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 24, 2017, 12:40 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
Yes, unfortunately. I used SWU for my wife (with lap infant) LHR-DFW back in June and it was less than that, but still around $400.
Mar 8, 2017, 9:45 am
#92
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA BA CO DL UA US
Posts: 815
AAnytime Award Seats - infant and seat block?
I'll be traveling next month on A321 using AAnytime award seats. I have booked a window and an aisle for my wife and kid (A and C). I booked an aisle for myself (D). A couple of weeks later, I decided to book a window seat for my infant(F). Just before booking, I saw the window open (F) and middle seat open(E). Agent asked if I want B or E instead, as there is no guarantee that no one will seat there. After the ticketing, I saw that E is gone. There are plenty of aisle and window seats available. Just curious, does AA block the seat seat on the middle of an adult and infant if on AAnytime award?
Last edited by opus2002; Mar 8, 2017 at 9:56 am
Mar 8, 2017, 10:58 am
#93
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EP, UA Gold-MM, UA 1K (former), GS (former),SPG LT Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,299
I'll be traveling next month on A321 using AAnytime award seats. I have booked a window and an aisle for my wife and kid (A and C). I booked an aisle for myself (D). A couple of weeks later, I decided to book a window seat for my infant(F). Just before booking, I saw the window open (F) and middle seat open(E). Agent asked if I want B or E instead, as there is no guarantee that no one will seat there. After the ticketing, I saw that E is gone. There are plenty of aisle and window seats available. Just curious, does AA block the seat seat on the middle of an adult and infant if on AAnytime award?
Most people on this site usually complain that they were separated from their child because of equipment change or two seats together weren't available. In this situation you voluntarily separated yourself. If you keep this seating arrangement and the middle does end up being taken just offer the middle person either the aisle or window seat - most likely they will be happy to not be in a middle and agree to the seat change.
Last edited by neo_781; Mar 8, 2017 at 11:06 am
Mar 8, 2017, 1:22 pm
#94
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: HND
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 1,230
This is a data point to an observation that I have had in the past -- there is definitely some sort of adjacent seat blocking that goes on when you have an infant on a reservation. I'm not sure if the fare class or status matter (I'm EXP). I also don't think it's by any means guaranteed and certainly not published but I've spent enough time testing various seat assignments to believe it myself.
Mar 8, 2017, 1:39 pm
#95
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AA PLT, WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 251
I've also seen this infant seat block. It occurred a few times when I was EXP on award and paid seats.
In one particular instance I picked seats similar to the OP trying to get extra space with open middle seats. Later I was looking at the seat map and noticed that my middle was occupied, but that one row back it was open. I switched all my seats back a row. I looked at the seat map after this and now that middle was taken. Not only did someone at AA block the seat (without telling me), but the blocked seat moved with me!
In one particular instance I picked seats similar to the OP trying to get extra space with open middle seats. Later I was looking at the seat map and noticed that my middle was occupied, but that one row back it was open. I switched all my seats back a row. I looked at the seat map after this and now that middle was taken. Not only did someone at AA block the seat (without telling me), but the blocked seat moved with me!
Mar 8, 2017, 2:47 pm
#96
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA BA CO DL UA US
Posts: 815
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
One additional data point:
I have the same exact configuration (seats A C D F with infant on window) on the outbound flight but using saver award ticket instead of AAnytime. Middle seats (B and E) weren't block off. I don't have any status with AA.
One additional data point:
I have the same exact configuration (seats A C D F with infant on window) on the outbound flight but using saver award ticket instead of AAnytime. Middle seats (B and E) weren't block off. I don't have any status with AA.
Mar 9, 2017, 5:45 am
#98
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 31
By blocked does that mean it will never be assigned? Or it will be assigned if the flight is full?
Mar 9, 2017, 9:05 am
#99
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
In this situation you voluntarily separated yourself. If you keep this seating arrangement and the middle does end up being taken just offer the middle person either the aisle or window seat - most likely they will be happy to not be in a middle and agree to the seat change.
Mar 17, 2017, 1:05 pm
#100
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
Does anyone have recent experience with waitlisted SWUs and infant tickets? Particularly interested in finding out if the infant ticket caused issues with the SWU clearing, or if the infant ticket was repriced when the adult tickets were reissued (I expect it to, but interested in what has actually occurred).
Mar 17, 2017, 2:44 pm
#101
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
Does anyone have recent experience with waitlisted SWUs and infant tickets? Particularly interested in finding out if the infant ticket caused issues with the SWU clearing, or if the infant ticket was repriced when the adult tickets were reissued (I expect it to, but interested in what has actually occurred).
Mar 19, 2017, 7:30 am
#102
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
Mar 19, 2017, 2:46 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,047
Shouldn't have paid more tax. It sounds like the agent mistakenly charged you the LHR luxury tax even though you were just connecting. Agent don't always know that it doesn't apply if just connecting.
Apr 9, 2017, 9:25 am
#104
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP 3MM
Posts: 1,773
APD doesn't apply to children under two years old, and never has. Therefore, I would think it unlikely it was accidently charged for a connection. Also it's not whether the agent knows about the eligibility for taxes as it gets send to the rate desk for pricing, and I've never seen it applied for a connection. The rate desk also seems to get obscure exceptions correct (e.g. Highlands and Islands), so I would be very surprised if they charged for a connection to someone under two.
Last edited by beerup; Apr 9, 2017 at 10:50 am Reason: typo
Apr 9, 2017, 9:31 am
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,047
APD doesn't apply to children under two years old, and never has. Therefore, I would think it unlikely it was accidently charged for a connection. Also it's not whether the agent knows about the eligibility for taxes as it gets send to the rate desk for pricing, and I've never seen it applied for a connection. The rate guess also seems to get obscure exceptions correct (e.g. Highlands and Islands), so I would be very surprised if they charged for a connection to someone under two.
APD can be manually added/removed by an agent. I've had them charge it when it doesn't apply and not charge it when it does.