Family with tickets and passports.

With family boarding passes and a dedicated family check-in zone at Heathrow Terminal 5 (Zone E), we're here to make your family travel experience more enjoyable. With direct access to oversize baggage belts for car seats and pushchairs, it's designed to make check-in easier for the entire family.

Download the British Airways app and store everyone's boarding pass on one mobile.

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Passports, visas and other documentation

Please check with the IATA Travel Centre that your passports and other travel documents are valid for your whole journey, before you travel.

The IATA Travel Centre can advise you which documents are required for each country you’ll be visiting or transiting. Just make sure you enter your child’s date of birth so that the extra requirements are displayed.

Make sure you check the travel documents you need

Some countries' immigration departments require additional documentation for any children under 18 years of age, (whether they are your children, your grandchildren or children of friends,) who are travelling into, out of or transiting their country. The extra documentation that you may require varies by country and changes regularly so please check the country's embassy website for more information.

Check the IATA Travel Centre

Tickets for infants, children or young adults

Little girl playing with her toy plane.

These are the age categories we use when you make a booking with us:

  • Infants: 0 - 23 months
  • Children: 2 - 11 years
  • Young adults: 12 – 15 years
  • Adults: over 16 years

    • We offer some flight discounts for infants and children, however they vary so check your price quote for full details.

    Infants

    You can book a ticket for your infant (under 2) to travel sitting on your lap or in their own seat and the ticket price will vary accordingly.

    You can't book a ticket just for an infant on ba.com, you will need to contact us.

    Once your infant turns 2 years old, they'll be considered a child and will need to travel in their own seat. You'll need to book them as a ‘Child’ and pay the child fare.

    Children

    All children under 14 years must travel accompanied by an adult aged 16 years or over. Anyone under the age of 14 won't be allowed to fly unaccompanied.

    Young adults

    All young flyers aged 14 or 15 and travelling alone must carry both:

    • a completed parental/guardian Young Flyer Travelling Alone consent form 
    • a copy of the parent or guardian’s passport or identity document

    The young flyer must present both of these at the airport before their British Airways flights, otherwise they may be refused travel.

    To make a booking for a young flyer aged 14 or 15 who is travelling on their own, you will need to call us. If the young flyer is booked as an adult, they will not be allowed to fly without the consent form and a copy of the parental/guardian identity document, as they are considered under the age to fly on British Airways without this consent.

    Our partner airlines may have different regulations, age limits and charges so please check with them directly.

    Booking with partner airlines

    If your journey involves travelling with one of our partner airlines, their rules for infants and children will apply, which may be different. Please check the airline’s website or call your local British Airways office for the correct information.

    Cute baby with a lady.

    Paying for an infant seat

    Infants travelling on an adult's lap

    You’ll pay an infant fare, which is a percentage of the adult fare, when your infant sits on an adult’s lap for the journey.

    Booking a separate seat for your infant

    If you'd like your infant to have their own seat, you'll pay a child fare. We recommend they travel in an approved car seat or AmSafe System which fits into the aircraft seat securely. Please note that the age/weight range of your child should be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

    This ticket can't be booked online, so contact us and we'll be pleased to help you.

    Find out more about family seating

    Infants who become children while travelling

    If you're travelling with an infant who reaches the age of 2 during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday. We won’t charge you extra; you'll only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.

    This booking can't be made online, so contact us and we'll be pleased to help you.

    Pregnant woman with a laptop.

    Making a booking for an unborn infant

    If you know you want to travel shortly after you’re due to give birth, you can make your own booking as usual. Please contact us after your baby is born and we’ll arrange for your baby’s ticket to be issued. You must always have a ticket for your infant's journey.

    Newborn babies must be at least 48 hours old and have been born without any complications before they can travel with us. If you plan to fly soon after your baby's birth, please check with your treating doctor it's safe for both you and your baby to travel.

    If you had a Caesarean section or other surgery was needed during or after the birth, you can travel 10 days after, with medical clearance from our Health Services. We would advise that your treating doctor approve your travel first.

    Cabin crew talkling with two girls on board.

    Booking a child into a different cabin from yourself

    You can book your child to travel in a different cabin from yourself. Just make your booking first, then contact us to make a separate booking for your child.

  • Children between 5 and 12 can be booked into a different cabin from you.
  • Children under 5 must travel with someone over the age of 16.
  • If you're a Gold or Silver Executive Club Member, your child can come with you into the lounge as your eligible guest, regardless of the cabin you're travelling in.
  • You should board the aircraft as a family, with your child. Once on board, your child will be directed to their seat in the cabin that they are booked into.
  • You, as the child’s parent or guardian, will be responsible for their health, wellbeing and behaviour, both on the ground and on board. Please ensure that your child understands that they must follow crew instructions at all times and make sure they have any necessary items with them before boarding as it may not always be possible for you to visit them during the flight.
  • Should your child need any assistance during the flight, you'll need to voluntarily downgrade to the same cabin as your child. We're unable to upgrade your child to the cabin you’re travelling in.

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    PassengersExplanation of 'young adults'