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
Jul 24, 2016, 4:38 pm
#76
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 731
I would do it ahead of time. The simplest way to add lap infants is to give name and DOB along with all relevant Record Locators to AA Twitter team. This will then allow you to do OLCI and save the headache of having to see an agent.
Jul 24, 2016, 6:25 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
We took our 1 year old on a single leg in-lap and were able to add the infant during booking. I just checked and you still can do it that way. I suggest for the future, if applicable, adding at the time of booking. Our children also have FFA's. When we book, the only thing we have to type in is those numbers and everything fills in from there. We did find it worth it to buy the extra seat @ about $313, although barely used. And traveling with all girls, we could use the extra 3 bags. When we go to Disney, the curbside check-in asks if we are moving to Orlando. hehehe
That is interesting about the Twitter method. What do you do? Just publicly tweet the record locator and personal information? I would be surprised they do that. Is the communication blocked from others seeing it?
That is interesting about the Twitter method. What do you do? Just publicly tweet the record locator and personal information? I would be surprised they do that. Is the communication blocked from others seeing it?
Jul 24, 2016, 7:57 pm
#78
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 731
We took our 1 year old on a single leg in-lap and were able to add the infant during booking. I just checked and you still can do it that way. I suggest for the future, if applicable, adding at the time of booking. Our children also have FFA's. When we book, the only thing we have to type in is those numbers and everything fills in from there. We did find it worth it to buy the extra seat @ about $313, although barely used. And traveling with all girls, we could use the extra 3 bags. When we go to Disney, the curbside check-in asks if we are moving to Orlando. hehehe
That is interesting about the Twitter method. What do you do? Just publicly tweet the record locator and personal information? I would be surprised they do that. Is the communication blocked from others seeing it?
That is interesting about the Twitter method. What do you do? Just publicly tweet the record locator and personal information? I would be surprised they do that. Is the communication blocked from others seeing it?
2. Only use Direct Messages (DM) on Twitter. I do not send any sensitive information like Record Locator or DOB via regular tweets. That being said, DM doesn't feel super safe either but I have used it for expediency.
Jul 24, 2016, 8:15 pm
#79
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
1. I think you can only add FF# if you are buying the infant a seat. Otherwise AA.com offers no way to add a lap infant online.
2. Only use Direct Messages (DM) on Twitter. I do not send any sensitive information like Record Locator or DOB via regular tweets. That being said, DM doesn't feel super safe either but I have used it for expediency.
2. Only use Direct Messages (DM) on Twitter. I do not send any sensitive information like Record Locator or DOB via regular tweets. That being said, DM doesn't feel super safe either but I have used it for expediency.
Thanks for the tip about Twitter. I do not have any interest in it, but maybe I will sign-up so I can communicate that way in the future. Sounds helpful.
Jul 24, 2016, 9:47 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/SFO & ORD
Programs: LT Gold/BA Executive Club/AS MP/Marriott
Posts: 1,646
I always called in advance for our twins when they were lap infants. IMO it made life a lot easier as their information was in the record.
I believe technically one doesn't need to call in advance however.
I believe technically one doesn't need to call in advance however.
Jul 25, 2016, 8:15 am
#81
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
1. I think you can only add FF# if you are buying the infant a seat. Otherwise AA.com offers no way to add a lap infant online.
2. Only use Direct Messages (DM) on Twitter. I do not send any sensitive information like Record Locator or DOB via regular tweets. That being said, DM doesn't feel super safe either but I have used it for expediency.
2. Only use Direct Messages (DM) on Twitter. I do not send any sensitive information like Record Locator or DOB via regular tweets. That being said, DM doesn't feel super safe either but I have used it for expediency.
Jul 25, 2016, 8:20 am
#82
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 544
TATL Infant Bassinets - which aircraft?
Does anyone have any experience on AA international flights with bassinets (ex-NYC)? Seems like most of their TATL flights don't have bassinets or its on airport request only. Which aircraft models have bassinets? Any tips much appreciated.
I know BA and the EU carriers are pretty decent at providing them.
I know BA and the EU carriers are pretty decent at providing them.
Jul 25, 2016, 8:53 am
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Dec 4, 2016, 5:38 pm
#84
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,135
AA award ticket on Cathay (and infant fare - to merge)
guys
after buying a business class award ticket on AA, can I then call Cathay directly to buy the lap infant fare? That's what an AA person told me.
In the case if I buy it directly from AA, the agent was unclear if I pay 10% of the current business class revenue ticket or 10% of the full fare. He said he didn't know till the reservation was fully booked which I wasn't willing to do yet
Thanks
after buying a business class award ticket on AA, can I then call Cathay directly to buy the lap infant fare? That's what an AA person told me.
In the case if I buy it directly from AA, the agent was unclear if I pay 10% of the current business class revenue ticket or 10% of the full fare. He said he didn't know till the reservation was fully booked which I wasn't willing to do yet
Thanks
Dec 4, 2016, 5:43 pm
#85
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
guys
after buying a business class award ticket on AA, can I then call Cathay directly to buy the lap infant fare? That's what an AA person told me.
In the case if I buy it directly from AA, the agent was unclear if I pay 10% of the current business class revenue ticket or 10% of the full fare. He said he didn't know till the reservation was fully booked which I wasn't willing to do yet
after buying a business class award ticket on AA, can I then call Cathay directly to buy the lap infant fare? That's what an AA person told me.
In the case if I buy it directly from AA, the agent was unclear if I pay 10% of the current business class revenue ticket or 10% of the full fare. He said he didn't know till the reservation was fully booked which I wasn't willing to do yet
Infant Fares - CX Prime or AA Codeshare Operated by CX
...The fare may be 25% of the adult fare rather than the 10% we normally see.
...The fare may be 25% of the adult fare rather than the 10% we normally see.
Dec 4, 2016, 6:18 pm
#87
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
Can you use AA miles for an infant ticket?
Looking at CX's lowest business class fare from LAX-HKG for example, the infant fare is 10% of the base fare , plus taxes
If purchased from AA, it will be 10% of the lowest fare that it can sell for travel on CX. Some discount fares may not be able to be sold by AA
If you go to CX for the ticket, you are likely to be directed back to AA to issue the associated infant ticket
Looking at CX's lowest business class fare from LAX-HKG for example, the infant fare is 10% of the base fare , plus taxes
If purchased from AA, it will be 10% of the lowest fare that it can sell for travel on CX. Some discount fares may not be able to be sold by AA
If you go to CX for the ticket, you are likely to be directed back to AA to issue the associated infant ticket
Dec 4, 2016, 6:22 pm
#88
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,135
Turns out it's $800 odd for a JFK-HKG flight which is better value than using 140k miles
I actually have my AA miles distributed amongst 2 accounts which sucks because I can't do everything on a single PNR which would help if I cancel as cancelation fees are lower. Any tricks to do a reservation on a single PNR but pull miles from 2 accounts?
Thx
I actually have my AA miles distributed amongst 2 accounts which sucks because I can't do everything on a single PNR which would help if I cancel as cancelation fees are lower. Any tricks to do a reservation on a single PNR but pull miles from 2 accounts?
Thx
Jan 24, 2017, 12:39 pm
#90
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Greenwich, CT
Programs: Amex Plat, Bonvoy Titanium, Jelly of the month club
Posts: 116
Using SWUs for J to F
I booked a package through AAVacations in Business from JFK to LHR with a lap infant. I called the EXP line to apply SWUs for my wife and I for the outbound and was given a figure of $700 EXTRA for the lap infant. I understand its 10% of the fare, but this would be 10% of the current roundtrip fare and ignore the 10% paid for the business fare.
Is that correct?
Is that correct?