Flying With An Infant? What To Expect On Board Your Flight

Flying with an infant soon? We know that feeling well with our eldest flying at 11 weeks old and both now have 80 flights. Here is some of my first-hand experience information to give you a realistic idea of what lies before you, with some useful and practical tips for traveling with an infant by plane from my flight attendant days.

What To Expect On Board When Flying With An Infant

9 Insider Tips For Flying With A Baby For The First Time.

In my experience, Families with young children generally get to board first.

You will normally hear an announcement at the boarding gate. This really helps take the pressure off finding space for your luggage etc.

If the airline/airport doesn’t have that policy or you are unsure, ask for the extra time to board at the boarding gate. (American Airlines will allow you to board early if you make this request and SouthWest boarding policy is here) But don’t always take them up on it!

Airplane travel with infants can mean long days and nights in one confined space. So to minimise the time on board, why not board later which is what we do unless it’s a night flight?

A handy alternative if your baby is a wriggler or an older toddler, is one parent boards first and finds space for the bags, whilst the other parent waits with the baby at the gate lounge.

This means little one can crawl or toddle and work off some energy, rather than sit in their seat waiting for everyone else to board.

Most airlines will allow you to bring your stroller/pushchair/pram to the gate or the doors of the plane.

I always appreciated this especially if we have a bit to carry. When you check-in or are at bag drop, mention to the ground staff that you would like take your stroller to the boarding gate.

They will give you a luggage tag fo fit on and then you can proceed to security and passport control. At the gate or by the aircraft doors, ground staff will take your pram and take it to the aircraft hold.

As a general rule, don’t expect your buggy to be stored inside the cabin but instead in the hold with the rest of the luggage. An exception is unless it’s cabin sized stroller, which can be stowed with you if there is space or as a replacement item to one of your cabin bags.

However, it is always worth asking the crew if they do have room in the cabin, especially if your stroller is very compact and collapsible).

If they do allow it and have space, consider this a bonus. There are no actual designated pram compartments in the cabin to store them. (I have been asked this!)

Cupboards which store aircraft equipment and/or premium cabins passengers’ jackets are usually used to store the occasional stroller. If the flight is full, it is highly unlikely that your pram will be brought inside.

N.B Some airlines have a weight limit on strollers, and if they exceed this, they must be checked in immediately and cannot be brought to the gate.

Is a travel system considered one piece of luggage?

A travel system e.g a Bugaboo is considered one piece of luggage in airline terms, even though it dismantles into two – the frame and the bassinet/seat. A double stroller is also considered one piece.

Is a pushchair considered luggage?

A pushchair/stroller is an additional free allowance on top of your normal baggage allowance. Usually a car seat can also be carried for free and is not part of your checked baggage allowance. However, sometimes (rarely) an airline will only allow one or the other. In both instances the child or infant must be traveling on the same flight.

Do airlines charge for strollers?

No, they can be carried for free as an extra to your normal luggage.

If your stroller is in the aircraft hold, then you will generally collect it at the baggage belt, where you collect your suitcases.

Also check in oversize baggage if you can’t see it on the belt. Some airports/airlines will bring it to the aircraft door on arrival once all other passengers have disembarked.

It really depends on each airlines and /or airports policy. e.g British Airways try to do this into London, and will pop an orange tag on so the ground staff are aware.

 A baby sling/carrier is highly useful if you need to collect at the baggage carousel. Some airports/airlines do provide a courtesy airport strollers for you to use on arrival/transit. Please see my post on airport strollers, to see which ones.

Babies often cry during take-off and landing because of the change of pressure which hurts their ears.

Crying does actually help relieve this, but it’s not exactly soothing for you and your fellow passengers. Feeding your baby can help relieve this pressure or sucking on a dummy or pacifier.

If you are thinking of weaning them off of a dummy around the time of your flight, I would recommend waiting until you have returned.

Flight Attendants will not allow your infant or child to sleep on the floor.

Even if you have the bulkhead seat where the skycot or bassinet is, and the bassinet is too small, the crew will not allow you to use the floor as extra space or as infant seating due to safety reasons. (Those reasons being the overhead oxygen mask will not stretch that far, and in the unlikely event of a rapid decompression, the time of useful consciousness is minimal.

If your baby was sleeping on the floor, combined with the other effects, it would be difficult to get your baby close to the oxygen supply.)

Your baby will either need to sit on you lap, as a lap infant, or you can purchase an extra seat and use your airline approved car seat. If you are flying with an infant on lap, some airlines provide a lap belt or extension seat belt.

If your baby is over 1 year old, you can also use a CARES harness if you purchase a seat. I have found there are many fakes on Amazon. Look out for the AMSafe one by AMSAFE as it is the ONLY one approved by airlines.

If you need milk warmed up, ask before you need it.

Air travel with an infant, will make them thirstier than normal. If you are bottle feeding, most airlines will happily warm the baby milk for you. But allow extra time and try not to leave it to the last minute. Flight attendants are usually very happy to help you, (I know this because I am an ex flight attendant) but unfortunately they could be super busy with the main meal service. You may also need to leave time for it cool.

If you are breast-feeding, there is no private area on board the plane to feed.

Yes, I was asked this too when crew! Unless you really want to use the loo? With air travel with an infant, privacy is pretty much out due to the restricted space. If you are particularly concerned about privacy, then the window seat is your best bet. It’s unlikely that you would be able to use the galley, as the crew will need regular access to and from that, but do ask as some crew will be happy to oblige.

For more information breastfeeding tips when flying or on  airline breastfeeding policies, see this useful airline and airport guide

If you need to pump and use a plug, or need to charge a phone, many of the larger international airlines do have in-seat sockets in economy class too.

When you are traveling with an infant on a plane, you may need to express or pump milk. Some larger and newer aircraft do have a socket at each seat. They do vary from airline and from aircraft type to aircraft type, so check on your airlines website before you go. Most have USB and not the USB-C sockets yet, and some have the standard international plug socket as well.

Airport Services

If you are planning international travel with infants, then many airports also offer welcome services (for a fee) to help you navigate terminals, show you where the airport strollers are (see highlighted link to see where available) and more. Most airports also have family restrooms incase you want to change a nappy before you board your flight.

After this post, I recommend reading the following posts which go into much more detail about each stage and are full of useful information and insider tips you may not have thought of. Definitely worth a read

For more detailed flying with a baby tips, my expert BUMPER GUIDE of super useful tips covers absolutely everything from booking to arrival right here.

• For flying with toddler tips see here.
• For specific airline rules when flying with a baby – you may find this post useful.

Don’t forget:

• Read the detailed flying with a baby tips from booking to arrival here
• Have you remembered any items you need to help your baby or toddler sleep on the plane?
• Would you like my free printable (no sign up) packing checklist? If so see here.
• Discover some of my quiet travel toys for babies here.