Traveling with an infant can be a rewarding yet, and let’s be honest here, an intricate experience to say the least. As parents embark on journeys, the prospect of ensuring a smooth voyage for their youngest companions becomes a pivotal consideration.
Understanding the nuances of airline policies, and the logistics of managing an infant’s needs becomes paramount. Among the most common questions that arise when thinking of your infant’s travel needs is whether a diaper bag is counted as carry-on luggage.
The short answer is, well, it depends. Airline policies vary, but all airlines do have certain considerations for passengers traveling with infants.
Do lap infants get a carry on?
First, we should determine what a lap infant is. Lap infants are children under the age of 2, traveling on an airplane without a paid separate seat. Instead, a lap infant sits on the lap of a parent or guardian during the flight. As such, lap infants typically do not get their own carry-on baggage allowance on airplanes. With that said, it is important to note that policies do vary among airlines.
Do lap infants get a check bag?
Typically, children not occupying a separate paid seat are not given a checked baggage allowance. This means that lap infants’ luggage will be checked with their parents’ luggage, and as such, will be subject to extra fees. Again, it is important to note here that policies do vary among airlines, and it’s usually best to just ask your specific airline ahead of time for any concerns regarding your infant’s luggage and/or essentials you have to bring with you.
With that said, listed below are what some of the major airlines’ policies have to say regarding diaper bags as carry-on luggage.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Southwest?
While there is nothing specific on their website regarding diaper bags, each passenger is allowed two carry-ons: one bag and one personal item. If the diaper bag is your personal item, as long as it fits under the seat, with dimensions not exceeding 16.25″ (L) + 13.5″ (W) + 8″ (H), it can be counted as carry-on luggage.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Delta?
According to their website, in addition to one bag carry-on allowance, passengers traveling with infants may bring either a booster seat, a bassinet, or breast pump and associated cooler bag on the plane as an additional free item. Whichever item you bring, however, must adhere to the airline’s carry-on size restrictions.
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Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Alaska Airlines?
A diaper bag will count toward the standard carry-on limit of the ticketed adult passenger. Passengers at Alaska Airlines are allowed one carry-on bag plus one personal item.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on JetBlue?
According to JetBlue’s carry-on regulations, in addition to one carry-on bag and one personal item, passengers are allowed one diaper bag for lap infants, which won’t count towards the carry-on limit.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on United?
United’s policies are a bit more generous than those of other airlines’. Passengers traveling with a child of any age (you read that right) are allowed to bring a diaper bag for free in addition to their carry-on and personal items.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Spirit Airlines?
As long as the diaper bag can be stowed on board, Spirit Airlines permits passengers traveling with lap infants to bring a diaper bag on board–and this won’t count toward the passenger’s baggage allowance (one free personal item and one paid carry-on).
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on American Airlines?
American Airlines passengers traveling with lap infants are permitted to carry 1 carry-on bag per child. Diaper bags will not count toward the passenger’s carry-on limit.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on British Airways?
While their website does not mention anything about diaper bags specifically, passengers traveling with lap infants on British Airways are entitled to an extra bag for in-flight essentials.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Air France?
In addition to the passenger’s carry-on allowance, lap infants on Air France get a special allowance for a hand baggage item that does not weigh more than 12 kg, and whose dimensions do not exceed 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm. You may consider your diaper bag as this hand baggage item.
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Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on EasyJet?
According to their website, passengers traveling with lap infants are entitled to an additional baby changing bag (provided it does not exceed 45 cm x 36 cm x 20 cm). The changing bag should also be able to fit under the passenger’s seat.
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Lufthansa?
Children aged 2 below are entitled to a free allowance of one item of baggage up to a maximum of 23 kg and 158 cm (width + height + depth).
Does a Diaper Bag Count as a Carry-on on Ryanair?
While they do not qualify for a separate bag allowance, Ryanair does allow a baby bag up to 5kg (with dimensions that do not exceed 45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm) for babies traveling on an adult’s lap.
Airline Overview
Technically, airlines do count diaper bags as a carry-on (doesn’t matter what they call it, the point is they let you carry it on board). With that said, the question now becomes: does a diaper bag count toward your carry-on limit? The table below shows a summary of the policies (regarding diaper bags as carry-on luggage) of each airline mentioned in this post.
| Airline | Diaper bag does not count toward the carry-on limit. | Diaper bag does count toward the carry-on limit. |
| Southwest | Diaper bag should fit underneath your seat, with dimensions not exceeding: 16.25″ (L) + 13.5″ (W) + 8″ (H). | |
| Delta | Diaper bag must adhere to the Delta’s carry-on size restrictions. | |
| Alaska Airlines | Diaper bag counts toward the passenger’s carry-on limit. | |
| JetBlue | Passengers are allowed one diaper bag for lap infants. | |
| United | Passengers traveling with a child of any age are allowed to bring a diaper bag for free in addition to their carry-on and personal items. | |
| Spirit Airlines | As long as it can be stowed on board, passengers traveling with lap infants are permitted to bring a diaper bag. | |
| American Airlines | Allows 1 carry-on bag per child. | |
| British Airways | Passengers traveling with lap infants on British Airways are entitled to an extra bag for in-flight essentials. | |
| Air France | Passengers get a special allowance for a hand baggage item that does not weigh more than 12 kg, and whose dimensions do not exceed 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm. | |
| EasyJet | Passengers traveling with lap infants are entitled to an additional baby changing bag (provided it does not exceed 45 cm x 36 cm x 20 cm). | |
| Lufthansa | Children aged 2 below are entitled to a free allowance of one item of baggage. | |
| Ryanair | Passengers traveling with lap infants are allowed a baby bag of up to 5kg, with dimensions that do not exceed 45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm. |
When it comes to diaper bags and other baby essentials as carry-on luggage, different airlines have different policies. As such, it is always best for passengers traveling with lap infants to ask their airline of choice regarding carry-on luggage to avoid unwelcome surprises at the gate!
FAQs
It depends on the airlines. While some airlines might charge extra if your diaper bag exceeds your carry-on limit, other airlines do include an allowance of one diaper bag (or other essentials such as a breast pump, a car seat, or a stroller) for passengers traveling with lap infants.
This depends on the airline. In most airlines, however, a lap infant is allowed one personal item (usually an essential, such as a diaper bag or a stroller). That said, there really is no hard and fast rule, so it’s best to check with your airline before your flight!
