Flying with a Baby on ITA Airways
Last Updated on May 15, 2024
ITA airways is a rebranded Alitalia that went bankrupt and used to be Italy’s leading airline. ITA is a national successor and it’s owned by the Government of Italy. Most of the same rules apply as they used to in Alitalia.
ITA is very baby-friendly, as most things in Italy, so don’t be afraid of trying it out. It’s also part of the Skyteam Alliance.
ITA Flying with Infant
ITA Airways accepts newborns as young as 7 days old and you have two different seating options. We flew them first time when my son was 4 weeks old and weren’t asked for any extra documentations on top of his passport.
Infants under 2 years old can travel on a parent’s lap (known as “infant in arms”) or in their own child seat using an approved car safety seat.
When making your flight reservation, you have to indicate that you’ll be traveling with an infant regardless of which option you choose so make sure you look for the add-on for an infant or child fare whether you’re booking online or via phone.
It’s also important to know that ITA Airways only lets you travel with one baby under 2 years old regardless of whether or not you book an additional seat unless you have a second adult accompanying the additional child. So if you are traveling alone with babies, you might need to look into other airlines.
Infant Food on ITA
ITA Airways provides special meals for infants up to 2 years old with baby food consisting of lean meat, vegetables, fruit, and dessert but these meals must be requested ahead of time.
If your baby is formula-fed, make sure to bring your own as ITA does not generally carry formula on board.
ITA Lap Infant
As I previously mentioned, you’ll be charged a fee for an infant in arms on ITA to have a baby travel on your lap throughout the flight. This means you need to make sure to add an infant ticket to your own booking at the time of reservation.
It’s worth thinking about how comfortable you and your little one will be for the flight before choosing this option as flying with a baby already has a lot of challenges and you may not want to add a squirming little one to the list.
Baby Facilities on ITA
Thankfully ITA flights are equipped with baby-friendly facilities on their flights including changing tables in lavatories.
You’re also allowed to bring a maternity bag as a carry-on (instead of your regular hand luggage) with dimensions up to 115 cm in total (approximately 55x35x25) so you have space to bring all the necessities you have for the flight such as diapers, wipes and formula.
ITA Car Seat Policy
For any toddlers over 2 years old that cannot sit up unassisted (maximum 11 years), or any babies under 2 for whom you have bought their own seat, you will need to bring your own approved car seat.
It’s important to make sure that your car seat fits between the airplane seat armrests (narrower than 42 cm/16.5 in) and is approved by official authorities.
The car seat must also be able to be secured to the seat with a regular plane seat belt. That means that safety seats that require three attachments, are made of two parts, or use a metal bar to keep them in place will not be accepted.
Accepted Car Seats on ITA
The car seat must have a visible EU seal of approval or a seal from another recognized authority, such as the FAA.
Approved seals of approval include:
- UN ECE Standard R44-03 and 44-04
- United States labeling US FMVSS no. 213
- Canadian labeling CMVSS 213/213.1
- German labeling TUV/958-01/2001
Baggage Allowance for Babies and Kids on ITA
Under the ITA baby policy, infants under 2 who are seated on their parent’s lap are allowed 1 piece of hold baggage up to 10 kg provided the adult has luggage included in their own ticket
Additionally, a foldable stroller and car seat can be checked in at the ticket counter free of charge for anyone traveling with kids.
For infants traveling on a child’s fare with their own assigned seat, they will receive the same weight and size baggage allowance for both checked and carry-on bags as an adult’s fare.
Bassinet on ITA
If you’re taking a long-haul flight with ITA, you may have the option of selecting a bassinet when booking your tickets.
Basinnets are only available for infants smaller than 76 cm in height and less than 11 kg in weight and there are a limited number. Generally, even if you have reserved a bassinet in advance, the youngest babies on board are given priority and if you are not lucky enough to be one of those, your baby will have to sit on your lap for the duration of the flight.
How to Reserve a Bassinet/Carrycot on ITA
You should always reserve a bassinet on ITA Airways at the time of booking your flight if you want to take advantage of this option to give you the best chance of success.
Check the special requests portion of the booking process to find the option to request a bassinet. If you don’t see the option, call ITA customer service to have them add the request for you.
ITA Stroller Policy
You can bring one foldable stroller for any child up to 11 years old for free on your flight but where you have to check it into the hold changes depending on your location.
Some airports allow you to gate check your stroller while others require you to leave it at the regular baggage drop counter.
Gate Checking Baby Items
In addition to your free stroller, you can also check a car seat for free for each child traveling with you. That being said, you need to check the car seat at the ticket counter for any children who do not have their own assigned seat on the flight.
Note that you can only bring your car seat into the cabin if you’ve booked a seat for your child and it will have to stay strapped to a seat throughout the flight.
Flying with a Toddler on ITA (Over 2 Years Old)
When flying between continents, any children from ages 2 – 12 years old who are flying with ITA will receive a fun goodie bag with plenty of activities to keep them entertained throughout the trip.
Toddlers and Kids will get a fun face mask, toothbrush and toothpaste, anti-slip socks, headphones, a game book, coloring pencils, and a pencil case.
Plus if it’s your child’s first flight, you can print out a “First Flight” certificate from the ITA website and give it to a flight attendant who will have the captain sign it.
Lastly, if you’re flying through Rome Fiumicino airport, make sure to visit Sala Young which is a fun kids area for ITA with TVs and cartoons.
Kid’s Meal Options on ITA
Make sure to request a kids meal when booking your flights for any children aged 2-12 as you will be provided with a more kid-friendly meal for the trip. Generally, the meals include yummy foods like hamburgers, sweets, and sandwiches.
If you forget to book a kid’s meal they may have a few additional packets on board but it is not guaranteed.
