--- type: Airline Policy title: Spirit Airlines — Child & Family Travel Policy description: "Independent guide to Spirit Airlines' published infant, stroller, boarding, and unaccompanied minor policies for parents flying with kids." resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/airlines-child-policy/spirit-airlines/ tags: [airline, policy, us-other, iata-nk] timestamp: 2026-06-03 --- # Flying Spirit Airlines with Kids: Infant Policy, Stroller Check & UM Service **Quick Answer**: Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, Spirit is the only US ULCC on the DOT family-seating commitment list that accepts unaccompanied minors ages 5–14; lap infants fly free on all routes. **TL;DR**: Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, lap infants travel free on all routes including the Caribbean and South America — broader than most US legacy carriers on international. Spirit is the only US ULCC simultaneously on the DOT family-seating commitment list and accepting unaccompanied minors ages 5–14. The predictable ULCC trade-offs remain: paid carry-on USD 26–79, no bassinets, zero in-flight entertainment, and the diaper bag counts as your personal item. Book on Standard or Bundle fares to retain the DOT adjacency guarantee. ## At a Glance - **Lap Infant**: Free (US + Intl) — Under 24 months; Caribbean, Mexico, Central/South America included - **Family Boarding**: Yes (under-2 pre-board) — DOT ✅ ages ≤14 on Standard/Bundle fares - **Stroller Check**: Free — Gate or counter; jet-bridge return at major airports - **Car Seat Check**: Free — FAA sticker required for in-cabin use - **UM Service**: USD 150 each way — Ages 5–14 mandatory; non-stop only ## Quick Facts - Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months fly free on all domestic and international routes including Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. - Spirit is the only US ULCC on the DOT Family-Seating Dashboard commitment list that also accepts unaccompanied minors ages 5–14. - Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, one stroller and one car seat per fare-paying passenger are checked free at the gate or ticket counter. - Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, the DOT seat-adjacency guarantee for children 14 and under applies to Standard and Bundle fares, not Bare Fares. - Per Spirit Airlines' published fee schedule, carry-on bags range from USD 26 to USD 79 depending on route and fare — infants and lap children do not receive a free carry-on. ## Velivolo Family Score: 5.6/10 — Decent - **Lap Infant Cost** (8/10): Free on domestic and international (Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America). - **Family Boarding** (7/10): Families with infants under 2 pre-board; DOT commitment covers ages ≤14 on Standard/Bundle fares. - **Stroller & Car Seat** (7/10): Free gate or counter check; jet-bridge return on A319/A320/A321 fleet at major airports. - **Bassinet & Onboard** (1/10): No bassinets offered. A319/A320/A321 narrow-body fleet has no bulkhead bassinet mounts. - **Unaccompanied Minor** (4/10): UM accepted ages 5–14 at USD 150 each way; non-stop only; segment leader within ULCC peers. - **Baggage for Kids** (4/10): Paid carry-on USD 26–79; lap infant gear-only; diaper bag counts as personal item. ## Lap Infant - **Cost (Domestic)**: Free - **Cost (International)**: Free (Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America) - **Age Limit**: Under 24 months at time of travel - **Documents**: Birth certificate (domestic), Passport (international), Doctor's note for newborns under 7 days Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, children under 24 months at the time of travel may fly as lap infants without a base fare on both US domestic and international routes, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. A 7-day minimum age applies for newborns. **Source**: https://www.spirit.com/help/articles/i-am-traveling-with-children ## Family Boarding - **Available**: Yes - **Boarding Zone**: Pre-board (under-2 infants); general zone for other families - **Age Eligibility**: Children under 2 for pre-board; children under 15 for DOT adjacency on Standard/Bundle fares Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, families traveling with children under 2 years of age are invited to pre-board ahead of general boarding zones. The DOT Family-Seating Dashboard commitment additionally covers children 14 and under for fee-free adjacent seating on Standard and Bundle fares. ## Stroller & Car Seat Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, one stroller and one car seat per fare-paying passenger are checked free of charge, either at the ticket counter or at the boarding gate. The uniform A319/A320/A321 fleet supports jet-bridge stroller return at most major airports. - **Standard Stroller** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: No published size restriction for standard strollers. Umbrella and standard strollers accepted at gate; double strollers and joggers require counter check. - **Car Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: FAA-approved sticker required for in-cabin use. Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, the FAA sticker is strictly enforced for in-cabin car seat use; gate or counter check has no certification requirement. - **Booster Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: Treated as child safety device — no additional size limit published. Booster seats without a built-in harness are not FAA-approved for in-flight use; check for free as cargo. - **Pack-n-Play / Travel Crib** — Fee: Counts as checked bag, Check at: Counter only, Size: Standard checked-bag dimensions apply. Per Spirit Airlines' published fee schedule, pack-n-play is not included in the free child-gear allowance and is subject to checked-bag fees. ## Baggage by Age - **Lap Infant (Under 2)** — Carry-on: None (no carry-on included; personal item = diaper bag only); Checked: None included; stroller and car seat check free as child gear; Personal: 1 diaper bag (counts as parent's personal item — not a free extra). No additional carry-on or checked bag allowance for lap infant. Stroller and car seat are free gear checks, not part of a bag allowance. - **Infant with Seat (Under 2)** — Carry-on: Paid carry-on USD 26–79 same as adult; Checked: Paid checked bag same as adult fare class; Personal: 1 free personal item. Purchasing a seat for the infant grants the same paid bag rights as the adult fare — no child discount. - **Child 2+ (Adult Fare)** — Carry-on: Paid carry-on USD 26–79 same as adult; Checked: Paid checked bag same as adult fare class; Personal: 1 free personal item. All passengers 2 and older pay full adult fare with the same unbundled carry-on and bag fees. No child discount exists on Spirit. ## Bassinet & Onboard - **Bassinet Available**: No Per Spirit Airlines' published information, bassinets are not available on any Spirit-operated aircraft. The carrier's entire fleet consists of Airbus A319, A320, and A321 narrow-body aircraft that are not equipped with bulkhead bassinet attachment points. ## Child Fare - **No child discount** Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, children 2 years and older are ticketed at the full adult base fare with the same a-la-carte add-on structure (carry-on, seat selection, checked bag). This is standard across US ultra-low-cost carriers — Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant all follow the same model. Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, there is no Discount Den program comparable to Frontier's, and the airline does not run seasonal kids-fly-free promotions as a base policy. The effective family cost therefore scales linearly with the number of fare-paying children, not discounted. Parents should factor carry-on fees into total cost per child on every booking. ## Unaccompanied Minor - **Available**: Yes - **Fee**: USD 150 each way Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor (UM) service is available for children ages 5–14 on non-stop flights only. The fee is USD 150 each way, and the service must be booked by phone. Spirit is one of only two US ULCCs that accept unaccompanied minors under age 15. ## Industry Comparison ### How Spirit Airlines compares to other carriers for family travel Spirit Airlines occupies a distinct position in the US ultra-low-cost carrier segment: it is the only ULCC on the US DOT Family-Seating Dashboard's commitment list (ages ≤14 fee-free adjacent on Standard/Bundle fares) that also accepts unaccompanied minors ages 5–14. Frontier Airlines shares the DOT commitment but refuses UM service for anyone under 15. Allegiant Air and Avelo Airlines are absent from the DOT list entirely and also decline UMs under 15. That dual combination is Spirit's measurable ULCC advantage. On lap-infant policy, Spirit matches Sun Country Airlines and outpaces US legacy carriers on international coverage: per Spirit Airlines' published policy, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America routes all carry a free lap-infant fare. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines charge 10% of the adult fare plus taxes on international segments — a structural cost Spirit avoids. Where Spirit aligns with the ULCC cluster is the in-flight experience ceiling. There are no bassinets, no in-flight entertainment, and no children's meal programs on the A319/A320/A321 fleet — identical to Frontier and Allegiant. By contrast, Singapore Airlines auto-allocates bassinets on every long-haul booking with an infant, and Emirates offers bassinet reservation across its A380 and 777 fleet. JetBlue offers free seatback IFE and Wi-Fi on every flight. For baggage, Spirit's paid carry-on structure (USD 26–79) and the absence of a free diaper-bag exemption make it costlier for a family of four than Allegiant, which treats the diaper bag as a free extra. Southwest Airlines remains the only domestic carrier offering two free checked bags per passenger. The verdict: Spirit leads the ULCC segment for families needing UM service or DOT seat adjacency — but parents must select Standard or Bundle fares, budget for carry-ons, and download content before boarding. ## Family Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Lap infants fly free on all routes including Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America — no international infant surcharge - Only US ULCC simultaneously on DOT Family-Seating Dashboard and accepting unaccompanied minors ages 5–14 - Free stroller and car seat check (gate or counter) with jet-bridge return on the uniform A319/A320/A321 fleet - DOT commitment guarantees fee-free adjacent seating for children 14 and under on Standard and Bundle fares - Spirit Aviation Holdings emerged from Chapter 11 early 2025 with family policies fully preserved and operations uninterrupted **Cons:** - Paid carry-on USD 26–79 applies to every passenger including parents — no family carry-on waiver - Diaper bag counts as the parent's personal item, not a free extra as on Allegiant - No in-flight entertainment, no seatback screens, no Wi-Fi, and no children's amenity kits - Lap-infant addition is phone-only — online add is not supported in Manage Travel - Bare Fare ticket holders are not covered by the DOT seat-adjacency commitment ## Parent Tips - **Pick Standard or Bundle fare**: Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, the DOT seat-adjacency guarantee for children 14 and under applies exclusively to Standard and Bundle fares, not Bare Fares. The incremental cost of upgrading from Bare Fare to Standard is often partially offset by avoiding a separate paid seat-selection fee, and it protects the family's right to sit together at no extra charge. - **Call to add infant early**: Per Spirit Airlines' published information, online lap-infant addition through 'Manage Travel' is not supported. Reach Spirit Reservations through the airline's official website reservations as soon as the adult ticket is confirmed — there is no online self-serve path. Backend cutoffs close to departure may prevent last-minute additions, so complete this step within 48 hours of booking the adult fare. - **Tag gear at counter, not gate**: Stroller and car seat tagging is faster at the ticket counter than at the gate on Spirit. Counter agents process more child-gear items daily and move quickly. Arriving 90 minutes early and tagging at check-in also means you can use the stroller freely through the terminal without worrying about gate congestion. - **Bring everything you need on board**: Velivolo research confirms Spirit's galley offers only basic snacks with no children's menu, no buy-on-board kids' items, and no amenity kits. Pack formula, baby food, snacks, wipes, a spare outfit, and a small changing pad in your diaper bag. Pre-load tablets with offline content and bring child-size headphones — the aircraft has no Wi-Fi or seatback screens. ## FAQ ### Does Spirit Airlines charge for lap infants? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months at the time of travel fly without a base fare on all Spirit-operated routes — this includes US domestic flights as well as international destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. A 7-day minimum age applies for newborns. Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, unlike US legacy carriers such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, which charge approximately 10% of the adult fare plus taxes on international infant tickets, the airline does not apply an international infant surcharge. The only cost considerations are the paid carry-on fee (USD 26–79) for the accompanying adult and any seat-selection fees if adjacency is needed. Always verify the current policy directly at spirit.com before booking. ### Does my infant need their own seat on Spirit Airlines? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, children under 24 months may travel as lap infants without a purchased seat. A separate seat is required only if the parent chooses to use an FAA-approved child restraint system (car seat) in-cabin during the flight — in that case, the seat is purchased at the full adult fare, as no infant or child discount exists. The FAA strongly recommends that children under 2 travel in their own restraint for safety reasons, even when the airline does not require it. Parents flying alone with multiple infants must purchase additional seats if they have more infants than adults in the travel party. Verify current terms at spirit.com before booking. ### Can I reserve a bassinet on Spirit Airlines? Per Spirit Airlines' published information, bassinets are not available on any Spirit-operated aircraft. The carrier's entire fleet consists of Airbus A319, A320, and A321 narrow-body aircraft, which do not have the bulkhead mounting points required for airline bassinets. This is a fleet-wide structural limitation identical to Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air, as all three operate all-narrow-body fleets. Parents of infants on Spirit should plan to hold the infant for the duration of the flight or bring a soft carrier or ergonomic wrap for in-arm support. For routes where bassinet availability matters, carriers such as Emirates or Singapore Airlines operate wide-body aircraft with reservable bassinets, though at significantly higher fare levels. ### What is the child baggage allowance on Spirit Airlines? Per Spirit Airlines' published fee schedule, Spirit operates an unbundled fare model where carry-on bags are paid add-ons ranging from USD 26 to USD 79 depending on the route and booking timing. Lap infants do not receive any personal carry-on or checked bag allowance; their only free entitlements are a stroller and car seat checked as child gear. The diaper bag is treated as the traveling parent's personal item — it does not qualify as a free additional allowance as it does on Allegiant. Children 2 and older pay the full adult fare and the same carry-on fees as adults. There is no child or infant discount on baggage fees. Always verify the baggage fee calculator at spirit.com before purchasing. ### What are Spirit Airlines' unaccompanied minor rules? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is available for children ages 5–14 at a fee of USD 150 each way. The service is mandatory for all children in this age range who travel without an accompanying adult, and it is available on non-stop flights only — Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, spirit does not accept unaccompanied minors on connecting itineraries. Children under 5 cannot fly alone under any circumstances. Passengers 15 and older may travel without UM service and are treated as standard adult passengers. Booking must be completed by contacting Spirit Airlines reservations directly, as online UM booking is not supported. The drop-off guardian must remain at the airport until the aircraft departs, and the receiving adult must present valid government-issued ID at the destination before the child is released. Verify current terms at spirit.com. ### Is Spirit Airlines on the DOT family seating dashboard? Per the US Department of Transportation's published Family Seating Dashboard (transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard), Spirit Airlines has committed to seating children 14 years and younger adjacent to an accompanying adult at no additional charge. This commitment applies to Standard and Bundle fare tickets. Passengers who purchase Bare Fare tickets are not covered by this commitment and may need to pay for seat selection separately to guarantee the family sits together. Spirit is one of the few US ultra-low-cost carriers listed on the DOT dashboard — Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines are not on the commitment list. Always confirm fare type eligibility before booking and verify the current dashboard status at transportation.gov. ### Are strollers free on Spirit Airlines? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, one stroller per fare-paying passenger is checked free of charge, either at the ticket counter or at the boarding gate. The carrier's uniform A319/A320/A321 fleet supports jet-bridge stroller return at most major airports, meaning the stroller is returned at the aircraft door rather than at baggage claim. Standard and umbrella strollers are accepted for gate check; double strollers and jogging strollers must be checked at the ticket counter due to size. The stroller tag is applied by counter or gate agents and the item is loaded into the cargo hold. No size or weight limit is published for standard strollers, but unusually oversized items may require special handling. Always verify with the gate agent at check-in. ### Does Spirit fly internationally with a lap infant? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months travel free on all international routes Spirit operates, including destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Unlike US legacy carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines — which charge approximately 10% of the adult fare plus applicable taxes on most international infant tickets — Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, spirit does not apply an infant surcharge on its international network. Parents should note that the lap-infant addition is phone-only (online add is not supported) and that the free stroller and car seat gate check applies on international flights as well. Always confirm the current policy for specific international routes at spirit.com before booking. ### What happened to Spirit Airlines after Chapter 11? Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 and emerged as Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc. in early 2025. According to Spirit Airlines' published information, flight operations continued without interruption throughout the restructuring process and existing tickets were honored. The carrier's family policies — including the free lap-infant fare, UM service for ages 5–14, free stroller and car seat check, and DOT Family-Seating Dashboard commitment — were preserved through and after the restructuring. The post-emergence entity reduced some routes but maintained its core leisure and family travel network. As with any airline, parents should verify current route availability and policies directly at spirit.com before booking, as network and operational details may continue to evolve. ### Does Spirit Airlines have family boarding? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, families traveling with children under 2 years of age are invited to board ahead of the general boarding zones — this pre-boarding privilege applies specifically to traveling parties with an infant under 2. Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, for families with older children, the DOT Family-Seating Dashboard commitment covers seat adjacency for children 14 and under on Standard and Bundle fares, but the airline does not designate a separate formal family-boarding group for children over 2 comparable to Southwest Airlines' between-A-and-B family boarding group. Parents of toddlers and older children who want early boarding should purchase boarding priority upgrades at booking or at check-in. Always verify boarding procedures for your specific flight at spirit.com. ### How do I add a lap infant to my Spirit Airlines booking? Per Spirit Airlines' published information, adding a lap infant to an existing booking cannot be completed online through 'Manage Travel.' Parents must contact Spirit Airlines reservations by phone after completing the adult ticket purchase. Have the following ready before calling: the adult booking confirmation number, the infant's full legal name as it appears on the birth certificate, and the infant's date of birth. The lap-infant fare is USD 0 on all Spirit routes. After the phone call, an updated confirmation email listing both the adult and infant passenger is issued. Do not wait until close to departure — backend processing cutoffs may prevent additions within 24 hours of flight time. Verify the phone contact channel and current process at spirit.com. ### Does Spirit charge for car seats? Per Spirit Airlines' published policy, one car seat per fare-paying passenger is checked free of charge, either at the ticket counter or at the boarding gate. If the car seat will be used in-cabin on a purchased seat, the FAA-approval sticker must be affixed to the seat — Spirit agents strictly enforce this requirement. For gate or counter check only (not in-cabin use), no certification sticker is required. Car seats checked at the gate are stowed in the cargo hold and returned at the jet bridge on arrival at most Spirit-served airports. Booster seats are also accepted under the same free-check allowance, but traditional booster seats without a built-in harness are not FAA-approved for in-flight use. Verify car seat policy at spirit.com before traveling. ## Related Airlines - [Frontier Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/frontier-airlines.md) (family score 5.3/10) — DOT-committed ULCC peer but does not accept unaccompanied minors under 15 — key gap vs Spirit. - [Allegiant Air](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/allegiant-air.md) (family score 5.2/10) — ULCC peer with free diaper bag but absent from DOT dashboard and no UM service under 15. - [JetBlue Airways](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/jetblue-airways.md) (family score 6.1/10) — Mid-tier FLL competitor with free seatback IFE, Wi-Fi, and DOT commitment — UM also USD 150. - [Aeromexico](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/aeromexico.md) (family score 6.2/10) — SkyTeam FLL-Mexico competitor with richer onboard amenities and international bassinet availability. ## 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 - [Spirit Airlines — Traveling with Children (2026): Lap-infant, stroller, car seat, family boarding, and UM policies](https://www.spirit.com/help/articles/i-am-traveling-with-children) - [Spirit Airlines — Baggage Fees (2026): Carry-on, personal item, and checked-bag fee schedule by route](https://www.spirit.com/help/articles/baggage-fees) - [Spirit Airlines — Unaccompanied Minors (2026): Age requirements, fees, non-stop restriction, and booking process](https://www.spirit.com/help/articles/unaccompanied-minors) - [US DOT Family Seating Dashboard (2026): Regulatory commitment list for child seat adjacency at no extra charge](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