Delta infant and child policy: lap infants, strollers and kids flying alone
Guide to Delta Air Lines infant and child policies. Find rules for lap infants, baggage, strollers, car seats, family seating, and kids flying alone.
Delta Air Lines has several family-friendly policies, including allowing strollers and car seats to be checked for free, as they are not counted as standard baggage. For flights within the United States, children under 2 can travel on an adult’s lap at no charge. For international travel, a lap infant generally pays 10% of the adult fare plus international taxes or fees.
Airline rules can be updated, so it is always a good practice to confirm the details directly with Delta when you book your travel. This helps ensure you have the most current information for your trip.
| Topic | What Delta says |
|---|---|
| Who counts as a lap infant | Infants or children under 2 years of age can travel on an adult's lap for free within the United States or for a reduced fare on international flights.Source |
| Lap infant, domestic flights | Lap infants under 2 years of age travel for free on all flights within the United States.Source |
| Lap infant, international flights | On international flights, a lap infant generally pays 10% of the adult fare plus international taxes or fees. A ticket must be issued for the child.Source |
| Baby in its own seat | To have a separate seat for an infant, you must purchase an adult fare ticket and bring an FAA-approved child safety seat for the child.Source |
| Lap infant limits | Due to FAA safety requirements, one adult passenger is permitted to carry only one lap-held infant. If an adult is traveling with two infants, a seat must be purchased for the second infant.Source |
| Turning 2 during the trip | A ticket for a separate seat must be purchased for a child who turns 2 years old during the trip.Source |
| Youngest age to fly | Newborns under 7 days old are not permitted to travel unless they have an approval letter from a physician who has physically examined the baby and given permission to fly.Source |
| Stroller | Strollers are not counted as part of the standard baggage allowance and can be checked for free. They may be checked at the curbside, ticket counter, or at the gate.Source |
| Infant baggage | Infants traveling for free on an adult's lap do not have a baggage allowance. Any baggage for the child counts as part of the adult's baggage allowance.Source |
| Family seating | Delta's policy is to try to seat family members together upon request. If seats cannot be assigned together online or via the app, families should contact reservations to review available seating options.Source |
| Youngest age to fly alone | Children 4 years old and younger are not permitted to travel alone; they must be accompanied by a passenger who is at least 18 years old.Source |
| Service required for | The Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) program is mandatory for children aged 5-14 traveling without an adult.Source |
| Service fee | The Unaccompanied Minor Program fee is $150 USD/CAD/EUR each way. This fee covers up to 4 children, such as siblings, traveling together.Source |
| Flights allowed | Unaccompanied Minors are only allowed to connect to other flights operated by Delta, Delta Connection, Air France, and KLM.Source |
Lap infants and infant fares
On Delta flights within the United States, a child under 2 years old can travel on an adult’s lap for free. For international travel, the fare for a lap infant is generally 10% of the adult fare, plus taxes and fees. You must let Delta Reservations know you are traveling with a lap infant to have them added to your ticket.
If your child turns 2 during your trip, you will need to purchase a ticket for them. Each adult passenger is permitted to hold only one lap infant. To have a separate seat for your baby, you must buy an adult fare ticket.
“Infants or children under 2 years of age can travel on the lap of an adult for free (within the United States) or at a reduced fare (for international travel).”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“When you travel with a child under 2 years of age, you may choose to travel with the child on your lap (Infant-in-Arms) for free on all flights within the United States.”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Generally 10% of adult fare + international taxes or fees, must notify Delta Reservations so we can list your child on ticket”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Must pay for adult fare ticket and bring FAA-approved child safety seat for child”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Due to FAA safety requirements, 1 adult passenger may only carry 1 lap-held infant. If an adult passenger is traveling with 2 infants, a seat must be purchased for the additional infant.”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR YOUR CHILD IF YOU: … Have a child that turns 2 during the trip”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Newborns and proof of age
Delta Air Lines allows newborns to fly, but there is a special rule for the youngest travelers. A baby under 7 days old cannot travel without an approval letter from a physician. The letter must state that the physician has physically examined the baby and given permission for the newborn to fly.
The information we reviewed does not specify if you need to show proof of age for older infants. It can be helpful to carry a copy of your child’s birth certificate and to confirm the airline’s requirements when you book.
“Under 7 Days (Newborn) May not travel unless accompanied by an approval letter from a physician who has physically examined the baby that gives permission for the newborn to fly.”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Strollers and car seats
You can bring a stroller and a car seat for your child without them counting toward your standard baggage allowance. Delta allows you to check these items for free. For convenience, you can check them at the curbside, the ticket counter, or right at the gate before you board.
If you have purchased a seat for your infant, you must bring an FAA-approved child safety seat for them to use on the plane. The airline also permits the use of a CARES harness in a purchased seat.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Delta car seat and stroller policy.
“Children's strollers and child safety seats are not counted as part of the standard baggage and therefore can be easily checked for free. For your convenience, these items may be checked at the curbside, the ticket counter or at the gate.”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Baby baggage
When a child under 2 travels for free on an adult’s lap, they do not get their own baggage allowance. Any bags you bring for the infant will be counted as part of the accompanying adult’s baggage allowance, so be sure to factor this in when you pack.
The policy page we checked does not state what the baggage allowance is for an infant traveling in their own paid seat. You can ask the airline about this when you make your reservation.
“If children are traveling for free, they don’t have a baggage allowance. So, any baggage for the child counts as part of the adult's baggage allowance.”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Sitting together
Delta states that it aims to seat family members together upon request. If you book your flights and are not able to get seats together for your family using the airline’s website or app, you should contact Delta reservations directly. An agent can then review the available seating options with you to find a solution.
It is a good idea to sort out your family’s seating arrangements as early as possible to have the most choices available.
“Delta strives to seat family members together upon request. If you are unable to obtain seat assignments together for your family using delta.com or the Fly Delta mobile app, please contact reservations to review available seating options.”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Kids flying alone
Children ages 5 to 14 traveling without an adult who is 18 or older must use Delta’s Unaccompanied Minor service. The fee is $150 USD/CAD/EUR each way and covers up to 4 children traveling together. Children 4 years old and younger are not permitted to travel alone.
Unaccompanied Minors can only connect to flights operated by Delta, Delta Connection, Air France, and KLM. For teens aged 15 to 17, the service is optional. If you choose not to use it, you must inform an agent, and the teen will be expected to manage their own travel.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Delta unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules.
“4 YEARS & YOUNGER May not travel alone (must be accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years old)”
Official wording, delta.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
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