---
type: Airline Policy
title: Avianca — Child & Family Travel Policy
description: "Independent family travel guide summarizing Avianca's published infant, stroller, bassinet and boarding policies for parents flying with kids."
resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/airlines-child-policy/avianca/
tags: [airline, policy, latam, iata-av]
timestamp: 2026-06-03
---
# Flying Avianca with Kids: Bassinets, Family Boarding & Infant Policies

**Quick Answer**: Per Avianca's published policy, families with children under 6 pre-board BEFORE LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elites — a broader threshold than most US carriers offer.

**TL;DR**: Per Avianca's published policy, lap infants aged 8 days through 24 months pay 10% on all routes — domestic Colombia and international — with no online post-booking add, requiring phone or WhatsApp contact. The standout upside is family pre-boarding for children under 6, called before LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elites — broader than most US carriers. Bassinets are available on A330 and 787-8 wide-body flights only; the A320 narrow-body fleet does not offer them. Stroller and car seat checks are free gate-side on wide-body routes.

## At a Glance
- **Lap Infant**: 10% both routes — Ages 8 days–24 months
- **Family Boarding**: Yes — before Star Gold — Children under 6
- **Stroller Check**: Free (up to 10 kg) — Gate or counter
- **Car Seat Check**: Free — FAA/R44/R129/Aerocivil
- **UM Service**: ~USD 57–150 each way — Ages 5–11; non-stop only

## Quick Facts
- Per Avianca's published policy, lap infants aged 8 days through 24 months pay 10% of the adult fare plus taxes on both domestic Colombia and international flights.
- Per Avianca's published policy, families with children under 6 pre-board before LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elite members.
- Per Avianca's published policy, bassinets are available on A330 and 787-8 wide-body aircraft only — the A320 family narrow-body fleet does not offer bassinets.
- Per Avianca's published policy, adding a lap infant post-booking is not supported online and requires contact via phone, WhatsApp, or an airport counter.
- Per Avianca's published policy, unaccompanied minor service is restricted to non-stop flights on Avianca metal — connecting itineraries are not accepted.

## Velivolo Family Score: 5.8/10 — Decent
- **Lap Infant Cost** (5/10): 10% of adult fare on both Colombia domestic and international routes.
- **Family Boarding** (7/10): Children under 6 board BEFORE LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elites.
- **Stroller & Car Seat** (7/10): Free gate-check up to 10 kg / 22 lbs folded; regional Embraer 190 and ATR-72 may carousel-return.
- **Bassinet & Onboard** (5/10): A330 + 787-8 wide-body only; 11 kg / 74 cm cap; under 12 months; A320 family narrow-body NOT offered.
- **Unaccompanied Minor** (5/10): COP 235,000 (~USD 57) domestic; USD 100 short-haul intl; USD 150 long-haul; non-stop only.
- **Baggage for Kids** (6/10): Diaper bag exempt; lap infants receive 1 free 10 kg checked piece internationally; ticketed children receive adult allowance.

## Lap Infant
- **Cost (Domestic)**: 10% of adult fare + taxes
- **Cost (International)**: 10% of adult fare + taxes
- **Age Limit**: 8 days–24 months at time of travel
- **Documents**: Birth certificate (domestic Colombia), Passport (international routes), Medical clearance if infant is under 8 days old (travel not permitted)

Per Avianca's published policy, infants aged 8 days through 24 months may travel as lap infants at 10% of the adult base fare plus applicable taxes, on both domestic Colombia flights and international routes. There is no fare-free domestic market for lap infants on Avianca.

**Source**: https://www.avianca.com/en/booking/before-the-flight/special-assistance/traveling-with-children/

## Family Boarding
- **Available**: Yes
- **Boarding Zone**: Before LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elites
- **Age Eligibility**: Children under 6 years of age

Per Avianca's published policy, families traveling with children under 6 years of age are invited to board before LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elite members — a broader threshold than most US legacy carriers, which typically pre-board families with children under 2 or under 5.

## Stroller & Car Seat
Per Avianca's published policy, one stroller and one car seat per child are checked free, either at the gate or at the ticket counter. On wide-body international flights, gate-check items are returned at the jet bridge. On intra-Colombia regional routes operated by Embraer 190 and ATR-72 aircraft, strollers may be returned at the baggage carousel due to cargo-hold access limitations.

- **Standard Stroller** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: Up to 10 kg / 22 lbs folded. Jet-bridge return on wide-body international routes; carousel return possible on Embraer 190 and ATR-72 regional routes.
- **Car Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: FAA, R44, R129, or Aerocivil-approved for in-cabin use. One per child checked free; FAA/R44/R129/Aerocivil approval required if using in-cabin in a purchased seat.
- **Booster Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: Treated as child safety device. Checked under the same child-equipment allowance as car seats; backless boosters without harnesses are not FAA-approved for in-flight use.
- **Pack-and-Play / Travel Crib** — Fee: Counts as checked bag, Check at: Counter only, Size: Standard checked-bag dimensions apply. Not included in the free child-equipment allowance — subject to standard checked-bag fees.

## Baggage by Age
- **Lap Infant (8 days–24 months)** — Carry-on: None independently (diaper bag exempt and shared with parent); Checked: 1 free piece up to 10 kg on international routes; Personal: Diaper bag free and not counted toward carry-on. No paid seat means no independent baggage allowance beyond the diaper bag and the 1 international checked piece.
- **Infant with Purchased Seat (Under 2)** — Carry-on: Same carry-on allowance as adult fare class; Checked: Same checked allowance as adult fare class; Personal: 1 personal item plus diaper bag. Purchasing a seat gives the infant full adult-equivalent baggage rights for their fare class.
- **Child 2+ (Full Fare)** — Carry-on: Same carry-on allowance as adult fare class; Checked: Same checked allowance as adult fare class; Personal: 1 personal item allowed. All children 2 and older pay adult fare and receive full adult baggage rights; no separate child-baggage discount applies.

## Bassinet & Onboard
- **Bassinet Available**: Yes
- **Weight Limit**: 11 kg / 74 cm
- **Age Limit**: Under 12 months
- **Fee**: Free (bulkhead seat selection ~USD 20–60 extra in Economy Lite)

Per Avianca's published policy, bassinets are available on Airbus A330 and Boeing 787-8 wide-body aircraft with a weight cap of 11 kg / 74 cm and an age limit of under 12 months. Avianca's A320 family narrow-body fleet — used extensively on intra-Colombia and short-haul routes — does not offer bassinets.

## Child Fare
- **Discount**: Approximately 10–25% off adult base fare (fare-class-restricted) (ages 2–11 years)

Per Avianca's published policy, children aged 2–11 may qualify for a reduced fare on select booking classes, with discounts of approximately 10–25% off the adult base fare. This is comparable to what Aeromexico offers in the LATAM cluster. The discount is fare-class-restricted, meaning it applies primarily to Standard and Flex fare categories rather than Economy Lite budget fares. Parents booking on promotional or sale fares may not see the child discount applied — the best practice is to search with the child's age entered at booking to see if a reduced rate is displayed for the specific route and date.

## Unaccompanied Minor
- **Available**: Yes
- **Fee**: COP 235,000 (~USD 57) domestic Colombia; USD 100 short-haul international; USD 150 long-haul international

Per Avianca's published policy, unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children aged 5–11 and optional for ages 12–17. The service is available on non-stop flights operated by Avianca metal only — connecting itineraries are not accepted. Booking is via phone, WhatsApp, or Avianca's Contact Center in Spanish and English.

## Industry Comparison
### How Avianca stacks up for families in the LATAM cluster and Star Alliance

Avianca holds a distinctive position in the LATAM cluster: founded in 1919, the carrier is the world's second-oldest operating airline. Star Alliance membership continued through Chapter 11 (filed May 2020, emerged December 2021), and United Airlines' 5% strategic stake in the carrier remains in place through 2026. These structural facts matter to families building long-haul itineraries that combine Avianca with Star partners.

On family boarding, Avianca leads the LATAM cluster. Per Avianca's published policy, children under 6 board before LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elites — a broader threshold than Aeromexico, which pre-boards families with children under 4 before its own elite tiers. LATAM Airlines pre-boards under-5, while both US legacies United Airlines and Alaska Airlines use under-2 or narrower thresholds in some markets.

On bassinets, Avianca covers its A330 and 787-8 wide-body fleet with an 11 kg / 74 cm cap for infants under 12 months — comparable to what LATAM Airlines offers on its 787 and A350 routes. Aeromexico limits bassinets to 787-only. Per Avianca's published policy, by contrast, Star Alliance partner Singapore Airlines sets the industry-highest cap at 14 kg / 30.8 lb and auto-allocates bassinet bulkhead seats at booking — a service level the airline does not match.

The most parent-relevant friction is the online-add gap. Per Avianca's published policy, lap-infant additions post-booking require phone, WhatsApp, or airport counter contact — the strictest such limitation in the LATAM cluster. The fix: add the infant at the initial booking stage.

The verdict: Avianca is a solid Star Alliance LATAM carrier for families on Bogotá-hub wide-body itineraries, with better pre-boarding than most regional peers, but the phone-only post-booking add and narrow-body bassinet absence require planning — the Velivolo guide index covers the full LATAM-cluster comparison.

## Family Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
- Families with children under 6 board before LifeMiles Diamond and Star Alliance Gold elites — broader threshold than most US carriers
- Stroller and car seat checked free per child on wide-body international flights, with jet-bridge return
- Bassinets available on A330 and 787-8 wide-body fleet with 11 kg / 74 cm cap for infants under 12 months
- Diaper bag exempt from carry-on count on all Avianca flights
- LifeMiles miles earned on every flight and cross-redeemable with Star Alliance partners including Lufthansa and United

**Cons:**
- Lap-infant add post-booking is not supported online — phone, WhatsApp, or airport counter required
- 10% lap-infant fare on domestic Colombia AND international routes — no fare-free domestic market
- A320 narrow-body fleet (most intra-Colombia routes) does not offer bassinets
- Embraer 190 and ATR-72 regional routes may return strollers at the carousel rather than at the jet bridge
- Unaccompanied minor service limited to non-stop Avianca-metal flights only — no connecting itineraries

## Parent Tips
- **Add infant at first booking**: Per Avianca's published policy, online post-booking infant addition is not supported. The single most effective action is to add the lap infant at the initial booking stage — either online during the original purchase flow or immediately via WhatsApp and the Contact Center. Waiting until close to departure creates documentation and check-in friction.
- **Reserve bassinets early on wide-body routes**: Per Avianca's published policy, only 3 bassinets are available per aircraft on A330 and 787-8 flights. On peak Bogotá–Madrid and Bogotá–Miami routes, these fill quickly. Request the bassinet at the time of booking via phone or WhatsApp, confirm the bulkhead seat selection fee (~USD 20–60 in Economy Lite), and reconfirm the reservation 24 hours before departure.
- **Plan for regional stroller carousel returns**: Per Avianca's published information, Embraer 190 and ATR-72 aircraft on intra-Colombia routes have limited cargo-hold access, meaning strollers may be returned at the baggage carousel rather than at the jet bridge. On domestic Colombia connections, build extra time at the arrival airport to retrieve gear from the carousel before making ground transport.
- **Use WhatsApp for faster Contact Center access**: Avianca's Contact Center is available via WhatsApp in addition to phone — useful for adding lap infants, requesting bassinets, booking unaccompanied minor service, or pre-ordering Special Purpose Meals. WhatsApp contact can be faster than phone during peak booking windows and is available in both Spanish and English for international travelers.

## FAQ
### Are infants charged a fare on Avianca?

Per Avianca's published policy, lap infants aged 8 days through 24 months are charged 10% of the adult base fare plus applicable taxes on both domestic Colombia flights and international routes. Unlike some US carriers such as Alaska Airlines — which waives the lap-infant fare on Alaska-operated domestic and international flights — Avianca applies the 10% charge on every market it serves. The practical cost varies by route: a Bogotá–Miami adult fare would generate an approximately 10% infant fare before fuel surcharges and taxes. Families should verify the total infant cost at the time of booking, as taxes and surcharges on international itineraries can add USD 20–50 to the effective infant cost. Always verify current fees directly at avianca.com before booking.

### Does my infant need their own seat on Avianca?

Per Avianca's published policy, infants aged 8 days through 24 months may travel as lap infants without a purchased seat, paying 10% of the adult fare plus taxes. Lap infants do not receive their own carry-on allowance beyond the exempt diaper bag. However, parents may choose to purchase a separate seat for their infant and use an FAA, R44, R129, or Aerocivil-approved child restraint system in the cabin — a choice the FAA strongly recommends for children under 2. If an infant turns 2 during a round trip, the return leg requires a purchased seat. Parents traveling with multiple infants may need to purchase a seat for the second child, as only one lap infant is permitted per fare-paying adult. Always verify directly at avianca.com before booking.

### Can I reserve an Avianca bassinet?

Per Avianca's published policy, bassinets are available on Airbus A330 and Boeing 787-8 wide-body aircraft, with a weight cap of 11 kg / 74 cm and an age limit of under 12 months. Up to 3 bassinets are available per aircraft. To reserve a bassinet, parents should contact Avianca's Contact Center via phone or WhatsApp at the time of booking or as early as possible — bassinet spots on peak wide-body routes such as Bogotá–Madrid and Bogotá–Miami fill quickly. Bulkhead seat selection, required for bassinet use, carries an extra charge of approximately USD 20–60 in Economy Lite fare classes. The A320 family narrow-body fleet used on most intra-Colombia and short-haul routes does NOT offer bassinets. Always confirm bassinet availability directly with Avianca before travel.

### What is the child baggage allowance on Avianca?

Per Avianca's published policy, ticketed children receive the same checked baggage allowance as adults within their fare class — no reduced or child-specific checked bag limit applies. Lap infants traveling on international routes receive 1 free checked piece up to 10 kg in addition to the parent's own allowance. For domestic Colombia flights, lap infant baggage entitlements should be confirmed at booking, as intra-Colombia rules may differ. The diaper bag is exempt from the carry-on and personal item count for all passengers traveling with infants. Children aged 2 and older traveling on purchased seats receive full adult-equivalent baggage rights for their fare class. Always verify current baggage allowances at avianca.com, as rules may vary by route and fare category.

### What are Avianca's unaccompanied minor rules?

Per Avianca's published policy, unaccompanied minor (UM) service is mandatory for children aged 5–11 and optional for ages 12–17. Children under 5 may not travel unaccompanied. The service fee is COP 235,000 (~USD 57) for domestic Colombia flights, USD 100 for short-haul international routes, and USD 150 for long-haul international routes. A critical restriction: UM service is available on non-stop flights operated by Avianca metal only — connecting itineraries are not accepted. Booking must be completed via phone or WhatsApp through Avianca's Contact Center; online booking is not supported. Parents must provide full details for both the drop-off and pick-up adults, and the pick-up adult must present matching government-issued ID at the destination airport before the child is released. Always confirm UM availability directly via the Contact Center before booking.

### Is Avelo the same airline as Avianca?

No — Avelo Airlines and Avianca are completely unrelated airlines with no shared ownership, history, or operations. Avelo Airlines is a US ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 2021 and operating domestic US routes from smaller secondary airports such as Burbank, New Haven, and Wilmington. Avianca is a Colombian flag carrier founded in 1919, making it the world's second-oldest continuously operating airline. Avianca is headquartered in Bogotá, operates throughout Latin America and on long-haul international routes, and is a member of Star Alliance. The naming similarity is coincidental — the two carriers have completely different ownership, hubs, alliance memberships, and route networks. Parents researching Avianca's family policies should verify they are on avianca.com, not aveloair.com.

### Does Avianca allow you to add a lap infant online after booking?

Per Avianca's published policy, adding a lap infant to an existing booking is not supported online post-purchase. Parents who have already completed an adult booking must contact Avianca through one of three channels: the Contact Center by phone, WhatsApp (available in Spanish and English), or in person at an Avianca airport counter. This is the strictest online-add gap among LATAM cluster carriers — LATAM Airlines supports online infant add with limitations, while Aeromexico also has some online add capability. The most efficient workaround is to add the infant at the initial booking stage before purchase is complete. If that window is missed, contacting Avianca via WhatsApp tends to be faster than phone during peak booking periods. Always verify the updated booking confirmation listing both adult and infant before traveling.

### Does Avianca pre-board families before elite passengers?

Per Avianca's published policy, families traveling with children under 6 years of age are invited to board before LifeMiles Diamond members and Star Alliance Gold elite passengers — a broader pre-boarding age threshold than most US legacy carriers, which typically use under-2 or under-5 cutoffs. In the LATAM cluster, Aeromexico pre-boards families with children under 4 before its own elite tiers, while LATAM Airlines uses an under-5 threshold before its Black Signature elites. Avianca's under-6 cutoff is the broadest in the cluster. Note that family pre-boarding does not guarantee adjacent seating — parents should purchase seat selection in advance to secure seats together, as adjacency is not contractually guaranteed by the airline. Always listen for the family boarding announcement at the gate, as boarding sequencing can vary by airport.

### Are strollers free to gate-check on Avianca?

Per Avianca's published policy, one stroller per child is checked free of charge, either at the ticket counter or at the gate. On wide-body international flights (A330 and 787-8), gate-check strollers are typically returned at the jet bridge upon arrival. However, on intra-Colombia regional routes operated by Embraer 190 and ATR-72 aircraft, limited cargo-hold access means strollers may be returned at the baggage carousel rather than at the jet bridge — a meaningful operational difference for families making same-terminal connections. The free stroller check applies to standard strollers within the 10 kg / 22 lbs folded weight limit. Pack-and-play / travel cribs are not included in the free child-equipment allowance and are charged as standard checked bags. Always verify current stroller policies directly at avianca.com before departure.

### Did Avianca survive bankruptcy? Is it still flying?

Per publicly available information, Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States in May 2020 and successfully emerged from restructuring in December 2021. The airline has continued operating throughout the restructuring period and remains active in 2026. Avianca's Star Alliance membership was maintained uninterrupted throughout the Chapter 11 process — a notable distinction in the Latin American carrier landscape. United Airlines holds a 5% strategic equity stake in the carrier, which continues through 2026. The post-restructuring Avianca operates a streamlined network from its Bogotá (BOG) primary hub and secondary hubs in San Salvador (SAL), San José (SJO), and Lima (LIM). Families can book and travel on Avianca with confidence that the carrier is in active operation; always verify schedule availability directly at avianca.com.

### What is Avianca's LifeMiles program for families?

Per Avianca's published information, LifeMiles is Avianca's frequent-flyer loyalty program, with miles earned on Avianca flights and redeemable with Star Alliance partners. Families flying Avianca accrue LifeMiles based on fare class and distance, and those miles can be used for award travel on Star Alliance carriers including Lufthansa, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. LifeMiles underwent consolidation as part of Avianca's post-Chapter 11 restructuring and continues operating as the carrier's loyalty currency in 2026. For families building long-haul itineraries combining Avianca with Star Alliance partners, LifeMiles accrual on Bogotá-hub routes can contribute toward future family award travel. Verify current earning rates and redemption options at lifemiles.com or avianca.com, as program terms are subject to change.

## Related Airlines
- [LATAM Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/latam-airlines.md) (family score 6/10) — Latin American trunk-route rival with online infant add support and connections-allowed UM service.
- [Aeromexico](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/aeromexico.md) (family score 6.2/10) — LATAM cluster leader with under-4 family pre-boarding before SkyTeam elite; 787-only bassinet fleet.
- [United Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/united-airlines.md) (family score 6.5/10) — Star Alliance partner and 5% Avianca stakeholder; free US domestic lap infant and 15.8 kg bassinet cap.
- [Lufthansa](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/lufthansa.md) (family score 6.9/10) — Star Alliance European partner on Bogotá–Frankfurt codeshare; six wide-body bassinet types.
- [Singapore Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/singapore-airlines.md) (family score 8.6/10) — Star Alliance Asian peer with industry-highest 14 kg bassinet cap and auto-allocated bulkhead seats.

## Related Concepts
- [Back to Airlines Catalog](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/index.md)
- [Flying with a Baby item × airline guides](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/flying-with-a-baby/index.md)

## Sources
- [Avianca — Traveling with Children (2026): Lap-infant, stroller, bassinet, family boarding, and UM policies](https://www.avianca.com/en/booking/before-the-flight/special-assistance/traveling-with-children/)
- [Avianca — Baggage Policy (2026): Carry-on, checked bag, and child-specific baggage allowances](https://www.avianca.com/en/travel-information/baggage/)
- [FAA — Flying with Children (2026): FAA child restraint certification and in-flight safety requirements](https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children)
- [US DOT — Family Seating Dashboard (2024): Airlines' commitment to seat children adjacent to accompanying adults](https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard)

**Last Updated**: 2026-06-03
**Author**: Lia Tuso — Founder & CPST