Last reviewed: 1 November 2026. Written for families flying from Latin America, useful for anyone connecting through the same airports.
In this section
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Minors' exit permits | What Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic require when a child leaves with one parent, another adult, or alone |
| Family-friendly airports | Family security lanes, play areas and nursing rooms at Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Istanbul, Heathrow, Schiphol, Doha, Changi, Bogotá and Mexico City |
| Flying with kids: hacks | Infant fares, strollers, car seats and bassinets on LATAM, Avianca, Copa and Iberia, plus seats, security and jet lag |
| Family-friendly countries | A short list built on stated criteria: peace index, kids' rail discounts, free museums for minors |
| Attractions for kids | Museums, parks and sights with free or reduced entry for children, region by region |
A planning order that works
- Sort the paperwork first. If one parent is not traveling, the child's exit permit takes the longest. Peru's notarized authorization, for example, is valid for 90 days and for a single trip (gob.pe, checked 2026-11-01).
- Read the infant fare rules. Copa charges 10% of the published fare plus taxes for a baby under 2 on a lap (Copa, checked 2026-11-01). LATAM's infant fare does not include a checked bag (LATAM, checked 2026-11-01).
- Check entry rules for every traveler. Each child needs their own passport. For Europe, start with our Schengen guide. Some countries also ask for medical cover to enter or for the visa; see our Spanish-language list of countries that require travel assistance or medical cover.
- Pick connections with care. A long layover at an airport with a play area is a very different day from one without. Compare in the airports guide.
- Let free entry shape the plan. The Prado, the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum are free for under-18s, and London's Natural History Museum galleries are free for everyone (details, Prado rules 2026).
Common mistakes
- One parent, no permit. The exit check is where the trip ends early. Each country uses its own format, and a document signed abroad may need an apostille.
- Assuming the baby has a bag. Many infant fares include a small bag and one item, such as a stroller or car seat, and nothing in the hold.
- The wrong car seat. To use one on board, the child needs a paid seat and the seat must be approved for aircraft. Iberia asks for ECE R44 or R129 approval with a TÜV or FAA mark and a width of 42 to 44 cm at most (Iberia, checked 2026-11-01).
- Tight connections. Folding a stroller and re-screening baby food takes longer than you think.
- Too many big days. Alternate one busy day with one slow day.
When a child gets sick on the trip
Ear pain after a flight or a fever on day three can be minor, and it still needs a doctor. Already abroad and someone feels unwell? Start with what to do if you get sick abroad.
Frequently asked questions
What documents does a child need to fly abroad?
Their own valid passport, any visa or travel authorization the destination requires and, when not traveling with both parents, the exit permit their home country asks for. See the exit permits guide.
Do babies pay for a lap seat?
Usually there is an infant fare. On Copa it is 10% of the published fare plus taxes for children under 2 on a lap, according to its official page checked on 1 November 2026. Each airline sets its own price.
Do airports have family security lanes?
Some do. Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat have priority access for passengers with children, Lisbon has a family lane, and Istanbul issues Family First passes for families with children aged 0 to 5. Details are in the airports guide.
Which country is best for a family trip?
It depends on your children's ages and your budget. Our countries guide explains the criteria we used and why each country made the list.
Checked 1 November 2026.
General information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules can change; reviewed 1 November 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you travel.