How old for "lap" ticket for children on int'l flights?

LaVitaBella

I desperately want to go to Italy.  We can't go this year and I'd like to look into next.  Flights are $1400 a piece.  I think I can convince my husband of going if we can just get away with two tickets.  But.....she will be three then.  Maybe we can go this year when she's almost two.  Summer doesn't work but maybe spring will.  Ugh,  it's been 7 years since I've gone.  I always intended on going every few years and just assumed MH would be on board with it.  (my dad's sister and kids live there, we used to go every few years and I studied there a semester)

Kristen81603

I think especially for that type of flight- you will KILL yourself without a seat for her! We did not get Mikey a seat for turks and caicos and I would never do it again that way- that was only 3.5 hours and he was only 18 months. 

I think the age is 2- why are the tickets so much? have you shopped around?  

AmyRob04

I don't know the answer (though I HIGHLY doubt it's past the age of 2, at most) but trust me, you DO NOT want a 3 y/o sitting on your lap on any flight, let alone an international, overnight flight, nor will she want to stay there.

mrs.marie.g

i"think" it depends on the airline. but i cannot imagnie a kid that age sitting on my lap for THAT long of a flight. our marriage would end in divorce

but i also hate long flights myself

mrs.marie.g

and my aunt used to be a flight attendant and she thinks flying with kids on the lap can be very dangerous (think turbulance) i know lots of people that do it and iim not judging. just giving a flight attendants perspective

 

Andrea0429

I'm pretty sure it's only until age 2.  And I would think for an int'l flight, you'll have to show her passport, so they'll know her exact age.  I think I read something about infant/baby pricing for int'l flights on the US air or Continental website, but since we weren't flying international, I didn't read it that well.

LaVitaBella

Hmm I did a quick search on Kayak and those prices came up.  I looked in summer.  Spring is actually $900 a ticket which would be better.  Its stupid to go this year bc they are all travelling to come here for my brother's wedding in September.  Do prices stay in the same range year to year?  I am nervous they will go up a lot.  Hell, when I went to study abroad in 2004, my ticket was $250 with my student discount.  

mrs.marie.g

2 years ago i bought a ticket to london 3 weeks out and it cost me 650 round trip direct dc to heathrow.

i can't even fly to denver for that right now.

it all depends on the price of oil and gas i think! its hard to say where it will be next year. its like the housing market its anyone's guess!

penguingrrl

I rode once with Julia as a lap baby, when she was 9 months old for a short flight. I would never do it again. It was awful. Given how tiny airplane seats are adding another human (even a small one) to that space was absolutely intolerable. At this point if I were going to fly with the kids I would buy seats for everyone and anyone not yet using a booster seat would be strapped in a carseat to keep them contained (also, checking a carseat is questionable since it could get damaged or lost and you'd be stuck without it to leave the airport).

BonsoirLune

LaVitaBella:

  Do prices stay in the same range year to year?  I am nervous they will go up a lot.  Hell, when I went to study abroad in 2004, my ticket was $250 with my student discount.  

No, the cost of flights depends upon supply and demand, fuel costs, etc.  There are certain times of the year where demand is greater and flights will generally be more during those times, i.e. Christmas, summer for Europe, etc.  The days of inexpensive flights to Europe are long gone.  

mrs.marie.g

and summer is considered peak travel to europe so prices go up. spring would be cheaper

 

FrancoiseFilly

We are flying to France to see my inlaws at the end of June and it's 1200 a ticket. Max is 4.5 and I would NEVER want him to sit on my lap even at 15 months (we bought his own seat then too). The flight is so long and imagine if there was a delay (which happened to us on our return flight, it was TORTURE). 

The ticket prices are out of control.  

LaVitaBella

Yeah prices are just completely insane.  I can't believe we'd have to spend over $3000 just to get there.  Haha and yeah I cannot imagine her on my lap actually.  She doesn't even sit nicely for a 20 minute meal.  

Kari78

The age limit is 2 for sure.  I flew internationally in May with my mother & both girls as lap children. That was the last time I could take advantage of not having to pay for Josie. 

ATSBRIDE

Cut off is 24 months. We flew eurofly. Last year to sicily. It was tight. We each had our own seats, I can't imagine if I had one on my lap. If you can swing it save up and get extra seat ....oh and don't fly eurofly lol