Travelling with children

Find out if your child is allowed to fly, what it will cost, what you can bring with and more.

Can my child fly?
 

Infants under two weeks of age are not allowed to fly.

If your child or infant has a chronic illness such as cystic fibrosis or a lung condition, we require that they take, and pass, our HAST test. They will then be given a 'Fitness to Fly' certificate which will need to be presented at check-in. If you are unable to provide the required documentation at check-in, you will not be allowed to board.

 

Rules for travel with infants

  • No more than one infant per adult is allowed.

  • The infant must be secured using an infant/extension seat belt during take-off, landing, taxi and any other time when the seal belt signs are illuminated.

  • Infant/child car seats are not allowed to be used on board.

  • Certain seats are not available for purchase by an adult travelling with an infant.

  • Crew members cannot assist with nappy changes or carrying an infant up and down the aircraft cabin.

  • Infants must travel with a birth certificate and/or passport.

 

Rules for travel with children (between 2 and 16 years)

  • Children under the age of 16 cannot be seated in a restricted seat.

  • Children must be seated in the same row or separated by no more than one seat row from the accompanying adult.

  • They are the responsibility of the accompanying adult at all times.

  • Crew members can assist with monitoring a child momentarily, but only while the adult visits the bathroom.

  • Children between 12 and 16 years of age may travel unaccompanied subject to the parents/legal guardian signing a disclaimer form at the airport.

  • We do not limit the number of young people who travel with us.

  • Children under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by a travel companion 16 years or older who accepts responsibility for the child.

  • Children travelling on an international flight must have a passport.

  • Children travelling on a domestic flight must have an ID card or passport. A Family Book (Livret de Famille) is not sufficient ID for a child/infant.

 

Travel systems

We allow you to carry a baby stroller/pram per infant or child free of charge. It will need to be tagged at check-in. At boarding it will be taken from you to be placed safely in the hold. Upon arrival at the destination the item may be collected from the carousel.

Alternatively, you can check in the item at the check-in desk free of charge. 

For safety reasons no item may exceed 32 kg

 

Travelling to South Africa? Here's what you need to know.
 

You will need to bring a valid yellow fever certificate, your passport, as well as the following documentation for your child.

 

One parent travelling with a child must bring

  1. An unabridged birth certificate. 

  2. Consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child authorising him or her to enter into or depart from the Republic with the child he or she is travelling with.

  3. A court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or

  4. Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate; Provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or depart from the Republic with such a child.

 

An adult travelling with a child who is not his/her biological child must bring

  1. A copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child.

  2. An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child.

  3. Copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child; and

  4. The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child, Provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or depart from the Republic with such a child.

 

An unaccompanied minor

  1. Proof of consent from one of or both his or her parents or legal guardian, as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel into or depart from the Republic: Provided that in the case where one parent provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of a court order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child.

  2. A letter from the person who is to receive the child in the Republic, containing his or her residential address and contact details in the Republic where the child will be residing;

  3. A copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the Republic; and

  4. The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.