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

**Quick Answer**: Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinets are available on 6 widebody types — broadest in European-legacy — with a 52-hour reservation deadline and 11 kg cap.

**TL;DR**: Per Lufthansa's published policy, the carrier leads the European-legacy cluster on bassinet fleet coverage — 6 widebody types, the broadest available — but parents must reserve exactly 52 hours before departure or lose the spot. The 20% child fare discount on Standard fares is a genuine saving, though it does not apply to Light Economy on intercontinental routes. Families flying via CityLine regional jets should note that strollers reach the baggage carousel, not the jet bridge.

## At a Glance
- **Lap Infant**: 10% of adult fare — Intra-Europe and international + taxes
- **Family Boarding**: Yes — children under 6 — Boards before general cabin
- **Stroller Check**: Free (10 kg gate limit) — Jet bridge on mainline widebody; carousel on CRJ-900
- **Car Seat Check**: Free — UN-ECE R44/R129 or FAA for in-cabin use
- **UM Service**: EUR 50 dom / EUR 100 intl — Ages 5–11 mandatory; Star Alliance connections allowed

## Quick Facts
- Per Lufthansa's published policy, lap infants under 24 months pay 10% of the adult fare on intra-European and international routes, plus taxes.
- Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinets are available on 6 widebody types — 747-8, A380, A330, A340, A350, and 787-9 — with an 11 kg / 67 cm cap and an under-8-months age limit.
- Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinet reservations must be made at least 52 hours before departure.
- Per Lufthansa's published policy, families with children under 6 may pre-board before the general cabin on all Lufthansa-operated flights.
- Per Lufthansa's published policy, the Jetfriends program includes a Lumi-the-Bear plush, activity pack, and multilingual kids' in-flight entertainment.
- Per Lufthansa's published policy, unaccompanied minor service costs EUR 50 domestic and EUR 100 international, with connections permitted on Star Alliance interline.

## Velivolo Family Score: 6.9/10 — Decent
- **Lap Infant Cost** (6/10): 10% of adult fare on intra-Europe and international routes, plus applicable taxes.
- **Family Boarding** (8/10): Families with children under 6 pre-board before general cabin groups.
- **Stroller & Car Seat** (7/10): Free check; 10 kg gate limit; mainline wide-body fleet returns strollers at jet bridge.
- **Bassinet & Onboard** (7/10): 6 widebody types with bassinets — broadest European-legacy fleet; 52-hour reservation deadline.
- **Unaccompanied Minor** (7/10): EUR 50 domestic / EUR 100 international; ages 5–11 mandatory; connections on Star Alliance permitted.
- **Baggage for Kids** (7/10): Ticketed children receive adult baggage allowance; lap infants get 1 free 10 kg checked bag on international.

## Lap Infant
- **Cost (Domestic)**: 10% of adult fare + taxes (intra-Europe)
- **Cost (International)**: 10% of adult fare + taxes (intercontinental)
- **Age Limit**: Under 24 months at time of travel
- **Documents**: Birth certificate (for age verification), Passport (for international flights), Doctor's fit-to-fly note for infants under 7 days old

Per Lufthansa's published policy, infants under 24 months of age travel as lap infants at 10% of the adult fare on intra-European and international routes, plus all applicable taxes and surcharges. A 7-day fit-to-fly minimum applies for newborns.

**Source**: https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/travelling-with-children

## Family Boarding
- **Available**: Yes
- **Boarding Zone**: Before general cabin — families with children under 6
- **Age Eligibility**: Children under 6 years old

Per Lufthansa's published policy, families traveling with children under 6 years of age are invited to board before the general cabin. This threshold is broader than the US-typical under-2 rule and provides meaningful extra time for families.

## Stroller & Car Seat
Per Lufthansa's published policy, one stroller and one car seat per child are checked free of charge. Mainline widebody operations return strollers at the jet bridge; Lufthansa CityLine CRJ-900 regional flights deliver to the baggage carousel.

- **Standard Stroller** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate (jet bridge on widebody) or counter, Size: 10 kg gate-check weight limit applies. Strollers exceeding 10 kg must be checked at the ticket counter. On CRJ-900 regional flights, strollers are delivered to the baggage carousel, not the jet bridge.
- **Child Restraint System** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: In-cabin use requires UN-ECE R44/R129 or FAA approval. One car seat per child checked free. For in-cabin use, the seat must display UN-ECE R44 or R129 approval mark, or the FAA approval label for US-issued seats.
- **Booster Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Counter, Size: Standard checked-bag dimensions apply. Backless boosters are not approved for in-cabin use during flight phases; check at counter as standard baggage.
- **Travel Crib / Pack-n-Play** — Fee: Counts as checked baggage, Check at: Counter only, Size: Standard checked-bag dimensions and weight limits apply. Travel cribs are not included in the free child-gear allowance; standard checked-bag fees apply per fare class.

## Baggage by Age
- **Lap Infant (Under 24 Months)** — Carry-on: No independent carry-on allowance (shares parent's); Checked: 1 free checked bag up to 10 kg on international routes; Personal: Diaper bag permitted free, does not count against carry-on. Lap infants also receive a free collapsible stroller check in addition to the 10 kg bag on international itineraries.
- **Infant with Purchased Seat (Under 24 Months)** — Carry-on: Same carry-on allowance as adult, per fare class; Checked: Same checked-bag allowance as adult, per fare class; Personal: 1 personal item plus diaper bag. Purchasing a seat unlocks the full adult baggage allowance and qualifies the ticket for the ~20% child discount on Standard fares.
- **Child 2–11 (Child Fare)** — Carry-on: Same carry-on allowance as adult, per fare class; Checked: Same checked-bag allowance as adult, per fare class; Personal: 1 personal item. Child fare discount (~20% off Standard) applies automatically when 'child' is selected during booking; discount does not apply to Light Economy fares on intercontinental routes.

## Bassinet & Onboard
- **Bassinet Available**: Yes
- **Weight Limit**: 11 kg / 24 lbs
- **Age Limit**: Under 8 months
- **Fee**: Free on most fares; bulkhead seat surcharge EUR 30–70 may apply on Light fares

Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinets are available on 6 widebody aircraft types — the broadest coverage in the European-legacy cluster — but must be reserved at least 52 hours before departure and are subject to a strict 11 kg / 67 cm weight-and-length cap.

## Child Fare
- **Discount**: Approximately 20% off Standard fares (ages 2–11 years)

Per Lufthansa's published policy, the child fare discount of approximately 20% is automatically applied at booking when the passenger type is set to 'child' (ages 2–11). This discount applies on short-haul intra-European and long-haul intercontinental Standard fares. On intercontinental routes, families booking Light Economy fares do not receive the discount — making fare class selection a meaningful planning consideration. The discount does not reduce taxes, surcharges, or ancillary fees such as seat selection or checked baggage. Always verify the final ticket price at checkout to confirm discount application before completing purchase.

## Unaccompanied Minor
- **Available**: Yes
- **Fee**: EUR 50 per domestic segment / EUR 100 per international segment

Per Lufthansa's published policy, unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children aged 5–11 and optional for ages 12–17. Fees are EUR 50 per domestic leg and EUR 100 per international leg, with connections permitted on Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance interline flights.

## Industry Comparison
### How Lufthansa compares to European-legacy peers on family travel

Within the European-legacy cluster, Lufthansa earns its position on bassinet fleet breadth: per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinets are fitted across 6 widebody types — 747-8, A380, A330, A340, A350 (Allegris), and 787-9 — more aircraft configurations than Air France (4 types: A350, 777, 787, A330) or Iberia (A330 and A350 only). The trade-off is a strict under-8-months age cap and an 11 kg weight limit, both industry-strict thresholds tied with Iberia for the most restrictive in the European cluster. The 52-hour pre-flight reservation deadline demands advance planning that parents accustomed to Middle Eastern carriers' automatic bassinet allocation — per Emirates' and Qatar Airways' published policies, bassinets are assigned at check-in rather than pre-reserved — will find less forgiving.

On child fares, Lufthansa's approximately 20% discount on Standard Economy compares favorably to United Airlines, which publishes no child fare discount, though it falls short of Air France's up to 25–33% long-haul discount. Lufthansa's family boarding threshold — children under 6 — matches Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and is significantly broader than US-legacy carriers where pre-boarding typically covers infants under 2 only.

The Allegris A350 cabin product, rolling out through 2026, introduces a redesigned business and premium economy experience with improved bulkhead bassinet positions. The Star Alliance transatlantic joint venture with United Airlines means many families routing through Frankfurt will find coordinated policies on connected itineraries. The Jetfriends Lumi-the-Bear program, active through 2026, offers branded take-home plush toys and activity kits that differentiate the onboard experience from KLM's Bluey co-branding and Air France's Sky Kids approach. For families prioritizing bassinet availability on widebody long-haul routes, Velivolo's analysis places Lufthansa ahead of most European peers on fleet coverage — but the strict 52-hour deadline remains the critical planning dependency.

## Family Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
- Bassinets on 6 widebody types — broadest fleet coverage in the European-legacy cluster (747-8, A380, A330, A340, A350, 787-9)
- Family pre-boarding for children under 6 — broader age threshold than US-typical under-2 rule
- Approximately 20% child fare discount on Standard Economy fares, applied automatically at booking
- UM service connections permitted on Star Alliance interline — broader network than many UM-only-direct-flight policies
- Jetfriends program provides Lumi-the-Bear plush, kids' SPML meals, Hipp baby food jars, and multilingual IFE on long-haul

**Cons:**
- Bassinet reservation requires 52-hour advance notice — one of the strictest deadlines in the industry; no same-day requests
- Under-8-months age cap and 11 kg weight limit on bassinets — tied with Iberia for the most restrictive in European-legacy cluster
- Child fare discount (~20%) does not apply to Light Economy on intercontinental routes — fare class selection matters
- Lufthansa CityLine CRJ-900 regional flights return strollers to baggage carousel, not jet bridge — an operational caveat on intra-European connections
- Lap infants charged 10% of adult fare on all routes — higher baseline cost than US domestic free policy

## Parent Tips
- **Reserve the bassinet early**: Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinet slots fill weeks before departure on popular transatlantic routes. Setting a reminder to call or log into 'My Bookings' the moment the 52-hour window opens is too late for peak summer travel — reserve as early as the booking platform allows and reconfirm 24 hours before departure.
- **Weigh your stroller before the airport**: Per Lufthansa's published policy, the gate-check weight limit for strollers is 10 kg. Many popular full-size travel systems exceed this threshold. Weighing at home avoids a stressful counter-only reroute at FRA or MUC on travel day. Umbrella and compact strollers typically fall well under the limit.
- **Avoid Light Economy for child discounts**: Per Lufthansa's published policy, the approximately 20% child fare discount does not apply to Light Economy on intercontinental routes. Families booking long-haul should compare the Standard fare after discount against the Light fare without discount — on some routes, Standard with the discount is only marginally more expensive and includes checked baggage.
- **CityLine connection means carousel stroller pickup**: Itineraries routed through intra-European Lufthansa CityLine CRJ-900 legs will have strollers collected at the baggage carousel — not returned at the jet bridge. This can add 15–20 minutes to connection time. When booking, check whether your connecting flight shows LH or CL (CityLine) as the operating carrier, and adjust your connection time buffer accordingly.

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

Per Lufthansa's published policy, infants under 24 months of age traveling as lap infants are charged 10% of the adult fare on intra-European routes and 10% of the adult fare on intercontinental routes, plus all applicable taxes and surcharges. Unlike US carriers where domestic lap-infant travel is typically free, European carriers including Lufthansa apply the percentage fee across all route types. On long-haul transatlantic flights, the combination of the 10% base plus fuel surcharges and passenger taxes can result in a total infant ticket cost of EUR 100–250 or more. A 7-day fit-to-fly minimum applies for newborns; a doctor's note may be required. Always verify the full ticket total at checkout before completing payment. For current fare details, visit lufthansa.com.

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

Per Lufthansa's published policy, infants under 24 months of age may travel as lap infants without a purchased seat, held on the accompanying adult's lap throughout the flight. However, both the FAA and EASA recommend that all children under 2 travel in an approved child restraint system secured in their own seat for maximum safety during turbulence and emergency scenarios. Purchasing a separate seat for the infant qualifies for the approximately 20% child fare discount on Standard Economy fares and allows the use of an approved car seat in the cabin. The car seat must display UN-ECE R44 or R129 approval, or the equivalent FAA approval label. Parents considering a purchased seat on flights over 8 hours should factor in the safety benefit alongside the additional fare cost.

### Can I reserve a bassinet on Lufthansa?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, bassinets are available on 6 widebody aircraft types: the Boeing 747-8, Airbus A380, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350 (including the new Allegris cabin), and Boeing 787-9. This is the broadest bassinet fleet coverage in the European-legacy cluster. The bassinet accommodates infants up to 11 kg in weight, up to 67 cm in length, and under 8 months of age — one of the more restrictive age caps among European carriers. Critically, per Lufthansa's published policy, the bassinet reservation must be made at least 52 hours before the scheduled departure time. Reservations placed after this deadline cannot be accommodated regardless of availability. Bassinet seats are positioned at the bulkhead row and a seat-selection surcharge of EUR 30–70 may apply on Light Economy fares. Reserve via 'My Bookings' or by contacting the Lufthansa Service Centre.

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

Per Lufthansa's published policy, children traveling with a purchased seat receive the same checked-bag and carry-on allowance as adults in the equivalent fare class. Lap infants on international routes receive 1 free checked bag up to 10 kg in addition to the adult's standard allowance, plus a free collapsible stroller check. Children 2 and older on Economy fares receive the standard Economy baggage allowance. A diaper bag for infants is permitted in addition to the carry-on allowance and does not count against it. On Light Economy intercontinental fares, the approximately 20% child discount does not apply and the baggage allowance may be reduced compared to Standard Economy. Parents should review the specific fare rules at booking to understand exact allowances. Always verify the current policy at lufthansa.com before travel.

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

Per Lufthansa's published policy, unaccompanied minor (UM) service is mandatory for children aged 5–11 and optional for ages 12–17. Children under 5 are not accepted as unaccompanied minors. The service fee is EUR 50 per domestic flight segment and EUR 100 per international flight segment. A structurally important distinction: per Lufthansa's published policy, connections are permitted on both Lufthansa Group-operated flights and Star Alliance interline partner services — a broader allowance than many carriers that restrict UM travel to direct non-stop flights only. Booking must be completed by phone through the Lufthansa Service Centre; online booking is not supported. The adult collecting the child at the destination must present a matching government-issued photo ID. Parents should confirm each connection partner's UM handling procedures when booking multi-carrier itineraries.

### How does the Lufthansa Jetfriends program work?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, the Jetfriends program is Lufthansa's children's travel program featuring Lumi-the-Bear as the mascot character. On qualifying long-haul flights, children receive a Lumi-the-Bear plush toy and an age-appropriate activity pack containing games, puzzles, and coloring materials. The program also encompasses a dedicated children's IFE channel on widebody aircraft with multilingual content available in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. Hipp baby food jars are available for infants on long-haul routes, and children's special meals (SPML) can be pre-ordered at least 24 hours before departure. The Jetfriends program is active through 2026 and represents one of the more developed branded children's experiences among European-legacy carriers, comparable to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' Bluey co-branding program. Program availability may vary by route and aircraft type — verify at booking.

### What is the Lufthansa Allegris A350 and does it affect family travel?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, the Allegris product is Lufthansa's redesigned cabin experience on the Airbus A350, introduced starting in 2024 and continuing rollout through 2026. The Allegris cabin features a redesigned Business Class with direct-aisle access for all seats, an updated Premium Economy, and revised Economy seating. For families, the Allegris A350 is one of the 6 widebody types equipped with bassinets per Lufthansa's published bassinet policy. The bulkhead row configurations on the Allegris A350 are part of the redesigned cabin architecture. Parents booking transatlantic routes operated by A350 should confirm their specific aircraft subtype through the Lufthansa booking flow, as the Allegris product deployment is ongoing. Bassinet reservation rules — 52-hour deadline, 11 kg / under-8-months cap — apply identically to Allegris A350 operations as to all other bassinet-equipped aircraft in the fleet.

### Is the child fare discount available on all Lufthansa fares?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, the approximately 20% child fare discount applies to children aged 2–11 on Standard Economy fares for both short-haul intra-European and long-haul intercontinental routes. The discount is applied automatically when the 'child' passenger type is selected during booking — no code or manual request is required. However, the discount does not apply to Light Economy or Basic Economy fare classes on intercontinental routes. This distinction is important for budget-conscious families: on transatlantic routes, the Standard fare after the 20% child discount may be only marginally more expensive than the Light fare without the discount, while also including checked baggage. The discount does not reduce taxes, surcharges, or ancillary fees. Always compare the final total for both fare classes at checkout before confirming the booking at lufthansa.com.

### Does Lufthansa check strollers at the gate?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, strollers are accepted for gate-check free of charge on mainline widebody-operated flights departing from Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC), with strollers returned at the jet bridge upon arrival. A gate-check weight limit of 10 kg applies — strollers heavier than 10 kg must be checked at the ticket counter and collected at the baggage carousel. One important operational caveat: on Lufthansa CityLine-operated CRJ-900 regional jet flights, strollers are delivered to the baggage carousel regardless of weight. Passengers connecting through an intra-European CityLine segment should account for carousel retrieval time in their connection schedule. When checking in, request a gate-check tag from either the ticket counter or the departure gate agent and confirm the return method for your specific route.

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

Per Lufthansa's published policy, lap infants can be added through the 'My Bookings' section on lufthansa.com for most directly-booked fares — making Lufthansa more online-accessible than Air France, which does not support post-booking infant additions online. However, for codeshare-ticketed bookings or partner-issued PNRs, the addition must be completed by phone through the Lufthansa Service Centre. Parents should complete the infant addition as early as possible — particularly if a bassinet is needed, since the bassinet reservation has a separate 52-hour deadline that runs independently. Required information includes the infant's full legal name matching their passport or birth certificate, date of birth, and for international travel, the passport number. After adding the infant, save or print the updated booking confirmation listing the infant as a named passenger.

### How does Lufthansa family boarding compare to other European carriers?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, families traveling with children under 6 years of age are invited to pre-board before the general cabin. This threshold is one of the broader eligibility windows among European-legacy carriers — KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France use a similar under-6 threshold, while Iberia typically limits family pre-boarding to families with infants under 2. All European-legacy carriers, including Lufthansa, apply a broader boarding age than the US-typical under-2 standard used by American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Seating adjacency on Lufthansa is handled on a best-effort basis; families who pre-select seats at booking have the highest probability of staying together. Gate agents at Frankfurt and Munich are generally accommodating, but adjacency is not contractually guaranteed without pre-selected seats. Verify current boarding procedures at lufthansa.com before travel.

### What are Lufthansa's Star Alliance connections for unaccompanied minors?

Per Lufthansa's published policy, unaccompanied minor travel is permitted on itineraries that include connections operated by Lufthansa Group carriers and Star Alliance interline partners — a meaningful advantage over carriers that restrict UM service to non-stop direct flights only. This means a child flying from a secondary European city to a North American destination via Frankfurt may travel as a UM with a connection, provided the connecting segments are on qualifying Lufthansa Group or Star Alliance-operated flights. Parents should confirm each connecting segment's UM handling with the Lufthansa Service Centre at booking, as individual Star Alliance member procedures may vary. Fees apply per segment: EUR 50 per domestic segment and EUR 100 per international segment. Booking must be completed by phone; online UM booking is not supported. Always verify the current policy directly at lufthansa.com before making travel arrangements.

## Related Airlines
- [Air France](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/air-france.md) (family score 6.7/10) — European-legacy competitor with broader child discount (25–33%) and family boarding before SkyPriority elite passengers.
- [KLM Royal Dutch Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/klm-royal-dutch-airlines.md) (family score 6.9/10) — Air France-KLM sister carrier with Bluey co-branded kids' kit and similar under-6 family pre-boarding policy.
- [United Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/united-airlines.md) (family score 6.5/10) — Star Alliance JV partner on transatlantic; free domestic lap infant, no child fare discount, 15.8 kg bassinet cap.
- [Singapore Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/singapore-airlines.md) (family score 8.6/10) — Star Alliance partner with the industry-highest bassinet cap (14 kg), auto-allocated bassinets, and top-tier family amenities.
- [Iberia](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/iberia.md) (family score 6.4/10) — IAG transatlantic competitor sharing the European-legacy 8-month bassinet age cap and similar stroller policies.

## 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
- [Lufthansa — Travelling with Children (2026): Lap-infant fare, bassinet reservation, stroller policy, family boarding, Jetfriends program](https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/travelling-with-children)
- [Lufthansa — Baggage Policy (2026): Checked-bag allowances by fare class, child and lap-infant baggage rules](https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/baggage)
- [Lufthansa — Unaccompanied Minors (2026): UM age ranges, fees, booking process, and Star Alliance connection policy](https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/unaccompanied-minors)
- [EASA — Travelling with Children and Infants (2026): European Aviation Safety Agency guidance on child restraint systems and infant air travel](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/passengers/travelling-children-and-infants)
- [FAA — Flying with Children (2026): FAA child restraint system certification requirements for in-cabin use](https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children)

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