First and Business passengers can be allocated seats when booking. If travelling in Economy, your seating preference is recorded at the time of booking and your seats will be allocated upon check-in at the airport on the day of travel. Families are seated together whenever possible.

• Infants who do not occupy a separate seat are carried for 10% of the applicable adult fare.
• Each infant under 2 years must be accompanied by a separate adult.
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• Children over 2 years must occupy a separate seat. All children and infants must have their own tickets, whether or not they are occupying a separate seat.
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If you are making a booking and your infant has not been born yet, do not add the infant to your booking. Book your flight and when your baby is born call your local Qantas office to add their name to the booking.

If you require a bassinet on board, you must notify Qantas at the time of reservation. Bassinets may be requested for infants up to 18 months of age, but the recommended age limit for bassinet use on international flights is eight months. The weight limit is 11kg (25lbs). The bassinet size is 71cm x 31cm (28in x 12in). The depth is approximately 26cm (10.5in). Infants paying 10% of the adult fare who are too large for bassinets are not entitled to a seat and must be nursed. Alternatively, the payment of a child's fare would ensure a seat. Bassinets are subject to availability.

Domestic seating

Families are seated together whenever possible. Children under 2 years of age who do not occupy a seat are carried free of charge. Each infant must be accompanied by a separate adult.

• Children over 2 must occupy a separate seat.  Children under 2 can travel on their parent's tickets unless a separate seat has been booked and a fare paid.
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If you are making a booking and your infant has not been born yet, do not add the infant to your booking. Book your flight and when your baby is born call your local Qantas office to add their name to the booking.

A limited number of bassinets are provided on some of our domestic aircraft. These should be requested at the time of reservation. Bassinets may be booked for infants up to 6 months of age. Private bassinets may not be used. Infants travelling free of charge who are too large for bassinets are not entitled to a seat and must be nursed. If you prefer to pay the child's fare this will ensure a seat.

Child restraint device

The safest way for an infant or small child to travel on an aircraft is in a child restraint device such as a car seat. Infants are allowed to be carried on your lap. However, research has demonstrated it does not provide the protection of a child seat.

A car seat must be pre-approved for use as a child seat at least 24 hours before departure. Approval of car seats cannot be obtained on departure at the airport. You must buy a seat on the plane to ensure the use of a pre-approved car seat or CARES restraint device. To buy a seat on an aircraft for your infant and get pre-approval for the use of a child seat, contact your local Qantas office.

The Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) is a pre-approved alternative to car seats on an aircraft. This harness-style restraint device is suitable for infants aged from 1 year, weighing 10-20kg (22-44lb). Find out more about the CARES system.

Baggage

Children are entitled to the same baggage allowance as adults. Infants have the following baggage allowances:

• Australian Domestic, Dash 8 and Fokker flights - No allowance
• Travel to and from US Territories, Tahiti, South America and Canada via the Pacific - 1 piece with total dimensions not exceeding 115cm (45in)
• All other International flights - 10kg (22lb)
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Adults accompanying infants are entitled to check in one collapsible stroller or a carry basket or bassinet (to be stowed in the aircraft hold) and infant food and nappies for use inflight. This is in addition to the normal free baggage allowance for adults.

Meals

Special child, toddler and baby meals are available. These must be requested at the time of reservation, otherwise standard meals will be supplied. Let us know your child's age when ordering.

If you are travelling with a child or infant aged between 0 and 23 months who has food allergies or special dietary requirements, you must provide their meals.

A wide selection of soft drinks and fruit juices is available for children throughout the flight. Make sure your children drink regularly on longer flights to counteract the dry air on board.

All Qantas aircraft carry a limited quantity, for emergency use, of top brand baby food, milk, baby bottles and brushes, cereals and rusks. If your baby prefers a particular brand, it's a good idea to carry enough for the flight. We cannot guarantee that we will have your brand on board. Also note that Qantas does not provide infant formula.

On the flight

A limited supply of nappies and baby wipes are available on board international services, in case of emergency. On domestic services, nappies are available, however, as these are limited, we recommend bringing a supply of your own.

Cabin crew will prepare, heat and wash bottles or pacifiers (dummies) on request. There are no private areas onboard the aircraft to breastfeed babies but you are welcome to feed your baby in your seat.

You'll find baby changing tables in selected washrooms on the aircraft. Use these facilities rather than change your baby at your seat. This is for your own comfort and that of fellow passengers. Washrooms are equipped with special disposal chutes for nappies. Nappies must not be disposed of in the aircraft toilets.

On long flights when there is time to sleep, change your small children into their pyjamas and settle them in their seat or on your lap. The more normal their routine, the more likely they are to sleep. It is often helpful to bring along a favourite bedtime toy for them to cuddle.

On the whole, children sleep very comfortably on board aircraft. For safety reasons, children are not permitted to sleep on the floor of the aircraft. Please also make sure that your child does not have any limbs protruding into the aisle while they sleep. This can be dangerous both for the child and for unwary passengers.

Kids' packs

Qantas provide complimentary kids' kits on board containing items that will help keep children entertained for hours.

On domestic flights Mr Men kids' kit for 3-12-year-olds are available.

On international flights we provide the Sesame Street kids' kit for 3-6-year-olds.

On international flights we provide the Surf's Up kids kit for 7-11-year-olds.