---
type: Airline Policy
title: Delta Air Lines — Child & Family Travel Policy
description: "Independent family travel guide summarizing Delta Air Lines' published infant, stroller, bassinet and boarding policies for parents flying with kids."
resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/airlines-child-policy/delta-air-lines/
tags: [airline, policy, us-legacy, iata-dl]
timestamp: 2026-06-03
---
# Flying Delta Air Lines with Kids: Bassinets, Stroller Check & Family Boarding

**Quick Answer**: Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, infants under 2 may fly as lap infants free domestically; international routes carry a 10% adult-fare charge plus taxes.

**TL;DR**: Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, domestic lap infants fly without a base fare, strollers and car seats are gate-checked free on mainline aircraft (with jet-bridge return), and SkyCot bassinets are available on select widebody international routes — but confirmed at the gate only, not pre-reserved. The single most parent-relevant limitation: Delta is not on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's published commitment list, meaning guaranteed seat adjacency is fare-class-dependent rather than policy-backed, unlike its big-three peers.

## At a Glance
- **Lap Infant**: Free (US) / 10% (Int'l) — Under 24 months at time of travel
- **Family Boarding**: After Sky Priority & Comfort+ — Under-2s only; NOT on DOT Dashboard
- **Stroller Check**: Free (mainline jet bridge) — Regional jets: carousel return
- **Car Seat Check**: Free — FAA sticker required for cabin use
- **UM Service**: USD 150 each way — Ages 5–14, Delta metal connections only

## Quick Facts
- Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, domestic lap infants under 24 months travel without a base fare; international routes carry a 10% adult-fare charge plus applicable taxes.
- According to Delta Air Lines' published information, the SkyCot bassinet is available on A330-200/300, A350-900, and 767-300ER/400ER international flights — limited to 2 per aircraft and gate-allocated only.
- Delta Air Lines is not on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's green-check commitment list (as of April 2024), meaning guaranteed adjacency depends on fare class — unlike American Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
- Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service for ages 5–14 costs USD 150 each way; connections are permitted on Delta-operated flights only, not on Delta Connection-operated regional partners.
- According to Delta Air Lines' published information, one stroller and one car seat per child are checked free; mainline aircraft return these at the jet bridge, while Delta Connection regional jets return them at the baggage carousel.

## Velivolo Family Score: 6.1/10 — Decent
- **Lap Infant Cost** (7/10): Free domestic; 10% of adult fare on international routes plus taxes.
- **Family Boarding** (5/10): Families with under-2s board after Sky Priority and Comfort+, before Main Cabin — but Delta is NOT on the DOT Family Seating Dashboard commitment list.
- **Stroller & Car Seat** (7/10): Free gate check with jet-bridge return on mainline; Delta Connection regional jets use carousel return.
- **Bassinet & Onboard** (5/10): SkyCot available on A330/A350/767 international; gate-allocated only even with SSR 'BSCT' in PNR — narrow-body fleet has no bassinet mounts.
- **Unaccompanied Minor** (4/10): USD 150 each way; ages 5–14 mandatory; connections on Delta-operated metal only; no Delta Connection partners; phone-only booking.
- **Baggage for Kids** (7/10): Diaper bag exempt; lap infants on international routes receive 1 free 23 kg checked bag; ticketed children receive adult-equivalent allowance by fare class.

## Lap Infant
- **Cost (Domestic)**: Free (taxes may apply)
- **Cost (International)**: 10% of adult fare plus taxes
- **Age Limit**: Under 24 months at time of travel
- **Documents**: Birth certificate (domestic flights, for age verification), Passport (international flights), Doctor's clearance letter for newborns under 7 days old

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, children under 24 months at the time of travel may fly as lap infants on a parent's or guardian's lap. Domestic US flights carry no base infant fare; international routes are charged at 10% of the applicable adult fare plus taxes and fees.

**Source**: https://www.delta.com/us/en/children-infant-travel/overview

## Family Boarding
- **Available**: Yes
- **Boarding Zone**: After Sky Priority and Comfort+, before Main Cabin
- **Age Eligibility**: Children under 2 years old (lap infants and ticketed infants)

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, families traveling with children under 2 years old are called to board after Sky Priority and Comfort+ passengers and before the general Main Cabin boarding zones. This is a published pre-board benefit, though Delta is not on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's adjacency commitment list.

## Stroller & Car Seat
Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, one stroller and one car seat per child are checked free of charge — either at the ticket counter or at the gate. Mainline aircraft return these items at the jet bridge; Delta Connection regional-jet flights return them at the baggage carousel.

- **Standard Stroller** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or ticket counter, Size: Standard umbrella and mid-size strollers accepted at gate; jogging and double strollers must be checked at ticket counter. Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, strollers on mainline jets are returned at the jet bridge; Delta Connection (Endeavor/Republic) flights return strollers at baggage claim.
- **Car Seat / Child Restraint System** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or ticket counter, Size: No published size limit for checking; FAA approval label required for in-cabin use. According to Delta Air Lines' published information, one car seat per child is checked free; to use in-cabin in a purchased seat, the FAA-approval label must be visible on the seat.
- **Booster Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or ticket counter, Size: Treated as child safety equipment. Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, booster seats are accepted under the same child-equipment allowance as car seats — one per child, checked free.
- **Pack-n-Play / Portable Crib** — Fee: Counts as standard checked bag, Check at: Ticket counter only, Size: Standard checked-bag dimensions apply. Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, portable cribs are not included in the free child-equipment allowance and are subject to standard checked-bag fees.

## Baggage by Age
- **Lap Infant (Under 2, no seat purchased)** — Carry-on: No individual carry-on allowance — shares adult's allowance; Checked: 1 free checked bag up to 23 kg on international routes; domestic lap infants have no separate checked-bag entitlement; Personal: 1 free diaper bag (does not count as carry-on or personal item). Domestic lap infants travel on the parent's allowance. International routes include 1 free 23 kg checked bag for infant gear per Delta Air Lines' published policy.
- **Infant with Purchased Seat (Under 2)** — Carry-on: Same allowance as adult in same fare class; Checked: Same checked-bag allowance as adult in same fare class; Personal: 1 personal item + 1 free diaper bag. Purchasing a seat grants the infant the full fare-class baggage allowance, identical to an adult passenger.
- **Child 2+ (Ticketed Passenger)** — Carry-on: Same allowance as adult in same fare class; Checked: Same checked-bag allowance as adult in same fare class; Personal: 1 personal item. Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, no child-specific fare discount applies. Children 2 and older pay the full adult fare and receive the full adult baggage allowance for their fare class.

## Bassinet & Onboard
- **Bassinet Available**: Yes
- **Weight Limit**: Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, verify current SkyCot weight specifications at delta.com before travel
- **Age Limit**: Typically under 12 months; verify current limits at delta.com
- **Fee**: Free (gate-allocated, subject to availability)

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, the SkyCot bassinet is available on select international widebody routes operated by A330-200/300, A350-900, and 767-300ER/400ER aircraft. A hard limit of 2 bassinets per aircraft applies, and allocation is finalized at the gate — not guaranteed even when the SSR code 'BSCT' is added to the passenger name record. No bassinet mounts exist on domestic narrow-body aircraft.

## Child Fare
- **No child discount**

According to Delta Air Lines' published information, no standard child fare discount exists for passengers aged 2 and older — a policy consistent across all four major US legacy carriers (Delta, American, United, Alaska). Children purchasing a seat pay the same base fare as adults in the same booking class and receive the same baggage allowance and service entitlements. The practical implication for families: a family of two adults and two children aged 2+ traveling in the same cabin class pays four full adult-equivalent fares. Parents should compare fare classes carefully, as Basic Economy fares restrict seat selection, which is the primary tool for keeping families seated adjacent. Verify all pricing at delta.com before booking, as fares change frequently.

## Unaccompanied Minor
- **Available**: Yes
- **Fee**: USD 150 each way per child

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children aged 5–14 traveling alone, at a fee of USD 150 each way. Connections are permitted only on Delta-operated metal — Delta Connection-operated flights (Endeavor Air, Republic Airways) are not eligible for UM connection routing. Booking is phone-only.

## Industry Comparison
### How Delta Air Lines compares to other carriers on family travel policies

Delta Air Lines scores 6.1 on the Velivolo family-travel rubric — the lowest of the four major US legacies. United Airlines (6.5) and Alaska Airlines (6.7) both score higher, and American Airlines (6.4) edges above Delta. The gap is driven by one structural factor: Delta is not on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's green-check commitment list (transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard, April 2024 publication). American Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines all carry that published commitment for adjacent seating for children and a parent regardless of fare class. On Delta, adjacency is fare-class-dependent.

On most other dimensions, Delta is competitive with its US legacy peers. Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, domestic lap infants travel without a base fare — identical to American, United, and Alaska. Strollers and car seats are checked free, with jet-bridge return on mainline aircraft, though Delta Connection regional jets (Endeavor Air, Republic) send gear to the baggage carousel.

The SkyCot bassinet on A330/A350/767 international routes places Delta ahead of purely narrow-body US carriers. However, the gate-only allocation process — where even an SSR 'BSCT' code in the PNR does not guarantee a bassinet — is weaker than the auto-allocation standard on Emirates or Qatar Airways. Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinet requests can be pre-confirmed at booking on equipped aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic — Delta's 49%-owned Atlantic Joint Venture partner — scores 7.2 in this rubric, with a cradle bassinet that includes a 5-point harness with no equivalent on Delta's SkyCot.

Delta is a solid choice for US domestic family travel where the DOT adjacency gap is manageable with paid seat selection. For international long-haul with infants, the gate-only SkyCot allocation and the absence of a regulator-backed adjacency commitment make Delta the US legacy requiring the most advance planning.

## Family Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
- Domestic lap infant travel carries no base fare per Delta Air Lines' published policy
- Strollers and car seats are checked free with jet-bridge return on mainline A330, A350, 767, and A321 aircraft
- SkyCot bassinet available on A330/A350/767 international routes — one of the few US-carrier options for long-haul infant travel
- Delta Studio includes a children's content channel on equipped aircraft; bottle warming available on all Delta-operated flights
- UM connections permitted on Delta-operated metal (ages 5–14) at USD 150 each way — connections not available on all US legacy peers

**Cons:**
- Delta is NOT on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's published commitment list (as of April 2024) — guaranteed adjacency is fare-class-dependent, unlike American Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines
- SkyCot bassinet is gate-allocated only — adding SSR 'BSCT' to the PNR does not guarantee a bassinet; only 2 per aircraft available
- Delta Connection regional-jet flights (Endeavor Air, Republic Airways) return strollers and car seats at the baggage carousel, not the jet bridge
- UM service is phone-only and excludes Delta Connection-operated connection legs, limiting routing flexibility
- International lap infants incur a 10% adult-fare charge plus taxes, which is standard for US legacies but meaningful on premium-cabin bookings

## Parent Tips
- **Book seats early — adjacency is not guaranteed**: Because Delta Air Lines is not on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's published commitment list, seat adjacency on Basic Economy and some Main Cabin fares is not policy-backed. Purchase seat assignments at booking to keep your family together. On Comfort+ and above, seat selection is included. Waiting until check-in risks split seating on high-load flights.
- **Arrive early for SkyCot allocation**: Even with SSR 'BSCT' in the PNR, the SkyCot bassinet on A330/A350/767 international flights is allocated at the gate on the day of travel. Only 2 bassinets are available per aircraft. Arriving at the gate 25–30 minutes before boarding — rather than the standard 10 minutes — materially improves your chance of securing one of the two positions.
- **Check your aircraft type before flying Delta Connection**: On regional-jet legs operated by Delta Connection (Endeavor Air CRJ-200/700/900, Republic Airways E175), strollers and car seats are checked to the baggage carousel — not returned at the jet bridge. If a connection is involved, plan extra time to retrieve gear at the carousel before catching the next flight. Verify the operating carrier in your booking confirmation.
- **Use 'My Trips' for domestic infant booking — call for international**: Per Delta Air Lines' published information, the online 'My Trips' tool supports lap-infant additions for most domestic itineraries without a phone call. For international routes — including transatlantic and transpacific flights — contact Delta Reservations through delta.com, as online infant-adding is not uniformly supported for international fare classes. Completing this step early avoids last-minute phone queue delays.

## FAQ
### Are infants charged a fare on Delta Air Lines?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, infants under 24 months at the time of travel may fly as lap infants on US domestic routes without a base fare charge. Taxes and government fees may still apply depending on the specific itinerary and departure airport. On international routes, a fee of 10% of the applicable adult base fare applies, plus all relevant taxes and surcharges. This international infant charge is consistent with American Airlines and United Airlines, though it contrasts with Alaska Airlines, whose published policy describes free lap infant travel on all routes including international. Parents should request the exact infant fare total at checkout on delta.com before purchasing to understand the full cost for international travel. Always verify the current fee structure at delta.com before booking, as published policies may be updated.

### Does my infant need their own seat on Delta Air Lines?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, infants under 24 months are not required to have their own purchased seat and may travel as lap infants in an accompanying adult's lap. However, a separate purchased seat is required if parents wish to use an FAA-approved child restraint system (car seat) in-cabin during the flight. The FAA and Delta Air Lines' published guidelines both state that the safest way for an infant to travel is in a properly secured, FAA-approved restraint in a purchased aircraft seat — not as a lap infant. If a seat is purchased for the infant, the infant pays the full adult fare in the same booking class, as no child fare discount is published by Delta Air Lines. For flights over 4 hours or when traveling solo with an infant, purchasing a separate seat and using an FAA-approved car seat is strongly advisable for safety.

### Can I reserve a bassinet on Delta Air Lines?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, the SkyCot bassinet is available on select international widebody aircraft — specifically A330-200/300, A350-900, 767-300ER, and 767-400ER — limited to 2 bassinets per aircraft. To request one, parents should add the SSR code 'BSCT' to the passenger name record through Delta Air Lines Reservations, accessible via delta.com. However, this request does not guarantee the bassinet: according to Delta Air Lines' published information, allocation is confirmed at the gate on the day of travel. This gate-only process means parents should arrive at the gate well before boarding — approximately 25–30 minutes early — to request bassinet allocation from the gate agent. No bassinet mounts exist on narrow-body domestic aircraft including the 737, A220, A319, A320, and A321. Always verify current eligibility and availability at delta.com before travel.

### What is the child baggage allowance on Delta Air Lines?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, ticketed children aged 2 and older receive the same baggage allowance as adults in the same booking class — there is no separate or enhanced child baggage entitlement. A lap infant (under 2, no purchased seat) on a domestic US flight shares the accompanying adult's baggage allowance, with a free diaper bag that does not count as a carry-on. For international itineraries, Delta Air Lines' published policy describes 1 free checked bag up to 23 kg for infant gear for lap infants on international routes. Children with purchased seats receive full fare-class baggage rights, including the carry-on, personal item, and checked-bag entitlement applicable to the booking class. The diaper bag is treated as an additional free item for all infant travelers and does not reduce the adult's allowance. Verify specific baggage fees and allowances for your fare class at delta.com before travel.

### What are Delta Air Lines' unaccompanied minor rules?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, the unaccompanied minor (UM) program is mandatory for children aged 5–14 traveling without an accompanying adult. The published fee is USD 150 each way per child. Children under 5 are not accepted as unaccompanied minors and must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Connections are permitted on Delta-operated flights, but Delta Connection-operated segments — such as those flown by Endeavor Air (CRJ-200/700/900) and Republic Airways (E175) — are excluded from UM connection itineraries. Booking is phone-only and cannot be completed online through delta.com. The SkyKids program includes a small toy at the hand-off point. Children aged 15 and older may travel as adults; optional UM service for ages 15–17 may be available — verify with Delta Air Lines through the official website at delta.com. Always confirm current restrictions before purchasing.

### Is Delta Air Lines on the DOT Family Seating Dashboard?

According to Delta Air Lines' published information and the US Department of Transportation's published Family Seating Dashboard (transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard, April 2024 publication), Delta Air Lines is not on the DOT's green-check commitment list for guaranteed family adjacency. The DOT dashboard identifies carriers that have committed to seating children aged 13 and under adjacent to an accompanying adult at no additional charge. As of April 2024, American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Frontier, and Spirit appear on that list — Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, delta does not. This means that on Delta, particularly on Basic Economy fares where seat selection is restricted, there is no policy-backed guarantee that a child will be seated next to an accompanying parent. Families flying Delta who want to guarantee adjacent seating should purchase seat selection at the time of booking. This is the most operationally significant distinction between Delta and its major US legacy competitors for family travel.

### Does Delta Air Lines have family boarding?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, families traveling with children under 2 years old are given the opportunity to board after Sky Priority and Comfort+ passengers and before the general Main Cabin boarding group. This is a published pre-board benefit available at no additional charge. However, it applies specifically to families with children under 2 — unlike Southwest Airlines' family boarding, which is available for children aged 6 and under. The boarding benefit does not override the seat adjacency limitation: because Delta Air Lines is not on the US DOT Family Seating Dashboard's published commitment list, early boarding alone does not guarantee adjacent seats for families on fare classes with restricted seat selection. Parents on Basic Economy fares should purchase seat assignments separately to ensure they are seated with their children. Gate agents at each station manage boarding, so practices may vary slightly by airport.

### Are strollers free on Delta Air Lines?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, one stroller per child is accepted free of charge and may be checked either at the ticket counter or at the gate. On mainline Delta-operated aircraft — including widebodies (A330, A350, 767) and larger narrowbodies (A321) — strollers are returned at the jet bridge upon arrival, which is convenient for families navigating connections. However, on Delta Connection-operated regional-jet flights operated by Endeavor Air (CRJ-200, CRJ-700, CRJ-900) or Republic Airways (E175), the stroller is returned at the baggage carousel rather than at the jet bridge. Parents with connecting itineraries that include regional-jet segments should factor in additional carousel retrieval time. Jogging strollers and double strollers must be checked at the ticket counter rather than the gate. The stroller must be tagged before boarding and is transported in the cargo hold. Always confirm the operating carrier for each segment in your booking confirmation.

### Can I add a lap infant to a Delta booking online?

According to Delta Air Lines' published information, lap infants can be added to most domestic US bookings online through the 'My Trips' section of delta.com after the adult ticket is purchased. This online self-service option is available for the majority of domestic itineraries and does not require a phone call. However, for international bookings — including transatlantic and transpacific routes — the online infant-add function may not be available for all fare classes, and parents may need to contact Delta Air Lines Reservations through the official website at delta.com to complete the addition by phone. The infant's full legal name and date of birth, matching the birth certificate (domestic) or passport (international), are required to complete the addition. It is advisable to add the lap infant immediately after purchasing the adult ticket rather than waiting, as the process may become more complex closer to the departure date.

### Does Delta Air Lines allow car seats on the plane?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, FAA-approved child restraint systems (car seats) may be used in-cabin on Delta-operated flights when a separate seat is purchased for the infant or child. The car seat must display the FAA-approval label — typically reading 'This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft' — which must be legible to flight crew. An FAA-approved car seat may not be used in an emergency exit row. If checking a car seat rather than using it in-cabin, one car seat per child is accepted free of charge at the gate or ticket counter. On mainline Delta aircraft, checked car seats are returned at the jet bridge; on Delta Connection regional-jet flights, they are returned at the baggage carousel. Booster seats without a built-in harness are not FAA-approved for in-cabin use during taxi, takeoff, and landing and should be checked as luggage if brought along. Always verify current car seat requirements at delta.com or with the FAA before travel.

### What is Delta Air Lines' newborn minimum age policy?

Per Delta Air Lines' published policy, newborn infants must be at least 7 days old at the time of travel to fly on Delta-operated flights. Infants under 7 days of age are not accepted as passengers. For infants who are between 7 days and a few weeks old, a physician's letter clearing the baby for air travel may be requested at check-in — parents of very young newborns should carry documentation of the birth date and, where possible, a clearance note from the infant's pediatrician. Premature infants may face additional restrictions based on gestational age and medical status; Delta Air Lines' published policy recommends contacting the airline through the official website at delta.com to discuss specific circumstances before booking. The 7-day minimum applies to all Delta-operated routes, both domestic and international. This minimum is consistent with several US carriers but shorter than Southwest Airlines' 14-day minimum.

## Related Airlines
- [American Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/american-airlines.md) (family score 6.4/10) — US legacy peer on the DOT Family Seating commitment list — compare boarding and bassinet handling with Delta.
- [United Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/united-airlines.md) (family score 6.5/10) — US legacy with pre-reservable bassinets and DOT adjacency commitment — highest-scoring among the big three.
- [Alaska Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/alaska-airlines.md) (family score 6.7/10) — DOT-committed Pacific Northwest competitor with free lap infant on all routes including international.
- [Virgin Atlantic](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/virgin-atlantic.md) (family score 7.2/10) — Delta's Atlantic Joint Venture partner — stronger bassinet product with 5-point harness cradle on transatlantic routes.
- [KLM Royal Dutch Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/klm-royal-dutch-airlines.md) (family score 6.9/10) — SkyTeam transatlantic JV partner with auto-allocated bassinets on equipped widebody aircraft.

## 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
- [Delta Air Lines — Children and Infant Travel (2026): Lap infant, bassinet, family boarding, and unaccompanied minor policies](https://www.delta.com/us/en/children-infant-travel/overview)
- [Delta Air Lines — Baggage Overview (2026): Carry-on, checked-bag allowances, and child equipment policies](https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/overview)
- [Delta Air Lines — Special Items Baggage (2026): Stroller, car seat, and child gear handling and gate-check procedures](https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/special-items)
- [Delta Air Lines — Unaccompanied Minors (2026): UM age requirements, fee, connection rules, and booking process](https://www.delta.com/us/en/children-infant-travel/unaccompanied-minors)
- [US DOT Family Seating Dashboard (2024): Carrier adjacency commitments for children — Delta not on commitment list as of April 2024](https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard)
- [FAA — Flying with Children (2026): FAA car seat certification and child restraint system requirements for air travel](https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children)

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