Is flying business class with kids worth it — and should you do it?

24.06.2024 - 21:38 / thepointsguy.com

Adventures that take you across oceans and continents are exciting, memorable and sometimes even life-changing journeys ... but if you're going with kids, long-haul flights are probably not the part you are most looking forward to. In fact, you may be downright dreading them. That's certainly been true in my case.

Missed bedtimes, cramped seats, unusual airplane food, jet lag and strangers as seatmates are not fun elements of travel for kids — or adults, for that matter. But sometimes, points and miles offer a solution to many of those long-haul flight problems in the form of upgraded seats in business class for the whole family.

Instead of uncomfortably sitting upright for upwards of 12 hours and praying for the landing to come as soon as humanly possible, you could use your miles to book business class and make the most of the flight portion of your trip, enjoying lie-flat seats and better meal options.

Related: 7 business class travel tips and tricks from one first-timer to another

But is it still worth the extra miles or cash to fly business class with your kids? Will they even enjoy it? Will you? Will your cabin neighbors hate you?

Thanks to points and miles, I've been lucky enough to fly business class with my kids multiple times. Let's dive into when you can fly business class with kids, when you should consider it and some pitfalls to watch out for along the way.

Related: Guide to getting your child's passport

While some airlines have tried to prohibit children in premium cabins (or other defined sections of the airplane), generally speaking, yes, kids of all ages — including infants — are allowed in business class.

However, if you want to use a car seat for your baby or toddler in business class, know that some seat types are not compatible with them. For example, when flying United Airlines, car seats aren't allowed in United Polaris business class on Boeing 767, 777 or 787 aircraft, so be sure to check your airline's website for any such restrictions.

Related: 43 real-world family travel tips that actually work

If you want to fly in business class with your under-2-year-old as a "lap infant" (meaning they do not require their own seat), it can cost more than you might think.

When flying domestically within the U.S., a lap infant is free. However, when flying on an international ticket, the cost can often be 10% of the adult fare plus taxes and fees. The actual cash cost of a business-class seat can be $5,000 to $10,000, in some cases, so 10% of that plus taxes and fees can be approaching (or more than) $1,000 just to hold your child in your lap.

Thankfully, you can book strategically via an airline program that doesn't price lap infant tickets in that way. For example, Air Canada