May 17, 2014, 3:00 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Infant and lap child fares and fees on international travel, including award & upgrades
On AA there is no charge for a lap child on domestic flights. In most instances for international travel the cost will be 10% of the adult fare in the cabin of travel (be aware in some instances / on some other airlines, it can be 25% of the cost of an adult ticket). From aa.com:
Are you traveling with an infant?
Passengers are considered infants if aged over 2 days and less than 2 years at the beginning of their journey. To travel with an infant, you must be an adult passenger aged 16 or older. Adults can travel with up to two infants and in these circumstances, can purchase an additional seat at a child fare.
Although infants can travel as early as 2 days after birth, you'll need to provide a medical certificate for infants traveling within 7 days after birth. Please contact Reservations for more information.
On U.S. domestic flights:
Infants not occupying a seat travel for free. If you prefer to book a seat for your infant, a child fare will apply.
You must call AA on the phone to add a lap infant to an existing reservation. The lap infant will NOT appear in the online reservation and receipt.
Travelers with a lap infant may check in online, for domestic flights only, and the boarding pass will be annotated with the words "WITH INFANT" immediately after the traveler's name.
On international flights:
Infants not occupying a seat benefit from a 90% discount on most adult fares
If your infant turns 2 during your trip, we'll provide you with a complimentary seat on the return flight. If the return journey is not on American Airlines, please contact the other airline to check if a seat must be purchased. (Infants and children must provide passports with any required visas; all children not traveling with both parents may be required to have a Letter of Consent signed by both parents.)
You must call AA on the phone to add a lap infant to an existing reservation, and will need to pay the fare at that time. The lab infant and fare WILL appear in the online reservation and receipt.
Travelers with a lap infant may NOT check in online for international flights and must check in at the airport.
NOTE: AA will not generally block a complimentary spare seat to be used by an infant or lap child. If seats are available at the airport, it might be possible to be assigned seating to include an adjacent empty seat if the flight will depart with sufficient empty seats.
Bassinets: These are portable, not bulkhead fastened, floor bassinet boxes. Not all aircraft may offer these, and generally are restricted to bulkhead seats.
See the bassinet thread here."]here.
See more here on aa.com.
For AA policies on required documentation for children, see here.
and
This thread regarding the use - and prohibition, on some aircraft - child safety seats.
For older threads on this topic, see:
N.B.: This thread is restricted to discussion of AA (and AA awards, upgrades) ticketing rules for infants. Please do not use this thread to discuss opinions on safety issues associated with travel with lap children versus infants with their own purchased seats. Those discussions should be carried out in the
Travel with Children forum, where many opinions have been shared and are welcome. Thank you for your cooperation.
Travel with Children forum, where many opinions have been shared and are welcome. Thank you for your cooperation.
Are you traveling with an infant?
Passengers are considered infants if aged over 2 days and less than 2 years at the beginning of their journey. To travel with an infant, you must be an adult passenger aged 16 or older. Adults can travel with up to two infants and in these circumstances, can purchase an additional seat at a child fare.
Although infants can travel as early as 2 days after birth, you'll need to provide a medical certificate for infants traveling within 7 days after birth. Please contact Reservations for more information.
On U.S. domestic flights:
Infants not occupying a seat travel for free. If you prefer to book a seat for your infant, a child fare will apply.
You must call AA on the phone to add a lap infant to an existing reservation. The lap infant will NOT appear in the online reservation and receipt.
Travelers with a lap infant may check in online, for domestic flights only, and the boarding pass will be annotated with the words "WITH INFANT" immediately after the traveler's name.
On international flights:
Infants not occupying a seat benefit from a 90% discount on most adult fares
If your infant turns 2 during your trip, we'll provide you with a complimentary seat on the return flight. If the return journey is not on American Airlines, please contact the other airline to check if a seat must be purchased. (Infants and children must provide passports with any required visas; all children not traveling with both parents may be required to have a Letter of Consent signed by both parents.)
You must call AA on the phone to add a lap infant to an existing reservation, and will need to pay the fare at that time. The lab infant and fare WILL appear in the online reservation and receipt.
Travelers with a lap infant may NOT check in online for international flights and must check in at the airport.
NOTE: AA will not generally block a complimentary spare seat to be used by an infant or lap child. If seats are available at the airport, it might be possible to be assigned seating to include an adjacent empty seat if the flight will depart with sufficient empty seats.
Bassinets: These are portable, not bulkhead fastened, floor bassinet boxes. Not all aircraft may offer these, and generally are restricted to bulkhead seats.
See the bassinet thread here."]here.
See more here on aa.com.
For AA policies on required documentation for children, see here.
and
This thread regarding the use - and prohibition, on some aircraft - child safety seats.
For older threads on this topic, see:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-upgrades.html 2010-2015
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...paid-fare.html (2008)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...it-my-lap.html (2006)
dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...paid-fare.html (2008)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...it-my-lap.html (2006)
dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator
Guide: Infant / lap child fares & fees for AA travel, including award & upgrades
Jan 22, 2019, 11:45 pm
#256
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
I am planning a trip of ORD-CUN with an infant. Will adding a lap child to my ticket impact my chance of upgrade (I am a Plat Pro)? Or shall I wait until the 72hr window before I add the infant ticket (upgrade or not)?
I checked ITA, and it looks like the 10% for this route is actually a $0 base + tax in both economy and business, so does that mean even if I get upgraded, the infant ticket won't see a price hike?
TIA.
I checked ITA, and it looks like the 10% for this route is actually a $0 base + tax in both economy and business, so does that mean even if I get upgraded, the infant ticket won't see a price hike?
TIA.
I was Plat traveling with a no-status adult companion and the lap infant. It was under 500 miles so no stickers involved anyway.
Jan 23, 2019, 2:24 am
#257
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I am planning a trip of ORD-CUN with an infant. Will adding a lap child to my ticket impact my chance of upgrade (I am a Plat Pro)? Or shall I wait until the 72hr window before I add the infant ticket (upgrade or not)?
I checked ITA, and it looks like the 10% for this route is actually a $0 base + tax in both economy and business, so does that mean even if I get upgraded, the infant ticket won't see a price hike?
TIA.
I checked ITA, and it looks like the 10% for this route is actually a $0 base + tax in both economy and business, so does that mean even if I get upgraded, the infant ticket won't see a price hike?
TIA.
There is generally no lap child ticket price based reason to wait to add the lap child for this kind of route; and my suggestion would be to get the lap child ticket for such route issued as soon as possible and well before going to the airport. Getting this lap child ticketing stuff done at the airport on day of departure is just a hassle way too often.
The times when adding a lap child to a ticketed booking may hurt with upgrades is when there are inadequate oxygen masks for the available row/seats in the premium cabin. But that isn’t a lap child ticket price issue. But it may be a reason to wait until upgrade clears to add the lap child to the booking.
Jan 23, 2019, 12:02 pm
#258
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
The times when adding a lap child to a ticketed booking may hurt with upgrades is when there are inadequate oxygen masks for the available row/seats in the premium cabin. But that isn’t a lap child ticket price issue. But it may be a reason to wait until upgrade clears to add the lap child to the booking.
(This is a genuine question; I don't know.)
Feb 3, 2019, 9:43 pm
#260
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Am I correct to assume that AA would be issuing the infant ticket when booking an AA award on QR? The agent claimed I needed to contact QR to issue the infant ticket. Does that sound correct / is there some special exception when it comes to awards on QR or did I just get a bad agent? (route would be IAD-DOH-HAN one-way in case it makes a difference)
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Feb 4, 2019, 7:11 am
#261
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
Am I correct to assume that AA would be issuing the infant ticket when booking an AA award on QR? The agent claimed I needed to contact QR to issue the infant ticket. Does that sound correct / is there some special exception when it comes to awards on QR or did I just get a bad agent? (route would be IAD-DOH-HAN one-way in case it makes a difference)
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Mar 19, 2019, 3:23 am
#263
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If you're asking about a lap-child inclusion in a ticketed reservation so as to check in fee-free items for a lap child that won't be on the flight and whether the airline will come back to you after the bag tags are issued and attached to the bag, what I will say is that I recall most such tags coming in the name of one of the seated passengers in the reservations.
Mar 19, 2019, 3:34 am
#264
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Am I correct to assume that AA would be issuing the infant ticket when booking an AA award on QR? The agent claimed I needed to contact QR to issue the infant ticket. Does that sound correct / is there some special exception when it comes to awards on QR or did I just get a bad agent? (route would be IAD-DOH-HAN one-way in case it makes a difference)
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
QR at IAD should be able to do much the same.
Apr 14, 2019, 10:32 am
#265
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Dublin
Programs: Aer Lingus, United, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar
Posts: 292
Infant LAP/SEAT
So I am asking here and a couple of the other airline forums so forgive the duplication. (AA/United/Delta)
I am looking at going to the US from Ireland with the wife and child.
Child is 1 year old so does qualify for the lap and bassinet. Small problem is that child is on the tall side. Thats my fault, I am 6'8" so he is a big boy for someone that is 13 months old.
If I book 2 adult tickets and infant on lap will I be restricted to just that or will I (a) get the bassinet or (b) be moved to a row of 3 subject to availability. I don't fancy being on the row of 2 not the AA A332 with a lap child for 7 hours. Booking a seat for an infant is only about €100 less than full fare.
I ask because Qatar have moved us to a row of 3 when we asked at the airport.
I am looking at going to the US from Ireland with the wife and child.
Child is 1 year old so does qualify for the lap and bassinet. Small problem is that child is on the tall side. Thats my fault, I am 6'8" so he is a big boy for someone that is 13 months old.
If I book 2 adult tickets and infant on lap will I be restricted to just that or will I (a) get the bassinet or (b) be moved to a row of 3 subject to availability. I don't fancy being on the row of 2 not the AA A332 with a lap child for 7 hours. Booking a seat for an infant is only about €100 less than full fare.
I ask because Qatar have moved us to a row of 3 when we asked at the airport.
Apr 14, 2019, 12:02 pm
#266
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
A paid lap child must be able to sit on an adult lap, or if a bassinet is available, there. As AA has had to cancel 115 (of 7,000) daily flights and we’re closer to high season, it may be (remotely, I suspect) possible three seats for two could be available upon check in at the airport or at the gate, but AA will certainly not book three seats for two adults and a lap child with the third seat gratis. (I doubt any airline would do this.)
I’d check Aer Lingus for availability - you might find a better fare. But no, I don’t think you’ll get three reserved seats together here, either. As you found with Qatar, you might get accommodated at the gate if there’s space available, but I’d not count on it.
I’d check Aer Lingus for availability - you might find a better fare. But no, I don’t think you’ll get three reserved seats together here, either. As you found with Qatar, you might get accommodated at the gate if there’s space available, but I’d not count on it.
May 7, 2019, 6:12 pm
#268
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
It’s a new upgrade strategy in which I ask to add the little EnPremieres to the highest elites on the list in hopes that even if I don’t clear, at least they will
May 8, 2019, 6:58 am
#269
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 68
Does anyone know if it is possible to pay for the ticket for an unborn infant?
Wife is due in September and want to go to the UK in December. Is it possible to pay the 10% now, when the prices are lower? Or will I need to wait until kiddo is born? Thanks
Wife is due in September and want to go to the UK in December. Is it possible to pay the 10% now, when the prices are lower? Or will I need to wait until kiddo is born? Thanks
May 8, 2019, 7:05 am
#270
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
You cannot book the ticket before the child is born