Traveling with a Child

Did you know that “Keiki” means child in Hawaiian?  

At Hawaiian Airlines, your child’s safety is our priority. We understand that traveling with young children can be stressful, so we’ve prepared the travel guidelines and safety restrictions below to help make your experience with us and the little ones the best it can be. 

If you are traveling with an infant under the age of 2, click here

If you are traveling with a child over the age of 2, click here

Contact Hawaiian Airlines Reservations to make your infant or child reservation.

 

Infant Travel Options (under the age of 2)


We want to do our best to make your trip with us enjoyable. The below options are offered to our guests who are traveling with children under the age of 2. Which travel option best fits your family’s needs?  
Based on which option you decide is for you, the following restrictions and fees will apply.

 

Infant on Lap


If you would like to travel with your child as a lap infant, please be sure to hold them on your lap for the duration of the flight. If you would prefer this option, please read the following restrictions that will apply: 
  • One (1) lap child is permitted for each ticketed adult
    • If an adult is traveling with two infants:
      • One (1) infant may travel as a lap infant, but 
      • An additional seat must be purchased for the second infant
  • You may not reserve seats for infants traveling as lap infants
  • One (1) infant is permitted per seat section
    • Seat section is defined as adjacent seats separated by an aisle
    • Families with more than one lap infant will need to be seated either across an aisle or in a different row
  • Carry-on and checked baggage allowances do not apply 
  • In-flight meal allowances do not apply 
You may bring a child restraint car seat onboard as a carry on item. If there is an empty seat and the car seat is appropriately labeled (see, Travel Using a Safety Seat section below), we welcome you to use it. However, if the flight is full, the car seat will be checked at the gate using a claim-at-gate tag. For your convenience, we will return the car seat to you at your arrival gate.

Age Restrictions

The following age restrictions apply for guests who are traveling with their infant as a lap child. 
  Traveling as an Infant on Lap 
Less than 7 days old* Permitted (with required documentation)
Under the age of 2 years old Permitted
2+ years old** Not Permitted
*Infants Less than Seven (7) Days Old:

If you are traveling with an infant less than seven days old, we highly recommend that you check with your child’s doctor to verify that traveling by plane is the best option for your infant. If you decide to fly, please have the following required documentation:  
  • A Physician’s Statement
    • Stating that the infant will not require any extraordinary medical assistance during the flight
    • Dated within one day of travel
NOTE: The final decision to transport an infant less than seven days old will be that of Hawaiian Airlines.

**Children Over the Age of 2:

For the purpose of travel on Hawaiian Airlines, children are no longer considered infants on the day of their 2nd birthday
  • If a child turns two en route, a ticket must be purchased for all segments on which the child will be 2 years of age 

Required Documentation for Infants on Lap

Hawaiian Airlines reserves the right to request proof of age for infants traveling as lap child (e.g. birth certificate copy). If you are unable to provide proof of age, the applicable fare will be charged.

 

Infant with a Purchased Seat – Using a Safety Seat


If you prefer that your infant travels using your rear-facing car seat, and have purchased a seat, your child’s restraint seat will not be considered a carry-on item. Please approach a Hawaiian Airlines agent before boarding and advise them that you will be using your rear-facing car seat in-flight. 

To keep the safety of your infant in mind, as well as all of our guests, guests traveling with infants in safety seats cannot be seated in an emergency row, or the rows immediately in front of, or behind an exit. This restriction is put in place to avoid the safety seat from impeding on a possible aircraft evacuation.

Hawaiian Airlines recommends purchasing a seat for infants (under the age of two) and using an approved child restraint system. All safety seats brought on board a Hawaiian Airlines flight must meet one of the standards described below.
  1. Seats manufactured between January 01, 1981 and February 26, 1985 must have the following label to be considered acceptable for use:
    • This child restraint system conforms to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards
  2. Seats manufactured to U.S. standards on or after February 26, 1985 must bear two (2) labels written in red lettering: 
    • This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards
    • This restraint is certified for use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft
  3. Safety seats manufactured outside the U.S. and do not have the labels described above. These restraint systems must be manufactured with standards approved by the United Nations. The seat must bear the following label:
    • The label is marked with a circle surrounding the letter "E" followed by the distinguishing number of the country that has given approval and a category and mass number of the seat. 

Any other child booster seats and other types of child restraints may not be used during take-off, landing and surface movements regardless of what stamp/seal of approval these boosters or harness devices carry.

For additional details on approved child restraint systems, please see the Additional Notes section.

 

North America and International Fees


The following infant (under 2 years old) fees apply for North America and International routes: 

  North America Flights International Flights (excluding Pago Pago / Papeete)
Flights between Pago Pago / Papeete and North America
Lap Infant Free 10% of the accompanying adult fare (plus taxes and fees) 10% of the accompanying adult fare (plus taxes and fees)
Seat Purchased for an Infant Full Adult Fare 75% of the accompanying adult fare (plus taxes and fees)* 67% of the accompanying adult fare (plus taxes and fees)*

Note: Taxes do not apply for infants without a seat who are traveling within North America. All standard taxes are applicable on infant tickets where a seat is purchased.

* Accompanying adult must be traveling on a Hawaiian Airlines purchased published fare. Where a seat has been purchased for an infant, an approved child restraint seat must also be used to secure the infant.

 

Traveling with Infant Restrictions 


The following infant restrictions and fees apply for North America and International routes: 

North America and Travel Restrictions: 

Restrictions for Lap Infants: 

A ticket is not required for a lap infant if:

  1. the infant is under the age of 2 and
  2. travels as a lap child, not occupying a separate seat and
  3. is accompanied in the same compartment by an adult at least 15 years or older
Restrictions for Seat Purchased for an Infant:  A ticket is required for an infant if: 
  1. the infant is under the age of 2 and
  2. travels using a safety seat, occupying their own seat and
  3. is accompanied in the same compartment by an adult at least 15 years or older

International Travel Restrictions:

Restrictions for Lap Infants: 10% of the accompanying adult fare plus applicable taxes/fees is required for infants if:
  1. the infant is under the age of 2 and
  2. travels as a lap child, not occupying a separate seat and
  3. is accompanied in the same compartment by an adult at least 18 years of age
    • for travel between Hawaii and Pago Pago, American Samoa, accompanied adults must be at least 16 years of age
Restrictions for Seat Purchased for an Infant: 
75% of the accompanying adult fare plus applicable taxes/fees is required for infants if:
  1. the infant is under the age of 2 and
  2. travels using a safety seat, occupying their own seat and
  3. is accompanied in the same compartment by an adult at least 18 years of age
    • for travel between Hawaii and Pago Pago, American Samoa, accompanied adults must be at least 16 years of age

 

Bassinets Request


In an effort to keep your infant comfortable and safe on long international flights, bassinets are available for request on flights to/from the following cities:
  • All Japan Routes – Haneda, Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo
  • Auckland, New Zealand
  • Beijing, China
  • Brisbane, Australia
  • Incheon, Korea
  • Sydney, Australia
Due to aircraft configuration, not all aircrafts are able to accommodate this request. Please understand that this is a request only and not guaranteed.

Bassinet requests must be made at least 24 hours prior to departure by calling Hawaiian Airlines Reservations. If, on the day of the departure there are unused bassinets, passengers may request them and are given on a first come, first serve basis. Upon check-in, please inquire if we will be able to accommodate the bassinet request.

NOTE: These bassinets will only be used in-flight and will be installed by flight attendants.

 

Traveling with a Child (over the age of 2)


If you are traveling with a child, over the age of 2, you will need to purchase a seat.

For the purpose of travel on Hawaiian Airlines, children are no longer considered infants on the day of their 2nd birthday
  • If a child turns two en route, a ticket must be purchased for all segments on which the child will be 2 years of age

Required Documentation for Children over the Age of 2

Hawaiian Airlines reserves the right to request proof of age for children over the age of 2 (e.g. birth certificate or passport).

 

North America and International Fees


The following child (2 years or older) fees apply for North America and International routes: 
  North America Flights International Flights (excluding Pago Pago / Papeete)
Flights between Pago Pago / Papeete and North America
Children 2 years or older Full Adult Fare 75% of the adult published fare (plus taxes and fees)** 67% of the adult published fare (plus taxes and fees)**

** Accompanying adult must be traveling on a Hawaiian Airlines purchased published fare. Where a seat has been purchased for an infant, an approved child restraint seat must also be used to secure the infant.

 

Traveling with a Child Restrictions 


The following child fares and restrictions apply for North America and International routes: 

North America Route Restrictions:

A ticket is required for a child if:

  1. the child is over the age of 2 years old and
  2. is accompanied by an adult at least 15 years or older

International Route Restrictions:

75% of the adult published fare plus applicable taxes/fees is required for infants if:

  1. the child is over the age of 2 years old and
  2. is accompanied in the same compartment by an adult at least 18 years of age
    • for travel between Hawaii and Pago Pago, American Samoa, accompanied adults must be at least 16 years of age

 

Making a Reservation


Please contact Hawaiian Airlines Reservations to make your child’s reservation. 

 

Check-In Baggage Exemptions


When traveling with an infant or child, the following items are all accepted as check-in baggage and exempt from baggage fees when checked in by an accompanying ticketed adult guest. These items may also be carried on the aircraft as part of your carry-on baggage allowance provided the item can properly fit in the overhead compartment or stowed beneath the seat in front and meets all size/weight restrictions for carry-on baggage. If you prefer, you may also check these items at the gate using a claim-at-gate tag.
  • Car Seats
  • Infant Carrying Seats
  • Strollers
    • Non-collapsible strollers are required to be checked in at the ticket counter
    • Strollers over 50lbs are required to be checked in at the ticket counter
NOTE: There is no separate baggage allowance for infants held in a guest’s lap (lap infant).

 

Additional Notes


Backless booster type seats, safety belts, belly belts, harness type and vest type devices are not allowed during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Except: CARES Harness. Cares is designed specifically for aviation use for children ages 1 and older, who weigh between 22-44 pounds. Cares is approved by the FAA as an alternative to a car seat for aircraft transportation and may be used during all phases of flight. Flight attendants must check to see the FAA certification label is sewn inside the red CARES loop.