How much does a child's airline ticket cost?
We have already written about traveling with young children — in this article, we will focus more on the financial side of the issue: how travel with children is organized and how the cost of a child's airline ticket is formed.
General Information
When transporting children, questions often arise regarding the cost of a child's airline ticket. Child fares are divided into two categories:
– children under 2 years old — infant (INF);
– children from 2 to 12 years old — child (CHD).
Depending on the airline, children under two years old are eligible for a discount of up to 90% off the adult ticket price. They are not provided with a separate seat and spend the entire journey on a parent's lap.
One adult can only take one child under two years old with them. If you need to transport two children, you will have to pay 50% – 65% or more of the adult airfare for the second child (at the fare for children aged 2 to 12), and the baby will occupy a separate seat in the cabin. Important: note that sometimes the airline does not provide such discounts, so in some cases, you will have to pay the full price. Therefore, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, we recommend clarifying all necessary information on the official websites of the company in advance.
As for luggage, it is individual and depends entirely on the carrier you have chosen.
For a seat for a child aged 2 to 12, you will pay 50% of the adult ticket price. Please note that the child discount applies only to the fare, not to taxes and fees. A child older than two years cannot fly on a parent's lap — they are entitled to a separate seat. It is impossible to deceive the airline, as you indicate the date of birth when booking a ticket. For children older than two years, the same baggage restrictions apply as for adults.
Air ticket prices for children
|
Age |
Domestic flights |
International flights |
|
Under 2 years |
Free |
from 10% of the fare |
|
From 2 to 12 years |
from 50% – 65% or more |
from 50% – 65% or more |
|
Over 12 years |
Full price |
Full price |
Up to what age a child's airline ticket can be purchased at a favorable price is decided by the carrier, but usually 12 years is the limit. The final terms of child discounts are determined by the airline: sometimes you can catch an additional discount or hit a promotional period and save significantly.
If a child aged 5 to 12 is to fly alone, they must be supervised. For such cases, airlines also have a solution — a paid escort service that can be purchased separately. And now, let's figure out how to send a child alone on a plane.
A child is allowed to fly without a parent's escort only on a direct flight and to the first point of landing. The number of such children traveling without adults is limited — it's best to clarify the details with the carrier in advance. The child's age is determined on the day the journey begins:
– 5–12 years old — for trips within Russia and CIS countries;
– 6–12 years old — for trips to Europe and the USA.
To arrange the service, contact the airline in advance: three days before departure or even earlier. Discounts do not apply for unaccompanied travel — you will have to pay the full fare for the ticket. Next, you will be asked to fill out an application for the transportation of an unaccompanied minor — download it from the carrier's website. And the last step is to pay for the service: the airline will tell you how much a child's ticket with escort costs.
It is not possible to check in online for a flight with a child — keep this in mind and arrive at the airport in advance. When you arrive at the airport, you need to register the child at a special counter at the airport and wait until the flight departs — similarly, the person meeting them at the arrival airport should wait there upon arrival. After registration, an airline employee will escort the child to the aircraft, where a flight attendant will meet them. Everything is transparent: parents will be notified when the child takes their seat on the flight and when they are handed over to the receiving party.
Escort is mandatory for children under 12 years old. If the child is older than 12 but younger than 18, the service is provided at the parents' discretion.
Rules of popular airlines
The answer to the question of what to do if a child turns two years old during a round-trip journey depends on the airline. The rules can be divided into three categories:
– some allow round-trip flights at the fare for children under 2 years old (INF);
– others ask to buy two different tickets: for the outbound flight — at the INF fare, and for the return flight — at the CHD fare (children aged 2 to 12);
– third ones ask to book round-trip tickets at the fare for children older than 2 years — CHD.
If a child has turned two years old but is flying on an INF fare, you must book a separate seat for them.
Be careful: if you are flying under an interline agreement, you will most likely have to buy a ticket at the CHD fare. The same applies to long journeys lasting several months — at the airport, you may be asked to pay extra for the ticket.
Some airlines partially accommodate their passengers and allow booking an outbound ticket at the INF fare and a return ticket at the CHD fare. You can find such information on the carrier's website.
Now, armed with this information, you can plan your trip without harming your family budget — just choose a more loyal airline. We wish you great travels with your children!
