Booking a family trip on Aeroplan raises questions the search page never answers. Can you put the kids on points and pay for yourself? How do you add a baby?
Booking a child on points while you pay your own way
You do not have to pay for everyone the same way. You can book a child's seat on points and book or pay for your own seat however suits you. The two reservations then need to be connected.
Book the tickets, then call to link them
Make both bookings, then call Air Canada and ask to link the reservations so you are seated together and treated as one party. A child under twelve cannot travel alone on a standard booking, so this step is required, not optional.
Linking also unlocks the extras
Once the bookings are connected, the agent can add an infant meal, request a bassinet, or set up seat assignments that keep the family in one row.
If you are pooling points across the household instead, see family sharing.
Adding a lap infant
A child under two can travel on your lap rather than in their own seat. You usually cannot add a lap infant during the normal online flow, so the order matters.
1
Book your own ticket first
Complete your own booking, on points or cash, before you try to add the baby.
2
Call to add the infant
Phone Air Canada and ask to add a lap infant to your reservation. They attach the infant to your ticket rather than issuing a separate seat.
3
Confirm any infant fare and taxes
A lap infant is often free on domestic flights and charged a percentage of the fare plus taxes internationally. Confirm the amount before you commit. A child who has turned two needs their own seat.
What a baby gets to bring
This is where most of the surprise charges come from. A lap infant does not get a standard checked-bag allowance, but a baby is far from empty-handed.
A diaper bag in the cabin
A lap infant is allowed a diaper bag on board on top of your own carry-on allowance.
A stroller and a car seat, free
A stroller and a child car seat are checked free of charge, one per child. They do not count against your own checked bags. A stroller can usually be gate-checked so you keep it right up to boarding.
A child with their own seat travels like an adult
Once a child has their own seat, their checked-bag allowance matches an adult on the same fare. The family's card and status bag rules then apply to them the same way.
Charged for a bag that should have been free? Sort it at the counter. The online flow often forces an infant or child bag fee even when the itinerary lists the bag as included. Check the bag at the airport counter instead, and if you are still charged in error, keep the receipt and submit a refund claim with your booking details attached. For how the family's free bags stack with a card and status, see free checked bag rules.
Names on an infant ticket
It is normal for only the first part of a child's middle name to appear on an infant ticket, and it rarely causes trouble.
Domestic travel almost never checks the infant's name against a document.
For international travel, the booking and check-in name need to match the passport. That is the document that counts.
If a first or last name looks wrong rather than just shortened, call Air Canada to correct it well before you travel.
Common questions
Can I book points for my child and pay my own fare?
Yes. Book the child on points and yourself however you like, then call to link the reservations so you travel together. Under-twelves cannot travel alone, so the bookings must be connected before the trip.
Does a lap infant get a checked bag?
No standard checked bag, but a lap infant gets a cabin diaper bag plus a free stroller and car seat that do not count against your own bags. A child with their own seat gets the adult allowance on that fare.
Do a stroller and car seat count as my checked bags?
No. They are checked free, one per child, separate from your allowance. A stroller can usually be gate-checked so you keep it until you board.
Does the partial name on my infant's ticket matter?
Usually not. A shortened middle name is normal. For international travel the passport just needs to match the name on the booking and check-in.
Come in for a free conversation. We can work out who flies on points, how to add the baby, and what every bag and seat will actually cost before you book.