Traveling with children

Sitting together

Book as early as possible so you have a better chance of sitting together! Be sure to choose seats when you book and remember that you can always ‘manage flights’ right here on usairways.com to check the seat map and change seats.

If you can’t find seats together when you book, keep trying!

  • Choose available seats when you book and check the seat map in ‘manage flights’ to see if other seats open up (during the week before your flight, seats tend to open up)
  • If you don’t have seat assignments together the day of your flight, please get to the airport early and ask an agent for help so they can do their best to accommodate you
  • Remember, you can check your stroller or car seat at the ticket counter or gate (no charge)

Traveling during pregnancy

If you're pregnant and your due date is within 7 days, you must provide a doctor's certificate dated within 72 hours of departure that states that you have been examined by a doctor and you are fit for air travel.

Infants

An infant is anyone younger than 2 (24 months). Infants must be with a parent or an adult 18 or older on all flights in the same cabin. If your child is younger than 2, we recommend that you travel with a birth certificate.

2 ways to travel with infants:

Infant (in lap)

On flights within the U.S., a parent (or an adult age 18 or over) may travel with one infant (in lap).

On international flights, an infant (in lap) may require a paper ticket, may have to pay 10 percent of the published available adult fare and is subject to international taxes and any surcharges. Taxes and surcharges are not discounted.

Occasionally, if there are many people traveling with infants (in lap) on the same flight, we may be required to move some to a later flight to ensure that there are life vests for all passengers.

Infant in a reserved seat

If you want your infant to travel in his or her own seat, you must buy a ticket and bring a safety seat approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Safety seats

Acceptable safety seats

Systems approved for use in aircraft only should say 'FAA approved in accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d) approved for aircraft use only' and include a warning label indicating it's not safe for use in motor vehicles.

Systems approved for use in aircraft and motor vehicles must have a solid back and seat, restraint straps installed to securely hold the child and a label indicating approval for use on an aircraft.

The label may include:

  • The text 'This child restraint system conforms to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards' and 'This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircrafts.'
  • Approval of a foreign government or a label showing that the seat was manufactured under the standards of the United Nations
  • FAA approval through an STC
  • 'FAA Approved' in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d)
  • 'TSO C−100B'

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges parents to secure their child in an approved child restraint system when flying. The safest place for a child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS).

Restraint devices approved for cruise portion of flight only

Other restraint devices (e.g., belly belts, snugglies) are allowed only during the cruise portion of flight because they attach to the guardian or the guardian’s restraint system.

Safety seat requirements

  • You must show a ticket for yourself and the child using the safety seat when you board.
  • You can't carry on a safety seat unless you bought a seat for your child or there is an open, available seat next to you.
  • The safety seat can't be in an exit row or the row in front of or behind an exit row.
  • If you're travelling with 2 children in safety seats, seat them in the middle and window seats, with you on the aisle.
  • During taxi, takeoff, landing and whenever the 'fasten seatbelt' sign is on, keep your child in the safety seat with the harness fastened.
  • You must install the safety seat in forward-facing aircraft seats according to the instructions on the label. Place the seat in the direction appropriate for the size of the child.