Yes, it's possible to snag a free seat for baby... But don't count on it.

Let me be clear: the only way to guarantee a seat for your infant is to purchase a ticket in advance. Relying on the possibility of an unoccupied seat is not a strategy I recommend.🛑

That said, I recognize the financial realities many families face. While my first recommendation is always to reassess the overall travel budget & reallocate expenses where possible, I also want parents traveling with a lap infant to know that optimal safety may still be achievable. 🎉

& This guidance exists for an important reason. 👉🏼Airlines acknowledge that the safest way for an infant to fly is secured in an FAA-approved child restraint system, not on a caregiver’s lap. As a result (and with strong encouragement from the FAA) some airlines may allow families to use an unoccupied seat for an infant traveling with a car seat.

📝The abbreviated airline policies are pinned found below. Please reference your airlines website and/or contract of carriage for additional and up-to-date information.

HOW IT WORKS:

Step 1: Bring the car seat to the gate—every time
Even if you booked your infant as a lap child, bring an FAA-approved car seat with you to the gate. This signals to the airline that you are prepared to use it if a seat becomes available.

Step 2: Wait until you’re at the gate
Seat availability often changes right up until boarding. Do not ask at check-in—the gate agent is the decision-maker when it comes to assigning last-minute open seats.

Step 3: Ask politely and clearly
When approaching the gate agent, use simple, confident language:

“Hi! I’m traveling with a lap infant and I have an FAA-approved car seat with me. If there ends up being an empty seat on this flight, would it be possible to use it so my child can ride in their car seat?”

Tone matters. This is a request, not a demand.

Step 4: Understand the criteria
A free seat may be granted only if:

The flight has an unoccupied seat at departure
Your car seat is FAA-approved
The seat can be installed in an appropriate location (not an exit row)

If the flight is full, the airline is not required to create a seat.

Step 5: Be ready to board when told
If a seat opens up, the gate agent may assign it just before boarding or once boarding begins. Stay nearby, keep your car seat accessible, and listen for your name.

Step 6: Accept the outcome—either way
If you’re offered the seat: amazing—install the car seat onboard and enjoy a safer flight.
If you’re not: you did everything right. Now you can continue to gate-check your car seat in a secure and padded bag or box. Asking does not hurt your chances on future flights.

WHAT THE POLICIES ACTUALLY ARE ...

✈️American (Website): “To carry on a safety seat, you must have bought a seat for the child, or a seat must be available next to you.”

✈️Breeze (Contract of Carriage) “If a seat adjacent to an Adult Guest traveling with an Infant is open and available after boarding, or if a separate ticket has been purchased for such Infant, the Infant may travel in the adjacent seat provided that the Infant is securely placed in an FAA-approved child restraint system”

✈️Delta (Website): “If you booked a seat for your child or if there is an open passenger seat in your row, you may place your child in an FAA-approved child safety seat”

✈️Frontier (Contract of Carriage): “Car Seats - A car seat may be used by a child between the ages of 7 days and 2 years if seat space is available after boarding, even if a seat has not been purchased for the child.”

✈️Hawaiian (Contract of Carriage): “You may bring a child restraint car seat onboard as a carry on item based on seat availability. If there is an empty seat and the car seat is appropriately labeled [..] we welcome you to use it.”

✈️Spirit (Contract of Carriage): “If space is available after boarding, or if a separate reservation has been purchased for an infant over seven (7) days and under two (2) years of age, the infant may travel in a separate seat, provided that the infant must be securely placed in an FAA approved child restraint system”

❎Airlines with insufficient policy guidance: Allegiant, JetBlue United, Sun Country and
Southwest.*

📝* This information is updated as of 1/12/26

What Our Clients Say

Did you know?

Although children can fly for free as an "in-lap" infant until 2 years of age, it is safer to put them in their carseat on the airplane.