Delta Infant Policy Guide 2026 - Essential Rules for Flying Delta with an Infant

Being a new parent and traveling with an infant may be exciting as well as daunting to some degree, particularly when traveling through the policies of the airline. Delta Air Lines recognizes the special needs of families traveling on the plane with young children, this is why the Delta Air Lines Infant Policy Guide 2026 is given to the families to ensure the positive journey. Here are the key rules and details you should be aware of, on how to make a reservation, check-in, and have your little one comfortable and safe on-board, in order to travel by air. You can read on to make your family travel experience pleasant and free of any hassles!

Delta Infant Policy Overview

Delta Air Lines is a company that values family travel and has simple, safety-oriented policies towards infants below the age of 2. The airline permits infants below 2 years of age to fly as lap children (infant-in-arms) at no cost on domestic flights within the United States, though, as a result of FAA safety regulations, only one infant may be held by an adult (lap child). In case of international traveling, lap babies usually need a ticket at 10 percent of the adult charges as well as duties and charges. It will need to purchase a seat where there is an extra infant or where a child safety seat is used which is approved by FAA.

Key highlights include:

• Domestic Flights: As per Delta Air Lines infant policy infants below 2 years can travel free on the lap of the adult in the U.S., but they should be listed in the booking as an Infant-in-Arms.
• International Flights: It is not totally free and is charged at a reduced fare, normally 10 percent of the adult fare plus tax and other relevant charges.
• Age Limit: The baby has to be below 2 years throughout the trip, and a child who will have his 2nd birthday during the journey will normally need to be purchased a seat.
• Evidence of Age: You shall be required to bring a birth certificate or a passport to ascertain the age of the infant.
• Baggage Allowance: One diaper bag/stroller are free; luggage is checked in accordance with the adult.
• Safety Regulations: Purchased seats can only be fitted with FAA-approved car seats; bassinets are available on some of the international flights (request early).

Traveling with your infant is an easy task and a pleasant experience with Delta Air Lines because of the family-friendly policies.

Delta Traveling with Infant: Age Rules

Delta Air Lines have definite age regulations on infants traveling to maintain the safety and regulations. Infants below 2 years may usually ride as lap children on domestic flights at no additional cost but traveling internationally may attract percentage of the adult fare plus taxes.

Lap Child Eligibility

As per the Delta Air Lines traveling with infant rule the children under the age of 2 years are lap children, and FAA regulations allow one lap infant per adult passenger. If an adult is traveling with two infants, a separate seat must be purchased for the second child.. This is applicable to the domestic flights within the U.S. where they fly without taxes. Age is confirmed through passport or birth certificate in case required.

Minimum Age Requirements

Infants have to be between the age of 7 days before they can take a flight; infants below 7 days will need a medical clearance letter by a doctor. Children at the age of 2 years or above as of the flight date will be required to hold his own seat with a full-fare ticket. Depending on where you are going, international rules can be a little bit different.

Age Transition Rules

When a child is in an age of 2 years and above and the round-trip is made, a seat and full fare would be charged on the whole journey. Parents are to reserve seats early, in advance, when the under-2s wish to have car seats, and use FAA-approved ones. Always check with Delta Air Lines on particular routes.

Delta Traveling With Infant - Ticket Rules

Delta Air Lines does not charge infants who are less than 2 years old to fly lap on domestic flights within the U.S. provided that the infant is carried by an adult, but flights outside the U.S. charge 10% of the adult fare plus taxes. Children above 2 years old in the middle of a journey will have to buy their own seat since then. Never forget to include the infant in the reservation through the Delta reservation system to be sure of compliance and boarding.

Lap Infant Ticketing:

Lap infants do not have any designated seat and are one per adult passenger according to FAA laws. No additional ticket is required within the country, whereas international booking requires the addition of an infant to the ticket and restricting the number of baggage items. If pre-adding is not done, the boarding can be denied.

Seat Purchase Options:

• Purchased seat for infant: Car seats of FAA design or you have a preference of the bassinet; the complete child price is charged to children below 2 years of age.
• Basic Economy restrictions: Basic Economy does not accept Lap infants on certain transatlantic flights; it will need to buy a full-sized seat.
• Multiple infants: Extra lap infants need their own seats as the number of lap children per adult is one.

For maximum comfort during long-haul flights, many families choose to purchase a seat for their infant. Explore our Seat Selection guide to find the best rows for extra legroom and car seat installation.

Booking Process:

Add infants after booking adults; lap children cannot do so through online self-service but can contact +1-888-933-0080 Delta Air Lines Reservations. Provide evidence of age e.g. birth certificate at check in, particularly in the international flights.

Flying Delta with Infant on Lap

Delta Air Lines flight with a baby on your lap provides a relatively low cost alternative to families flying within the United States where children younger than 2 years old do not need to be ticketed separately. This arrangement complies with FAA safety regulations that permit a lap infant per adult and requires special planning to be comfortable and compliant on longer flights.

Lap infants:

The infants who are below 2 years are placed on the lap of an accompanying adult on takeoff, landing, and turbulence, and no seat is allocated to them. One must buy a reduced-rate ticket (usually 10 per cent of adult fare plus taxes) on international flights and place the infant on the ticket. Bassinets can be offered on some wide-body planes but have to be requested in advance and are not guaranteed.

Pros

• Cost Savings: Lap infants always fly free on domestic flights; international flights cost a lot less than purchasing a ticket.
• Convenience: You can carry your baby in a carrier or on your arms to and save yourself the hassle of carrying an extra car seat.
• Bonding and Comfort: They can feel secure when they hold their baby close to them and can easily nurse/feed him/her when they are up or down.

Cons

• Lack of space: During meals or long hauls, there is limited space which does not allow people to move or be comfortable.
• Safety issues: Lacks no personal oxygen mask or seatbelt; FAA recommends buying a seat because of turbulence.
• Boarding inconvenience: There is a possibility of gate-checking extra gear; otherwise, it might not be boarded at all, unless put on the itinerary in advance.

Flying Delta With Infant in a Seat

The alternative of flying Delta Air Lines with infant on the separate seat offers greater safety and comfort to children below the age of 2 years because it gives them the option of using an approved car seat. Parents buy a full adult ticket of the infant considering them as any other passenger with their own seat.

• Seat Purchase Requirements: Infants who are less than 2 years qualify to purchase a seat in full-fare adult fare irrespective of whether the route is domestic or international. The maximum number of laps is one infant per adult and this option entails free lap of the adult to hold or otherwise. Early booking and specifying the car seat when booking.
• Car Seat Guidelines: Delta Air Lines will accept FAA-approved car seats or CARES harnesses or other infant seat types; confirm this through the Delta policies. Install single-aisle aircraft (in windows) or bulkhead seats; no interference with bassinets. Checks are carried out at the gate.

Benefits of Flying With an Infant in a Seat

• Improved turbulence safety and safe FAA certified car seat belt.
• Better rest and comfort of baby in reserved area during extended flights.
• Complete baggage allowance on an infant including carry-on and checked baggage.
• Increased parental comfort, lap holding liberates hands to necessities.

How To Book Lap Infant Ticket On Delta Online?

When parents travel with their children under the age of two, they get a chance to book a lap infant ticket with Delta Air Lines in which the parents will be able to get a seat assigned to their babies without having to buy another ticket. It is also an option that is convenient among families because it may save some expenses incurred on travel expenses, besides ensuring the infant is securely seated on the lap of the parent during flight.

This is how one can buy a lap infant ticket on Delta Air Lines online in just a few simple steps.

• Start your bookings by visiting official Delta Air Lines site.
• You need to enter your departure and arrival cities, the preferred day of travel and the number of passengers.
• Go through the options of flights and select the most suitable one that fits your schedule and budget.
• The fields to fill in the details of adults and children would be provided on the passenger information screen. Look for the 'Add Infant' or 'Lap Infant' option on the passenger details page.
• You are going to be asked to input the name of the infant and date of birth.
• Check your flight information, the adult and infant details. Ensure that all information is accurate and then go on.
• Go to the payment section where you are supposed to put in your payment details.
• Once you have paid, you are expected to get an email confirming the details of your booking.

Delta Airlines Policy on Car Seats

The Delta Air Lines policy on car seats allows the use of FAA-approved car seats by the infants and young children whenever buying the seats as the main concern is safety during takeoff, landing and turbulence. These seats have to comply with rigorous federal requirements and fit on board the planes.

Car Seat Requirements

The Delta Air Lines needs car seats to display visible FAA approval label that it is safe to use in taxi, takeoff and landing aircraft. Booster seats are also not allowed and seats should be fitted inside the standard Delta 16-17 inch wide aircraft seats which normally fit into either a forward-facing or rear-facing model based on the weight of the children. Children below 2 years have to be seated in an approved restraint in case they are left alone; lap babies are not allowed to sit in the car seats on the lap of an adult.

Installation Rules

The car seats should be fitted in window seats without obstructing aisle or other occupants, and there should be an adult person on the seat next to it. They are not allowed to sit on emergency exits, airbag seatbelts, and bulkheads in which bassinets are deployed. Installation may be done with the help of the crew according to the FAA, several seats may be placed on the same row provided there is a free space.

Bassinets and SkyCots on Delta

Delta Air Lines provides bassinets which it calls SkyCots that are free of charge in certain international flights to infants that fit specific size requirements which allow infants to have a safe sleeping area in bulkhead seating. They are comfort amenities that improve the comfort of the family when traveling over long distances but they have to be requested in advance as they are usually only two per aircraft.

SkyCots are designed to carry infants up to 20 pounds (9 kg) and 26 inches (66 cm) in height, only to the infants below 2 years old who are lap children and are being carried by a parent or a guardian. They are fixed on bulkhead walls in economy or premium cabins fitted with wide-body aircraft. SkyCots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis to manage expectations.

Contact Delta Air Lines Reservations ahead of time either by phone or through the My Trips portal to book a SkyCot, including details on infants to check their eligibility.

Delta Infant Baggage Allowance

Delta Air Lines offer certain baggage quota on infants due to the distinction of the Lap infants who travel free on domestic flights and the ticketed baby infants on international flights, as well as items that are necessities such as strollers and car seats that do not count as part of the standard baggage quota. These policies are flexible enough to provide family travel requirements without conflicting with the type of fare and route.

Delta allows one diaper bag and one stroller to be checked for free. For more information on what else you can bring or how to handle last-minute changes to your luggage, check our general Reservation Policy.

Checked Baggage

Lap children are given a completely collapsible stroller or frame backpack carrier free of charge and car seats are inspected at the gate or counter. Infants on ticket receive the same allowance as adults, including free one checked bag to 50 lbs (23 kg) when the adult also carries baggage or purchased more bags. There are weight limits, and items that are less than 15 kg used as strollers are counted as one bag, and oversized goods like a travel crib are counted as one bag.

Carry-On Items

Lap babies do not get any special carry-on or personal item allowance, so diaper bags are subject to be counted as personal item of the adult except breast pumps and cooler bags which are regarded as medical equipments. Other free carry-on services are booster seats, car seats, or bassinets, which have to fit the overhead bins or fit to an aircraft seat with a seatbelt and cannot exceed size limits.

Security Screening With Infants

Going through the airport security with an infant on Delta Air Lines flights necessitates patience and planning to make the TSA check-up as smooth as possible without risking the safety and calmness of the baby during the procedures. The families have the option of family lane processing when there is one, and Delta personnel tend to work at the checkpoints.

Screening Basics

Lock up infants at screening; the babies need not be lifted out of carriers to do a routine metal detector walk, but collapse wearable carriers to X-ray on request. The formula, breast milk, and juice exceeding 3.4 oz will be permitted and subjected to swabbing and inspection separately.

Gate-Checked Gear

Strollers, car seats, and diaper bags receive special treatment; they are checked by the gate without any charge and they also do not count against your allowance. Please carry loose things out of bags to be screened and give security check with infants more time; arrive at least 30 minutes in advance.

In-Flight Comfort for Babies

Delta Air Lines is a company that values comfort in-flight; this is achieved by offering baby friendly and crew supporting amenities, making flights a bearable experience. The Lap babies are provided with additional lap belts during takeoff/landing and the ticketed babies are equipped with the FAA approved car seats. Crews help to warm bottles and change diapers on a low key basis.

Nursing and Feeding:

The parents are allowed to breastfeed on board without any limitations and use blankets to provide privacy. Bring just sensible amounts of formula, breast milk, or infant food; crew hot water can be used to heat bottles. Moreover, prepare pack spill-proof cups and snacks that you are used to so that your baby ears can be calmed when pressure changes.

Entertainment and Sleep:

Noiseless toys, pacifiers, and white noise apps can make babies relaxed, and Delta provides the children with some entertainment on seatback screens, on longer routes. On international flights, lap infants should have a flat sleeping area, which is known as SkyCots and these are installed by crew after takeoff. A stroll through the aisles when there is no crowd may calm down irritable infants.

Tips for Parents:

Put the baby in several layers to deal with changes of cabin temperature, as well as when the plane is in takeoff and landing, feed the baby in time. Book bulkhead seats in advance to get more legroom, and ask the crew to provide help with turbulence. Prepare additional clothes to both in a convenient diaper bag.

Delta Infant Policy on International Flights

To meet various requirements of international flights, Delta Air Lines customizes its infant policies to suit the international flights, prioritizing the documentation and fees required when travelling internationally as opposed to the domestic travels. The cost of lap infants is 10 percent of adult fare with taxes and infants who have tickets are charged as full children. The main guidelines concerning Infant Policy of Delta on international flights are as follows:

• Infants cannot be carried on a lap freely. You will need at least 10 percent of the adult fare; in case two infants will be on board with a single adult, you will need to buy another seat.
• Infants must be over 7 days old. Newborns must have a clearance letter by a physician.
• Infants must have a passport. Moreover, some of the paths could demand a birth certificate or vaccination evidence.
• Car seats and strollers are free of charge and this is in accordance with the domestic policies. Long-haul routes also have bassinets, like the routes between Europe and Asia.

International travel requirements change frequently. If you've booked a trip and realize your infant's name is spelled incorrectly on their ticket, consult our Name Change policy to fix it before your flight.

Medical and Safety Guidance

Delta Air Lines focuses on medical and safety recommendations on travelling with infants to ensure safety of young passengers in the airline. It is advisable that when booking, parents must consult pediatricians, particularly when taking babies or when they are ailing and have to move smoothly.

• Newborn Travel Clearances: Infants below 7 days of age will need a written medical clearance by a physician involving his fitness to fly and special needs. More recent ailments such as ear infections or respiratory problems might require permission of the doctor to avoid the cabin pressure modification posing risk.
• Health Essentials Onboard: Pack medications, inhalers, or oxygen in convenient carry-on Delta Air Lines does not count moderate medical equipment against baggage charges. Report crew allergies or conditions on boarding so that they can be given priority in an emergency.
• Safety Best Practices: Buy a seat that is approved by the FAA to offer protection against turbulence, and follow the instructions of the crew when deploying or evacuating the mask. Book the flights at the most appropriate moments when the baby sleeps and be aware of dehydration in dry cabin air.

Families can impact a safer and more comfortable flight experience by giving importance to these medical and safety guidelines to guarantee that their infants are safer on board.

Key Advantages of Flying Delta With Infant

The Delta Air Lines traveling with infant offers various important advantages that make the flight more pleasant to the family:

• Cost Savings: Infants who are below the age of 2 years get free flights when they sit on the lap of their adults during domestic flights. In the case of international flights, the ticket cost is normally only 10% of the adult ticket.
• Safety Features: Delta supports the use of FAA-approved car seats to infants in their own seats, which will further increase their safety during the flight. Some international flights have bassinets (SkyCots) which make the flights extra comfortable.
• Family-Friendly Amenities: The crew will accommodate you, help warm the bottles and change the diapers, and has priority boarding so you do not have to worry.
• Baggage Allowance: Lap infants can check a stroller and car seat for free, easing the travel strain while ticketed infants have the same baggage allowance as adults.
• In-Flight Comfort: Delta has an option of providing entertainment and parents can quietly breastfeed to ensure that infants remain quiet throughout the journey.

With these benefits, traveling with a baby on the Delta Air Lines is a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.