Flying with a baby... with miles
May 29, 2015, 11:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 53
Flying with a baby... with miles
I know that when you fly with a baby (usually less than 6 months old), most airlines do not require you to purchase an additional ticket. Obviously as the baby gets older eventually they need their own seat.
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
May 29, 2015, 11:47 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I know that when you fly with a baby (usually less than 6 months old), most airlines do not require you to purchase an additional ticket. Obviously as the baby gets older eventually they need their own seat.
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
On most airlines, the cutoff is two years. Under that, you have the option of either taking the kid as a lap infant or buying a seat for the kid. There are different policies if the kid turns two during the trip.
It's normally only free for domestic (USA?) trips. Anything international requires a TICKET, usually for 10% of the adult fare PLUS all fees (which can be huge).
A few FF programs let you use miles for the lap infant ticket. You can always use miles to purchase a regular adult ticket for the kid, but some carriers might not permit certain car seats or might require you to hold the kid for takeoff and landing.
May 30, 2015, 1:56 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
I know that when you fly with a baby (usually less than 6 months old), most airlines do not require you to purchase an additional ticket. Obviously as the baby gets older eventually they need their own seat.
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
May 30, 2015, 7:05 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: CDG
Posts: 205
Last trip on miles, it was 10% of the lowest available fare in the same cabin as the parent. (On AF, only in Y, Premium Y and J. In F/P no infants on lap, you must buy them a seat)
May 30, 2015, 7:19 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Policies vary greatly by airline. A while back, we had two business class awards on Air NZ and tried to tack on an infant ticket, and were quoted 10% of a full, unrestricted business fare. 
But I called back and got another agent, who apparently didn't realize we were in biz, and we paid a rather more reasonable 10% of an economy fare instead. The issued infant e-ticket even said "economy", but we tried our luck at the airport and it was no problem.
But I called back and got another agent, who apparently didn't realize we were in biz, and we paid a rather more reasonable 10% of an economy fare instead. The issued infant e-ticket even said "economy", but we tried our luck at the airport and it was no problem.
May 30, 2015, 11:47 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Policies vary greatly by airline. A while back, we had two business class awards on Air NZ and tried to tack on an infant ticket, and were quoted 10% of a full, unrestricted business fare.
But I called back and got another agent, who apparently didn't realize we were in biz, and we paid a rather more reasonable 10% of an economy fare instead. The issued infant e-ticket even said "economy", but we tried our luck at the airport and it was no problem.
But I called back and got another agent, who apparently didn't realize we were in biz, and we paid a rather more reasonable 10% of an economy fare instead. The issued infant e-ticket even said "economy", but we tried our luck at the airport and it was no problem.
May 30, 2015, 1:46 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I know that when you fly with a baby (usually less than 6 months old), most airlines do not require you to purchase an additional ticket. Obviously as the baby gets older eventually they need their own seat.
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
If you are flying with miles, how does this work? Do you need to purchase an additional miles ticket for a baby, or is it the same thing as flying normally -- your miles ticket covers the infant baby as well?
http://mommypoints.boardingarea.com/...h-lap-infants/
There are variations in policy among airlines, as you can see. If/once you know what airline(s) and mileage programs you might be using, you can figure out the particulars.
May 31, 2015, 6:30 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Lap children often/usually have additional lap belts. Some airlines will allow babies in car seats if you choose to buy an additional seat, but not all airlines and not all cars eats. Again, the question is not about buckling up but whether niles are needed to buy a seat.
May 31, 2015, 8:27 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
It just amazes me that parents allow their babies to be potential projectiles by not purchasing (via money or miles) a seat for their babies and properly restraining them in an approved and safe device.
May 31, 2015, 8:41 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,149
I don't think he's planning on flying the airplane.
Lap children often/usually have additional lap belts. Some airlines will allow babies in car seats if you choose to buy an additional seat, but not all airlines and not all cars eats. Again, the question is not about buckling up but whether niles are needed to buy a seat.
Lap children often/usually have additional lap belts. Some airlines will allow babies in car seats if you choose to buy an additional seat, but not all airlines and not all cars eats. Again, the question is not about buckling up but whether niles are needed to buy a seat.
Two different philosophies.
Lap belt = infant more likely to be injured by being compressed by adult even in very mild turbulence, but other passengers not subjected to projectile infant.
No lap belt = other passengers more likely to be injured by projectile infant, but infant much less likely to sustain serious injury in most circumstances.
Infant in car seat = safest way for everyone.
May 31, 2015, 9:08 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
US airlines do not allow lap belts of infants. Other countries airlines do not allow a lap child to travel without a lap belt.
Two different philosophies.
Lap belt = infant more likely to be injured by being compressed by adult even in very mild turbulence, but other passengers not subjected to projectile infant.
No lap belt = other passengers more likely to be injured by projectile infant, but infant much less likely to sustain serious injury in most circumstances.
Infant in car seat = safest way for everyone.
Two different philosophies.
Lap belt = infant more likely to be injured by being compressed by adult even in very mild turbulence, but other passengers not subjected to projectile infant.
No lap belt = other passengers more likely to be injured by projectile infant, but infant much less likely to sustain serious injury in most circumstances.
Infant in car seat = safest way for everyone.
Jun 1, 2015, 5:26 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I would imagine that >90% of babies travelling are in laps (based on my experience as a father and frequent traveller.
Jun 1, 2015, 12:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
It is almost like they have done a cost analysis and determined that they are willing to risk their child's life because the extra paid seat statistically won't make a difference: After all, how many infants die/are seriously injured during plane crashes/turbulence that would otherwise survive if in a seat?
Jun 1, 2015, 4:06 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Again, whilst I'm not looking for an argument, is there any published data that supports either side? It would seem to make sense, but I wonder why it has never been enforced anywhere, and babies/infants <2 years old are almost always lap travellers.