Traveling with a newborn or infant by plane for the first time? DadProved answers the most frequently asked questions on flying with a newborn in India.
Booking Tickets
Do I have to buy an Infant Ticket or a separate ticket for a baby?
If your child is below the age of 2 years, they are categorised as an Infant and will not need a separate ticket. Infants will be ‘tagged’ to an adult travelling with the infant.
Do I have to pay extra for an Infant?
Yes. Generally, additional fees will be payable for your infant, even though they will not have a separate seat and will be seated on your lap.
Can I buy an extra seat for comfort?
Yes, and we recommend you do!
What should I keep in mind while booking the flight ticket?
You should keep in mind the babies natural sleep schedule, and the duration it would take for you to travel door to door. We suggest the travel be in such a manner that the baby’s natural sleep schedule is not disturbed.
What are bassinet seats?
When you are travelling with an infant, airlines may offer bassinet seats – seats where a bassinet may be placed for your baby to rest for the duration of the flight. However, the baby must be in your arms during takeoff, landings, and during turbulence.
Does a bassinet seat have any other advantage?
Bassinet seats generally have a better legroom compared to the other seats.
How do I choose a bassinet seat?
In the event a bassinet seat is available on the airline and the aircraft that you are flying, you would be allowed to select a bassinet seat at the time of booking. However, please note we have not come across a bassinet on domestic flights, even after being shown / booking bassinet seats.
How do I avail a bassinet on board?
If you have selected a bassinet seat and bassinets are available on board, you can request the cabin crew to provide you with the bassinet.
Should I avoid ATR flights with an Infant?
Generally an ATR flight is louder and experiences greater disturbance during take off and landings. While sometimes an ATR flight is unavoidable, if there are non Airbus / Boeing flights available, we suggest booking those.
I am flying internationally. Should I book a direct flight or one with layover?
In our experience travelling with infants, direct flights are harder than ones with layovers. Yes, the duration is longer, but a layover allows you and your baby to stretch your legs.
Airport
Will my infant need a separate ID?
Yes. We recommend applying for a government issued ID using the baby’s birth certificate at the earliest. This may be a passport or an Aadhaar. We recommend passport because then you can fly abroad with them! We took our infant abroad when they were 9 months old.
Can I wear my baby at the airport in a baby carrier?
Yes, but you would need to take your baby out and remove the baby carrier for security clearance.
Do I get priority at security clearance / immigration?
This would depend on the airport you are at – we have seen priority lanes for families at security as well as immigration at international airports. We have seen priority security clearance at domestic airports as well.
Do I get priority boarding travelling with an infant?
Yes. If you are travelling with an infant, airlines generally provide you priority boarding. We urge you to take advantage of this so you and your infant have more time to get settled in your seat.
I am a dad travelling with my baby. Is there something that helps me?
Lookout for family toilets that will allow you to use the restroom whilst your baby is safe – they generally have a baby protection attachment on the wall where your infant rests when you use washroom.
Are family toilets available at every airport?
We have noticed family toilets at Mumbai and Bengaluru airports in India, though they may be available at other airports as well. They are generally available at international airports abroad.
Am I allowed to carry more than 100 ml fluids for baby food?
In our experience, for domestic flights in India, security screening has been very accommodating of baby food, including breast milk, formula, and other fluids and purees, including in excess of generally prescribed limits for liquids.
Can I carry a stroller?
We actually recommend that you carry a baby stroller for use at the airport.
Does my stroller count towards luggage or cabin baggage?
No. The baby stroller is not counted towards your allowed cabin weight, nor does it count as your cabin baggage.
Does my baby’s diaper bag count as an additional baggage?
No, your baby’s diaper bag does not count as additional cabin baggage.
Can I take this stroller on board the flight?
This would depend on the size of your stroller and whether it would fit in the overhead compartments. Generally you would be requested to hand the stroller over to ground staff at at the time of boarding which would then be made available to you once you arrive at your destination. If your stroller is indeed flight compatible you may take it on board although this is generally a hassle.
Flight
Should I buy something for the flight?
We have found it helpful to have new toys so that the infants interest is maintained for the duration of the flight.
What are Infant lap belts?
Infant lap belt is a closed loop belt that is placed around your baby your lap belt is hooked through it.
Are Infant lap belts provided in India?
This would depend on the airline that you are flying.
Will I be provided infant food on board?
This would again depend on the airline that you are flying and if it is domestic leg of an international flight or a purely domestic flight. When we flew with Singapore Airlines we could reserve baby food which was offered by the cabin crew onboard. However we have not seen this happen on purely domestic flights.
Can my Infant be breastfed on the plane?
Yes.
Can I change diapers on the plane?
Yes, but we really do not reccommend you do, unless of course your baby poops on the flight, in which case you are in for a slightly difficult diaper change. There is usually only one bathroom equipped with a changing station which is basically a slab that folds down and rests on top of the toilet bowl. It is small, cold, hard, and may be kinda angled due to the flight trajectory. While you can definitely change a diaper there, we strongly recommend changing diapers at the Airport.
Conclusion
Flying with an infant, especially the first time, can be challenging and frightening. We hope this guide has helped allay your fears and you are ready for your infant to take to the skies!
