Although I haven't I know that you do not have to pay for a seat for children up to 2 years of age, but then you are not getting one either. This means you have to keep the child on your or your partners lap all the time. Many people prefer to pay for a seat and place the carrier there.

Andre

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It is true you don't have to pay for a seat for any child two years old or younger.And yes you have to have them sit on your lap. It is not bad on a short flight. But when taking a longer flight I would rather pay for a seat for them.

Up to the age of 2, they can be considered a "lap child" and you do not have to pay for them. I flew with my 18mo like this.  I was lucky enough to have an empty seat next to me for most legs of the flight so he was able to play in that seat while we were in the air.  For longer flights, it would be worth it to pay for a seat and put your infant/1yo in the carseat.

There was talk a few years ago of doing away with this and requiring parents to bring car seats because of safety considerations.  If anything goes wrong, the child you are holding in your arms is absolutely the most vulnerable person on the plane.

There was just a lengthy discussion about this on another board, and you really have to check with the individual airline now.  They all seem to have different policies.  I just wish they'd give the passenger sitting next to a person with a child in their lap a choice of whether or not they want to sit next to them!  Recently, I sat next to a woman with a 1 year old child from London to New York.  It was the most unpleasant 8 hours of my life so far!

I flew with my six month old son from Ohio to Arizona with him on my lap. He actually did very well. But you are right that they are thinking about making you buy a seat and bring a car seat. I would check with the airline just to make sure.