Lufthansa Infant Policy

In order to travel with a baby on board Lufthansa, it is essential to be aware of some basic conditions concerning age restrictions, cost, seat reservation, and other factors which should be taken into account by parents when planning their journey with an infant. Below we summarize all aspects that are covered in Lufthansa official Family Traveling Policy.

What is the Age of an Infant on Lufthansa Flights?

All children under 2 years old are considered as infants by Lufthansa if they do not occupy a separate seat on board. The child should be older than one week to fly with Lufthansa. If you child will reach 2 years old during your journey – even if this will happen on the way back – the child fare will be charged instead of the infant fare.

Lufthansa Infant Fare – How Much It Costs?

Lufthansa uses two types of pricing depending on the route:

• Flights within Germany: Infants are allowed to travel absolutely free, without a separate seat being assigned.
• International flights and all other flights – infants traveling without occupying a seat are allowed to travel free of charge in case of flights within Germany and pay 10 percent of the regular fare in case of all other flights along with any taxes and charges applicable.

The 10% infant fare applies in cases when you travel short haul within Europe or long haul across continents and in cases when the baby travels as a lap-infant on the lap of an accompanying adult.

It should be mentioned that one lap-infant is allowed to fly for each adult passenger; that is why in cases when you travel with twins or several infants, you need to purchase an extra seat at the child fare rate.

Book a Separate Seat for Your Child

Although infants have the right to fly at the lap-infant rate, parents who prefer their baby to have his own seat, may choose to book the seat at the child fare rate, which is the same fare rate for the passengers aged between 2 and 11.

When you purchase a separate seat for your baby, take note of the following requirements:

• The use of a CRS (child restraint system/car seat) is mandatory for infants who will travel in a separate seat. Lufthansa does not allow babies to travel without any restraint in the adult’s seat.
• Car seats must be placed in the window seat to prevent obstruction of aisle access by other passengers.
• The use of inflatable seat extenders, “bed boxes” and other such devices is not allowed, as they impede emergency exit requirements.

Bassinets on Long-Haul Flights

For long-haul and intercontinental flights conducted using wide body aircraft, Lufthansa provides bassinets at the bulkhead seating, provided that they meet the weight and size restrictions and availability. As there are limited numbers of bassinet spaces available on each aircraft, it is highly advised that the passenger request for one right after purchasing the tickets, preferably 48-52 hours prior to the flight time.

Also Read: Lufthansa Business Class Seat Upgrades

Required Documentation for Travel of an Infant

According to the European Union regulations, it is mandatory for all travelers, including infants, to carry personal travel documents with a photograph. Listing of the infant’s name on the passport of the parents does not work in this regard. Prior to making any bookings, ensure that you have:

• A valid passport or identification document of the infant (get it done earlier since it takes a while for new-borns to get it done)
• Age proof if asked by the airlines during check-in
• Written consent of the parents or guardians, especially when the infant is traveling alone with one parent or any non-parental guardian

In case of any other necessary documentation needed during international travel, get it done as well.

Infant Baggage Allowance

Lufthansa ensures that the infant traveling by air gets special baggage allowance which is different from those for adults:

• An infant ranging from 0-2 years receives a complimentary baggage allowance of 23 kg with circumference 158 cm irrespective of the type of fare purchased (except for Economy Light fare), itinerary, or Miles & More status.
• Infant strollers and car seats can be generally checked-in at no additional cost, thereby making the travel easy by carrying the required infant equipment.
• As soon as the child reaches 2 years of age, the regular baggage allowance for adults comes into effect.

Procedure to Book an Infant on Lufthansa Flight Booking

It’s quite simple to add a baby to your Lufthansa booking:

• Make a search for flights using the Lufthansa website or application.
• Fill out the passenger’s data where you have to choose “infant” and enter the date of birth.
• Select how the baby will travel: as a lap infant with 10% of the ticket price or as a child having an independent seat (fare for children).
• Include a request for a bassinet if traveling on long-haul flights and are eligible.
• Make a payment and receive your confirmation e-mail or booking reference number.

In case of forgetting about the infant while booking the flights, usually you have a chance to fix this mistake through Lufthansa customer service or your travel agent. However, it is better to include all the necessary information from the start to have no problems with bassinets and with check-in procedure.

Final thoughts

Lufthansa’s policy for babies is set up to make travel a breeze for families, offering free or reduced ticket prices, ample baggage allowance, and even facilities such as bassinets for long flights. As the policies regarding documentation, bassinets, and seating may differ marginally depending on the route and type of aircraft, it is a good idea to check out the current policies from Lufthansa directly just before the flight.

Frequently Asked Questions