Sep
12
Do you purchase a seat for your infant when flying? If so does airlines give discounts for infants?
Filed Under Newborn & Baby
chicken2008 asked:
I am thinking ahead for next summer. By then when we go on vacation my son will be about 9 months old. I have seen baby’s on planes I’ve been on but didn’t pay attention if they had a seat of there own. Do some of you just sit them on your lap. My guess it depends on how old they are.
EARL
I am thinking ahead for next summer. By then when we go on vacation my son will be about 9 months old. I have seen baby’s on planes I’ve been on but didn’t pay attention if they had a seat of there own. Do some of you just sit them on your lap. My guess it depends on how old they are.
EARL
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17 Responses to “Do you purchase a seat for your infant when flying? If so does airlines give discounts for infants?”
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If they are 2 years or older, they need a seat of their own. If under, you can carry them on your lap. We’re travelling in a little over a week, and our 1-year old will be on our laps.. If you do purchase a seat for them, some airlines will give a discount, but you must also bring on a TSA approved car seat.
I’ve added a link to Southwest’s infant policies. It indicates that they offer discounts for infant seats, but you need a TSA approved child restraint device (car seat).
At 9 months, you can probably let your baby sit in your lap. Make sure you bring something to occupy them like toys and snacks. Crying babies are really annoying on planes when the parents just sit back and act like they don’t hear them crying.
yes you can purchase a a seat for your infant but you will have too pay full price for it.They normally just sit on there parents lap.
check with the airline for their policy, but usually children under 2 are free if they sit on your lap.
If they need a seat, they pay full price. I’ve never heard of an airline giving a discount for a child because the bottom line is that if the seat is taken, they can’t sell that seat to someone else.
your baby may technically be able to fly for free if he is under age two. Airlines do not require tickets for those babies and toddlers who sit in an adults lap.
some airlines do charge a small amount for the cover of a Baby but they so sit on your knee and they give you a extra seat belt for them you can also pay for a seat if you want the room it’s your choice i will be going away next year with my baby and won’t pay for a seat as they only end up sitting on your knee anyway good luck
I think they are about 50% cheaper for kids under 2. We flew once without and once with. It was easier with the seat, cus you have a seat for your baby, and they are safer in their carseat. But they can ride in your lap until the age of 2,
Personal preference. You can sit them on your lap until they’re 2 years old & save on the fare, or you can pay for their seat. If you choose to pay, check with the airline. A lot will give you discounted fares. If you choose to pay, you can also take the car seat (must have window seat not in emergency exit isle), a stroller & her own bags.
I know that southwest allows the child on the lap till age one after that you have to purchase a ticket for them, and no they do not normally give you a discount so make sure you claim there seat because I have had to pay for a ticket before and not use the seat because they sold it twice figuring that I wouldn’t use it. So when you have to buy that ticket ask about using your car seat on the plane so that they don’t sell your baby’s seat Again figuring the kid will most likely sit with you. I know that it will depend on the airline as they all have varying rules on such things so just check with them before you buy they have so many new rules and regulations all the time it is hard to keep up with them. Good luck
under 1 year can ride in your lap for free.
or you can purchase a seat so you can strap a carseat in but you pay full price.
over 1 year requires seat purchased
I know Southwest does not charge until age 2.
My daughter had to pay for her 4 year old (me also once) and didn’t have to pay for her other baby that was 3 mos old.
Just call the airline you plan to use and see.
Now luggage, most are charging for that now!
If you can avoid it, dont fly. take a car so you can stop and go when you need to and let him have room to play if he gets fussy. If unavoidable, It depends on how old they r..if they are young enough to sit on the floor in their carseats, then dont get them a seat! If they are old enough to walk, get them their own seat
I would try to get them a room near the front or the back so they can get down and maybe walk around for awhile during the flight. If they have a pacifier, keep it with them if not, keep a sippy cup @ all times to help prevent their ears from popping.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
Let me know how the trip goes
for children over 2 years, you’re required to purchase a seat at “child rate”, children under 2 can either be carried in the lap or have a seat… if you do purchase a seat, it’ll be at “child rate” and you’ll be required to bring a car seat along.
EDIT TO ADD: if you carry your baby on your lap, there will be a very small charge, depending on the airline, it goes between 15-30 dollars.
My daughter is 6 months and ive taken her on an aeroplane twice already, she just sits on my lap, cant have their own seat until 2 yrs, the airline will give you a seat belt for the baby and you just attach it to your own, make sure you have a bottle or something for him to **** on when you take off for the sake of his ears, you can take the babies bottle on the plane but they may make you taste a little for safety measures, my daughter just fell asleep as if we were in the car, maybe take a toy or something to occupy him just in case.
Good luck, you should be fine x
If it’s domestic, under the age of 2 is almost always free in the parents lap. International isn’t free, but that’s because they really need a seat for such a long flight.
My son was fine at 9 months with flying in my lap. By the time he was a year old though, I was praying for his own seat, lol. Fly later at night if you can as those are typically the flights that will have extra empty seats. Many people fly stand by earlier in the day. It’s also more likely your son will sleep through the flight if it’s later.
If you buy a seat and you plan on using a carseat, keep in mind it can only be used in the window seat and must meet FAA regulations. We waited until our son was big enough to use this (about 18 mo) to start buying his seats.
Just be sure you’re prepared for security. Now THAT is a PIA these days. Just be sure to put all baby food/juice/creams/meds, etc in its own BIG ziploc and put it through security seperately.
ETA: The discounts the airlines give are off of the full fares. Almost nobody actually buys full fare tickets so it’s likely whatever you pay is what you’d also pay for your child’s ticket.
I just flew with my 8 months old. We didn’t buy her own seat and she sat in our laps the entire flight. She was fine, a little restless, but she held up well. If you buy her a seat then you need to bring your infant carseat for her to use during the flight. There are pros & cons to each. If i did it again I would hold in her my lap to save the money.
I have always bought a seat for my children and used their car seats for them in the plane. I highly advise using a CRS (Child Restraint System) because it is safe for the child – especially during turbulence, makes them feel secure, is more comfortable for both parent and child, will help your child sleep, and gives both of you the opportunity to relax a bit.
A CRS is a hard-backed child or infant safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft. In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use. The sticker will look something like this:
Airline regulations currently allow children under the age of two to fly free as “lap children” (not required to have their own seat). International flights charge a 10% fee for lap children.
This is not the safest way for a child to fly and the FAA, EU, CAA and all airlines recommend children under 40lbs (18kg) have their own seat with a child safety device.
In fact, yes, many airlines DO offer half-price tickets so parents can be guaranteed that their child can travel in a CRS device. You should call your airline to ask for a discount and/or ask what the airline’s policy is for using empty seats. If you haven’t booked a separate seat for your child, be nice on check-in and see if they can “block” the seat next to you. They will then only use that seat if they absolutely need it, leaving it free for you to use during the flight for your child (basically you are getting a seat for free for your child).
I’ve been flying internationally & domestically with my children since they were each 2 months (now 8&6, & 9 months), and I am currently pregnant with #4. At least three trips a year are the children & I traveling internationally (14+ hours each way) alone. We do another 8-10 international and domestic flights a year as a family. I have never had any problems with my children.
I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives security rules and regulations for the US, EU, UK, and Australia, offers tips and tricks for the travel, etc.
If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.