Air tickets for children. Discounts on air tickets for children Air tickets for children up to 12
Traveling by plane with children is a bit of a challenge for parents. But this is not an extreme adventure, but an ordinary civilized event. Moreover, various airlines are trying to help with discounts on children's air tickets, special meals and other services on board the aircraft.
Especially for those who are going on a flight with a child, we have collected all the most basic and important things.
Child's age
Some airlines distinguish three categories of passengers for whom children's air tickets are possible:
- A baby, or infant, is a child under 2 years old
- Child, or child - children 2-12 years old
- Adult - up to 18 years old
Discounts for children on air tickets
Each airline decides how much a child’s air ticket ultimately costs in its own way. However, there are some rules for setting the price of a children's air ticket. A child under 2 years old is considered an infant and has the right to fly with a 90% discount. Often airlines provide the right to a free air ticket for children who travel in the arms of their mother. In this case, you still need to issue a ticket. It will receive “zero” status, and you will not pay anything for it.
For children from 2 to 12 years old, the ticket price usually increases to 50 percent of the fare, and sometimes up to 70%. And then - adult rules: a separate seat for the flight and the same amount of luggage - 20 kilograms.
Adults under 18 years of age receive regular ticket prices, a separate seat, and the normal baggage allowance. With only one difference: the presence of accompanying documents. A teenager needs a notarized document stating that he is flying with one of his parents. If he travels without adults, such paper is needed from both parents.
You can easily find air tickets for children and adults on the website. In the flight ticket search form, you indicate the number of people who will be flying. And click the “find” button. In the “number of passengers” column you write the number and age of your children. After searching, you will see the total cost of all tickets, including air tickets for children. A few seconds after you click the “buy” button, you will find yourself on the Aviasales partner website. Here your tickets will need to be booked and paid for. You will need to enter all passengers. For example, you were looking for a ticket for two adults and one infant. On the partner’s website you will need to enter the details of two adults and a child. And - that's it: the tickets are already at your disposal. There is a very important point. You took advantage of a discount for children on air tickets, and during the trip the child moved from one category to another. Most likely, the rules for return tickets will also change. Each airline handles this differently. Sometimes you can use the most profitable method, sometimes you will have to issue a ticket under different conditions.
Also, most air carriers prohibit passengers under seven days of age from boarding unless there is an essential reason.
Additional services from airlines for passengers with children
In addition to a child's air ticket, you can receive additional services and bonuses from airlines on board the plane.
Let's start with the fact that if your baby is under two years old, he must be provided with a cradle. At the same time, you have the opportunity to purchase an additional child seat and get a separate seat if you need it.
For example, Aeroflot gives special kits to children on every flight lasting longer than three hours. Children under 2 years old are given what they need during the flight: bib, bottle, diaper, napkins. For older children, they are given sets for an interesting pastime with coloring books, markers, puzzles and other board games. The longer a passenger with a child ticket flies, the more items are included in his package.
In addition to discounts on air tickets for children, Swiss airline gives little passengers coloring books, puzzles, toy books, and mosaics. The child will also be able to watch cartoons on board the plane.
Air France also provides games and gifts for children to play with during the flight.
If you are flying with connections, each arrival point has special play areas or mother and baby rooms where transit passengers can relax and freshen up.
On board Lufthanza aircraft, the child will be able to watch a children's entertainment channel and receive a set of markers, coloring books and toys.
It is important for parents to remember that the main thing is not how much a child’s air ticket costs, but attention to your child during the flight. Try to prepare your baby for air travel in advance, tell him about the exciting adventure ahead, take his favorite toys and essentials with you. Then your flight and the flight of other passengers will take place in harmony and tranquility.
In this article, we will debunk the myths, misunderstandings and misconceptions associated with transporting children on an airplane. Using the example of Russia's two largest airlines, we will give answers to the questions that passengers ask online.
Up to what age can I buy a child ticket?
A child ticket can be purchased for a child under 12 years old. In some cases, to purchase such a ticket you need to call the carrier’s call center.
If your child is between 0 and 2 years old, they are considered an infant. The ticket can be purchased either without providing a seat or by reserving an adjacent seat for a child.
Children from 2 to 12 years old can buy a ticket only with a separate seat.
To ensure that your child stays next to you during the flight, Aeroflot recommends informing about the transportation of a minor in advance to secure a seat.
If you are flying with two or more children under 2 years old, the transportation rules change slightly.
For the first baby, you buy a ticket without a separate seat, i.e. he will be held in his arms. The second and third child must take tickets with a separate seat for each.
Accordingly, the cost of tickets for children will differ.
In accordance with the Federal Aviation Rules (hereinafter referred to as FAR), which are mandatory for all Russian airlines, the age of the child is determined as of the date of transportation from the point of departure (Section VIII, paragraph 103).
Example:
You are flying with your child to Barcelona for a week. At the time of departure to Spain he was still 11 years old. He will celebrate his birthday in the capital of Catalonia. At the time of returning to Russia, the child is already 12 full years old.
In this case, you must purchase two separate tickets. Children's Moscow - Barcelona and adults Barcelona - Moscow.
If at the time of departure the child is already 12 years old, he belongs to the “adult” category. He needs to buy a ticket on a general basis.
Important!
Because at the age of 12, a person does not yet have a passport; when issuing a ticket on a website, for example, S7 Airlines, select the document type “Other” and enter the birth certificate number in the field.
Cost of a child's plane ticket
Depending on the age of the child, the plane ticket will cost free or with significant discounts.
- A ticket for a child under 2 years old without a separate seat is issued free of charge when flying within Russia. When flying abroad, the discount will be 90% of the fare.
- A ticket for a child under 2 years old with a separate seat will cost up to 50% discount. In the absence of special conditions for using the tariff.
- Other children under 2 years of age traveling with an adult passenger are transported at a discount of up to 50% of the fare.
- Children from 2 to 12 years old are also transported with a discount of up to 50%. (FAP, paragraph 106)
Please keep in mind that on long flights the airline may require you to purchase a ticket for your child and provide a separate seat.
If you need to change the departure date (reschedule the flight), the child's ticket is reissued in accordance with the child's age on the (new) departure date.
We emphasize:
Despite the fact that a child under 2 years of age is transported without a separate seat free of charge, a ticket for him is required. Those. You cannot buy a ticket just for yourself and come to registration with your child. In this case, the airline will refuse to transport you, because... transportation rules will be violated.
Baggage per child
Free baggage allowances for children may vary depending on the airline.
In most airlines, a child traveling without a separate seat is assigned 10 kg of free baggage.
When purchasing a ticket with a separate seat, the free baggage allowance corresponds to the fare.
For example, in Aeroflot, this is:
- Without providing a seat: 1 piece weighing up to 10 kg and measuring no more than 115 cm with the sum of three dimensions.
- When a seat is provided, depending on the class of service and fare rules.
In addition to the free baggage allowance, airlines allow you to carry a stroller or bassinet for free. The stroller must not be in its original packaging.
Carrycot on an airplane for a child
If you need a cradle to transport your child, we recommend that you call the airline in advance and check whether the cradle is provided or can be secured on the plane.
S7 Airlines does not provide bassinets for small passengers.
Aeroflot airlines have the option of placing bassinets in the cabin.
As a rule, devices for attaching the cradle are located in the first rows, which have a solid partition.
At Aeroflot, such seats on the plane are only in business class cabins.
Accompanying a child on an airplane without parents
In accordance with the FAR (clause 104), a child from 2 to 12 years old can fly without parents under the supervision of the carrier. If such a service is provided by the airline.
There are several nuances here that the passenger needs to know.
For the most part, airlines offer the service “Transportation under the supervision of the airline” to children from 5 to 16 years old.
Registration of such a service for children under 12 years of age is mandatory. From 12 to 16 years old - at the discretion of parents or legal representatives.
Because This service requires the personal presence of a legal representative and filling out documents; you can buy a ticket for a child accompanied by an airline representative only at the representative offices of the carrier or its agents.
Some airlines charge a fee for this service. Depending on the direction, at Aeroflot the cost of escort is from 40 euros.
Important!
An adult must come to the airport with the child and go to the check-in counter. Stay at the airport until the plane departs.
Please also note that each airline has its own requirements for this service.
At S7 Airlines, children can fly without adults only on direct flights and only on flights under the airline code.
Aeroflot can accompany children on connecting flights and flights with transfers. In this case, parents need to pay for the child’s meals. The cost of meals for a connection of up to 3 hours or more is indicated on the airline’s official website.
How the support works:
After checking in for the flight, an airline employee escorts the child on board the ship, where he hands him over to the flight attendant. Parents are informed by contact phone number that the child is on the plane.
All the child’s documents are placed in the tablet (document pocket). When handing over a child to an airline employee, this tablet is placed around the child’s neck and remains there for the entire flight.
Upon arrival at the final destination, the flight attendant hands the child over to an airport employee. He hands the child over to the person meeting him.
If the person who is supposed to meet the child is not there and it is not possible to contact him, parents will be notified about this. If the situation cannot be resolved on the spot, the child will be sent back to the point of departure accompanied by an airline representative.
The person meeting the child at the arrival airport must have a photo ID.
What documents does a child need?
- Flights
- Completed forms and applications with details of accompanying and welcoming persons (full name, address, telephone number)
- Receipt for payment for the service (if it is paid)
- Child's birth certificate
- Identity card of the accompanying person
- For international flights: passport, visa and other documents for the country of destination
- Power of attorney for the departure of a child.
Important information for those sending a child abroad!
Before travelling, check with the embassy or consulate of your host country about whether your child is traveling without parents.
Some countries have legal restrictions on the movement of unaccompanied minors.
Restrictions may apply to hotel accommodation in the event of a missed connection or flight delay.
The airline may refuse transportation to countries with legal restrictions on the basis of FAR, paragraph 107.
Text: (c) Oleg Koloshin
Photos: AZAL, SWISS
Recently, social media users unanimously condemned the principled flight attendant of a famous low-cost airline, who forbade parents to place the baby in an empty seat. We won’t touch on the moral side of the situation, but formally the flight attendant is right! The baby on the plane is the same passenger, and he needs his own ticket to take a seat. Read about discounts on children's air tickets in the PRO Tourism review.
Discounts depend on two things – the age of the child during the flight and the airline’s policy. Low-cost airlines do not offer discounts for children due to low ticket prices. Other airlines: infants under 2 years old are transported at a discount of up to 90% or free of charge, and on tickets for children 2-12 years old they offer discounts from 10 to 70%.
Types of children's tickets
In the international “aviation” language there are two terms to refer to children’s air tickets:
- INF (from the word infant - baby) are babies under 2 years old traveling without their place in the arms of their parents and
- CHD (from English child - child) - children from 2 to 12 years old - they buy a child ticket with a seat provided.
Teenagers from 12 to 18 years old are entitled to an adult ticket. However, to fly independently, they will need notarized permission from both parents.
Five basic rules when buying air tickets for children
- A ticket for a child must always be issued, even if the child travels without a separate seat.
- A child's ticket is issued at the same time as an adult's, otherwise you will have to pay for re-issuance.
- Without a seat, one adult is allowed to transport only one child under 2 years old. The rest need to buy children's tickets with their own seat. The number of children over 2 years of age who can be accompanied by one adult is determined by the airline.
- If a child is not traveling on a plane with their parents, additional documents will be required.
- Call the air carrier in advance and find out the rules for flying with children: the requirements differ.
Discounts for infants under 2 years old
The biggest discounts on air tickets go to the youngest passengers - up to 2 years old. At this age, babies can travel in the arms of adults. Airlines (not low-cost airlines) offer tickets costing 10% of the fare for international flights, and on domestic routes they carry infants for free, provided that they do not occupy a separate seat.
In any case, you need to issue an air ticket for the child, it will just be “without money” or “zero”. You will not be checked in for your flight without an infant ticket.
A child's ticket must be issued at the same time as an adult's. If you have already made a reservation and then decide to add a baby to your ticket, you will be charged a fee for re-issuing or exchanging the ticket.
Keep in mind that for free (or with a large “infant” discount), one adult can carry only one child under two years old. If one parent is flying with one-year-old twins, then one child is bought a ticket without a seat (INF), and the other must fly with a separate seat, at a fare (CHD) for ages 2-12 years. These are the rules.
Discounts for children from 2 to 12 years old
There is no single discount for plane tickets for children of this age; each air carrier has its own policy. Passengers over 2 years old but under 12 years old are provided with separate seats, making child tickets less profitable for airlines.
For example, Aeroflot gives children 25% discounts - this is the most common practice. Reduced prices of 50-70% are available only from expensive carriers or when purchasing business tariffs. Airlines with “light” fares believe that 10% is enough. See below for data on Russian airlines.
How much does a plane ticket cost if a child is flying alone?
If the airline allows, you can send a child alone on a plane from the age of 5. To do this, you need to order an escort service no later than 48 hours before departure.
Even if a teenager can already cope on his own, under 12, and in some airlines up to 15 years of age, traveling unaccompanied is prohibited. In addition to the service, when flying independently, there are no discounts for a child - he flies at an adult fare.
Will the child turn 2 or 12 years old during the flight?
Let's look at this issue using the example of air tickets for a baby. (The same rules apply to tickets of a 12-year-old passenger switching from a child to an adult fare).
“However, during the journey the child could grow up!” We usually buy tickets in advance, and if at the time of booking your child is 1 year 10 months old, and on the day of the flight he will already be 2 years old, you need to buy a child CHD ticket, not an infant INF ticket.
If you are purchasing round-trip air tickets and your child will celebrate a birthday while on vacation, the decision here depends on the airline. Some allow you to book the entire flight at an infant fare. These include all Russian companies (nice!), as well as, for example, Alitalia, Malasia Airlines, Air Europa, Cyprus Airways and others.
Other airlines ask you to buy tickets at different rates: there - INF and back - CHD. These are Air Baltic, Emirates, Turkish Airlines and others. The most important ones ask to immediately use the CHD tariff (2-12 years). This is what Finnair, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and others do.
To avoid paying extra for a ticket at the airport, please note that according to the rules, the child’s age is checked on the day of the flight. If a passenger turns 2 or 12 years old, then the fare changes accordingly.
You can find out the airline's policy, as well as the size of the discount it provides to small passengers, on the airline's website, by calling its contact center or at sales offices.
Russian airline discounts
Russian airlines such as: Aeroflot and AK Rossiya, S7 Airlines, UTair, Ural airlines for passengers aged 2 to 12 years have a 25% discount on standard and light fares, subject to accompanying the child by an adult.
Nordavia carries infants free of charge at all fares, but without providing a separate seat. For a child ticket for the age of 2-12 years - a 10% discount on the "life" fare, 20% on the "standard" fare.
Low-cost carrier Pobeda charges a fee for transporting an infant without a seat only on flights abroad; flights within Russia are free. For both refundable and non-refundable rates, discounts are not provided for children over two years of age.
Charter airlines do not have general data on child discounts. On the Azur Air website (Anex Tour charter) only information about luggage is indicated:
- For a child without a seat, up to 10 kg of baggage with dimensions totaling 203 cm are allowed to be carried free of charge. A child with a seat is entitled to 5 kg of hand luggage and 20 kg of luggage, just like an adult passenger.
- The stroller can be used up to the plane's steps, and then checked in as baggage. If in the country of arrival the flight attendant is prohibited by the rules from handing out a stroller at the boarding ramp, then you can get it at the oversized baggage delivery point.
Are there discounts on children's tickets from low-cost airlines?
For example, let's take the Western low-cost airline Wizz Air. Wizz Air charges a fee of EUR 8–27 per one way for an infant under 2 years of age traveling on an adult's lap. There are no discounts for children. Teenagers from 14 to 16 years old are allowed to fly independently. A passenger over 16 years of age is allowed to accompany a group of 10 children.
Of course, one can argue with the position of airlines, which consider a baby weighing 8 kg to be a full-fledged passenger... But a baby with a separate seat is allowed an “adult” carry-on or baggage allowance! Read about free luggage, strollers, cradles and car seats, baby food and other additional services for children in the next article.
Before traveling by plane with children, it is recommended to find out in advance the rules that apply to the transportation of children and hand luggage with necessary things. All information is presented in more detail in Chapter 15 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation and the General Rules for the Transportation of Passengers and Baggage. In addition, it is necessary to remember that in addition to the basic recommendations, airlines can set their own restrictions.
Buying an air ticket for a child
If you are planning to travel with a child, then this must be indicated when placing your ticket order. If there are several children in a family, then their number is indicated, regardless of age group. If you add a child's information to an already placed order, additional fees may apply.
Preparing for air travel with children
If the flight takes a long period of time, it is worth preparing your baby in advance. To do this, they conduct conversations and various games so that the child at the airport and on the plane does not feel a sense of fear. During conversations, it is recommended to tell the child that flying is not painful, but, on the contrary, interesting and exciting. Infants and children under one year old will not understand that something strange and unusual is happening around them.
Psychological preparation should begin in advance, and not on the day of departure. Then the baby will learn a sense of security from conversations about airplanes and flying. You can watch cartoons whose main characters can be airplanes or pilots.
From what age and up to how many years children receive discounts on air tickets, you can find out at the airport information desk, city ticket offices or by calling the airline's hotline number. When purchasing airline tickets for a child, it is recommended to have with you the entire package of documents for the child.
Air tickets (INF) for children under 2 years old
Literally all airlines divide children who travel into two main categories:
- INF (infant, baby, child under 2 years old);
- CHD (children from 2 to 12 years old).
There are no ticket categories for children under 2 years of age, but parents can purchase a separate seat for their child. If there is free space in the cabin, they are placed next to their parents, or additional tickets are purchased for INF category passengers. There is no more than one child under 2 years old per seat for an adult passenger. Depending on the category to which the child belongs, airlines may provide discounts on children's tickets, and allow children under 2 years of age to travel on tickets with a significant discount.
The cost of a children's air ticket in the infant category ranges from 10 to 30% of the price of an adult air ticket, or children under 2 years old receive a free flight, depending on the airline's conditions. Before the flight, a zero ticket is issued, otherwise the child will not be allowed on board the plane. When issuing a zero ticket, you must provide all the required information about the baby at the time of the flight.
When purchasing air tickets for children in the INF category, it is imperative to take into account the age of the child at the time of booking the ticket and on the date of the flight. For example, if on the date of the flight the baby is 2 years and 1 day old, then the system may not allow such a passenger through. In this case, you should indicate in advance the category “children from 2 to 12 years old” and pay for the air ticket according to the current fare. Baggage carried by children under 2 years of age must not exceed the weight of 10 kg.
Note! The stroller can be transported in the luggage compartment or on board the aircraft, depending on the airline's conditions.
When ordering an air ticket for a child over the phone or using the online system on the official website, you must remember that you should accurately indicate the age of the child and all the nuances of flying with him, which can significantly affect the total cost of tickets for the whole family. A large number of passengers forget about this, hoping that they will provide all the data during check-in, but this opinion is wrong.
Important! Discounts on tickets for children under 2 years old apply only to the ticket price.
Air tickets for children 2-12 years old (CHD)
When traveling for children over two and under 12 years old, plane tickets are purchased at a 25-50% discount on the total ticket price for an adult. Children 2-12 years old on an airplane are full-fledged passengers, so some airlines allow them to carry 10 kg of luggage with them and provide the opportunity to order special meals on board the airplane.
A purchased ticket for a 12-year-old child is considered invalid if the child is already 13 years old on the flight date. Up to 12 years of age, a child can travel both accompanied by parents and close relatives, and under the supervision of qualified airline personnel. Passengers over 12 years of age travel on the plane with full-price tickets. Children under 2 years old cannot travel by air unaccompanied.
Flights for children from 12 to 18 years old
Teenagers under 18 years of age are considered adults and can fly at standard fares. A child from 12 to 18 years old is provided with a separate seat and a standard baggage allowance. There is only one difference - children must have accompanying documents if traveling without their parents. A teenager can fly on an airplane unaccompanied only if he has a notarized consent (original) for the departure of a minor citizen of the Russian Federation from his parents, adoptive parents, guardians or trustees. The exit permit specifies:
- the country to which the teenager is flying (if the child visits several countries, they must be listed);
- dates of entry and exit to a tourist country (or dates of travel if crossing several countries).
Assistance to passengers with children during flights
Many airlines may provide various additional services and privileges to passengers flying with children. Children under 2 years old fly with bassinets, which can be provided to passengers provided that this service was previously ordered when booking tickets. It is worth remembering that the number of bassinets is limited, and they can only be used on board wide-body aircraft on long-haul flights. Airlines do not allow the use of their own bassinets on board the aircraft.
Children can also watch cartoons, feature films, listen to audio books and music on board the plane, which is included in the entertainment program. For flights lasting 3 hours or more, many airlines offer baby food at a time convenient for babies.
Depending on the airline, older children or teenagers may be provided with kits for fun activities during long flights. They may include coloring books, puzzles, markers, board games, etc. The longer the airline passengers travel, the more entertaining games are included in the set.
Unaccompanied children
Teenagers from 5 to 12 years old inclusive can travel unaccompanied by parents and close relatives, but they will be under the constant supervision of airline employees until the child is handed over to parents, guardians, adoptive parents or close relatives at the airport.
Children from 12 to adulthood can also travel independently, but only under the close supervision of airline employees both on board the aircraft and at the airport. The flight of a child accompanied by close relatives can only be carried out if the airline has been notified in advance. To do this, you need to fill out a special application and submit a declaration. If you do all of the above steps before check-in and flight, the registration of an unaccompanied child will be rejected.
The nuances of flying with children
Modern aircraft are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable flight for passengers with children of any age. For flight safety, the aircraft seats are equipped with special child seat belts. When landing or taking off, children may experience stuffy ears. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to give a bottle of drinks. If children were flying from a cold climate zone to a country with a maritime or continental tropical climate, then the children should be dressed in functional clothing, some of which can be easily removed.
How to fly comfortably with a child
To make your trip comfortable, you should adhere to simple rules, namely:
- When traveling with a child, you should choose morning flights;
- It is worth dressing children in bright clothes, so that they can be easily found in a crowd;
- Don’t be shy about asking for help from airline staff, because flight attendants can help warm up a bottle of liquid or baby food;
- Before registering, you should prepare all documents in advance;
- It is recommended to be the first to check-in and board;
- A large number of airlines provide children's entertainment kits, but it is still recommended to take coloring books and pencils on board the plane.
What you need to take on the plane if you are traveling with children:
- New toys for the child, which are recommended to be purchased in advance;
- An excellent option would be a tablet with games that can entertain a child during a long flight;
- Wet wipes that allow you to deal with stains at any time;
- Medicines, for example, antipyretics, antihistamines, which will allow the baby not to catch an infection during the flight;
- Fruits, candies and cookies (many airlines have introduced children's menus, but goodies will help your baby feel better on the plane).
When a plane takes off or lands, children may even cry and complain of ear pain. In this situation, you can offer the baby a breast, a bottle of water or juice. Older children can be given small sips from a cup or special sippy cup. An excellent option would be lollipops that kids can enjoy during the flight.
A child's plane ticket up to what age in Russia can be determined using the Air Code of the Russian Federation. Many airlines provide free transportation of infants under one year of age on an airplane, but you should find out this in advance.
Video
Traveling with children is always a troublesome task, because parents have a lot of questions: how children fly, what conditions are on board the plane, what fees they charge, and what additional services airlines offer. All these nuances may vary depending on which airlines are chosen. Before flying with children of any age, you need to prepare and try to make traveling by plane a real exciting adventure, and not an ordeal for little travelers.
29.03.2019, 10:23
Traveling with children is always a hassle. As a rule, a lot of questions arise. In our article we will consider the issue related to the purchase of air tickets for children.
Air tickets for children under 1 year old
The concept of “air ticket for a child under one year old” does not exist. Children travelers are divided into only two categories:- INF (infant, infant, child under 2 years old);
- CHD (child, children from 2 to 12 years old).
Air tickets for children under 2 years old (INF)
A child under 2 years old can fly with parents without a separate passenger seat on the plane free of charge. You must first issue a zero ticket, otherwise your baby will not be allowed on the plane. When issuing a zero ticket, you must indicate the age of the child at the time of the flight, and not at the time of booking. So if, at the time of purchasing an air ticket, your child is 1 year 9 months old, and at the time of departure is 2 years 1 day old, the reservation system generates a date of birth mismatch error. In this case, when choosing the type of passenger, you need to indicate “child 2-12 years old” and pay according to the special tariff for children.
Some airlines (most often international) may require payment of an air ticket in the amount of 10% of its full cost.
According to air travel rules, one adult can carry only one child under 2 years of age free of charge; for each subsequent child, you must purchase a separate child ticket intended for children 2-12 years old. Its cost will be exactly the same as for children of this age. The same separate children's air ticket must be purchased if you want your baby to occupy a separate seat.
Children under 2 years old are full-fledged passengers, so they can carry luggage weighing up to 10 kg. A baby stroller is transported in the luggage compartment free of charge. Also, air carriers provide the opportunity to order a cradle for babies and special food for transportation.
Air tickets for children from 2 to 12 years old (CHD)
For children aged 2 to 12 years A children's air ticket with a separate seat is issued. If at the time of booking your child is 11 years and 6 months old, and on the date of departure he is 12 years and 1 month old, then you need to buy an adult ticket. The price of a child's air ticket depends on the airline. Most airlines offer a 50% discount on a child's plane ticket, but sometimes it can be higher - up to 70%.
As for luggage for children from 2 years to 12 years old, the same as for adults.
If the child turns 2 or 13 years old during the trip
When purchasing a round-trip air ticket, many are faced with a situation where a child turns two years old (or 13 years old) during the trip. The cost of a flight ticket depends on the airline. They can be roughly divided into three categories:
Airlines that allow round trip flights at the INF fare (for children under 2 years old);
Airlines that ask you to purchase two different tickets: one for the outward flight at the INF fare, the other for the return flight at the CHD fare. Or you can immediately buy a round-trip plane ticket at a fare for children from 2 to 12 years old.
Airlines asking to book round trip flights at CHD fares.
If your child is over 2 years old, but is flying on the INF fare, then you need to book a separate seat for him.
List of airlines that allow children who turned 2 years old to fly at the INF fare:- All Russian airlines
- Air Pacific
- Alitalia
- American Airlines
- Australian Airlines
- British Airways
- British Midland airways (BMI)
- Brussels Airlines
- China Southern Airlines
- Czech Airlines
- Icelandair
- Malaysia Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- TAM Linhas Aereas
- THAI Airways
- Ukraine International Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic Airways
- Georgian Airways
- Cyprus Airlines
- Austral Airlines
- Air Europe
In case of a flight under an interline agreement, you will most likely have to buy an air ticket at the CHD fare. The same applies to long trips (several months); at the airport you may be asked to pay an additional payment for the air ticket. List of airlines that ask you to book a separate seat for a child and pay the fare for children over two years old (CHD):
- Aegean Airlines
- Cathay Pacific Airways
- Delta Airlines
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Qatar Airways
- Lufthansa
- Air Baltic
- Air Mauritius
- Air Namibia
- Egypt Air
- Emirates
- Estonian Air
- Etihad Airways
- Israir
- Olympic Airways
- TAP Portugal
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
- Air Seychelles
- El Al
Air tickets for disabled children
Since 2014, a special program has been actively developing in Russia, aimed at ensuring that disabled children do not feel inferior in the society of normal children. So people with disabilities were able to get the right to. Airlines have created special rules for transporting disabled people, including children:- Children who are disabled, confined to a stroller or children without the ability to move independently must travel only accompanied by their parents or guardians, since they are the ones who are responsible for caring for the child during the flight.
- Before the flight, the airline must provide information (in the form of a request) about the need to create special conditions for the flight of a disabled person. For example, equipment (stretchers, wheelchairs) or placement assistance. If the plane does not have special equipment for the safety of a disabled child, the airline may refuse to transport the child
- In case of hearing impairment, the child can travel on a discounted ticket, without being provided with a specially equipped seat.
- In case of visual impairment, it is allowed to travel with a guide dog, providing special documents for it. The dog must be tied to the child's seat and must be muzzled.
Disabled child from 2 to 12 years old a separate seat is provided on the plane. The size of the benefit depends on the degree of disability and can range from 25% to 50% of the total cost of the ticket.
Some airlines hold promotions for disabled children. Once a year, providing them with the opportunity to fly for free if this is due to the need for treatment abroad. Which, accordingly, must be confirmed by additional documents.