At What Age Can a Baby Fly? Airline Rules Explained

The answer to the question of how many months old a baby must be to fly is actually measured in days: THY and Pegasus do not accept infants within the first 48 hours after birth, and acceptance afterward is conditional. THY requires a doctor's report for infants aged 2 to 7 days, while Pegasus recommends a written report. After the seventh day, traveling with an infant is possible on both airlines. Limits may differ on other airlines.

In short

• THY and Pegasus do not accept infants within the first 48 hours; Pegasus applies this even if a report is provided.
• For infants aged 2 to 7 days, THY requires a doctor's report; a written report is recommended at Pegasus.
• The infant rule works on a day count, not months; write down the birth date and flight date side by side.
• Limits may differ at other airlines; check the airline's current rules.

The core of the rule: days, not months, are counted

Airlines determine an infant's acceptance for flight based on the number of days elapsed since birth. So the practical answer to "how many months old" is actually a day calculation.

The rules published by the two major airlines departing from Türkiye are as follows:

• First 48 hours: THY does not accept the infant. Pegasus does not accept the infant passenger and mother even with a doctor's report.
• Between 2 and 7 days: THY accepts the infant if a doctor's report stating "there is no obstacle to travel by air" is submitted. Pegasus recommends obtaining a written doctor's report for both mother and infant after 48 hours until the end of the first 7 days.
• After 7 days: THY's travel page states that infants between 7 days and 2 years old can travel. Pegasus accepts infant passengers from 8 days old up to, but not reaching, 3 years old.

These limits apply only to THY and Pegasus. If you are flying with another airline, check the rule on that airline's own page; limits may differ. Even if the airline accepts the infant, a pediatrician decides on the infant's fitness to fly.

Infant passenger rules at THY

THY does not accept infants within the first 48 hours from birth onto its flights. For this period, THY's published rule does not define acceptance via a report.

The situation differs for infants aged 2 to 7 days. THY accepts these infants if a doctor's report containing the phrase "there is no obstacle to travel by air" is submitted. Ask the physician issuing the report to include this exact phrase; make sure the signature and stamp are complete.

THY's travel page states that infants between 7 days and 2 years old can travel. A report requirement after the seventh day is not included in this summary rule. Still, read the current conditions on the reservation screen and the airline's passenger services page before your flight.

If a report is required, bring the original and a copy with you. Check the airline's current rule regarding how close to the flight date the report needs to be.

Infant passenger rules at Pegasus

Pegasus does not accept the infant passenger and mother within the first 48 hours from birth even with a doctor's report.

After 48 hours, until the end of the first 7 days, Pegasus recommends obtaining a written doctor's report stating that there is no obstacle to the mother's and infant's travel by air. Here the wording is a "recommendation," not written as a requirement. Still, bringing the report with you is a sensible precaution to avoid trouble at the airport.

Infant passengers aged 8 days up to, but not reaching, 3 years old can travel with a parent or authorized person who has reached the age of 18. This sentence says two things:

• The infant cannot travel alone or with someone who has not reached the age of 18.
• If an adult other than the mother or father will accompany the infant, check the airline's current rule for documents showing that the person is authorized.

Differences: ticket, baggage and country

Apart from the day limit for infant acceptance, a few areas vary from airline to airline.

Ticket and seat

How the infant passenger is registered, whether they have seat rights, and how many infants can travel with one adult is determined by the airline. Confirm this information on the airline's page during reservation.

Baggage and infant equipment

Baggage and cabin rules for strollers, carrycots and baby food vary by airline and ticket type. Read these conditions from the reservation page or the airline's passenger information.

Country differences

The acceptance rule for flight is the airline's rule; the entry rule of the destination country is separate. Documents such as the infant's own passport, visa if required, and parental consent vary according to the destination country. If you are considering a package trip, ask about infant and child conditions before purchasing when choosing a tour on the international tours page.

Exceptions and common mistakes

Most problems in traveling with infants arise not from not knowing the rule, but from incomplete documents and planning.

• Mistaking months for days. Saying "a two-month-old baby" is not enough; what matters is the number of days between the birth date and the flight date.
• Relying on a report at the 48-hour limit. THY and Pegasus do not accept infants within the first 48 hours; Pegasus applies this even with a doctor's report.
• Getting the report with the wrong wording. For THY, the phrase "there is no obstacle to travel by air" is required. For Pegasus, a written report stating there is no obstacle to the mother's and infant's travel is recommended.
• Ignoring Pegasus's recommendation. The report is not mandatory but recommended at Pegasus; still, getting one makes things easier if you're flying within the first 7 days.
• Forgetting identity documents. For international flights, check the infant's required identity and travel documents according to the destination country's rule.
• Underage companion. According to Pegasus's rule, the infant travels with a parent or authorized person who has reached the age of 18.

Conditions for the first 48 hours and afterward may differ at other airlines. Read that airline's written rule before deciding; do not rely on verbal confirmation given over the phone.

Step by step: preparing to fly with an infant

1. Write down the birth date and flight date side by side. The number of days in between determines which rule category the infant falls into.
2. Read the airline's infant rule. If flying with THY or Pegasus, use the limits in this article; if with another airline, rely on its own page.
3. Talk to a pediatrician. If flying within the first 7 days, THY requires a report and Pegasus recommends getting one. Have the report written with the wording the airline requires; make sure the signature and stamp are complete.
4. Learn how to add the infant to the reservation. Read the airline's infant passenger conditions when buying the ticket; enter the name and surname as on the identity document.
5. Prepare the documents. Have the infant's identity document, and if required, passport, visa and parental consent documents ready according to the destination country's rule.
6. Read about online check-in in advance. The procedure for passengers with infants varies by airline; learning the steps and timing of online check-in beforehand reduces the burden at the airport.
7. Arrive at the airport early. Infant equipment and document checks can take time.

In cases where a report or document is required, carry the original in your bag and a copy in your suitcase.

Checklist before departure

Check off this list one by one the day before your flight:

• I have calculated the number of days between the infant's birth date and the flight date.
• I have confirmed that I am outside the first 48 hours.
• If flying within the first 7 days, I have obtained the doctor's report required or recommended by the airline.
• The infant is registered as an infant passenger in the reservation.
• I have a parent or authorized person who has reached the age of 18 with me.
• The infant's identity document and required documents for the destination country are ready.
• I have read the airline's baggage and cabin rules for stroller, carrycot and baby food.
• I have checked online check-in and airport timing.
• I have obtained my pediatrician's opinion on fitness to fly.

If you want your first trip with an infant to be a short route, you can check out 4-day international route suggestions for the 29 October holiday. Short flights and single-country plans reduce the burden when traveling with an infant; this is an editorial suggestion, not a rule.

Frequently asked questions

At how many days old can a newborn board a flight?

THY and Pegasus do not accept infants within the first 48 hours after birth. Between 2 and 7 days, THY accepts with a doctor's report; Pegasus recommends obtaining a report. After 7 days, travel is possible according to THY's travel page, and Pegasus accepts infant passengers from 8 days old.

Is a doctor's report required to fly with an infant?

THY accepts infants aged 2 to 7 days if a report stating "there is no obstacle to travel by air" is submitted. At Pegasus, a written report is recommended for the first 7 days. For older infants, check the report rule from your airline's current conditions.

Is an infant accepted on a flight within the first 48 hours even with a report?

No, at THY and Pegasus. Pegasus does not accept infant passengers and mothers within the first 48 hours even with a doctor's report. THY also does not accept infants within the first 48 hours from birth. Check other airlines' own rules.

What is the infant passenger age at Pegasus?

At Pegasus, infant passengers aged 8 days up to, but not reaching, 3 years old can travel with a parent or authorized person who has reached the age of 18. For younger infants, a written report is recommended after 48 hours until the end of the first 7 days.

What is the limit for traveling with an infant at THY?

THY's travel page states that infants between 7 days and 2 years old can travel. Infants aged 2 to 7 days must submit a doctor's report. Infants within the first 48 hours are not accepted.

Are additional documents required when flying abroad with an infant?

The airline's acceptance rule and the destination country's entry rule are separate. Documents such as the infant's identity, and if required, passport and visa, vary according to the destination country. Confirm the current requirements from the relevant official source before the flight.

Sources

• Flight Information for Passengers with Infants — turkishairlines.com
• Infants and Children Travel Policies Explained — turkishairlines.com
• Traveling With Children — turkishairlines.com
• Travel Information for Infant and Child Passengers — flypgs.com
• Frequently Asked Questions — flypgs.com