Booking an international flight with lap child

I'm getting rather ahead of myself but next year we plan on going a vacation with DD -- hopefully to DR. (We just loved it the last time DH and I went.)

When looking up rates, for a child under 2 it says I have to call. I'm not ready to book or anything, I just wanted an idea of prices. Anyone who has flown with a child on the lap, how did it work out price wise? Was there a special surcharge at all for flying international?

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

I would NEVER have a child sit on my lap for 7+ hours.

I would concider for a 2-3 hour flight though.

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

Under 2, you shouldn't have any charges. They just need to add the name to the manifest and link it to your ticket.

I did pay $10 for DS when we went to and from Jamaica, but I think that was some kind of fee to get into and out of the country.

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

On the JetBlue website, it says there is an infant fee for all flights leaving DR to the US. I'm sure it's nominal like pp paid for Jamaica.

For some reason, other than Continental, I have never been able to add on my lap child online - I've booked my own tickets online and then called to add DS afterwards.

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

they charge tax for the cost of the ticket, I believe.

when we flew to Spain/Italy my son was one. 8 hour flight. spending $600 on his ticket was some of the best money I have ever spent. we need the sleep and we were all much more comfortable. plus we were able to have him in his car seat.

for the flight from Barcelona to rome and rome to florence, I lapped him. but they were very short flights. he was fine. he napped, but I was also still nursing. how different ball game when you can pop a boob in their mouth.

Not sure how long the flight to dr, but if it's more than say 1.5 you may want to pay the piper.

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

when we went to aruba we were charged the taxes for my DS when he was a lap child

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

DH and I are flying to Jamaica on Jet Blue in Oct and we were not charged anything for DS, who will be sitting on our laps. Unless they charge you something at the airport??

I thought you just needed to include the child's name for identification purposes.

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

My daughter is 17 months old and she flies internationally as a lap child, we are flying back to the UK on Wednesday. Its only an 8 hour flight, she is pretty wiggly, but its fine. I fly here with my two kids on my own, my husband stayed in England. Its one day of my life, no biggie.

I know that many airlines charge fares that are like 10% of the adult fare with full taxes. I think my daughters flight on Delta this summer cost something like $125. I woud personally rather have her on my lap then paying $800 for her to have a seat!

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

They do charge the taxes for the a lap child. We traveled internationally with our dd when she was 1.5 yr and it really was fine. I was not going to pay full-price when I could take her for free. I'll have the rest of my life to pay for her seat - lol. On our flight over to Europe, my DH was able to find an empty seat nearby and we used his original seat for her. On the way back the flight was full so we had her between us and on our lap.

If you're not traveling during busy season, I think you should take the chance.

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

They only charge you for the taxes/surcharge for the lap child..

Honestly, I've been to DR several times (LOVE it there too) and it's not a far flight.. I would put little belle petit on your lap and call it a day :)

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

i went to DR with DD in February we paid a percentage of our ticket. I want to say we paid $75 for a lap infant. Also, they mail you a paper ticket for the baby that you need to use (at least they have for the 2 international flights i have taken with her with her). When we booked directly with Delta we had to call to book baby's ticket, the second time we booked delta via expedia, inputted her info and her ticket was mailed without having to call.

HTH!

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

Re: Booking an international flight with lap child

We flew on a 15 hour flight to Asia when D s was 10 mths old. No issues. He slept a lot and DH and I took turns with him when he was awake. We played A Lot of peek a boo!