you are traveling with more than one infant under 2 years of age.
A feature of child restraint device is also available in JetBlue
Infants can travel for free as a Lap Child in case he is traveling on domestic flights.
Infants will be charged a specific amount in case of international flights, even if the infant is traveling as a Lap Child.

GENERAL QUERIES:

Is there a special place for infant car seats onboard the aircraft?

Usually, the infant car seat is the window seat in most of the airlines. In addition to that, the seat next to the infant seat must be occupied by a physically able person.

The infant car seat must not be placed next to an emergency exit or immediately in front or behind such a row.

Can I book a seat on an international flight for an infant?

YES, a child under 2 years of age does not legally require a seat to fly. It depends on you that whether you want to have a seat or not. The cost of the ticket for an infant is different from the cost of a ticket for a child.

While booking international flights for infants, you need to consider following points in mind:

Need of a valid passport
An adult at least 18 years old must be there with the infants and children while traveling.
Only one infant under the age of 2 years is allowed per adult.
The infant’s age must be under 24 months while traveling the outbound sector to qualify for an infant fare.

Do I need to reserve a seat for my infant?

Children whose age is up to 2 years do not require their own seat and they can easily travel as a lap child. Most of the airlines offer only one lap child. Only one lap child is allowed. In case, an adult is traveling with more than 1 infant, then a seat is required to be purchased for the additional infant.

Will I pay for my infant to travel?

Yes, you will have to pay for the infant up to two years old, 10% of an adult fare plus taxes is generally charged in case he or she will be sitting on an adult’s lap.

What if my child turns two on the trip; will I have to buy a ticket for the return flight?

Yes, a ticket will have to be purchased for any flight in case the infant turn two on the trip.

What infant amenities are generally available on the aircraft?

Passengers can request for the bassinet at the time of reservation, ticketing, or reconfirmation of the bookings. They can also make a call at the reservation center of the specific airline or to the travel agent for the bassinet. The dimensions in linked with the bassinet are 71 cm x 36 cm x 19 cm (L x B x H). Talking about the infant, he or she must be fit properly in the bassinet.

Can I sit in the exit row with my infant?

Well, infants are not allowed to sit in any seat in an exit row. Hence, all the passengers in an exit row must be at least 15 years of age. In addition to that, infant seats are not allowed in the row directly in front of or behind an exit.

ALSO READ: