Do Airlines Charge Extra to Seat My Child Next to Me?

By Andrevia TripVault · June 2026 · 5 min read

Yes, several airlines charge $25-40 per seat, each way, to guarantee a child is seated next to a parent rather than relying on the airline to seat families together automatically. The fee applies to advance seat selection, not the base fare. Many airlines will waive it if you call ahead or check in within 24 hours of departure.

Which Airlines Charge This, and How Much

Budget carriers more commonly charge per-seat selection fees for guaranteed adjacent seating. Legacy carriers more often set aside bulkhead or family-friendly seats but may still charge for early selection. The fee structure varies, but the pattern is consistent: paying for certainty rather than risking random assignment.

This practice has drawn political attention. A U.S. Senator publicly pushed airlines to waive these fees for families, and some carriers responded. JetBlue and Virgin America, in a past policy announcement, committed to not charging family seating fees as a result of this pressure. Other carriers have since adopted similar policies, though enforcement and eligibility vary by airline.

The lap infant detail adds another layer. Infants under 2 flying domestically can sit on a parent's lap for free. The same infant on an international flight costs roughly 10% of the adult fare plus surcharges, even without their own seat. This is separate from the seat selection fee, which only applies when the child has a ticketed seat.

How to Avoid the Fee

Three tactics, ranked by effectiveness.

1. Check in online at the 24-hour mark. Most airlines release remaining seats 24 hours before departure. Families checking in exactly when the window opens often secure adjacent seats without paying the advance selection fee. This works because the algorithm prioritizes keeping families together when possible, but only if seats are still available. Set an alarm. Check in on time. Skip the fee.
2. Call the airline directly and ask for the family seating fee to be waived. Many carriers will do this for children under about 12 even if the policy isn't advertised. The gate agent can't waive it. The phone rep sometimes can. Ask specifically: "Can you waive the seat selection fee so my child can sit with me?" If the first rep says no, call back and try another. Policies vary by rep.
3. Choose airlines with no seat-selection fees by default. Some carriers don't charge for basic seat selection at all, treating family seating as part of the base fare. Book with these airlines rather than fighting the fee after booking. The fare might be slightly higher, but the all-in cost often lands lower once fees are included.

What Happens If You Don't Pay

If you skip the seat selection fee, the airline assigns seats at random or at check-in. Most airlines try to seat families together if seats are available, but this isn't guaranteed. The younger the child, the more likely gate agents will shuffle passengers to accommodate you. A parent with a toddler usually gets prioritized. A parent with a 10-year-old might not.

Lap infants under 2 operate under different rules. Domestically, they fly free but don't get a seat. Internationally, they cost roughly 10% of the adult fare plus surcharges, still without a seat. This cost is mandatory for international flights regardless of whether you pay for seat selection, since it's a fare component, not a seating fee.

Older children without a paid seat selection aren't guaranteed to sit with a parent. The airline will attempt to accommodate families at the gate if seats are available, but on a full flight, your child might be seated rows away. Paying the fee is paying for certainty, not for a seat itself. The seat already exists in your ticket price. The fee guarantees location.