Atmos Rewards Ends Lap Infant Fees on International Awards
The Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines loyalty program now allows passengers to add a lap infant to an international award ticket for only the cost of applicable
Atmos Rewards has introduced what it calls the industry's most generous policy for lap infant award travel. The loyalty program for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now charges only mandatory international taxes and fees to add a child under two to an international award booking, eliminating the typical 10% adult fare surcharge.
The new policy details
Under the updated policy, lap infants can be added to long-haul international Atmos Rewards bookings for just the applicable international taxes. A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines confirmed the change, stating that for both Alaska/Hawaiian and partner airline flights, lap infants on accompanying award tickets are only charged these taxes, provided the ticket is issued on 027 stock, meaning it is ticketed through Alaska or Hawaiian.
This policy applies to award travel on all partner airlines, not only the two founding carriers. The program's website was updated to reflect the new rule, clarifying that at this rate, the infant will travel on an adult's lap without a separate seat.
How industry policies compare
The Atmos Rewards shift breaks from standard industry practice. Typically, adding a lap infant to an international award ticket costs 10% of the revenue adult fare plus taxes and fees, even when miles are used for the adult ticket. Some programs offer slightly better deals. For example, Air Canada Aeroplan charges either 2,500 points or 25 Canadian dollars plus taxes to add an infant to a one-way award.
| Program | Standard Lap Infant Cost on International Awards |
|---|---|
| Typical Industry Policy | 10% of adult cash fare + taxes & fees |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 2,500 points or 25 CAD + taxes & fees per one-way segment |
| Atmos Rewards | Applicable international taxes & fees only |
The source notes that the standard 10% charge can become very expensive, citing a personal example where adding an infant to an American Airlines international first class award would have cost over $1,400, leading to a cancellation.
Where lap infant revenue usually goes
The source explains a curious aspect of lap infant fees on award tickets. When a passenger adds an infant through a frequent flyer program, the revenue from the fee, excluding taxes, typically stays with the loyalty program itself rather than going to the operating airline. This makes such fees a lucrative income stream for mileage programs when passengers redeem miles and then pay hundreds or thousands of dollars extra for an infant.
By eliminating this charge, Atmos Rewards is forgoing significant potential revenue. The source argues this strategic move makes the program considerably more attractive for families traveling with young children, positioning it as a major differentiator in the competitive loyalty market.
The policy is described as "incredible" and a "huge advantage" for using the Atmos Rewards program for international award travel with an infant.
