If you plan to travel by air with your baby, you may choose to hold her on your lap during the flight, saving the expense of purchasing a separate seat. According to the guidelines of four major U.S. airlines (Northwest, American, United and Continental), infants must be under the age of 2 to be eligible. This option applies to domestic travel only (within the continental U.S. or to Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands). When traveling internationally, you must purchase a separate ticket for your little one.
Choose your airline and decide whether you will book online, by phone or through a travel agent.
Select your itinerary: departure and destination cities, travel dates and times.
Provide passenger details, including name and contact information for each traveler occupying a separate seat.
Supply a payment method and choose electronic or paper tickets, if applicable. If booking online, call the airline after your reservations are complete to inform them that you'll be traveling with an infant. If booking by phone, simply inform the customer service representative.
Follow steps 1 through 3 above. If booking online, click the "Advanced Search" option and select the age range of those traveling with you, specifically "Infant in reserved seat."
Supply payment method and confirm your reservation.
Bring an FAA-approved car seat on the plane to make sure your baby is secure during the flight.
