United Airlines flying with babies

Are there any age restrictions for infants traveling on United Airlines flights?

Infants under 7 days old are not allowed to travel on United Airlines flights.

Infants over 7 days old may travel on United Airlines flights only accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old.

When does United Airlines require a ticket purchase for my baby?

United Airlines requires you to purchase a ticket for your child when:

  • The child is two years or older.
  • The child turns two after outbound flights for the continuing/return flights only.
  • You are traveling alone with two babies under the age of 2 years – for the baby who will not be sitting in your lap.
  • You are traveling internationally, regardless of your baby’s age, and whether or not the baby travels as an infant on lap.

Does United Airlines offer discounts for infants or children traveling on domestic or international flights?

Infants who are carried on an adult’s lap on domestic flights (within the US, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands) do not require a ticket and travel free of charge.

Even if no fare is paid, a ticket is required for an infant to travel on international flights. Infants only pay taxes on the ticket when traveling between the US and Canada, or from Mexico to the US or Canada.

Infants traveling without a seat to all other international destinations are charged 10% of the adult fare at the time of infant ticketing.

Tickets for children occupying their own seats may be the same price as an adult ticket. The best way to determine the price of a ticket for a child is to search for flights using the “Make Flight Reservation” feature from the United’s website and select the number of children under the Travelers section.

Infants on Lap

Only one lap child per adult passenger is accepted on United Airlines flights. Infants under two years old for whom a seat has not been purchased at the applicable adult fare may not occupy a seat. On some aircraft, only one lap child is allowed per seat section, due to oxygen masks constraints. Passengers with lap infants may not be seated in certain rows on some aircraft.

Bassinets

Only on international aircraft, a limited number of bassinets can be reserved for use, free of charge. Bassinets are available for passengers traveling international segments in United Polaris business class (on select Boeing B757, B767, B777, and B787 aircraft) and United Economy (on Boeing B757, B767, B777, and B787 aircraft).

Bassinets may not be used during taxi, takeoff, landing, or when the seatbelt sign is illuminated. Bassinets are 29 inches (74 cm) long by 11 inches (28 cm) wide, large enough to hold an infant weighing 22 pounds (10 kg) or less. You may request a bassinet by calling United Reservation or to a United representative at the airport. United Airlines will provide accompanying seat assignments for an adult traveling with an infant and up to one travel companion, at no additional fee.

Infants with a Reserved Seat

Children traveling on their own tickets and unable to sit upright with the seat belt fastened must be carried in an approved child restraint device (infant seat). United Airlines does not provide infant seats. Only FAA-approved child safety seat devices may be used during takeoff, landing, and when the seatbelt sign is illuminated. Infant seats must be clearly marked with the original label. Car seats manufactured after February 1985 should also be certified for use in aircraft.

Booster seats, belly belts, and vests or harnesses (which hold the infant to the chest of the adult) may not be used on board the aircraft.

Seating Restrictions

Infant seats must be secured at all times in an aircraft seat, unless stored as carry-on. Infant seats cannot be used:

  • In a rear-facing seat.
  • In an exit row, the row immediately before or after an exit row.
  • In an aisle seat (on one-aisle aircraft, the infant seat must be placed in a window seat. On two-aisle aircraft, the infant seat must be placed in a window seat or a middle seat of a center section).
  • In First Class on Boeing B767 and B777-200 aircraft with three-class cabin configuration and on Boeing B757 with rear-facing seats.
  • In United Polaris business class on Boeing B767, B777, and B787 aircraft.

Infant & Child Baggage

The following infant and child articles may be taken on board, in addition to the carry-on allowance:

  • A diaper bag.
  • A breast pump.
  • A car seat – if you have not already reserved a seat for the use of a car seat, you may use adjacent unused seats to secure the child seat if space is available. If there are no free adjacent seats after boarding is completed, the child seat must be properly stowed.
  • A compact folding stroller that meets the carry-on size limits (e.g., gb Pockit Stroller, BabyJoy Pocket, Silver Cross Jet Ultra Compact).

For each child, United accepts free of charge one stroller or folding wagon and one car seat as checked baggage. Strollers or folding wagons may be used up to the departure gate. Only a compact folding stroller may be taken on board,  while large, non-collapsible strollers and non-folding wagons must be checked at the check-in counter. All other collapsible strollers and folding wagons can be checked at the gate and will be returned to you at the aircraft door at the destination.

Collapsible cribs, pack ‘n’ plays, and other similar products are not accepted free of charge and must be checked at the check-in counter as part of the checked baggage allowance.

The standard checked baggage allowance applies to children with purchased tickets, including infants traveling internationally on an infant fare. If the child’s baggage allowance is exceeded, the excess will become part of the accompanying adult’s baggage allowance. All standard checked baggage restrictions and fees apply.

Toddlers

United Airlines requires that children under the age of 5 must be accompanied by an adult passenger, 18 years or older, or the child’s parent/legal guardian on the same flight and in the same compartment.

United Airlines offers pre-boarding only for passengers traveling with children aged 2 and younger. Families traveling with children aged 3 years and older must board when their group is called. Passengers traveling children under 15 years of age may not be seated in exit rows.

More information here >>