Air New Zealand pregnancy infant and children travel policy

Air New Zealand is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is currently the only airline to circumnavigate the world. Below is a summary of Air New Zealand’s pregnancy, infant and children travel policies.

*This is for informational purposes only. For full policies regarding flying with children on Air New Zealand, click here or contact the airline directly.

Contents

Expectant Mothers Flying with Air New Zealand
Infants (under 2 years old) Flying with Air New Zealand
Baggage Allowance for Infants
Children (2 to 11 years old) Flying with Air New Zealand
Strollers and Bassinets
Meals for Children
Related Reading

Expectant Mothers Flying with Air New Zealand

Many women fly when pregnant and have no difficulties. We recommend that you discuss your travel plans with your doctor or midwife.

A medical clearance is required if you have:

A complicated pregnancy such as placenta previa or bleeding
A multiple birth (twins, triplets etc)
A history of premature labour
Begun the early stages of labour

Read more about Air New Zealand’s pregnancy flight policies here.

Infants (under 2 years old) Flying with Air New Zealand

- - Infants are not required to have their own seat. You must, however, inform Air New Zealand that you will be traveling with an infant on your lap.
  - Lap children can only be held by passengers who are at least 15 years of age.
  - Only one lap child is allowed per adult. If one adult is traveling with more than one infant under 2 years of age, a seat will have to be purchased for each additional infant. The additional infant must be restrained in an approved infant car seat, which you must provide.
  - You may purchase a seat for your infant as long as you have the proper child restraint device.
  - An infant can travel free within New Zealand as long as the infant will be on the lap of a passenger older than 15 years for the flight.
  - An infant is charged 10% of an adult fare plus taxes, even if the infant will be on the lap of another passenger for international flights.
  - A ticket will have to be purchased for any flight on which the infant will be over 2 years old.

Baggage Allowance for Infants

- - Infants fares do not come with a checked-in baggage allowance
  - Infants fares include one piece of carry-on baggage and up to two pieces of equipment from the following list:
    - strollers (including buggies)
    - portacots
    - car seats (including booster seats)

Children (2 to 11 years old) Flying with Air New Zealand

- - Children 2 through 11 years of age must travel with another passenger at least 15 years of age or they will be considered Unaccompanied Minors.
  - Child fare is charged for children 2 to 11 years old.

Strollers and Bassinets

Strollers

In addition to other baggage allowances, baby strollers and car seats are permitted free of charge when travelling with an infant or child. Safety requirements mean that strollers must be stowed in the overhead lockers of the aircraft. If your stroller will not fit in an overhead locker, it will need to be checked-in with your other baggage. If the flight you are travelling on is full, airport staff may request that your stroller is checked-in.

On Air New Zealand Link aircraft there is very limited cabin storage space so your stroller will need to be checked-in.

Larger strollers including prams and three-wheeled jogger-style buggies do not fit in overhead lockers and must be checked-in on all aircraft.

Bassinets

International flights on Boeing 777-200, 777-300, and 787-9 aircraft may offer seats with bassinets that are:

Designed for infants up to 8 months old and 11.8kg (26lb)
Made up with sheets, a pillow and blankets
73.66cm (29in) long and 34.29cm (13.5in) wide

There are only a limited number of bassinet positions on any aircraft so it is important to request a bassinet seat when making your booking. Please note that because the bassinets are designed for infants up to 8 months old (and weighing a maximum of 11.8kgs/26lbs), pre-allocation of bassinet seats is only available for infants up to that age on a first come, first served basis. If you are travelling with an infant aged between 8 months and 15 months (and weighing a maximum of 11.8kgs/26lbs), a bassinet seat may be allocated to you if one is available at the time you check in on the day of travel.

Meals for Children

Feeding and Caring for Infants

Long-haul services

You are welcome to bring your own baby food and feeding equipment on board your flight. Our cabin crew are happy to prepare, heat and wash bottles whenever needed, however please note there are no sterilizing facilities on board the aircraft. If you do not wish to carry your own supply of baby food on board, please let us know when you make your reservation and we will supply an infant meal. We also have a limited supply of drinking cups and milk formula available for emergency use.

Tasman and Pacific flights

You are welcome to bring your own baby food and feeding equipment on board. Our cabin crew are happy to prepare, heat and wash bottles whenever needed, however please note there are no sterilizing facilities on board the aircraft.

Meals for Children

Long-haul services

On our long-haul flights including services to and from Noumea and Papeete, special meal options are available for children (suitable for children aged 2 years and over) and for infants (suitable for infants from 6 months of age). Meals must be selected online or requested through our Contact Centre or your travel agent at the time of booking. Where possible, the cabin crew serve children’s meals before serving adults, so you can feed your child before relaxing and enjoying your own meal.

You are welcome to bring your own pre-packed snacks for your children, however our Cabin Crew are unable to refrigerate, heat or add water to any food items you bring on board. Our crew are happy to prepare, heat and wash bottles whenever needed. Please remember that all food taken on board must be either eaten or destroyed prior to landing in another country due to quarantine regulations. Air New Zealand can also cater for children with special dietary needs on long-haul flights including flights to and from Noumea and Papeete.

On our long-haul flights (including Noumea and Papeete), disposable diapers, drinking cups and formula are available. Pre-prepared baby food is also carried on board. Due to limited aircraft space, only a small amount of these products are loaded for emergency use.