Flying with Children in India: What You Need to Know

Travelling with children, especially with younger ones, can be tricky for every parent. When you travel by air, the complexity may further increase as one has to look for seating arrangements, baggage fees, extra documentation, and understand the child fares applied by different airlines. Although each airline has its own rules and policies related to child travel by air, most of them have a similar kind of pattern. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) governs the parameters and sets standard guidelines for air travel and keeps on revising them to enhance the flying experience. Here are some insights about the child-related airfares and policies. 

Age criteria for child passengers:They are divided into three categories.

1. Infant: Children from the age of 7 days to 2 years are considered infants. They do not need an extra seat on the plane and sit on the lap of an adult. Most airlines advise that the child must be at least 6 months old for travel. The guardian or parent must present all related documents while checking. 

2. Children: Kids between 2 and 12 years of age are considered children, and they need to have their own seat for travel. 

3. Adults: Kids above the age of 12 are charged with complete adult fares, and the same rules apply to them as adults. 

Prices & policies

Children cannot travel free under any conditions on the airlines in India. All of them are charged in their different categories and have different policies. Prices & discounts on airfare vary according to the destination, class of travel, and airlines.

For Infants: According to the DGCA, infants must be 7 days old to travel. Parents need to provide proof of birth date (birth certificate) during check-in. In case the toddler is less than 7 days old, parents need to submit a medical certificate to ensure the baby's good health. The tickets for infants are booked under the same PNR number as their parents. Their discounted fare is typically ~10% of the adult fare, most of which is tax and service charges. For example, if the price for an adult ticket is Rs. 5000, then it can cost around Rs. 700 for infants. For international travel, the fee can hike significantly.

Parents have to pay an extra fee for checked baggage based on the weight, while cabin baggage is free of charge to carry essential items, such as nappies and milk bottles. Some airlines are generous and provide 10 kg (Air India) of check-in baggage. Cabin luggage or baby items must fit under the seats and should not obstruct paths. Some airlines allow an extra allowance for strollers or bassinets, depending on the space and safety on the aircraft. DGCA has also advised airlines to use child restraint systems to ensure their safety. 12 infants are allowed per flight, but only one is allowed per adult. 

Children (2-12): As they need to book a separate seat for travel, they are allowed to check in the same baggage as adults, depending on the airline's policies. They get a discounted fare, depending on the airline and class. For example, Air India gives a 10% discount on economy class and a 25% discount in business class and first class. According to the DGCA directive, all children below 12 must be seated right next to at least one parent or under adult supervision, without any extra fee. Flights must ensure that no kids are seated near the exit doors and rows of the plane. 

Unaccompanied minors (UM) are those children who travel without any personal supervision. In India, children below 5 years of age are not allowed to travel alone by air. Kids above 5 can travel solo, with the help of airline staff. Parents have to notify the airlines and may be required to do a UM service registration. They must have all the required documents and written consent from the guardians. Fees for a UM are the same as for an adult for both domestic and international flights, including airline-specific handling fees (for child care and supervision), which vary according to destination and by airline. For example, Indigo, SpiceJet, and Air India charge Rs. 5000 for domestic routes and around Rs. 10000 for international flights. 

Children above 12 years of age have to get a full ticket and follow the same rules and regulations as adults. DGCA has specified that all the exit row passengers must be above 15 years of age. 

 

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Booking tickets for kids

1. Plan your trip and documents, like a birth certificate, a passport, and a discharge summary from the hospital. Contact the airlines and highlight the specifications needed during the flight, like strollers or bassinets. Pre-book your tickets to secure baggage allowances.

2. In case one is travelling abroad, verify the international requirements and documents, and check the policies of the airport. 

3. Many airlines offer a kid-friendly menu on request at least 48 hr before departure; you can book tickets including them in the meal. 

4. Unaccompanied minors must be registered with the travelling airline to help them throughout the journey. 

5. The flight tickets for kids below 12 years must be booked under the same PNR as their parents. 

Read Also: Carry-on Rules Every Flyer in the U.S. Must Follow

Conclusion

Flying in an aeroplane is like a dream for many kids. Airlines try their best to make it a memorable experience for young ones. Adhering to the airline guidelines can make the process smooth and hassle-free. Each airline has something different to offer while complying with the DGCA guidelines. Before booking the flights, research well about the services offered by the airline and compare the fares, and then it's good to go. Prices vary from airline to airline, along with the difference in class seating. Keep an eye on discounted schemes and offers, especially for children above 12, as companies offer lucrative discounts for them.