Air France Infant Ticket Policy: Prices, Booking, and Travel Rules

Travelling with a newborn or a toddler can feel overwhelming, especially when you are unsure about what an airline allows and what it does not. Air France has built a structured, family-friendly infant policy that covers everything from fares and seat options to baggage, strollers, and onboard comfort. This guide walks you through every aspect of the Air France infant policy in plain language, so you can plan your trip with confidence and without last-minute surprises at the airport.

Who Qualifies as an Infant As Per Air France?

Before looking at fares or baggage rules, it helps to understand exactly how Air France defines an infant. This matters because the rules that apply to infants are different from those that apply to children aged 2 and above.

An infant on Air France is any child who is under 2 years of age (under 24 months) on the date of travel. Once a child turns 2, they are classified as a child and must have their own purchased seat. Air France recommends avoiding travel for babies who are fewer than 7 days old, and if you must travel with a newborn of exactly 7 days, a medical certificate confirming the baby is fit to fly is required.

One important timing note: if your child turns 2 during a round trip or multi-leg journey, Air France applies the child fare rate to your entire booking, not just the return leg. Keep this in mind when booking if your baby's birthday falls close to your travel dates.

Air France Infant Fare: How Much Does It Cost?

One of the first questions parents ask is whether travelling with an infant on Air France is free. The answer depends on the route.

Domestic flights within France (including Paris–Corsica): Infants travelling on a parent's lap fly completely free of charge. No infant ticket purchase is needed for domestic lap travel.

International flights: Infants under 2 years are charged 10% of the applicable adult fare plus taxes, regardless of whether the baby will sit on a lap or in a separate seat. This fee applies even for lap infants on international routes.

Buying a separate seat for your infant: If you prefer your baby to have their own seat (for safety or comfort), you can purchase a seat at the child fare. Air France offers discounts on child tickets — up to 20% on short-haul flights and up to 33% on medium-haul and long-haul flights. To book a seat for your infant, you will need to contact Air France by telephone, as this cannot be completed online.

Tip for parents flying to long-haul destinations: The 10% infant fare for international routes is relatively modest, but do factor in taxes, which can sometimes be significant depending on the route.

Air France Lap Infant Policy: Rules Every Parent Must Know

Travelling with a lap infant on Air France means your baby sits on your lap for the duration of the flight rather than occupying a separate seat. This is the most common and cost-effective way for families to travel with very young babies.

Here are the key rules that apply to the Air France lap infant policy:

• Only one lap infant is permitted per adult passenger. An adult is defined as someone aged 18 or above. An exception exists: a passenger under 18 may travel with an infant if they are that infant's biological parent or legal guardian.
• If one adult wishes to travel with two infants, a second adult (18+) must accompany them, or one of the two infants must occupy a purchased seat with an approved car seat.
• If you are travelling with two infants and one adult, you must book by phone, and one infant must travel in an individual seat installed with an approved car seat.
• Lap infants and their adult companions cannot sit in exit rows under any circumstances.
• Your infant will be provided with a lap belt that attaches to your own seatbelt during takeoff, landing, and turbulence.

How to Add an Infant to an Air France Ticket

Adding an Infant at the Time of Booking

The easiest way to add an infant to your Air France ticket is during the initial booking process on the Air France website. When entering passenger details, select the infant option and provide the child's date of birth. The system will automatically calculate the applicable Air France infant fare and add the lap infant to your reservation.

How to Add a Lap Infant to an Air France Ticket After Booking

If you forgot to add your baby at the time of booking, or if the baby was born after you made your reservation, you can still add the infant to your Air France ticket after booking. Here is how:

• Log in to your Air France account and open your booking using the "Manage My Booking" section.
• Navigate to the passenger details area and look for the option to add an infant.
• Enter the child's details accurately, including their full name as it appears on their travel document and their date of birth. If the name entered doesn't match the travel document exactly, you may need to request a correction before flying. Learn how the Air France name correction policy works and what types of errors are eligible for a fix.
• Complete payment for the applicable Air France infant fare (for international routes).

If you encounter any difficulty adding a lap infant online, call Air France customer service directly. An agent can add the infant to your booking and handle any formalities. Note that for some fare types or complex itineraries, phone booking may be the only available option.

Air France Infant Baggage Allowance

One of the most common concerns when travelling with a baby is whether you will have enough baggage space for all the essentials — nappies, formula, clothing, feeding equipment. The Air France infant baggage allowance is structured to give families meaningful extra capacity.

Carry-On Allowance for Lap Infants

A lap infant on Air France comes with its own Air France infant carry-on allowance. This is in addition to the accompanying adult's standard carry-on entitlement:

• 1 hand baggage item weighing less than 12 kg (26 lbs) with dimensions not exceeding 55 × 35 × 25 cm (21 × 13 × 9 in)

This means you can use this allowance for a well-stocked nappy bag, a portable feeding bag, or baby essentials without eating into your own carry-on.

Air France Infant Checked Baggage

For the hold, a lap infant on Air France is entitled to:

• 1 checked baggage item with a maximum weight of 10 kg (22 lbs)

Important exception: if you purchased a Light fare ticket, the checked baggage may not be included. In that case, you would need to pay a supplementary fee to transport baggage in the hold. Always check the conditions of your specific fare before assuming baggage is included.

If your infant has a purchased seat (child fare ticket), the baggage allowance follows the fare conditions of the ticketed infant's booking.

Air France Stroller Policy: What You Can Bring and How

Navigating airports with a stroller can make life significantly easier, and Air France has clear rules on what is and is not permitted.

One foldable stroller per child may be checked free of charge — it does not count against your standard baggage allowance. The stroller can be checked at the check-in counter or gate-checked for collapsible models.

For the stroller to be accepted, the maximum dimensions when folded must not exceed 15 cm × 30 cm × 100 cm (5.9 in × 11.8 in × 39.4 in).

Can you bring a stroller into the cabin? On long-haul flights, a foldable stroller meeting the above dimensions may be accepted inside the cabin if space is available in the overhead compartments. However, if you bring the stroller into the cabin, it replaces your infant's carry-on allowance — meaning you cannot also bring a separate hand baggage item for the infant. Some airports may restrict stroller access to boarding areas for security reasons, so always check in advance.

Strollers in overhead bins are not permitted on flights to certain destinations, including Réunion, Seychelles, Mauritius, Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, Havana, Punta Cana, and Santo Domingo.

Whichever option you choose, attach a label to your stroller displaying your name, address, phone number, and email before checking it in.

Air France Bassinet Seat: How to Request a Skycot

For longer flights, the ability to lay your baby flat in a bassinet (also called a skycot or cradle) can transform a stressful journey into a manageable one. Air France provides bassinets on long-haul flights across all cabin classes — Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.

Who Can Use the Bassinet?

The Air France bassinet seat is designed for infants who:

• Weigh less than 10 kg (22 lbs)
• Measure less than 70 cm (27 in) in length

How to Request a Bassinet

Bassinet seats are located at bulkhead rows and are limited in number on each aircraft. They cannot be reserved online. To secure a bassinet:

1. Call Air France as soon as possible after completing your booking.
2. Request a bassinet seat and confirm availability on your specific aircraft.
3. Make your request at least 48 hours before departure.

The purchase of a Seat option is the only way to guarantee a bassinet seat, subject to availability. If you have not reserved one and no bassinet is available on the day of travel, your infant will travel on your lap.

Note: the bassinet must be stowed away during takeoff, landing, and in the event of turbulence for safety reasons.

Travelling in Business Class also gives your baby more space and a better bassinet experience. If you're considering moving up from Economy, here's everything you need to know about Air France Seat Upgrade to Business Class including costs, eligibility, and how to request one.

Air France Infant Passport Requirements and Travel Documents

Air France follows the entry requirements of each destination country rather than imposing its own passport requirements. That said, here is what you generally need to know:

For domestic flights within France: A birth certificate is typically sufficient for age verification.

For international flights: Most countries require infants to have their own valid passport. Some destinations also require a visa for the infant, even if parents do not need one. Always check the specific entry requirements for your destination country well before travel.

If one parent is travelling alone with an infant internationally: Some countries require a signed authorisation letter from the absent parent, notarised in some cases. France itself requires a signed travel authorisation form (autorisation de sortie du territoire) for minors under 18 travelling without both parents, for any journey outside of France. If you've recently married and your ticket still shows your maiden name, it's important to sort this before travel. Check the Air France name change policy after marriage to understand the required documents and process.

Practical checklist for parents:

• Valid passport for your infant (for international travel)
• Birth certificate (always useful for age verification at check-in)
• Any required visa for the destination country
• Travel authorisation letter from the non-travelling parent if applicable
• Medical certificate if your infant is fewer than 7 days old

Air France Infant Meal Policy: Feeding Your Baby in the Air

For flights lasting 2.5 hours or more, Air France provides a special infant meal that typically includes baby food jars and infant-appropriate snacks. On long-haul flights in La Première, Business, and Premium cabins, your baby also receives a soft toy, along with certified organic thermal water and cotton squares for washing.

To ensure the right meal is prepared for your baby:

• Request the infant meal at the time of booking, or
• Contact Air France at least 24 hours before departure if you missed the request at booking.

Changing tables are available on long-haul aircraft for nappy changes during the flight.

Using a Car Seat on Air France: Keeping Your Baby Safer in the Air

If you have purchased a seat for your infant at the child fare, you have the option of using an approved child car seat during the flight for added comfort and safety. Air France permits this under the following conditions:

• The car seat must be approved for standard automobile use (non-standard car seats may be refused at check-in or boarding).
• The seat must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions — either forward or rear-facing against the aircraft seatback.
• Car seats are not permitted in exit rows.
• Your infant and the accompanying adult must travel in the same cabin.

One car seat per infant may be checked free of charge in addition to the standard baggage allowance, whether or not you are using it in the cabin.

Priority Boarding and Airport Services for Families

Air France offers priority boarding to passengers travelling with infants and young children. This gives families extra time to settle in, install car seats if needed, and get organised before other passengers board — a genuinely helpful benefit when you are juggling a baby, a nappy bag, and a carry-on.

At the airport, look for family-designated check-in lanes or ask at the desk — Air France staff are trained to assist families with infants throughout the airport process.

Final Thoughts: Plan Ahead for a Smoother Journey

The Air France infant policy is genuinely designed with families in mind. From generous baggage allowances and free stroller transport to onboard bassinets and priority boarding, the airline provides meaningful support for parents travelling with young children. The key to a smooth experience is preparation — add your infant to your Air France ticket early, request a bassinet as soon as you have booked, confirm your destination's document requirements, and pre-order your infant meal. With these steps done in advance, you can focus on what matters most: enjoying the journey with your little one. And if the unexpected happens, delays at security, a fussy baby slowing you down — it's worth knowing your options. Learn the Air France missed flight policy so you're prepared if you don't make it to the gate on time.