KLM infant and child policy: lap infants, strollers and kids flying alone
Your guide to KLM's policies for flying with babies and children. Find rules for lap infants, baggage like strollers and car seats, and kids flying alone.
KLM’s policy states that children under 12 years old will always be seated next to an adult in their booking. The airline also allows you to bring both a stroller and a car seat for each child at no extra charge. For babies on your lap, you will pay a strongly reduced ticket price.
| Topic | What KLM says |
|---|---|
| Who counts as a lap infant | Babies aged 0 to 23 months can travel on their parent's lap with a baby ticket.Source |
| Lap infant, international flights | For a child younger than 2 years old who sits on an adult's lap, there is a strongly reduced ticket price.Source |
| Baby in its own seat | It is possible to book a separate seat for a baby. The fare will be the ticket price for a child between 2 and 11 years old. This cannot be done online and requires contacting the airline.Source |
| Lap infant limits | Each adult is permitted to travel with a maximum of two babies, but only one may sit on the adult's lap.Source |
| Turning 2 during the trip | If a child turns two years old during the trip, the reduced infant ticket price no longer applies, and the child fare must be paid for all flights in the booking.Source |
| Youngest age to fly | You can book a flight for a baby as soon as it is born, using the baby's full name and date of birth.Source |
| Stroller | For each child, you can bring one buggy, stroller, or back carrier free of charge.Source |
| Checking a car seat | One car seat or Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) can be brought for each child at no extra charge.Source |
| Family seating | On board, children under 12 years old will always be seated next to an adult in their booking. On flights to, from, or via Canada, this applies to children under 13.Source |
| Service required for | The Unaccompanied Minor service is required for children aged 5 up to and including 14 who are traveling without an accompanying adult of 18 years or older, or who are in a different travel class.Source |
| Service optional for | For children aged 15 up to and including 17 years old, the Unaccompanied Minor service is optional.Source |
| Flights allowed | The Unaccompanied Minor service is available on all direct flights. For connecting flights, transfers are only allowed on flights operated by KLM, Air France, and Delta Air Lines.Source |
Lap infants and infant fares
On KLM, babies from 0 to 23 months old can travel on an adult’s lap with a “baby ticket” for a strongly reduced price. Each adult can travel with up to two babies, but only one may be a lap infant; a separate seat must be purchased for the second baby. If you wish to book a separate seat for your infant, you will pay a child’s fare and must contact KLM to make the reservation, as this cannot be done online.
If your child will turn 2 years old during your trip, the reduced infant fare does not apply. You must purchase a child’s fare for all flights in the booking.
“With our baby ticket, babies aged 0 to 23 months can travel on their parents’ lap.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Is your child younger than 2 years old? You won’t receive a seat for the little one, we assume that your baby will sit on your lap during the flight. This gives them a strongly reduced ticket price.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“If you want to have some extra space, it’s always possible to book a separate seat for your baby. You cannot do this via our website, so contact the KLM Customer Contact Centre to arrange this extra seat. You’ll then pay the ticket price for children between 2 and 11 years old.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Each adult can travel with a maximum of 2 babies. Only 1 of them can sit on your lap, for their comfort and safety as well as your own.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Note, though: if your child celebrates their second birthday during your trip, the strongly reduced ticket price no longer applies. You’ll pay the child fare for all their flights in your booking.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Newborns and proof of age
According to KLM, you can book a flight for your baby as soon as it is born. You will need to provide the baby’s full name and date of birth when making the reservation.
The airline’s page that we checked does not mention any specific rules about a minimum age in days or a requirement for a doctor’s note for healthy newborns. It is always a good idea to carry a copy of your child’s birth certificate as proof of age when traveling.
“You can book a flight for your baby as soon as it is born, using its full name and date of birth.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Strollers and car seats
KLM allows you to bring essential baby and child gear at no extra charge. For each child, you may bring one stroller, buggy, or back carrier. In addition to that, you can also bring one car seat or Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) per child for free.
The information we reviewed does not specify if these items can be checked at the gate or must be checked at the ticket counter. We suggest you confirm this with the airline before your flight.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: KLM car seat and stroller policy.
“You can bring 1 buggy, stroller, or back carrier for each child free of charge.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Sitting together
KLM has a clear policy to keep families together on the plane. The airline states that children under 12 years old will always be seated next to an adult in their booking. This provides some certainty when you are planning your seating arrangements.
Note that for flights to, from, or via Canada, this policy applies to children under 13 years old.
“On board, children under 12** years old will always sit next to an adult in your booking. For KLM flights to, from, and via Canada, this goes for children under 13.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Kids flying alone
KLM requires its Unaccompanied Minor service for children aged 5 up to and including 14 who are traveling without an adult aged 18 or older, or who are booked in a different travel class. For teenagers aged 15 to 17, the service is optional; if you do not book it, they are considered adult passengers. The service is available on all direct flights. For trips with connections, transfers are only permitted on flights operated by KLM, Air France, and Delta Air Lines. The person picking up the child must present a valid ID that matches the information on the Unaccompanied Minor form.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: KLM unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules.
“Is your child aged 5 up to and including 14 and traveling without an accompanying adult of 18 years and older? Or is your kid traveling in a different travel class than the accompanying adult? Please note that you’re always required to book the Unaccompanied Minor service on top of the regular ticket.”
Official wording, klm.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
More on KLM:
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