As the Spring Festival approaches, many parents are planning to take their children home or on trips. For family travel, the fast and safe option of flying is the top choice for most parents. So, what do we need to know to take our children on a plane with ease? Today’s article will give you a detailed introduction to all the aspects to consider when flying with a child and how to handle them.
How old does a baby have to be to fly?
Air China stipulates that infants who are at least 14 days old and in good health can take a flight.
Newborns within 7 days of birth. Because a newborn's lungs are not yet fully developed, their capillaries are fragile, and their bodies have low tolerance to changes in air pressure, gravity, and other factors, so it is not advisable for them to fly.
It’s best to wait until the baby is 4–6 weeks old before flying, mainly due to concerns about the effects of recirculated air on the baby.
In the first month, a baby’s resistance to the environment is still very fragile and they are susceptible to infections. If they share recirculated air in a closed environment with
Infants need to buy tickets when flying?
1. Babies need to purchase tickets when flying.
According to civil aviation regulations, infants aged 14 days to under 2 years old must buy an infant ticket, which costs 10% of the adult full fare. Airport construction fees and fuel surcharges are waived, but no seat is provided on the aircraft.
If a separate seat is required, you should purchase a child ticket for your baby.
2. Children aged 2 to under 12 years old pay 50% of the adult full fare and are entitled to their own seat.
Each adult can only bring one child at this discounted rate, and proof of the child’s age such as a birth certificate or household registration book must be presented when purchasing the ticket.
3. The number of infants allowed on each flight is limited, and infant tickets must be purchased together with the accompanying adult’s ticket—they cannot be bought separately.
Especially during peak travel periods such as holidays, parents must request an infant ticket at the time of purchasing the adult ticket from the ticketing office.
If ticket issuance is not possible, it is essential to call the airline’s customer service in advance to apply for an infant ticket or confirm with the airline whether an infant ticket can be issued.
Ticketing offices also have the responsibility to assist passengers in applying for infant tickets in advance. For ticketing offices that cannot issue infant tickets, passengers may choose to file a complaint with the airline or use another ticketing office.
How do infants purchase airline tickets?
Generally, ticket agencies are not allowed to sell infant tickets—you cannot buy them online in advance either.
You can purchase an infant ticket at the airport on the day of departure, when checking in for your flight. The price is 10% of the full fare of the adult’s ticket, and airport construction and fuel surcharges are waived.
When buying the ticket, you will need the baby’s birth certificate. If the baby is registered in the hukou (household registration), bring the hukou book as it proves the parent-child relationship—just in case, it’s good to have it ready.
Note:
But don’t assume that an infant ticket that doesn’t include a seat doesn’t need to be purchased in advance—each flight is only allowed to carry five infants. If you don’t buy the infant ticket ahead of time, you may arrive at the airport only to find that your baby can’t board the plane.
Special attention to protecting little ears:
For babies, it is very important to protect their eardrums during the flight because their eardrums are thinner than adults’ and can withstand much less pressure.
When flying with your baby, it is essential to take correct and effective measures to help open the Eustachian tube during takeoff and landing to prevent aviation-related otitis media.
Specific measures: Do not think that putting paper balls or cotton in your child’s ears will prevent aviation-related otitis media—it is actually useless.
Feed your baby milk or a snack during takeoff and landing so they can swallow sufficiently.
Appropriate crying can help open the baby’s Eustachian tube—there is no need to stop it.
Try to keep your baby awake during takeoff and landing, as the risk of eardrum barotrauma significantly increases while sleeping.
If your baby has a cold, postpone the trip, as a cold can block the Eustachian tube. During takeoff and landing, changes in air pressure can cause an imbalance in pressure inside and outside the ears and sinuses, leading to eardrum and sinus barotrauma.
Flying Tips
1. When flying with your baby, try to book a seat near the front of the plane.
The air circulation in the front cabin is slightly better than in the rear, and it’s more convenient to board and disembark. Inform the airline when booking your tickets to arrange this.
2. Parents should arrive at the airport early and allow plenty of time.
While waiting at the airport, keep a close eye on your baby to prevent getting lost in the crowd. Try to check in as much luggage as possible, but bring essentials your baby will need during the flight.
Before boarding, remember to change your baby’s diaper. During takeoff or landing, let your baby suck on a pacifier or drink from a bottle to help relieve ear discomfort.
3. Pay Attention to Safety
Always fasten your baby’s seatbelt on the plane; for younger babies, hold them in your arms and avoid letting them move around freely to prevent injury from turbulence.
During takeoff and landing, children may experience ear pain. Letting them drink milk, suck on a pacifier, or chew candy can help alleviate the symptoms.
4. When flying with your baby, it’s best to reserve seats in the first row of each section, and avoid middle seats in long rows. These are inconvenient for both you and neighboring passengers.
5. Unless necessary, avoid using the airplane’s hot water. You can prepare formula milk before arriving at the airport.
Civil aviation regulations allow passengers traveling with infants to carry liquid dairy products after security inspection confirms they are safe.
Due to high-altitude air pressure, the water temperature on the plane is only about 80 degrees Celsius, and the limited conditions mean it’s not as clean as water you prepare yourself. It’s best to prepare formula milk in the departure lounge.
Items to Prepare
◆ Travel Food
If you’re breastfeeding, be sure to bring enough drinking water for yourself, but be extra careful with hot drinks during the flight to avoid spills or accidentally burning your baby due to turbulence.
If you’re using formula, bring enough for the flight and ideally prepare it in advance in a thermos bag at the airport. If that’s not possible, inform the flight attendant ahead of feeding time to prepare water.
If your baby has started eating solids, just bring enough baby food for the journey, and you can also request baby meals from the airline in advance.
◆ Nursing Supplies
Bring enough diapers (at least enough to last until you can buy more at your destination), bags for soiled diapers, specialized baby wipes, and diaper rash cream to keep your baby’s bottom comfortable and clean during the trip.
◆ Travel Toys
Bring your baby’s favorite toys, such as a comfort teddy bear or cloth books, to help them cope with the boredom of traveling, but don’t bring too many to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Tip:
The cabin air is dry, so apply some baby oil to your child’s skin and occasionally put one or two drops of saline solution in their nostrils to prevent excessive dryness, which can cause nasal pain or even nosebleeds.
For meals, bring food based on your child’s usual preferences.
When choosing a seat, opt for a window or aisle seat rather than a middle seat between two others, as mothers with babies may need to breastfeed or change diapers, which can be inconvenient and disturb others.
If you end up with a middle seat, you can ask another passenger to switch. Flight attendants usually arrange seats for mothers with babies in advance, so feel free to make reasonable requests.
What are some good destinations for family trips?
When choosing a family-friendly travel destination, factors such as distance, duration of the trip, local safety, and hygiene conditions should all be taken into consideration.
Safety should always be the top priority and the foremost factor in your decision-making. Therefore, avoid destinations with high altitudes, crowded areas, or hazardous environments to reduce the risk of fatigue, illness, or accidents for young children.
Due to the physical limitations of young children, as well as luggage constraints and the stamina of adults, it is not advisable to choose destinations that require flights longer than 8 hours or multiple layovers, in order to prevent discomfort caused by long-haul travel.
It is generally not recommended to plan itineraries that involve long treks or frequent hotel changes. A one-location, short-distance trip is more ideal.
Beach resort-style travel is highly recommended, as it is relaxing and allows children to broaden their horizons by seeing the sea, as well as enjoy activities like playing in the sand and water.
For children under 8 months old, it is suggested to visit city parks for day trips.
For children aged 8 months to 1.5 years who have started crawling, suburban destinations are suitable, with trips lasting 2 to 3 days.
For children over 1.5 years old who can walk independently, slightly farther destinations can be considered.
Itinerary planning:
Group tours are generally not recommended. Self-guided or semi-self-guided travel is better, as it won’t overly affect other travelers and allows you to adjust the itinerary flexibly based on your child’s needs.