Alaska Airlines has removed a major financial hurdle for families redeeming points for long-haul international travel with children under two. The carrier’s Atmos Rewards program now requires only government-mandated taxes and fees for lap infants on eligible award tickets, a shift that replaces the previous 10 percent of the adult cash fare. The update applies when tickets are issued on Alaska or Hawaiian stock, including many partner-operated flights.
The Scale of the Savings
The change stands out most clearly on premium cabin redemptions where cash fares run high. A typical award to Europe in business class might cost 45,000 points plus roughly $50 in taxes for an adult. Under the old rule, the same infant could have triggered a charge exceeding $3,000 one way. Families now face only the modest taxes and fees that accompany the adult ticket, often totaling well under $100. This adjustment covers both Alaska and Hawaiian metal as well as a wide range of partner airlines. Travelers can therefore book award space on carriers such as British Airways, Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Icelandair, and Starlux without the previous percentage-based surcharge for the child. The policy remains limited to award tickets; revenue fares continue to follow the standard 10 percent infant charge.
Before and After the Update
A side-by-side view shows how sharply the economics have shifted for international long-haul awards.
| Element | Previous Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lap infant cost on long-haul award | 10% of adult cash fare | Only taxes and fees |
| Domestic award flights | Free | Free (unchanged) |
| Partner airline awards | 10% cash fare (when applicable) | Taxes and fees only (on 027 stock) |
| Revenue tickets | 10% cash fare | 10% cash fare (unchanged) |
The contrast is especially pronounced on routes where premium cabins carry high published fares yet award space remains available at fixed mileage rates.
Who Qualifies and How to Add the Infant
Lap infants are defined as children under the age of two on the date of the first flight who travel without their own seat. The new pricing applies only to award tickets issued by Alaska or Hawaiian. Travelers must call Atmos Rewards to have the infant added to the reservation; online booking tools do not yet support the updated infant pricing. The policy extends to partner flights when the ticket carries the correct stock number, giving families broader routing options without extra cost. Short-haul international awards already carried lower cash fares, so the practical impact there is smaller, yet the uniform rule still simplifies planning.
Practical Steps for Families
Parents planning trips should first confirm award availability for the adult traveler, then contact Atmos Rewards to attach the infant at the revised rate. It remains important to verify that the ticket will be issued on Alaska or Hawaiian stock to receive the tax-only pricing. Those holding revenue tickets or awards issued by partner carriers outside the 027 framework will continue to face the older percentage charge. The distinction encourages families to weigh points redemptions more carefully when traveling with young children. The update positions Atmos Rewards as the most generous major U.S. loyalty program for this category of travel. Families who previously avoided long-haul awards because of infant fees now have a clearer path to using miles without disproportionate added expense.
