Rules for transporting children on the plane and their belongings

Flights with children are becoming more and more popular, because air transport is the fastest, even in the most remote point of the world can be reached in less than a day. Airplanes are also statistically one of the safest modes of transport. Therefore, many parents, going on vacation with a small child, choose the plane. What you need to know about the rules of transporting children on the plane and their belongings?

A few years ago, flights with children were difficult and not very comfortable. Today, Russian and many other airlines provide everything necessary to ensure that the flight with a small child passes unnoticed. Until now, many parents are afraid to fly with small children, worrying about how the kids will endure physical exertion, what they can take during the flight, whether they will cause inconvenience to themselves and other passengers.

It is possible to dispel doubts by specifying in advance all necessary points from the airline: starting the rules of transporting small children and ending with what the child will eat and what to play during the flight. It is in the interests of parents to notify the air carrier as soon as possible that there will be a small child with them and discuss all the details.

Before you take a child with you on an airplane, you need to make sure that all the necessary documents confirming the child’s age and permission to escort if the baby does not fly with their parents are taken with them. Up to two years, the baby can only fly with parents or legal guardians.

Most Russian airlines are ready to provide support services for children from the age of five. It is necessary to write a special statement, transfer the child to the carrier’s employee at the airport and stay with them until the departure, and also ensure that the child is met at the airport of arrival at the exact time.

Report that the child needs a companion, you must still when booking a ticket. When ordering such a service ticket for a child You will have to buy an adult fare without discounts, in addition, the escort service itself (usually about 40 euros) and the transfer service, if necessary, are paid for. This service is available for children 5-16 years.

If the child flies with one of the parents, you must obtain the permission of the second parent, certified by a notary. For international flights, a child must have his own passport or be entered in the parent's passport.

If a baby under 2 years old is in the hands of an adult, his it is necessary to fasten a separate child seat belt, which is attached to the belt of an adult passenger.

Each passenger has the right to take with him on a flight that passes on the territory of Russia, one child up to two years without buying a separate ticket for him. In this case, the baby will have to be held during the entire flight or placed in a special cradle. At the same time, you should not count on free luggage for a child.

If a passenger flies with several children under two years old, then for one child the flight will be free, in the hands of the parent. The remaining children will be given a discount of no more than 50% of the cost of an adult ticket, a separate seat in the cabin and free baggage within a limited weight.

When planning to take a child with you on a plane, you need to take into account his age on the day of departure, regardless of when the ticket was purchased.

If a child turns 12 years old on the day of departure, he must purchase a ticket at an adult fare. In other cases, for children under 12 years old airlines offer special fares.

Up to two years, it’s most economical to take with you to fly a baby as much as possible - without a separate seat for the child, the flight will be free of charge or will be 10% of the adult ticket price, but on reaching the age of two, completely different rates apply.

When a child is 12 years old, you need to buy an adult ticket for it at full price, but some airlines have special youth discounts, the availability and size of which you need to find out in the information desk.

Airlines do not recommend flying children under seven days old. However, if there is an emergency, then you can fly with the baby the very next day after birth. If the baby is not yet seven days old, the parents are obliged to provide the airport check-in agent with a receipt stating that the airline does not bear any responsibility for the consequences after the transportation of the baby.

The flight with a baby can also go quite comfortably, provided that the parents take into account all the necessary moments in advance.

The child should be placed in it feet to the aisle. During take-off, landing and when passing through the turbulence zone, the baby must be removed from the cradle.

Some airlines allow you to take a folding wheelchair with you to the ramp or even to the cabin of the aircraft; it is necessary to find out about such a possibility and allowed dimensions in the information office of the carrier.

In Russia, there are no rules for limiting the age of a child from which he could be taken on a plane trip. But the age recommended by pediatricians is three months, from this moment the infant is already adapted to the new world, can normally tolerate reduced levels of oxygen and body load at high altitude.

As a rule, it is not allowed to plant more than one child on one row without a separate place due to the presence of oxygen masks. If the aircraft is not completely full, the cabin crew must provide space behind the empty seats. If you are very lucky, you can even transplant into a business class, but the food will still remain from economy class.

When planning what to take to the child in flight, you need to take into account his individual characteristics, but there is a universal list of necessary things in hand luggage.

Most often, the child can choose the type of special food in accordance with his taste, physical and even religious preferences. But the order of such power must be done in advance, not less than 36 hours before departure. The most fastidious kids better take baby food with them. Also, you need to check with the stewardess in advance if she can warm it up.

It is necessary to stock up with all sorts of entertainment and toys for the child, it is better if it will be something completely new, which he has not yet seen, to surprise and interest the baby.

Despite the presence of toilets in the cabin, it will not be superfluous to stock up on special walking pots that absorb the contents. In case of motion sickness, it is also better to take a hygienic package with you, although such a thing can be found on most airplanes in the pocket in front of the seat. Wet wipes will become an irreplaceable thing in flight.

It is important to clarify with the carrier about the possibility of taking a small folding stroller into the cabin, many airlines allow this possibility.

Here is an example of the norm of hand baggage in Aeroflot:

• Class "Business" - 1 place up to 15 kg (the total value of three dimensions - up to 115 cm)
• Class "Comfort" and class "Economy" - 1 place up to 10 kg (the total value of three dimensions up to 115 cm).

When registering, it is weighed and tagged. If the weight or size limit is exceeded, hand baggage shall be checked in as checked baggage.

In addition to this norm, you can additionally carry items that are on the passenger and are not invested in the baggage:

• women's bag / men's briefcase;
• folder for papers;
• umbrella;
• cane;
• bouquet of flowers;
• outerwear;
• portable computer;
• camera;
• video camera;
• magazines and newspapers for reading;
• baby food for the baby during the flight;
• cradle when transporting baby;
• suit in a portfed;
• cellular telephone;
• crutches;
• folding walker;
• shopping bag from Duty Free.

Things from this list are not weighed, are not subject to registration and are not marked with tags.

A large wheelchair must be handed over to the luggage, but you can use it right up to the ramp and get it back when you exit the plane, however, you have to wait for it to be brought from the luggage compartment. Many airlines allow you to take with you to the salon a child seat measuring no more than 40x40 centimeters. A chair with larger dimensions will have to be sent to the luggage.

It is important to know that not every toy can be taken with you to the cabin. For example, various pistols, knives and other plastic weapons must be checked in.

It is best to try to put the baby to sleep, for this you can take a familiar thing that calms him down and brings sleep. Also, it will not be superfluous to take a bottle with a drink or a nipple, the main thing is to remember about the allowed volumes of liquid transport. Older children can take an inflatable pillow that fits around the neck.

Many airlines offer all sorts of entertainment for young travelers. Travel kits, coloring books, toys, puzzles and puzzles are issued.

Brighten up the child while the flight will be able to delicious snack.

To make the child comfortable during the flight, you need to monitor the satisfaction of all his needs. Most airlines take care of little travelers, offer them separate meals, games and bedding, it is better to take with you everything you need and clarify what kind of convenience a child can count on. Do not forget about medication: drops in the nose, painkillers and means of rocking exactly should be at hand.

So that the child doesn’t have a nipple or a bottle of drink suitable for those who are older - candy or lollipop. It is better for small children to change the diaper in advance before the flight, there are mother and child rooms at each airport.

It is very important to properly dress the child in flight. Clothes should be comfortable, not constraining the movement of the child, he should not be hot or cold. It is better to provide a change of clothes. And if you want to build a small canopy, you can take a scarf and pins with you and attach it over the seats or to the side of them. This will protect the baby from the light and help you fall asleep faster.

Flying in an airplane, even with the smallest child, can pass for the parent relatively unnoticed if he knows about all the rules for transporting his child, notifies the airline in advance about the provision of certain amenities and takes everything necessary for his baby with him.

And in conclusion - a useful video where you can find some more tips from experienced mom-travelers.