Yes, babies need to be included in your flight booking in India, even when they sit on your lap. An infant ticket normally covers a baby under two years old without a separate seat. It usually costs less than an adult ticket, but it is not automatically free.
From the second birthday, your child needs a separate seat and the applicable child or regular fare. Check your baby’s age on every travel date, including the return journey.
This guide explains infant ticket prices, airline age limits, documents, seating and baggage. It also clears up a common misunderstanding: you cannot assume every Indian airline lets you buy a separate seat for a baby under two.
Fares and airline policies can change; confirm the final conditions for your booking.
Do Babies Need Flight Tickets in India?
Yes. Add your baby as an infant when booking, or arrange an approved addition through the airline before travel. A lap infant does not occupy a seat, but the airline still needs the baby’s details and must confirm availability.
| Child’s age on the travel date | Booking category | Seat requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Below the airline’s minimum newborn age | Ordinary booking may not be permitted | Any exception requires the airline’s approval; a doctor’s note alone may not be sufficient. |
| Eligible newborn age to under two years | Infant | Usually travels on an accompanying adult’s lap under Indian airline policies. |
| Two to under 12 years | Child | A separate seat is required. Any discount depends on the carrier and fare. |
| 12 years and older | Usually adult fare category | A separate seat is required; young-passenger supervision rules may still apply. |
A baby is a passenger even without a seat. Do not arrive at the airport assuming the airline can simply add your child free of charge. Flights have limits on the number of infants they can carry.
How Much Does an Infant Flight Ticket Cost in India?
There is no single nationwide infant fare. Airlines may charge a fixed amount, use route-specific fees or calculate an international infant fare as a percentage of the adult base fare.
The total can also depend on the cabin, number of flight sectors, booking channel, taxes and whether the infant is added in advance.
Air India infant ticket prices
Air India’s published infant-fare page, checked for this update, lists the following domestic fares for an infant without a seat:
| Cabin | Published domestic one-way infant fare |
|---|---|
| Economy | ₹3,000 |
| Premium Economy | ₹3,500 |
| Business | ₹5,000 |
| First Class, where offered | ₹5,000 |
The same page advertises international infant fares starting at 10% of the adult base fare. Check the final amount, including applicable taxes and charges. This does not mean 10% of whatever total you paid for the adult ticket.
Does IndiGo charge for infants?
Yes. IndiGo charges an infant fee. Its fees-and-charges page distinguishes charges by journey and includes airport-charge tables; it also notes discounted pre-booked infant charges.
Use the infant amount shown for your actual itinerary. Do not assume an old promotional ₹1 offer, a domestic fee or a Stretch-cabin figure applies to every flight.
Are babies under two ever free?
Do not assume free travel on Indian airlines. A temporary promotion may reduce a charge, but the baby must still be included in the booking and meet the airline’s conditions.
When comparing airlines, enter all adults, children and infants before comparing the final price. The cheapest adult fare may not produce the cheapest family booking.
Airline Infant Ticket Rules Compared
| Airline | Published newborn-age guidance | Important booking point |
|---|---|---|
| Air India | Its infant guide states a minimum age of seven days. | Published infant guidance requires lap travel and an accompanying adult for each infant. |
| IndiGo | Its infant page and conditions define an infant as over three days old and under two years. | One infant per adult; its booking guidance does not permit a separate infant seat. |
| Akasa Air | Infants up to seven days old are not permitted. | One infant per adult, travelling on the adult’s lap; no extra infant seat. |
| SpiceJet | Its infant FAQ describes eligible infants as above seven days and below two years. | Add the infant to the reservation and carry accepted age proof. |
| Air India Express | Its special-guests FAQ states at least nine days; its terms contain different age and medical-clearance wording. | For a newborn, obtain confirmation of eligibility and required medical documents before paying. |
Official references: Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express.
What happened to Vistara? Vistara merged into Air India on 12 November 2024. It should no longer appear as a separate current airline in an infant-ticket comparison. Use Air India’s current booking and infant policies. See the official merger announcement.
What if Your Baby Turns Two During the Trip?
Your child cannot continue travelling as a lap infant after turning two. The age on the date you purchased the ticket does not preserve infant eligibility.
For example, if your child is 23 months old on the outbound flight but has their second birthday before the return, contact the airline before booking. Ask how it will price and issue the complete itinerary.
Some booking systems apply infant eligibility across the whole reservation. You may need an airline-arranged booking or different ticketing treatment; do not enter an incorrect birth date to make the website accept the reservation.
Does a two-year-old pay full price?
A two-year-old needs a seat, but a separate seat does not automatically mean a full adult fare. Some airlines offer child discounts, while others charge the available regular fare.
Air India advertises child discounts of up to 25%, subject to its conditions and availability. A discount on the base fare does not necessarily reduce the full ticket price by the same percentage.
Read more: Does a Child Pay Full Price for Airline Tickets in India?
What Documents Do Babies Need to Fly?
Domestic flights in India
Carry the airline’s accepted proof of your baby’s age and the accompanying adult’s valid identification. A birth certificate is a useful starting point, but accepted alternatives vary.
- IndiGo: lists a birth certificate, mother’s hospital discharge summary, vaccination certificate or passport as infant age-proof options.
- Air India Express: its FAQ accepts a birth certificate or an alternative showing the date of birth, such as a hospital discharge summary.
- Other airlines: confirm their document list and whether originals, digital documents or copies are accepted.
Can you fly without a birth certificate? Sometimes, if your airline accepts another document you hold. That is different from travelling without any age proof. Do not rely on a photograph of the baby or a verbal statement of their age.
Missing proof can mean repricing, refusal of the infant booking or travel being dependent on seat availability. It is not a problem you should plan to solve at the gate.
International flights
For ordinary passport-based international travel, your baby needs their own valid passport and any visa or other entry permission required for their nationality and destination. A parent’s passport or the baby’s birth certificate is not a general substitute.
Limited route-specific arrangements, such as certain India–Nepal journeys, require separate checking. Confirm documents with the airline and relevant authorities rather than assuming an exception applies.
If the baby travels with one parent or another adult, check destination-specific consent and relationship-document requirements. A consent letter does not replace a passport or visa.
Use our guides to documents for infants and children and parental consent letters.
How Early Can a Newborn Fly?
Airline permission and medical suitability are separate questions. Meeting the carrier’s minimum age does not establish that a particular newborn is ready to travel.
Discuss travel with your paediatrician, particularly after premature birth, illness or breathing problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ travel guidance recommends medical advice before flying with a newborn or an infant with relevant health concerns.
A medical certificate does not override an airline’s refusal to carry a newborn. If an exception is possible, the airline may require its own medical approval. For Air India Express, resolve the different wording in its terms and FAQ before arranging a newborn’s journey.
See How Early Can Infants Fly? for a fuller newborn-travel discussion.
Can You Buy a Separate Seat for a Baby?
Not on every airline. Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air publish infant policies requiring lap travel rather than allowing parents simply to buy an extra infant seat.
Do not book your under-two baby as a child using an incorrect birth date. Buying an extra seat for space also does not automatically authorise placing an infant in it.
For airlines that accept an infant in a separate seat, confirm the approved child restraint, size limits, installation position and booking process before purchase.
ICAO identifies an appropriate approved child restraint in a dedicated seat as the safest arrangement. That safety recommendation should inform your airline choice, but it does not mean every carrier offers the option.
See Can You Carry a Car Seat on Indian Flights?
Can one adult travel with twins?
Do not assume buying another seat solves the problem. Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air require one accompanying adult for each infant under their published policies.
If another carrier permits one lap infant and one infant in an approved restraint, obtain that arrangement directly from the airline. Confirm it for every operating carrier on a connecting journey.
Does a bassinet count as a seat?
No. A bassinet is an onboard facility, not a separately ticketed passenger seat. Availability depends on the aircraft and the baby’s eligibility, and a request should not be treated as a guarantee.
Read Do Airlines in India Provide Bassinets for Infants?
Do Infants Get Baggage Allowance?
There is no universal 10 kg infant allowance across Indian airlines. Cabin baggage, checked baggage and stroller acceptance are separate benefits.
- Air India: its current concession page lists additional checked baggage of 10 kg in Economy, 12 kg in Premium Economy and 15 kg in Business and First. Confirm what appears on your itinerary.
- Air India Express: its FAQ allows an additional 10 kg within the accompanying adult’s checked baggage, not as a separate infant bag.
- Akasa Air: its infant terms provide an additional hand-baggage allowance of up to 7 kg.
These examples illustrate why a cabin allowance should not be mistaken for a checked-baggage allowance. Do not assume a diaper bag, stroller and car seat are all unlimited extras.
Ask where a checked stroller will be returned: the aircraft door, another collection point or the baggage carousel. Keep essentials with you in case it is unavailable immediately after landing.
Related guidance: Infant Baggage Allowance in India, Diaper Bag Rules and Stroller Rules.
Can You Bring Breast Milk, Formula and Baby Food?
Baby feeding supplies can receive exceptions from ordinary cabin-liquid restrictions, but quantities and screening requirements still matter.
Air India’s restricted-baggage guidance permits baby food and products including milk and sterilised water in quantities considered sufficient for the journey. Present these items separately when requested and allow time for screening.
Check the rules at every airport where you will be screened, especially for international connections. Do not interpret a baby-food exception as permission for unlimited liquids.
See our guides to breast milk on Indian flights, baby formula and water for babies.
Which Airline Is Best for Travelling With a Baby?
The best choice depends on your route and the help your family needs. Compare the complete journey rather than choosing from an infant fee alone.
- Journey length: a convenient nonstop flight may be easier than a cheaper connection.
- Seating: confirm whether your preferred infant restraint arrangement is accepted.
- Baggage: compare baby essentials and stroller allowances.
- Aircraft: check any bassinet request against the actual flight.
- Schedule: allow enough time for feeding, changing and transfers.
- Total cost: include every traveller, required bag and selected seat.
For seating considerations, read Best Seats When Flying With a Baby in India.
Booking Checklist for Parents
- Check the date of birth against every flight date. Flag a second birthday during the trip before paying.
- Select the infant passenger during booking. If adding the baby later, obtain a revised confirmation.
- Compare the complete family fare. Check whether charges apply separately to connecting sectors.
- Confirm the operating airline’s rules. A codeshare partner may have different requirements.
- Check documents. Pack accepted age proof, adult identification and international documents where required.
- Confirm seating and assistance requests. Save written approval for any special arrangement.
- Review baggage and stroller handling. Keep feeding supplies, nappies, wipes and spare clothes accessible.
- Recheck after changes. Make sure the infant remains attached to the booking after rescheduling or rebooking.
Already booked but forgot the baby? Contact the airline or ticket issuer promptly. Ask them to add the infant, collect the applicable charge and send an updated confirmation. Do not rely on an airport addition being available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a two-year-old need a flight ticket in India?
Yes. From the second birthday, book a child ticket with a separate seat. The fare may be discounted or may match the regular fare, depending on the airline.
Is an infant ticket free on Air India?
No. Air India publishes paid infant fares. The domestic amount depends on the cabin, while international pricing and applicable charges must be checked for the itinerary.
At what age is a flight ticket free?
There is no general free-flight age across Indian airlines. Under-two lap travel usually still attracts an infant charge.
Can my baby fly domestically without a birth certificate?
Possibly, if your airline accepts another document showing the baby’s age. Confirm the alternative before travel rather than arriving without proof.
Can a baby travel internationally on a parent’s passport?
For normal passport-based international travel, arrange the baby’s own passport and required entry permission. Check any narrowly applicable route-specific exception directly.
Does an infant ticket include a seat?
A lap-infant ticket does not. Separate-seat arrangements are airline-specific and are not offered under the published infant policies of several Indian carriers.
Can I still book a Vistara infant ticket?
Vistara no longer operates as a separate airline following its merger with Air India. Use Air India’s current booking channels and policies.
More Guides for Flying With Babies and Children
- Flying With Babies and Children in India
- Baby Ear Pain During Takeoff and Landing
- Baby Meals on Flights: BBML, Baby Food and Rules
- Family Boarding and Seating Policies in India
- Airline Says Your Child’s Ticket Has No Seat: What Parents Should Do
- How Families Can Get Seats Together on a Plane
- How to Keep Kids Occupied on a Plane
