Infant Air Travel

We're here to take you and your family wherever you need to go. Infants or children under 2 years of age can travel on the lap of an adult for free (within the United States) or at a reduced fare (for international travel). You also may purchase a ticket and use the child's own seat on the aircraft as long as it meets the FAA-approved child safety seat specifications or use a CARES harness. Our step-by-step guide explains how to easily add a lap-held infant (Infant-in-Arms) to your ticket yourself.

Due to FAA safety requirements, 1 adult passenger may only carry 1 lap-held infant. If an adult passenger is traveling with 2 infants, a seat must be purchased for the additional infant. Infants occupying a seat on domestic flights require a ticket and pay the applicable fare.

Pregnant Passengers

At Delta, we don’t impose restrictions on flying if you’re pregnant and don’t require a medical certificate for your travel. If you're traveling after your eighth month, it's a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure travel is not restricted. Keep in mind, ticket change fees and penalties cannot be waived for pregnancy.

Child & Infant Age Restrictions

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Age at Time of Travel Travel Permitted / Not Permitted
Under 7 Days (Newborn) May not travel unless accompanied by an approval letter from a physician who has physically examined the baby that gives permission for the newborn to fly.
0-2 Years May travel with a parent, legal guardian or adult over 18 years old in the lap of an adult (Infant-in-Arms) or an FAA-approved safety seat.

Infant-in-Arms or Child in Safety Seat

When you travel with a child under 2 years old, you may choose to travel with the child on your lap (Infant-in-Arms) or travel with your child in an FAA-approved child safety seat. To use a FAA-approved safety seat, you must purchase a ticket for your child so they have a reserved seat.

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  Travel Within the U.S. International
Infant-In-Arms (Child in Lap) Free within the United States, must add infant or child (under 2 years of age) to your ticket Generally 10% of adult fare + international taxes or fees, must notify Delta Reservations so we can list your child on ticket 
Seated (Child in Separate Seat) Must pay for adult fare ticket and bring FAA-approved child safety seat for child Must pay for adult fare ticket and bring FAA-approved child safety seat for child

YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR YOUR CHILD IF YOU:

  • Have a child that is 2 years old or older
  • Have a child that turns 2 during the trip
  • Prefer the child sit in a seat with an FAA-approved child safety seat
  • Already have a child that will be sitting in your lap, regardless of age
  • Want your child to earn miles for their SkyMiles account
  • Will be traveling between countries, regardless of whether or not the child occupies a seat

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Child Safety Seat Guidelines

If you decide to use a child safety seat aboard the airplane and purchase a ticket for your child, there are a few restrictions and guidelines you'll need to follow.

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The window seat is the preferred location for an approved child safety seat (child restraint system or car seat). Other locations may be acceptable provided the seat is not installed between other passengers and the aisle. An accompanying adult must sit next to the child. More than one car seat may be in use in the same row and section of seats. Per FAA regulations, children under 2 years of age are not allowed to sit in a seat equipped with an airbag seat belt.

When using a child safety seat, don’t select seats in the following areas: 

  • Aisle seats
  • Emergency exit rows
  • Bulkhead seats when the safety seat is a combination car seat and stroller
  • Flatbed seats in the Delta One™ area of the following aircraft: Airbus A330-200 or A330-300 aircraft*

*Child Safety Seats are not permitted in this area since the airbag seat belt cannot be deactivated.

 

An adult (18 years or older) may hold an infant (Infant-in-Arms) or place the infant in a FAA-approved child restraint in their seat during takeoff and landing. Booster-type car seats are not permitted for use during taxi, takeoff and landing.

Delta flight attendants will check with accompanying adults to ensure that children are properly secured in their safety seats and in the aircraft seat. The accompanying adult, however, has the following responsibilities when using a child restraint during takeoff and landing:

  • Ensure that the child restraint seat meets FAA guidelines
  • Ensure that the child restraint seat functions properly and is free of obvious defects
  • Secure the child according to the manufacturer's instructions
  • Ensure the child does not exceed the restraint's weight limit
  • Ensure the child restraint is secured to the aircraft seat using the aircraft seat's safety belt

All child safety seats or restraints include labeling that indicates their compliance with safety requirements. Restraints that meet the qualifications and labeling are approved for use on Delta flights.

Restraints manufactured within the U.S. after 2/25/85 with the following labels:

  • Conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle standards
  • Is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft

Restraints manufactured within the U.S. between 1/1/81 and 2/25/85 with the following label:

  • Conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle standards

Restraints manufactured outside the U.S. with the following labels:

  • Has the approval of a foreign government
  • Was manufactured under standards of the United Nations

Restraints that are not permitted:

  • Booster seats, even if they bear labels indicating they meet U.S., UN or foreign government standards
  • Vest and harness-type child restraint devices other than the FAA-approved CARES restraint device

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Bassinets or SkyCots

For some of our smallest passengers on some international flights, we offer onboard baby bassinets. They're ideal for babies weighing up to 20 lbs. (9 kg) and up to 26 inches (66 cm) long.

  • Onboard bassinets, also known as SkyCots, are available free of charge for passengers in select seats on equipped aircraft for some international flights
  • SkyCots can be requested by contacting Reservations before arriving at the airport and then speaking with the gate agent at the boarding gate, but cannot be guaranteed due to a limit of two SkyCots per aircraft and weight restrictions
  • Please note that all infants must be held during takeoff, landing and whenever the seat belt light is on

Additional Infant Travel Information

For children under the age of two, we recommend you purchase a seat on the aircraft and use an approved child safety seat. Here are some other helpful tips for traveling with your infant or toddler:

Breastfeeding

Delta fully supports a woman's right to breastfeed on board Delta and Delta Connection aircraft and in Delta facilities. Breast pumps are allowed on board. At the airport and if you prefer, many airports do offer private lactation rooms or spaces. Ask a Delta associate if you need assistance locating one at an airport.

Booking Your Trip

When traveling with an infant or toddler, you may find it helpful to allow a little extra time between flights to take rest or bathroom breaks along the way. Our Airport maps can help you plan your layovers before you even reach the airport.

International Flights

If your travel destination requires a passport and/or travel visas, you will need a passport for your child, and possibly extra documentation. To review required documentation in each country you're visiting or stopping over in, visit the U.S. Department of State's Special Requirements for Children, opens in a new window, opens in a new window.

Infant Baggage

Review our Infant & Children's Items guidelines for specific details on carry-on items, including child restraint seats, strollers and diaper bags. During security check in, the TSA will usually make a special provision for items like medications, breast milk and baby formula. Check out the Traveling with Kids section of the TSA website, opens in a new window, opens in a new window for information and helpful videos about travel with infants and carry-on baggage restrictions.