A child under 2 years on the date of travel can usually fly as a lap infant on a special infant booking, without a separate seat. A 3-year-old is not an infant: they need their own ticket and their own seat on Indian airlines. Carry proof of age, because without it an airline can charge a full fare.
Updated November 2026 · HappyFares
Families often wonder where the line falls between “a baby who flies free-ish” and “a child who needs a full ticket”. The line is the second birthday, and it is measured on the day you fly, not the day you book.
Does a child under 2 need a flight ticket?
Yes, in the sense that the child must be added to the booking. Indian airlines do not let a baby simply walk on with a parent. An infant is added to an adult’s reservation as a separate infant booking, and the airline issues the infant its own travel record.
IndiGo’s booking page classes a child under 2 years of age as an infant, counted on the date of travel. Akasa Air’s infant page says infants up to 7 days old are not permitted to travel. Both airlines say the infant sits on an adult’s lap and that one infant is allowed per adult passenger.
Air India’s guidance is similar for under-2s: the child can travel on an adult’s lap on an infant fare, and its fare page also mentions a separate seat as an option, so confirm the current rule at booking.
Does a 3-year-old need a flight ticket?
Yes. Once a child has turned 2 on the date of travel, airlines treat them as a child passenger, not an infant. That means a ticket in the child’s name and a seat of their own. A 3-year-old cannot be carried as a lap infant on a domestic flight, even if they are small.
The child fare is the fare for a seat, so budget for it as you would for an adult seat. Check the price shown for the child at the time of booking rather than assuming a large discount.
- Under 2 on the date of travel: infant booking, sits on an adult’s lap.
- Age 2 and above: own ticket and own seat.
What happens on a return trip if the child turns 2 in between?
IndiGo’s booking page counts a child as an infant only if under 2 years of age on the last date of travel on the itinerary, and other airlines apply similar logic. A child who is 23 months old on the outbound flight and turns 2 before the return flight would therefore need a seat on the return, and may need to be booked as a child for the whole itinerary. If you are close to the birthday, the safest approach is to book the return leg as a child with a seat from the start, or to confirm with the airline how it will treat the second sector.
Booking systems check the date of birth you enter against each travel date, so enter it accurately. Guessing or rounding down can cause trouble at the airport.
What proof of age do you need for an infant?
Airlines can ask for proof of the child’s age at check-in. IndiGo says valid proof of age is needed at check-in. Akasa Air says that if a customer cannot show valid proof of age, the child is not treated as an infant and the full applicable fare is charged; it accepts a digital copy of the document. Air India’s FAQ says that without proof, an adult fare may be charged for the infant to be allowed to travel, subject to seat availability.
For domestic travel, Air India’s fare page lists a birth certificate, an Aadhaar card or a passport as acceptable proof of age for infants. Other airlines may accept different documents, so check what yours accepts. Keep the original or a clear digital copy on your phone, and carry one for every child.
What does it cost to fly with a lap infant?
Lap infants are not entirely free. Indian airlines typically charge a per-sector infant fee, and some have revised it in recent months. Akasa Air’s page says the fee set out on its website applies per sector. Air India says infant fares on domestic flights start from a set amount shown on its own fare page.
Because these fees change, and published figures vary between sources, look at the infant line in the fare breakdown during booking and treat that as the amount you will pay. Infants also get extra hand baggage in some cases: Akasa Air lists up to 7 kg of additional hand baggage for an infant.
Did you know? Akasa Air’s infant page says a maximum of 10 infants is allowed on any one of its flights, subject to seat availability. That is a good reason to add the infant to your booking early.
Common Questions
Can a 2-year-old fly on a parent’s lap?
Not as an infant. Airlines define an infant as under 2 years on the date of travel. A child who has turned 2 needs a ticket and a seat.
Can one adult carry two infants?
No. IndiGo and Akasa Air both allow only one infant per adult passenger. A parent travelling with twins under 2 should check with the airline how to book the second baby, as it may need a second adult or a seat of its own.
Can I buy a seat for an infant?
Policies differ by airline. Air India’s guidance mentions a separate seat as an option for a child under 2. Akasa Air’s page says no extra seats may be booked for infants. Check the airline’s own rules before you book.
How young can a baby fly?
Akasa Air does not permit infants up to 7 days old to travel, and other airlines set their own minimum, so check yours. Your doctor’s advice on a newborn’s first flight matters more than the airline minimum.
Is check-in free with Indian airlines?
Checking in is free with every Indian airline, online or at the airport.
Where do I request a bassinet or help with the baby?
Ask the airline directly. Assistance and in-flight facilities for babies are arranged by the airline, not by a booking site.
Travelling with a little one? Search and compare flights on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, price alerts and Meera, our AI assistant, to help you find the right flight.
Rules and fees change; verify current specifics with the airline, DGCA, or the airport before you travel.
