Contents 6
Passport: the child needs their own
The main point, and not up for discussion: to travel abroad a child needs their own passport. The old practice of adding a child to a parent’s passport no longer gives the right to cross a border.
What to check in advance:
- Validity. Many countries require the passport to be valid for at least three months after the date of return.
- The photograph. Children change fast; if the picture shows a baby and a five-year-old is flying, questions at the border are possible.
- The spelling of the surname must match between passport and ticket. One letter of difference and no boarding pass is issued.
Consent from the second parent
This causes the most confusion, so let us take it case by case.
- The child flies with one parent. Under Russian rules the other parent’s consent is not required — provided they have not filed an objection to the child leaving the country.
- The child flies without parents, with a grandparent, a coach or a family friend. A notarised consent from both parents is required, naming the accompanying adult, the dates and the countries.
And the caveat that breaks trips: the rules of the destination country are a separate matter. Consulates often require the second parent’s consent when issuing a visa regardless of Russian rules, and at the border you may be asked for documents proving the relationship.
So the rule is simple: check the requirements with the consulate before buying tickets, not a week before departure. The wording changes, and an article is no substitute for an official answer.
The birth certificate
Formally a passport is enough to leave the country. But the certificate proves the relationship, and it comes in useful:
- if the parent and child have different surnames;
- for free or reduced museum entry where a document with a date of birth is asked for;
- for any questions at passport control.
Carry a copy — it weighs nothing and settles the conversation in a minute.
How child fares work
- Under two — the infant fare, usually about 10% of the adult one, with no separate seat. The child travels on your lap and is given an extra belt.
- From two — a separate seat is required and the price is close to an adult one. A birthday in the middle of the trip counts by the date of each flight: a child can fly out as an infant and back as a passenger.
- A pushchair almost everywhere travels to the aircraft steps on top of the baggage allowance and comes back at the door.
Exact figures differ between carriers, and this is the case where any number in an article will go out of date: check your airline’s conditions when you buy.
What to take in hand luggage
The list is short, because nobody ever packs a long one:
- Water and food of your own. Buy water after security; baby food and water for an infant are allowed, but say so at the checkpoint straight away.
- A change of clothes for the child and a T-shirt for yourself. People skip the second one and regret it.
- Sweets or a drink for take-off and landing. Swallowing helps ears better than any advice. For a baby, the breast or a bottle exactly on descent, not before.
- Child-sized headphones. Adult ones slip off.
- Something small and new the child has not seen before. It works better than a familiar favourite toy.
- Medicines in hand luggage, not in the hold, with the prescription if there is one.
What actually works in the air
- Seats. The bulkhead row has more legroom and is where a bassinet is fitted; an aisle seat makes getting out easier. The tail shakes more but is usually emptier.
- A night flight with a child over two or three is often easier than a day one: they simply sleep. With a baby it usually makes no difference.
- Do not wake them for landing. If they are asleep, let them sleep; their ears will pop anyway, and waking in pain is worse than sleeping through the descent.
- Boarding first is not always good. Twenty extra minutes in the seat before take-off comes out of the same reserve of patience.
If you are flying to Rome, the next thing you need is our guide to getting from Rome’s airports into the city — including night arrivals and why a family should buy a group train ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Does a child need their own passport
Yes. Adding a child to a parent’s passport no longer gives the right to cross a border: the child needs their own document. Check the validity — many countries require at least three months after the date of return.
Is the second parent's consent needed
If the child flies with one parent, Russian rules do not require the other’s consent — unless they have filed an objection. But the destination country may have its own rules, and consulates often ask for consent when issuing a visa. Check with the consulate before the trip.
What if the child flies without parents
A notarised consent from both parents is required, naming the accompanying adult, the dates and the countries. This is not a case where a handwritten note will do.
Should we bring the birth certificate
Formally a passport is enough, but the certificate proves the relationship and is asked for when parent and child have different surnames, or for reduced museum entry. Carry a copy; it weighs nothing.
How much is a ticket for a child
For an infant under two, usually about 10% of the adult fare with no separate seat. From two a separate seat is required and the fare is close to an adult one. Rules differ between carriers — check your airline’s conditions.
Can you take a pushchair on the plane
Almost always you can take it to the aircraft steps and get it back at the door. It is free and on top of the baggage allowance, but confirm the rule with your airline at check-in.
