Flying with a baby or young child should be the easy part of the trip — but airline rules on infant fares, seats, prams and documents are confusing and differ by carrier. This guide explains exactly what you pay, what your child is entitled to, what to bring, and the one document mistake that gets families turned away at the gate. Updated June 2026 with current rand fares.
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Infant, child, adult — the age bands that decide everything
Three categories drive your fare, your seating and your baggage:
- Infant — under 2 (birth to 24 months): Travels on an adult's lap. Needs a ticket, but at a fraction of the adult fare. No own seat and no standard baggage allowance, but a pram and car seat are usually carried free. Most airlines accept infants from about 7 days old.
- Child — 2 to 11: Must occupy their own seat from age 2. Pays a child or adult fare depending on the airline, and gets the full adult checked baggage allowance.
- Adult — 12 and over: Treated as an adult for fares and handling.
The age that counts is the child's age on the departure date. A baby who turns 2 the day before the flight needs their own seat, not a lap ticket.
What you actually pay for an infant
"Babies fly free" is a myth in South Africa. An infant on your lap still needs a ticket — it's just heavily discounted. The clearest published example is FlySafair, where an infant ticket is 15% of the net adult fare. You add the infant when you search by selecting the number of infants. Other carriers apply a small percentage or flat fee; some promotional or full-service fares are more generous. Always add the infant at booking — adding a baby at the airport is harder and can cost more.
Child & infant rules by airline — 2026
Policies differ most on infant fares and bassinets. Here's how the main carriers compare for domestic travel:
| Airline | Infant (under 2) fare | Bassinet | Pram & car seat | Infant baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlySafair | 15% of net adult fare, lap | No (single-aisle 737 fleet) | Free for under-3s, gate-checked | Essentials as a personal item |
| SAA | Lap infant (add at booking) | Yes — infant ≤10 kg & ≤75 cm, bulkhead, reserve early | 1 car seat + 1 pushchair | 23 kg checked for the lap infant |
| Airlink | Lap infant (add at booking) | Subject to aircraft | 1 pram + 1 car seat | 10 kg checked (lap infant) |
| Lift | Confirm infant fare at booking | Subject to aircraft | Pram carried as a free extra | Confirm at booking |
| CemAir | Confirm infant fare at booking | Smaller regional aircraft — limited | Pram carried as a free extra | Confirm at booking |
The pattern: full-service carriers (SAA, Airlink) give the lap infant a real checked allowance and offer bassinets on bigger aircraft, while low-cost carriers keep it lean — a cheap infant ticket and free pram/car seat, but no bassinet and minimal baggage. For exact baggage numbers by fare, see our baggage allowance guide.
Lap, own seat, car seats & bassinets
On the lap (under 2): One lap infant per adult — if you have two babies, one needs their own seat with an approved car seat. Cabin crew provide an infant restraint device for take-off, landing and turbulence. Children aged 2 and over may not sit on a lap for take-off and landing and must have their own seat.
Bassinets: Only available on larger aircraft at bulkhead seats and always subject to availability and the baby's size. On SAA the limit is an infant up to 10 kg and 75 cm — reserve a bulkhead seat and request the bassinet early by calling the airline. FlySafair's all-737 fleet and the smaller regional aircraft on some routes don't offer bassinets, so plan for lap travel there.
Car seats: If you've bought a seat for your child you can usually bring an approved car seat into the cabin — many parents find a familiar seat settles a baby and keeps them secure. Confirm your specific car seat is approved with the airline before you travel.
Baggage, prams & pushchairs
This is where families either save money or get caught out:
- Prams and pushchairs: Almost all SA airlines carry one collapsible pram per infant free of charge. You wheel it through security and to the aircraft door, where it's gate-checked and handed back to you on arrival.
- Car seats: Generally carried free as an additional item for an infant or child booking. Airlink, for example, allows a free booster car seat per child aged 2–11 in addition to the normal allowance.
- The lap infant's allowance: Varies sharply — SAA gives a lap infant 23 kg checked, Airlink gives 10 kg, while low-cost carriers treat it as essentials only. If you're checking a lot of baby gear, a full-service fare can work out cheaper overall.
- Children 2 and over: Same checked baggage allowance as an adult, because they hold their own seat.
Documents every child must carry — including infants
This is the single most important section on the page. Every passenger, including a newborn, must present acceptable identification or be denied boarding. For a South African child flying domestically, the accepted documents are:
- An original birth certificate (abridged or unabridged), a certified copy no older than three months, or a digital copy, or
- A valid passport (or emergency/temporary travel document), or
- For teens 16–18, a green ID book or ID card (or a certified copy no older than three months).
Parents routinely arrive with their own ID but nothing for the baby, and are turned away at the counter. Put every child's document in the same folder as your own and check it the night before. For cross-border trips the requirements are stricter — unabridged birth certificates and parental consent letters usually apply — so confirm the destination country's rules separately.
What to pack in the cabin
- More nappies than you think — airlines don't stock them onboard. SA aircraft toilets have nappy-change boards.
- Formula, expressed milk or food — cabin crew can warm bottles in hot water. Security allows reasonable quantities of baby food and milk.
- A full change of clothes for the baby and a spare top for you.
- Dummy, bottle or snack for take-off and landing — sucking and swallowing helps little ears equalise pressure.
- Documents — the child's birth certificate or passport, in an easy-to-reach folder.
- One favourite toy or comfort item — and avoid overpacking; you'll be carrying it all plus the baby.
Tips for an easier flight with kids
- Book the first flight of the day. It's the least likely to be delayed and beats the afternoon meltdown window.
- Choose a bulkhead seat if you want a bassinet or just extra floor space — request it at booking, as these go fast.
- Pre-board if offered, so you can settle the car seat and gear before the aisle fills.
- Feed on the way up and down. The pressure change is the main cause of crying — a bottle or dummy solves most of it.
- Add infants and children at booking, never at the airport. It's cheaper, faster, and avoids a stressful counter negotiation.
- Compare the all-in family fare. A "cheap" low-cost fare plus baby baggage can cost more than a full-service fare that includes a real infant allowance and a bassinet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do babies fly free in South Africa?
No. A lap infant under 2 still needs a discounted ticket — on FlySafair it's 15% of the net adult fare. The baby gets no own seat or standard baggage allowance, but a pram and car seat are usually carried free.
What age does a child need their own seat?
From 2 years old. A child aged 2 or over must occupy their own seat for take-off and landing and gets the full adult checked baggage allowance.
Can I bring a pram and car seat for free?
Generally yes — most SA airlines carry one collapsible pram and one car seat per infant or young child free, gate-checked at the aircraft door.
How do I get a bassinet?
On larger aircraft only, at bulkhead seats, subject to availability and the baby's size (on SAA, up to 10 kg and 75 cm). Request the bulkhead seat and reserve the bassinet early by calling the airline.
Does my baby need ID to fly?
Yes — every passenger, including infants, must present ID or be denied boarding. For a baby, bring an original or certified birth certificate (or a passport).
When can a newborn fly?
Most airlines accept infants from about 7 days old. For very young or premature babies, check with the airline and your doctor first.
Related guides
Fares and policies were accurate at the time of writing (June 2026) and are set by each airline, not by VistaVoyage. Airlines change rules without notice — confirm current infant fares, seating, baggage and document requirements directly with the airline before booking. This guide is general information, not official airline policy or medical advice.