Traveling with Infants

Incubation and Infants Under Seven Days Old

Continental does not accept infants in incubation or infants less than seven days old.

Acceptance of Accompanied Children Under Two Years

Children under the age of two traveling within the 50 U.S. with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult's lap free of charge. If there are two or more children under the age of two traveling with the same adult, only one of the children may travel as a lap child. Any additional children are required to purchase a seat. Children under the age of two traveling internationally without a seat are required to purchase a ticket and are subject to infant fares and taxes. Regardless of your destination, when making your reservation, you should indicate you are traveling with an infant.

Infant Seating

Children unable to sit upright with the seat belt fastened must be carried in an FAA approved infant seat if not being held by an adult. Continental does not provide infant seats.The infant seat must be secured in an aircraft seat and cannot be held in an adult's lap. The infant seat must remain properly secured to the aircraft seat at all times. An infant seat cannot be used in an exit row or in the row immediately before or after an exit row. Passengers traveling with infants may not be seated in exit rows. Due to oxygen mask constraints, only one lap child is allowed per seat section and, on some aircraft, passengers with lap infants may not be seated in certain rows.

Children who are over two years old are required to purchase a ticket and occupy their own seat.

Ticketing

Infants under the age of 2, traveling without a seat within the 50 U.S., do not require a ticket. All infants traveling internationally must have a ticket, even if no seat is purchased.

Infants traveling between the U.S. and Canada only pay taxes on the ticket. Infants traveling to other international destinations are charged 10 percent of the adult fare at the time of infant ticketing (it is usually less expensive to purchase the infant ticket in advance). Infants traveling with adults on front-cabin free rewards or upgrades must pay 10 percent of the front cabin fare in applicable markets.

Bassinets

Continental offers bassinets on select international/ transcontinental flights for infants weighing 22 lbs (10 kg) or less. Bassinets should be requested at the time reservation is made as quantities are limited. Bassinet requests cannot be confirmed in advance. Select aircraft offer this service.