Will you be flying American Airways with a child or toddler? As a part of my “Have to Know” airways collection for folks flying with infants and younger kids, listed here are some necessary factors to pay attention to (and be ready for) if you may be flying American Airways with an toddler or very younger baby.
As at all times, when you’ve got normal questions on flying with infants and younger kids, head to my Flying with a Child or Toddler Recommendation Index web page.
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Flying American Airways with a Child on Your Lap (Lap Toddler)
American Airways permits infants from 2 days previous up till the day earlier than their 2nd birthday to fly on their mother or father’s lap.
Infants fly free on home flights together with routes to Puerto Rico, and are usually charged a proportion of the grownup’s fare for worldwide flights (see my Tricks to Assist Maintain Your Lap Little one Safer in Flight right here).
When making your reservation on-line at AA.com, the Passenger Particulars web page can have a field to examine to “add toddler in lap.” If you could add your child to an current reservation, it is best to see the identical choice in your reservation below “passenger Particulars.
Any time your baby is flying at no cost or at a lowered baby fare, be sure to’re ready with age-verifying I.D. for her (see Do infants and infants want I.D. for home flights? for extra particulars).
Word: In case your baby turns 2 years earlier than the return flight, he’ll want a paid seat for the return journey.
When do you could contact American Airways earlier than flying with a lap toddler?
- In case your child will likely be lower than 7 days previous, you could contact the airline upfront and have a health care provider’s letter confirming they’re clear to journey.
- In case you’re flying internationally, you’ll must contact reservations straight about your lap baby to evaluate (and pay!) any further taxes or charges that your lap baby might incur.
The American Airways telephone quantity for reservations is: 1 (800) 433-7300.
American Airways baggage coverage for infants and kids:
Do it’s a must to pay further to examine child gear or deliver a diaper bag onboard?
This part addresses the potential situations you would possibly face, whether or not flying with a lap baby or baby in his personal seat, with breast milk and pumps, and extra.
1. Passengers with infants and toddlers below 2 years:
American Airways permits one free checked (or gate-checked) stroller, one free checked (or gate checked) automobile seat, and one complimentary carry-on diaper bag for every baby below 2 years touring with out his personal seat (see particulars about flying with a lap toddler for extra).
Word: American Airways will solely allow you to gate-check your alternative of a journey stroller OR a automobile seat — however not each. If you could journey with each a automobile seat and stroller, and also you don’t plan to make use of your baby’s automobile seat on the aircraft, you’ll should determine which to examine in on the ticket counter. And be sure you see the necessary observe on strollers and American Airways under.
See my advisable Greatest Automobile Seat Journey Baggage and Carriers for assist defending your baby’s automobile seat. And don’t miss Tips on how to Journey with a Automobile Seat (with out Dropping Your Thoughts) for assist with all aspects of touring with automobile seats (and with out).
Additionally, for assist packing your diaper bag / carry-on, see What to Pack in Your Child Journey Package for Carry On. And for those who’re questioning what liquids (child meals, formulation, and many others.) you possibly can deliver onboard past the 311 guidelines, see Suggestions for Bringing Extra Liquids on Flights with Infants and Toddlers.
2. Passengers with infants and toddlers flying in their very own seats (paid):
Infants and kids flying American in their very own paid seats are entitled to the identical baggage allowance as their dad and mom. They’re additionally entitled to the identical stroller and automobile seat allowances of lap infants as described above.
3. Passengers flying with breast milk and pumps:
For breastfeeding mothers and vacationers with breast milk, American Airways is not going to rely a small soft-sided cooler, saved breast milk, or breast pump towards your carry-on bag or private merchandise restrict.
4. Flying with child gear not talked about above?
Different child gear, corresponding to Pack ‘n Performs, play pens, child and toddler journey beds, moveable bassinets, and wagons, will every rely as one checked bag — excluding any merchandise folding compactly sufficient to go for one seated passenger’s carry-on merchandise.
HOT TIP: In case you’d wish to hire child gear at your vacation spot, head to my Worldwide Listing of Child Gear Leases.
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Heads up! American Airways doesn’t settle for all strollers on the gate.
First, there’s one stand-out distinction from different airways you have to be conscious of earlier than heading to the airport. American Airways is not going to settle for strollers weighing 20 lbs. or extra on the gates of its flights.
Why? Whereas the primary concern driving this coverage are the numerous cumbersome and sometimes costly jogging and all-terrain strollers dad and mom hope to hand-off on the gate somewhat than dismantle and examine by means of the airport baggage system.
Nevertheless, you have to be conscious that many customary, full-feature child strollers additionally weigh in over this restrict. In case your stroller from house is over the restrict, right here’s what you are able to do:
In case you want a stroller that can assist you get by means of the airport and (or wish to use it throughout a layover):
Be sure to deliver a travel-friendly, collapsible stroller weighing lower than 20 lbs. to make sure you can examine it on the gate (see my advisable light-weight journey strollers right here).
Alternatively, you would possibly have the ability to flip your baby’s automobile seat right into a stroller on the airport with assist from some suggestions within the Greatest Automobile Seat Journey Baggage and Carriers web page.
In case you examine your 20 lbs.+ stroller on the check-in counter:
Make sure you deliver a protecting stroller bag that matches your mannequin (stroller journey bag suggestions right here) and permit time for dismantling & packing it earlier than checking in on the counter.
Tip: If you would like a rugged stroller at your vacation spot, however don’t want it en route, you might very doubtless have the ability to hire that BOB stroller, Mountain Buggy, or Phil & Ted tandem at your vacation spot. Examine the Worldwide Listing of Child Gear Leases for native child gear rental corporations.
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American Airways Bassinets (or Cots)
You *would possibly* have the ability to get an airplane bassinet to your child for those who’ll be flying lengthy haul on one in every of American’s 777-200, 777-300, or 787 plane (however not in Enterprise or First Class).
Nevertheless, they don’t formally take reservations for bassinets and say they’re solely accessible on a primary come, first served foundation — for infants weighing lower than 20 lbs and below 2 years — on the gate of the flight.
In case you’re flying American Airways with a child and hope to have a bassinet in your flight, I like to recommend calling to see in the event that they’re provided in your flight and be sure to’ll be in a seating place the place you’d really have the ability to use it.
Then, in fact, BE THE FIRST ONE TO YOUR GATE! 😀 You’ll discover extra assist in 5 Issues You Ought to Know Earlier than Flying with an Airplane Bassinet.
Automobile Seat Guidelines and Necessities for American Airways
In case you’d like to make use of your baby’s automobile seat on American Airways flights, your baby will need to have his or her personal airplane seat reservation. Solely automobile seats with a inflexible again and built-in security harness are accepted to be used within the cabin (no backless or belt-positioning security boosters).
Additionally, ensure your automobile seat has a label exhibiting it’s both:
- FAA-approved to be used in plane, OR
- Was manufactured below the requirements of the United Nations.
You’ll additionally wish to ensure your automobile seat will FIT within the airplane seat (in fact)! Do not forget that simply because a toddler security seat is accredited for air journey it doesn’t imply it’ll really slot in an airplane seat. Most American Airways economic system seats measure 17.3″ extensive (and up).
For assist discovering cabin-friendly automobile seats, try the Greatest Automobile Seats for Journey. You may additionally contemplate these Automobile Seat Alternate options for Journey, together with the CARES flight security harness for teenagers flying in their very own airplane seats (see my full assessment of CARES right here).
–> And don’t miss the last word information for Tips on how to Journey with a Automobile Seat (with out Dropping Your Thoughts), and one in every of my hottest posts right here: Seven Simple Methods to Get Your Automobile Seat Via the Airport.
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Have your alternative of airways?
Use the Airways Comparability Chart in Travels with Child: The Final Information… to match the family-friendly perks, facilities, and accessible toddler/baby reductions between greater than 40 airways.
For extra assist planning air journey with younger kids, see chapters 15 – 18 in Travels with Child: The Final Information…, and see extra on-line Flying with Infants and Toddlers ideas right here.
I’ve linked further posts you might discover useful right here.
Extra Assist for Journey Logistics and Planning:
Nice Gear for Flying with Infants and Toddlers
Extra Airline-Particular Recommendation for Flying with Infants and Toddlers:
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Protected journeys,
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Interested by this content material? See my editorial content material disclosure. NOTE TO READERS: An earlier model of this submit was first revealed on March 16 of 2018. It continues to be up to date and revised.
