From FlyerGuide Wiki

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] Infant Fares

The following are the ticketing rules that apply to infants (i.e children that are <2 years on the day of departure) on American Airlines. Fare purchased applies for the entire trip even if the child turns 2 during the trip; however, if the child that was ticketed as a lap infant turns 2 during the trip, you must notify AA as they will have to provide a seat at no additional charge for flights taken after he/she turns 2. Make sure that you carry proper age documentation for the infant (passport, birth certificate, etc.) with you at all times.

Only one lap child is allowed per passenger who is at least 15 years of age. If one passenger who is at least 15 years of age is traveling with more than one infant under 2 years of age, a seat will have to be purchased for each additional infant.

Infants are accepted two days after delivery.

You cannot be seated in an exit row with a lap infant, nor can a child under 15. If you're traveling with a "car seat", you cannot install it in a seat that is "between other passengers and the aisle used to evacuate the aircraft", i.e. you must install it either in a window seat, the preferred location, or in a center seat of the center section of a widebody aircraft; AA also does not permit the "car seat" to be installed in the row immediately forward of the exit row (as the back of the seats need to be free to fold forward) or, supposedly, the row immediately behind the exit row. The accompanying person should occupy a seat next to the child. Further seating restrictions exist for Eagle flights and are contained on AA.com.

WARNING: American Airlines, unlike most airlines, carries no supplies or emergency food for infants or children (not even fresh milk, unless catered for breakfast service) and in flight entertainment is extremely limited. Bassinets are available only on 777 and 763 aircrafts (not on the long-haul 757s), and there's only one per plane, available on a first come first serve basis (cannot be reserved/requested in advance). Where AA serves hot food, no children's meals are offered.

[edit] Within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico and most of the Caribbean

[edit] "INF" (infant <2 years, on lap)

  • There's no charge, no need for a reservation, and no ticket. All taxes are waived by Canada, Mexico, most Caribbean countries and for flights within the US, but the US charges $7 in fees for flights from Canada and $12 in fees for flights from other international points of origin. These fees can be paid at check-in.
  • The "INF" must be declared at check-in. You can use web or self-service check-in for yourself, but you must then see an agent (even at the gate) to have the relevant infant information added to the system and the accompanying person's boarding pass reissued.
  • The "INF" will not have a separate boarding pass, but the accompanying person's boarding pass will have a "plus infant" notation.
  • The "INF" on lap does not earn miles.

[edit] "INS" (infant <2 years with seat)

  • As of 12 January 2007, AA has discontinued the 50% discounts for "INS", who are now charged full fare.

[edit] Outside of the above geography

[edit] "INF" (infant <2 years, on lap)

  • The cost is 10% of any fare (and "fuel" surcharge) of the cabin where the accompanying person is seated plus applicable fees/taxes.
  • Note that the requirement about the lap infant being ticketed for the same cabin as the accompanying person, notwithstanding how the person got into that cabin (op-ups excluded), is not published on AA.com (it's a mystery to me why they wouldn't do so); I found out that many employees, including some EXP desk personnel and GAs, don't know it, but those who do will literally ruin your trip midway and try to do the same with your bank account.
  • AA issues e-tickets for "INF" only on wholly-AA / Eagle operated flights. Codeshare operations, train services or interline itineraries will not be supported initially. Travel agents' systems are being enabled during the early weeks of June 2008. Otherwise the ticket must be paper.
  • AA does not have mileage awards or upgrades for "INF" passengers; you must either pay cash (as an "INS", see below) or reedeem an award for a seat.
  • The infant on lap does not earn miles even though they have purchased a ticket.

[edit] "INS" (infant <2 years with seat)

  • Although there's generally no discount, "INS" are eligible for child fares (market-dependent) and therefore at times it's best to have the "INS" in a separate reservation so that it can be priced in a discountable fare that books into different inventory than the accompanying person's.
  • AA does not have discounts on mileage awards or upgrades for "INS" passengers; you must redeem the full amount of miles for each seated infant, whether it's for travel or upgrading.

[edit] "INF" (infant <2 years, on lap) turning 2 during travel

  • The FAA requires children 2 years old to have a seat, and AA will give an infant who turns 2 before the return a seat at no additional charge. However, you need to contact AA to have them create a separate (seat) reservation for the segments of your itinerary where the infant has reached the age of 2.
  • For international travel, rules may vary, and certain fares spell them out: for example, oneworld round the world fares rules say that "If an infant reaches two years of age after travel has commenced but before travel is complete - a full child fare ticket must be purchased for the entire journey."

[edit] Baggage allowance

  • "INF" (infant <2 years, on lap): you will have no right of extra baggage for the "INF", with the exception of a car seat (which can be checked), an umbrella stroller, and a diaper bag.
  • "INS" (infant <2 years with seat): same baggage allowance as adult, plus a car seat (which can be checked), an umbrella stroller, and a diaper bag.
  • Car seats to be used on board must be approved for airline use: see http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ for additional details, and only those that are narrower than 17" (outside dimension) will fit on all AA and American Eagle seats.
  • Umbrella (collapsible) strollers can be checked at the gate, and these will be returned upon arrival at the jetway, except in those airports where this is not allowed (e.g. London Heathrow) where they will be returned at the luggage carousel (or at the final destination's luggage carousel if connecting).

[edit] Sources

Retrieved from "http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Infant_Fares_%28AA%29"
Personal tools