Emirates infant and child policy: lap infants, bassinets and kids flying alone
A guide to Emirates' policies for family travel. Covers rules for lap infants, bassinets, car seats, family seating, and children flying alone.
Emirates provides several family-friendly policies, including a guarantee that children under 13 will sit next to an accompanying adult. The airline offers discounted fares for lap infants under two and has specific rules for bringing a car seat on board, which must be approved at check-in.
| Topic | What Emirates says |
|---|---|
| Who counts as a lap infant | Infants under two years old can be carried on an adult's lap, secured with a special seat belt extension.Source |
| Lap infant, international flights | Tickets for infants traveling on a parent's lap or in a bassinet receive a discount from the full adult fare.Source |
| Baby in its own seat | Infants can travel in a car seat onboard as long as a separate seat is purchased for them.Source |
| Lap infant limits | Two infants are permitted to fly with two accompanying adults, provided there is suitable seating and available oxygen masks.Source |
| Turning 2 during the trip | If an infant turns 2 years old after the journey has started, they must pay the applicable child fare and occupy a seat for the remainder of the trip.Source |
| Youngest age to fly | Infants younger than 7 days old are only permitted to fly for emergency medical travel in an incubator or if the mother is traveling on compassionate grounds.Source |
| Bassinet | You can request a bassinet for babies up to two years old, but not if you have booked a seat at a child's fare rate. Bassinets have specific dimensions and are limited in number.Source |
| Car seat on board | Car seats must be forward-facing and securable with a lap seatbelt, not a 3-point harness. Airport Services will approve the car seat for use on board during check-in.Source |
| Family seating | Children under 13 years of age are guaranteed to be seated next to an accompanying adult.Source |
| Service required for | The Unaccompanied Minors service is for children between 5 and 11 years old who are traveling alone.Source |
| Service optional for | You can make a special request for the Unaccompanied Minor service for solo travelers who are between 12 and 15 years old.Source |
| Flights allowed | For an unaccompanied minor connecting to another airline as part of their itinerary, the maximum allowed connection time at the airport is 4 hours.Source |
Lap infants and infant fares
On Emirates, children under two years old can travel as lap infants on an adult’s lap using a special seat belt extension. These tickets are sold at a discount from the full adult fare. If your child turns two after your trip has started, you must purchase a separate seat for them at the applicable child fare for the rest of the journey. Two adults traveling together can bring two lap infants, as long as there is suitable seating and enough oxygen masks available.
“If your infant is under two years old you can request for a bassinet or carry them on your lap secured by our special seat belt extension.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Tickets for infants traveling on the parent’s lap or in a bassinet are discounted from the full adult fare.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Children may travel on board in car seats as long as a separate seat is purchased for the child.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“* Two infants may fly with two accompanying adults if suitable seating and oxygen masks are available.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“any infant who reaches the age of 2 after the commencement of the journey must pay the applicable child fare and is required to occupy a seat for that part of the journey.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Newborns and proof of age
Emirates has a specific rule for the youngest travelers. The airline only permits infants younger than 7 days old on board for emergency medical reasons, such as in an incubator, or if the mother is traveling on compassionate grounds. The information we reviewed did not specify what proof of age is required, so it’s wise to ask what documentation to bring for your baby.
“Infants less than 7 days old will be allowed on board only in the case of travel for emergency medical reasons (in incubators) or if the mother is traveling on compassionate grounds.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Bassinets
You can request a bassinet for a baby up to two years old, which can be done when you book or later through the Manage a Booking portal. However, you cannot request a bassinet if you have already booked a separate seat for your infant at a child’s fare. The airline notes that its bassinets have specific dimensions and are limited in number, so requesting one early is a good idea.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Emirates bassinet: what the airline says.
“Request a seat with a bassinet for babies up to two years old when you book online or add one later through Manage a Booking. Just remember that you can't request a bassinet if you have booked a normal seat on child's fare rates. Also note that our bassinets have specific dimensions and are limited in number.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Strollers and car seats
You can use an approved car seat on board for an infant if you have purchased a separate seat for them. The car seat must be a forward-facing type that can be secured with the plane’s lap seatbelt; it cannot require a 3-point harness. Emirates Airport Services will need to approve the car seat for use during check-in. The information we reviewed did not mention rules for checking strollers.
“The car seat must be the forward‑facing type only and one that can be secured to the seat by the use of the lap seatbelt and does not require a shoulder harness (3‑point seatbelt) as for car vehicles. Airport Services will approve the infant car seat for use on board at check‑in.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Sitting together
Emirates has a clear policy to help families sit together during their flight. The airline guarantees that children under 13 years of age will be seated next to an accompanying adult. This provides some certainty for parents when planning their seating arrangements.
“Children under 13 years of age, however, are guaranteed a seat next to an accompanying adult.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Kids flying alone
Emirates offers an Unaccompanied Minors service for children aged 5 to 11 who are flying alone. You can also request this service for solo travelers aged 12 to 15. Children over 12 are permitted to fly by themselves without the service. A legal parent or guardian must sign a Declaration of Indemnity form at the airport. If the child’s itinerary includes a connection to another airline, the maximum connection time allowed is 4 hours.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Emirates unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules.
“Our Unaccompanied Minors service is for children aged between 5 and 11 who are flying alone.”
Official wording, emirates.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
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