Air India infant and child policy: lap infants, bassinets and kids flying alone
Air India's infant and child policies for family travel. Rules on lap infants, who must be on a lap, baggage allowance of 10-15 kg, and free bassinets.
Air India’s policy for families has some important details to know before you fly. A key rule is that infants under two years old must travel on an adult’s lap, as the airline does not permit booking a separate seat for them. On the plus side, infants get their own checked baggage allowance, and bassinets can be requested free of charge, though they are not guaranteed.
Airline policies can be updated, so we always suggest you confirm the latest rules directly with Air India when you book your travel and before you head to the airport.
| Topic | What Air India says |
|---|---|
| Who counts as a lap infant | Children who are over seven days old but under two years of age on the date of travel are considered infants and must be seated on an adult's lap.Source |
| Baby in its own seat | Infants must be seated on an adult's lap, as extra seats cannot be booked for them.Source |
| Lap infant limits | If you are traveling with more than one infant under two years old, each infant must be accompanied by an adult traveler who is 18 years of age or older.Source |
| Youngest age to fly | The minimum age for an infant to travel is seven days old. An exception may be made in a medical emergency with a pediatrician's certificate and clearance from the airline's medical department.Source |
| Bassinet | Infant bassinets are available free of cost, subject to availability. You can request one through the customer support portal.Source |
| Infant baggage | Infants are entitled to a checked baggage allowance of 10 kg in Economy, 12 kg in Premium Economy, and 15 kg in Business and First Class on all flights.Source |
| Youngest age to fly alone | Children below 5 years of age are not permitted to travel alone and must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an authorized adult.Source |
| Service optional for | The unaccompanied minor assistance service is optional for children aged 12 to 17 years, who are considered "young passengers" and can travel alone. The service can be requested by a parent or guardian.Source |
| Flights allowed | The unaccompanied minor service is only available on flights operated by Air India. It is not offered on codeshare flights or on connecting flights where any part of the journey is on another airline.Source |
Lap infants and infant fares
On Air India, a child is considered a lap infant if they are over seven days old but have not yet reached their second birthday on the date of travel. The airline requires that infants travel on an adult’s lap and states that you cannot book an extra seat for them. If you are traveling with more than one infant under two, each baby must be accompanied by a separate adult traveler who is at least 18 years old.
“Children over seven days but under two years on the travel date are considered infants. … Please ensure your infant is seated on your lap, as extra seats cannot be booked for babies.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Please ensure your infant is seated on your lap, as extra seats cannot be booked for babies.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“If you are travelling with more than one infant under two years of age, each of them should be accompanied by an adult traveller aged 18 years or above.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Newborns and proof of age
Air India permits infants to fly starting from seven days old. An exception may be possible for a medical emergency, but this requires a certificate from a pediatrician and clearance from the airline’s medical department. You will need to show a valid ID to verify your baby’s age. To verify an infant’s age, you must provide a valid ID such as a birth certificate, vaccination certificate, or a passport. For any international travel, a passport is mandatory for the infant.
“The minimum age of travel for your little one is seven days. An exception to the above guidelines is possible in a medical emergency. You will need: A medical certificate from your paediatrician. Clearance from our medical department.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“You need to provide all the below mentioned valid ID proof documents to verify the age of your little one. Valid ID proof includes: Birth certificate, Vaccination certificate, Passport (mandatory in case of international travel)”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Bassinets
You can request an infant bassinet on Air India flights at no extra cost. However, bassinets are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. To make a request, you should use the airline’s customer support portal. The information we reviewed does not specify any size or weight limits for the bassinets, so it is a good idea to ask about any restrictions when you make your request with the airline.
“Infant bassinets are free of cost but are subject to availability. You can raise a request for the same using our customer support portal.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Baby baggage
Infants traveling on an adult’s lap are entitled to their own checked baggage allowance on all flights. The amount depends on the cabin class. In Economy, the allowance is 10 kg. For Premium Economy, it is 12 kg, and for Business and First Class, the allowance is 15 kg. The policy page we checked does not mention a separate carry-on allowance for infants, so it’s best to confirm this with Air India.
“Your little one is entitled to a check-in baggage allowance of 10 kg (22 lb) in Economy, 12 kg (26 lb) in Premium Economy, and 15 kg (33 lb) in Business and First Class on all our flights.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Kids flying alone
Children under 5 years old are not allowed to travel alone on Air India. For older children, the unaccompanied minor service is available only on flights operated by Air India and cannot be used on codeshare flights or connecting flights involving another airline. Parents must submit four signed copies of the unaccompanied minor form for direct flights, or six copies for connecting flights. The service is optional for young passengers aged 12 to 17, who can travel alone and are charged a full adult fare.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Air India unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules.
“At Air India, we do not permit infants, that is, children below 5 years of age, to travel alone. They must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an authorised adult.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
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