Japan Airlines (JAL) flying with babies

Do age restrictions apply for acceptance of infants on Japan Airlines flights?

Japan Airlines will not let you travel if you’re traveling with a baby younger than 8 days old.

When do I have to reserve a seat for my baby?

When traveling on domestic flights, children less than 3 years of age do not require a reservation when traveling on the lap of the accompanying adult. When your baby doesn’t occupy a seat, you can travel without paying any fare for the infant. A ticket is required for all children 3 years of age and older, and, when you want your baby to enjoy the comfort and safety of his/her own car seat during the flight, you must reserve a seat for your baby instead of holding the baby in your lap.

When traveling internationally, your baby has to be younger than 2 years old the day of your flight in order to be considered an infant and travel in your lap. The infant fare is 10% of the adult fare. If you’re traveling with two infants you must cover the child fare for one infant (he/she will have a seat available). A ticket is required for all children 2 years of age and older traveling on international flights.

What infant amenities are offered on Japan Airlines flights?

When traveling with an infant on a domestic flight, you will have priority getting on board. You also can have a rental baby stroller used all the way to the boarding gate. During the flight, the flight attendants can provide you with hot water and 100% fruit juice to fix your baby’s meal. There are also picture books, soft blankets exclusively for babies, spare diapers, and changing tables available onboard. Upon arrival, you can rent a baby stroller. In case you’re interested, you must contact the airline’s staff at the departing airport.

On international flights, JAL offers for infants weighing up to 10.5 kg (age 2) bassinets with the following dimensions: length 72 cm, width 30 cm, and depth 15 cm. Bassinets are available in limited numbers, and reservation is required.

At some international airports, you may use your baby stroller up to the boarding gate. At Narita, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, Frankfurt International, and London Heathrow airports, you can use the free baby stroller service provided by your departure airport (no reservation is required).

Special meals are available for children, but a reservation is required. You can choose the most suitable meal for your child’s age: baby meal (for babies up to 8 months), infant meal (for babies 9 months and older) or children’s meal (for children aged between 2 and 12). Diaper changing tables are available on board. Disposable diapers (M & L sizes) are available, but a reservation is required. There are also toys (JAL original giveaway item) and picture books.

Baggage Allowance for Infant on Lap

On international flights, if your infant is traveling on your lap, he/she is entitled to a free baggage allowance of 1 piece with the same total dimensions and weight as the accompanying adult.

On domestic flights, infants who do not use their own seats do not have a free checked baggage allowance.

A fully collapsible stroller, carrying basket and car seat for infant or child may be accepted as checked baggage, without charge, on all Japan Airlines flights.

Infants with Reserved Seats

If you’re traveling with two infants, you have to reserve a seat for one of them. Also, when you don’t want to hold your baby on your lap throughout the flight, you must reserve a seat at the applicable child fare.

For infants under 2 years old traveling in a separate seat, a Child Seat is required; for 2 years old children, the use of a child seat is optional. You can bring your own Child Seat (if it meets the airline safety standard), or you can rent for free a Child Seat. For security reasons you won’t be able to seat with an infant on an emergency exit row.

When an infant has a reserved seat, an approved car seat will be accepted in the cabin. You must travel in a seat next to your baby, and the car seat must:

  • Be set by you following maker’s instructions.
  • Satisfy Japanese standards and be affixed with the prescribed mark.
  • Satisfy Western standards and be affixed with the prescribed mark.
  • Show “TSO-C100b”.
  • Allow to pass an aircraft seat buckle (2.5 cm thick, 6.5 cm wide, 6.5 cm long) through its hole.
  • Have the maximum weight limit equal to or greater than the weight of the infant.
  • Have a maximum width of 42 cm (if exceeded, contact the reservation center for details).

In the case you’re using JAL’s Child Seat free rental service, you must make advance reservations contacting the Reservations Center three days before the day of departure for domestic flights and 96 hours for international flights. JAL will provide you with a car seat (Tribute Sports manufactured by evenflo or Roundabout manufactured by BRITAX) for babies under three years, between 2.3 and 18 kg (5 and 39 lbs) and less than 102 cm tall. Rented child seats cannot be used on codeshare flights operated by other airlines.

Expectant Mother Travel Support Service

An expectant mother with an expected date of delivery within 28 days from the travel date is allowed to travel with only one infant, but, if the infant is less than 2 years old, a purchased seat and a Child Seat are required.

Japan Airlines helps pregnant passengers to travel comfortably. Seat service selection is offered up until 20 minutes before the departure time of the flight. Keep in mind that if you’re an expectant mother with an expected date of delivery up to 28 days after the flight you cannot be seated in an emergency exit row; it’s recommended that you seat on the main deck on aircraft having upper deck. You will also get priority boarding. If the passenger has an expected date of delivery within 8 to 28 days from the date of travel, a Medical Information Form (MEDIF) must be submitted; and if the expected date of delivery is within 7 days from travel date, an escort by a doctor is required, and the MEDIF must be filled no earlier than 7 days before the date of travel.

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