How old does a baby have to be for the first flight

If you are a new parent you have probably struggled with the question of how old your baby should be before flying, whether they need to have any identification documents and what it will cost you to travel with them. It is true that the age of a baby can determine whether they will be allowed on the airplane or not but this age is not standardized as different airlines have individual policies on the question of what age can babies fly. The child’s documentation is also important, and a typical query to airlines is whether kids need ID to fly as is demanded of adults. Budgets are also usually important to travelers, so they are also keen on finding out whether kids fly free when accompanied by adults. 

The Ideal Age to Travel with Your Baby

At what age can babies fly? The age of a child is a very crucial determinant of whether they can be able to fly with you chiefly because of the risks posed to their health. Traveling with an infant is dangerous on board a flight although the age specified at which their safety is highly on compromise varies across different airlines. However, the TSA rules outline that the age that a baby should be able to fly comfortably should be after they are more than two weeks old. The main argument behind this is the fact that the bodies of the babies are still developing and thus the condition inside the airplane like the changes in the air pressure can be very damaging to their developing bodies. You realize the plane is also filled with many adults who may expose the baby to pathogens or diseases which their immunity is not yet able to handle. In instances whereby the baby is born prematurely, the assumption is that they still need more time to develop so the parent should count the two weeks from the date they were supposed to be born. To be surer whether it is possible to fly with the baby make an effort to contact the airline in which you are to travel in for more details.

Do Kids Need ID to fly?

It is a requirement that all passengers should travel with their identification documents, and this includes babies. For infants, who are traveling domestically, the most important document you need to pack for them is a birth certificate. This certificate should contain the name of the person traveling with the baby. The key reason for this is that the TSA agents or any other airport officials will need to match the names of the infant to those of the person traveling with them as per their identification cards or documents. Over the years, this has prevented many abductors from traveling with stolen babies and so has become standard procedure at airports. Together with this, especially if its only one parent traveling with the baby, they will need to present a letter of consent outlining that the other parent has authorized them to travel with the baby. In addition to the birth certificate and the letter of approval, any parent who is on international travel is highly advised to travel with a valid passport for their baby. So ensure that you process these essential travel documents and pack them for your baby as early as possible to avoid incidences that might cut your trip short.

Always ensure that you have packed these documents in baggage where you can easily reach them. The best place to pack them is in your hand luggage. Another precaution that is important to take is to have copies of these documents in separate luggage like your checked luggage so that if you lose your checked luggage, you have some backup copies that you can present to the authorities.

Can Your Child Fly For Free

Most Airlines are generous enough to allow you to travel with a baby on your lap. Kids fly free with this option, so take advantage of it as it will go a long way in helping you save on additional costs due to booking a seat for your infant. However, anyone considering this option should ensure they book the most comfortable seats as they will be carrying the baby with them all through the flight. Testimonials by parents who have had the experience of flying with their infants shows that the bulk head seats are your best bet if you intend to fly with the baby on your lap. Firstly, since your baby’s safety is important to you, they come with extra oxygen masks which you can use in the event of an emergency. In addition to that, there are no seats in front of the bulkhead seats which means no one will recline their seats towards you during the flight which can be very uncomfortable as you will be carrying your baby right on your laps. They also come with additional leg space which can give you more comfort as you get to stretch your legs when you get some tension in your them from sustaining your baby’s weight.

All in all the safest place for your baby is always on a car seat. Yes, kids fly free if you choose to fly with them on your lap but in the end, no one can really predict what will happen once you are on board. For instance, the aircraft is susceptible to turbulence once airborne hence the possibility of your child who is not restrained by any seatbelt to fly off your hands and crash on the floor during such incidences is very high. Thus try as much as possible to book a separate seat for your child if you are not keen on these options that make kids fly free. 

In conclusion, we hope we have satisfactorily covered your questions. So now you have an idea what is the best age to travel with your baby so you no longer have to wonder what age babies can fly. Do kids need ID to fly? Not really, but now you have an idea of all the essential documents that you need to pack for them such that you can easily make it past the officials without any issues. In case you are short on your budget you have the option to carry them on your lap and so ensure you have the best seat for this purpose. 

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