Should I book an airplane seat for my child?

family travel writer

Yes, even though airlines don't require parents to buy tickets for children under 2 years of age. If you don't buy a ticket for your child, you can't be sure she'll have a seat and she might end up sitting on your lap. Unrestrained children have been injured and killed during even moderate turbulence because their parents were unable to maintain a grip on them. They can be thrown against the ceiling or toward the back of the plane during a bumpy ride.

The safest way for your child to travel is secured in a car seat strapped into the airline seat. Most car seats are approved for airline travel, but check the label to make sure. The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that all children be secured in approved safety seats until they reach 40 pounds. (At 40 pounds and above, they can wear regular lap belts.)

A car seat usually won't count as one of your carry-on articles, but check with your airline on its latest regulations to make sure. Be sure to tell the reservations or travel agent that you'll be traveling with a child in a car seat so the airline can book you into the best seats for your needs. Airlines require that car seats be placed next to a window so as not to interfere with other passengers' mobility. You may want to ask for a bulkhead row to take advantage of additional legroom.

On domestic trips, many airlines discount regular ticket prices 50 percent for children under age 2; the international discount is more typically 10 percent. If you still decide to try to save the cost of a ticket for your under-2-year-old, tell the airline that you'll be traveling with a lap child. The agent may be able to seat you and any traveling companion next to a window and aisle in a three-seat row, leaving a middle seat vacant and lessening the chances that anyone else will fill it. Bring your child's car seat along on the chance that you'll be able to use it (if not, it will probably have to go in checked luggage). Another strategy is to ask the reservation agent how likely it is that your flight will fill up and, if it is likely, to suggest alternate flights that may be less crowded. You can also ask for a row with additional oxygen masks in the event you need one for your lap child, but keep in mind that some aircraft aren't equipped with them. Again, the safest option is to buy your child a ticket.