Air Canada infant and child policy: lap infants, car seats and kids flying alone
Our guide to Air Canada's infant and child policies. Find rules on lap infant fares, baggage, free car seat checking, and family seating for kids.
Air Canada offers clear family-friendly policies, including seating children under 14 with an adult for free and allowing a complimentary checked car seat. Fares for lap infants vary by destination: there is no charge for flights within Canada, only taxes apply for flights between Canada and the U.S., and the fare is 10% of the adult fare for other international routes; this discount does not apply to any taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
| Topic | What Air Canada says |
|---|---|
| Who counts as a lap infant | Infants under two years old must be held on the lap of an adult aged 16 or older, or be secured in an approved child restraint device, during taxi, take-off, landing, and whenever the seatbelt sign is on.Source |
| Lap infant, domestic flights | For flights within Canada, a lap infant requires a ticket but there is no charge. For flights between Canada and the U.S., a ticket is required and only taxes apply.Source |
| Lap infant, international flights | On international flights, a lap infant requires a ticket and pays 10% of the adult fare. This discount does not apply to taxes, fees, charges, and surcharges.Source |
| Lap infant limits | An adult passenger who is 16 years of age or older may only be responsible for one infant during a flight, regardless of whether the infant is on their lap or in a child restraint device.Source |
| Turning 2 during the trip | If an infant turns two during an international trip, you can either pay the full child's fare for the entire trip to secure a seat both ways, or pay the infant fare for the departure and the child's fare for the return.Source |
| Checking a car seat | A car seat or booster seat can be checked free of charge for children up to age 11, in addition to the standard baggage allowance.Source |
| Family seating | Air Canada will seat children under age 14 close to an accompanying adult at no extra charge by assigning seats together before check-in.Source |
| Youngest age to fly alone | Children under the age of 8 are not permitted to travel alone and must be accompanied by a passenger who is at least 16 years old.Source |
| Service required for | The Unaccompanied Minor service is mandatory for children aged 8 to 11, inclusively, who are traveling alone.Source |
| Service optional for | For youth aged 12 to 17 traveling alone, the Unaccompanied Minor service is optional and can be purchased if desired.Source |
| Service fee | The Unaccompanied Minor service fee is $100 – $118.00 CAD/USD per child, each way, per flight.Source |
Lap infants and infant fares
On Air Canada, an infant is a child under two years old. Infants under two must be held on the lap of an adult aged 16 or older, or be secured in an approved child restraint device. Each adult can only be responsible for one infant. For lap infants on flights within Canada there is no charge, for flights to the U.S. only taxes apply, and for other international flights the charge is 10% of the adult fare, which does not apply to any taxes, fees, charges and surcharges. If your child turns two during an international trip, you can either buy a child’s fare for the whole trip or pay the infant fare out and a child’s fare for the return flight.
“Infants under the age of two must be lap-held or secured in an approved child restraint device by an adult 16 years of age or older during taxi, take-off, landing, and any time the seatbelt sign is on.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Within Canada Seated on adult’s lap: ticket required, no charge
Canada/U.S. Seated on adult’s lap: ticket required, only taxes apply”Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“International Seated on adult’s lap: ticket required, 10% of adult fare †
† The discount on the adult fare does not apply to any taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.”Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“As set out in Canadian Aviation Regulations, an adult passenger (16 or older) may only be responsible for one infant during a flight, whether the infant is seated on their lap or in a child restraint device.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“If your infant child’s second birthday occurs between the departure and return segments of an international trip, you have the option to pay: The full published child's fare for that flight (and be certain to have a confirmed seat both ways), or The infant fare on the departure, and the published child's fare on the return.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Newborns and proof of age
The information we reviewed does not specify a minimum age for an infant to fly. For travel within Canada, children under 18 need a birth certificate, health card, passport, or other government-issued ID. A passport is required for all flights to or from the United States and for other international travel. We suggest you confirm any rules about flying with a newborn directly with Air Canada before you make your travel plans.
“For travel within Canada, children under 18 years of age must present a birth certificate, health card, passport or other government-issued identification. A passport is required for flights to and from the United-States as well as for international flights.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Strollers and car seats
You can check a car seat or a booster seat free of charge for a child up to age 11. This is in addition to your standard baggage allowance. The AmSafe CARES harness is designed for children weighing between 10 to 20 kg (22 to 44 lb), whose height is 100 cm (40 in) or less and who are capable of sitting upright. The airline’s page did not mention rules for strollers.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Air Canada car seat and stroller policy.
“If you’re travelling with an infant or child up to the age of 11, you can check a car or booster seat free of charge in addition to your regular baggage allowance.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Sitting together
Air Canada has a policy to help families sit together without extra fees. The airline will assign seats to ensure children under the age of 14 are seated near an accompanying adult. This is done before check-in, so your family should have seats together when you get your boarding passes. It is always a good practice to check your seat assignments when you receive them.
“We’ll make sure you and your kids under age 14 sit close to each other at no extra charge. We’ll assign generic seats close together for you and your children before check-in.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Kids flying alone
Children under 8 years old cannot travel alone on Air Canada. For children ages 8 to 11 traveling by themselves, the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor service is mandatory. For youth aged 12 to 17, the service is optional. The fee is $100 – $118.00 CAD/USD per child, for each flight, each way. At the airport, a parent must fill out a “Request for Carriage” form with contact information for the person meeting the child.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Air Canada unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules.
“Children under age 8 must be accompanied by a passenger age 16 or older when travelling.”
Official wording, aircanada.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
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