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If you're traveling with a baby under age 2, you may already know they can fly domestically for free as a lap infant. However, flying with a lap infant on international award tickets isn't quite as straightforward.
You might assume you can simply book an international award ticket and add your infant to the reservation. In reality, airlines apply a variety of fees, and those fees can vary wildly by program. Understanding the pricing structure before booking could save you a significant amount of points or cash.
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Types of Airline Lap Infant Award Ticket Policies
Generally, airline policies fall into one of the following:
- X% of the miles redeemed plus taxes and fees
- X% of the adult revenue ticket price for the cabin you're flying, plus taxes and fees
- A flat rate of cash or miles
- Only taxes and fees
As an award traveler, paying only taxes and fees is ideal, but this policy is generally limited to domestic U.S. flights. The best realistic policy for international flights is either a low flat rate of points or miles (e.g., 1,000 points) or a small percentage of the mileage requirement (e.g., 10% of the adult mileage fare).
Programs that charge a percentage of the cash fare tend to be less predictable. Some airlines calculate this based on the lowest available fare, others use the full fare, and some base it on the ticket you would have purchased if paying cash. If you book a first-class award that retails for $20,000, your infant’s ticket could cost $2,000 — without a seat. That can make or break your trip budget!
With two young children of my own, I've experienced the full spectrum of ticketing experiences. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised by how little I have to pay for my lap child. Other times, I'm second-guessing my award with what the airline is trying to charge me.
If you run into inconsistent quotes, it can help to use a “hang up and call again” strategy to confirm pricing.
Rest assured, with a little premeditated planning, there are ways to avoid this and secure better deals.
One of those hacks isn't booking an economy ticket for your baby and still planning to hold him or her in business class. Your child must be ticketed in the same cabin as you or the accompanying adult.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Travel Purchases
Best Airline Programs for International Lap Infant Award Tickets
British Airways Executive Club
We rarely recommend redeeming Avios to fly on British Airways metal, due to the astronomical fuel surcharges on flights to and from London. However, Avios can be incredibly valuable when used with Oneworld partners.
For lap infants, British Airways charges 10% of the adult mileage price, plus around 10% of taxes and fees.
The airline also has a helpful policy for children turning 2 during travel:
“If you're traveling with an infant who reaches the age of 2 during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday. We won’t charge you extra for this; you'll only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.”
In many cases, you can add a lap infant during the booking process online, though some itineraries may require calling British Airways.
One such situation: If your child turns two during the trip. In this case, One Mile at a Time notes that the airline won't charge you anything to book their seat for the return flight!
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is another program to consider leveraging partners (like Delta) when redeeming miles.
Lap infant pricing is straightforward and charged per segment:
- 1,000 miles per sector plus taxes and fees for Economy
- 2,500 miles per sector plus taxes and fees for Premium Economy
- 5,000 miles per sector plus taxes and fees for Upper Class
What makes this even more wonderful is that you can book an infant ticket online alongside the adult ticket. When searching, you’ll see pricing update automatically to reflect the added infant — no phone call required.
The total cost for both the adult and lap infant together:
Air Canada Aeroplan
When you book award tickets with Air Canada Aeroplan points, infants are welcome in all cabins for either a flat cash fee or a mileage fee. This is outstanding, given Air Canada's membership in Star Alliance and its transfer partnerships with Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Bilt Rewards.
- Within Canada or between Canada and the U.S.: Free lap infant
- All other routes: 2,500 points or 25 CAD (~US$19) per direction
You can add an infant to your award booking online.
Asiana Club
Asiana Club is often overlooked but offers strong value. For flights operated by Asiana Airlines, lap infants don’t require additional miles on award tickets, while children ages 2 to 11 require just 75% of the adult mileage.
However, this policy only applies to Asiana-operated flights. On partner awards, lap infants are typically issued a separate ticket priced at around 10% of the adult cash fare, plus taxes and fees, rather than following the mileage-based pricing.
The best ways to accrue Asiana miles are flying on Star Alliance partners, transferring Marriott Bonvoy points, or applying for the .
ANA (All Nippon Airways) Mileage Club
ANA isn't a very well-known frequent flyer program, but Mileage Club is incredibly popular with folks who like to maximize the value of their miles.
Lap infants cost 10% of the miles required for the adult award ticket, making this another strong option for international travel.
United MileagePlus
United Airlines offers a more predictable approach to lap infant pricing, though costs can still vary depending on your route.
- Within the U.S.: Taxes and fees only
- Between the U.S. and Canada/Mexico: Taxes and fees only
- Other international routes: Lap infant fares range from $20 to $250 plus taxes, depending on the route and cabin of service
The cap is especially helpful for premium cabin bookings that would otherwise be expensive.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
For flights operated by Turkish Airlines, you'll pay just 10% of an adult's award price to bring a lap infant, plus taxes and fees.
Miles&Smiles miles can be earned through transfers from Bilt, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
Air France (Flying Blue)
Air France charges 10% of the adult cash fare plus taxes and fees. Depending on the fare, this can be expensive. That said, I paid just $227 for my daughter’s premium economy ticket from Phoenix to Paris — not unreasonable.
Another spot: Children ages 2–11 receive a 25% discount on award tickets through Flying Blue.
Worst Programs for International Lap Infant Award Tickets
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Despite Cathay Pacific offering solid award charts, it's an incredibly expensive program for lap infant fees.
Those fees are particularly hefty for flights originating from or ending within the U.S. These will set you back 25% of the adult revenue ticket plus taxes and fees.
For all international flights not touching the U.S., the fee is 10% of the adult cash rate plus taxes and fees.
LATAM
LATAM used to offer no discounts on infant award tickets. Now, you can book lap children at 10% of the revenue fare, and you must reserve your infant's ticket during the initial booking process.
Domestic flights are free for lap children, though Peru and Ecuador will charge taxes. Interestingly, flights departing from Mexico on LATAM are also free.
Related: Do LATAM Pass Miles and LATAM Pass Points Expire?
Emirates
Emirates Airlines famously changed its policies on first-class awards, banning children under 9 from flying in the cabin. You'll also need Emirates elite status to make that booking.
For business- and economy-class travel, lap infants cost 10% of the adult mileage price. However, infant award tickets are limited to economy class.
Related: How To Create a Travel Rewards Credit Card Strategy for Families
Best Cards to Use to Pay Lap Infant Fees
Lap infant fees are one of those frustrating travel costs — especially when they’re tied to a percentage of a premium cabin fare. The good news? In many cases, you can offset (or even erase) these charges with the right credit card.
Here are a few of the best strategies to keep your out-of-pocket costs low.
Cards with travel credits
Cards that offer broad, easy-to-use travel credits are often the best fit for lap infant fees — especially since the charge should code as airfare:
- American Express Platinum Card® — Offers up to $200 in airline incidental credits per year (on a selected airline).
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Offers a $300 annual travel credit that automatically applies to airfare purchases, including many infant ticket charges.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Offers up to $200 in airline flight credits annually.
If your lap infant fee posts as an airline charge (which it usually does), these credits or statement redemptions can directly offset the cost.
$895Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
$795Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
$550Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly through select rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card
Cards that earn bonus points on airfare
If you can’t offset the fee directly, you can at least earn a solid return on the purchase:
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Earns 7X points on purchases of flights booked directly with airlines
- American Express Platinum Card® — Earns 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Earns 4x points on flights booked directly
- American Express® Gold Card — Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines
- Citi Strata Premier® Card — Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel
$325Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
$95Rates & Fees
- 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations
- 1X – Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
Final Thoughts
If you've got a little one that you plan to take with you on your travels, a bit of research could save you thousands of dollars (or miles). Remember, the price you pay depends on the program you use the miles in, NOT the airline you fly.
Does anyone have a success or horror story to share? If so, we'd love to hear about it.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees)
