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
Jun 9, 2016, 8:10 pm
#61
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
If they messed up and you get surprised at the airport when departing it will be walk up F fares as the basis (although admittedly I dont know what JAL and CX policies are...)
Id have my travel agent look into the records and make sure the infant has a proper ticket for all legs. I recognize the tension between 'check and make sure' and 'dont look a gift horse in the mouth'
Jun 10, 2016, 7:31 am
#62
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 175
Have you flown that yet?
If they messed up and you get surprised at the airport when departing it will be walk up F fares as the basis (although admittedly I dont know what JAL and CX policies are...)
Id have my travel agent look into the records and make sure the infant has a proper ticket for all legs. I recognize the tension between 'check and make sure' and 'dont look a gift horse in the mouth'
If they messed up and you get surprised at the airport when departing it will be walk up F fares as the basis (although admittedly I dont know what JAL and CX policies are...)
Id have my travel agent look into the records and make sure the infant has a proper ticket for all legs. I recognize the tension between 'check and make sure' and 'dont look a gift horse in the mouth'
Jun 10, 2016, 8:24 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 38
Hey guys,
I did have a pretty sour experience recently. I bought reward tickets for wife and I to go to Europe this summer with our 6 month old son. Now, when I bought the tickets, I did not completely think through it and bought 3 one way tickets. In my defense, I was essentially looking to lock in those legs that had availability. We ended booking MIA-HEL as there was a good reward availability. then I got HEL-CDG and finally got CDG-MIA. Well... that turned out as a terrible move when I called to buy the infant fare. These one way international are ridiculous, including $1,700 HEL-CDG (really???). So I'm stuck paying 10% of all these fares... That's like 400 + 170 + 300... to sit on my laps. AA swore to me that they could not consolidate the awards under one record locator, that would have made it like 300 at most... Anyway, lesson learned.
I did have a pretty sour experience recently. I bought reward tickets for wife and I to go to Europe this summer with our 6 month old son. Now, when I bought the tickets, I did not completely think through it and bought 3 one way tickets. In my defense, I was essentially looking to lock in those legs that had availability. We ended booking MIA-HEL as there was a good reward availability. then I got HEL-CDG and finally got CDG-MIA. Well... that turned out as a terrible move when I called to buy the infant fare. These one way international are ridiculous, including $1,700 HEL-CDG (really???). So I'm stuck paying 10% of all these fares... That's like 400 + 170 + 300... to sit on my laps. AA swore to me that they could not consolidate the awards under one record locator, that would have made it like 300 at most... Anyway, lesson learned.
Jun 22, 2016, 9:21 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA Plat, DL GM, Avis First, Sixt Plat
Posts: 149
Upgraded lap infant fee process
Hi guys,
I'm taking my 13-month old son on a 9+ hour flight, so I'm considering buying coach and then using eVIPs to go to biz. I know they charge 10% of the fare for the class you fly in, but I couldn't find anything about the process and how often they really do charge extra for it.
Is it an automated system that kicks in as soon as your upgrade goes through? If not, what are your experiences with it?
Thanks!
I'm taking my 13-month old son on a 9+ hour flight, so I'm considering buying coach and then using eVIPs to go to biz. I know they charge 10% of the fare for the class you fly in, but I couldn't find anything about the process and how often they really do charge extra for it.
Is it an automated system that kicks in as soon as your upgrade goes through? If not, what are your experiences with it?
Thanks!
Jun 22, 2016, 9:28 pm
#65
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,597
Once you are upgraded, you will need to change the infant ticket to a business class ticket in order to travel
Will need to pay the difference between amount paid already and the current price for an infant on the route being flown
I do not believe that AA will automatically rebook and charge the infant fare
I would suggest checking what the extra cost will be for the infant before committing to an SWU upgrade to avoid an unpleasant surprise
Will need to pay the difference between amount paid already and the current price for an infant on the route being flown
I do not believe that AA will automatically rebook and charge the infant fare
I would suggest checking what the extra cost will be for the infant before committing to an SWU upgrade to avoid an unpleasant surprise
Jun 22, 2016, 10:12 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
I'm taking my 13-month old son on a 9+ hour flight, so I'm considering buying coach and then using eVIPs to go to biz. I know they charge 10% of the fare for the class you fly in, but I couldn't find anything about the process and how often they really do charge extra for it.
Jun 24, 2016, 1:44 am
#68
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 18
I have an award on CX using AA miles in J. Layover in HKG is more than 9 hours, I'm hoping something in J will open up in earlier flight as it closer by.
My question is should I wait till last minute to add lap infant in case things open up in earlier flight from HKG or add lap infant now and if something opens up in earlier flight cancel lap infant and re-ticket it? Not sure what the cancellation policy of lap infant is.
My question is should I wait till last minute to add lap infant in case things open up in earlier flight from HKG or add lap infant now and if something opens up in earlier flight cancel lap infant and re-ticket it? Not sure what the cancellation policy of lap infant is.
Jun 24, 2016, 1:49 am
#69
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,597
I have an award on CX using AA miles in J. Layover in HKG is more than 9 hours, I'm hoping something in J will open up in earlier flight as it closer by.
My question is should I wait till last minute to add lap infant in case things open up in earlier flight from HKG or add lap infant now and if something opens up in earlier flight cancel lap infant and re-ticket it? Not sure what the cancellation policy of lap infant is.
My question is should I wait till last minute to add lap infant in case things open up in earlier flight from HKG or add lap infant now and if something opens up in earlier flight cancel lap infant and re-ticket it? Not sure what the cancellation policy of lap infant is.
Jun 25, 2016, 1:55 am
#70
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
I have an award on CX using AA miles in J. Layover in HKG is more than 9 hours, I'm hoping something in J will open up in earlier flight as it closer by.
My question is should I wait till last minute to add lap infant in case things open up in earlier flight from HKG or add lap infant now and if something opens up in earlier flight cancel lap infant and re-ticket it? Not sure what the cancellation policy of lap infant is.
My question is should I wait till last minute to add lap infant in case things open up in earlier flight from HKG or add lap infant now and if something opens up in earlier flight cancel lap infant and re-ticket it? Not sure what the cancellation policy of lap infant is.
Jul 7, 2016, 3:24 pm
#72
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
J/K. I doubt you'll be able to swing this.
Jul 7, 2016, 4:06 pm
#73
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863
I thought it was a long shot, but I called the exp desk and the agent said it would be fine and noted it in the record.
Jul 8, 2016, 9:20 am
#74
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
Single itinerary with 6 hours in JFK. Hopefully enough time to get the kids settled by relatives, or at least find a good hiding spot for them in the AC 😀
I thought it was a long shot, but I called the exp desk and the agent said it would be fine and noted it in the record.
I thought it was a long shot, but I called the exp desk and the agent said it would be fine and noted it in the record.
Jul 24, 2016, 4:35 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA - 1K, Marriott - Gold, Hilton - Gold, Global Entry,
Posts: 633
Do I need to add lap infant to reservation ahead of time for domestic flight?
I have a couple of domestic flights next month with a lap infant. Do I need to call in and add him to the reservation ahead of time or do I just do it at check-in at airport?