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Understand When a Child Can Fly for Free by Plane in Brazil, What the Law Allows, What Are the Rules of Gol, Azul, and LATAM, and the Projects That Promise to Change Child Air Transport.
Flying by plane with a child in Brazil still raises many doubts, and it’s no coincidence. Many people believe that children always fly for free, but the reality of air transport is quite different from what happens with buses or other public services. Between laws, ANAC regulations, company rules like those of Gol, and proposed laws trying to change the scenario, the topic requires attention to avoid falling for misleading information.
Below, you will find what is actually valid today, based on official regulations and updated data.
There Is Still No Law That Requires Children to Fly for Free by Plane
The starting point is clear and needs to be stated without roundabout phrases. In Brazil, there is no federal law that requires airlines to grant free travel or discounts for children in air transport.
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This understanding is confirmed by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) itself, which officially states that prices, discounts, and gratuities are defined by each company’s commercial policy.
This guidance can be checked on ANAC’s official page about traveling with children, available on the federal government portal.
In other words, unlike what happens in other sectors, such as education or health, flying for free by plane is not a right guaranteed by law at present.
What Does It Mean to “Fly for Free” by Plane, in Practice
When it comes to children flying for free by plane, the term almost always refers to the infant in arms, which is a child up to 2 years old who travels seated on the lap of a responsible adult, without occupying a separate seat.
This possibility is not provided by law, but it is adopted by airlines as a commercial practice. The general rule in the sector is simple: once a child turns 2, they need their own seat and usually pay the full fare.
This standard is very different from what happens in interstate buses, for example, where there are specific laws guaranteeing free travel in certain situations.
Gol Rules for Children and Infants in Arms
Gol Airlines officially states that infants up to 2 years old can travel for free on domestic flights, provided they are on the lap of an adult over 18 years old.
The company also makes it clear that only one infant in arms per adult is allowed, which directly affects families with twins.
Gol’s rules are detailed on the “Traveling with Infants” page on the company’s official website.
For international flights, the policy changes. In these cases, Gol charges 10% of the adult fare, in addition to airport fees, even for infants in arms.
For children from 2 years old onward, Gol applies the standard market rule: the child occupies their own seat and pays the full fare, with no mandatory discount.
How It Works at Azul Airlines
Azul also adopts the policy of free travel for infants in arms on domestic flights. According to the company, children up to 2 years old can travel on the lap, at no cost, on flights within Brazil.
This information is available on Azul’s official section dedicated to traveling with children.
Starting at 2 years old, the rule changes completely. Azul states that children from 2 to 12 years old pay the same fare as an adult, eliminating the idea of an automatic discount for children on the plane.
LATAM Follows the Same Pattern as the Airline Market
At LATAM, the age criterion is also decisive. The company makes it clear that children from 2 years old must travel in their own seat, with the purchase of a full ticket, both on domestic and international flights.
On international flights, LATAM also charges 10% of the adult fare for infants in arms, following the standard adopted by a large part of the global airline sector.
The official guidelines from LATAM can be checked on the company’s website.
ANAC and Portaria No. 13.065/2023: It Is Not a Discount, It Is Child Protection
An important point, often confused with free travel, is the seat assignment for children under 16 years old.
In 2023, ANAC issued Portaria No. 13.065, dated November 3, 2023, determining that airlines cannot charge an extra fee for a child or adolescent under 16 years old to travel in a seat adjacent to their guardian.
This measure arose after court decisions and does not address ticket prices but rather child protection, in accordance with the Child and Adolescent Statute (Law No. 8.069/1990).
ANAC itself highlighted that the rule aims to ensure safety and family coexistence during the flight, without imposing additional costs on families.
A Bill Seeks to Ensure Children Flying for Free and Discounts on the Plane
In the National Congress, the issue gained momentum in 2025. The Bill No. 584/2025, currently under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, proposes significant changes in Brazilian air transport.
The text provides for:
- Free travel for infants up to 2 years old, traveling in arms;
- 50% discount on the ticket price for children from 2 to 7 years old;
- Discount also applied to children with disabilities under 12 years old, according to the concept of Law No. 13.146/2015, the Brazilian Inclusion Law.
The progress and updated text of the bill can be followed directly on the Chamber’s website. So far, the project has not become law, but it represents a concrete attempt to standardize rules that currently depend solely on the airlines.
Another Bill Targets Seat Charges on the Plane
In the Federal Senate, Bill No. 624/2025 seeks to turn into law the guarantee that children under 16 years old travel alongside their guardians without additional charges.
The proposal alters important regulations, such as the Brazilian Aeronautics Code (Law No. 7.565/1986), the Consumer Protection Code (Law No. 8.078/1990), and the Child and Adolescent Statute.
The idea is to give legal force to what is currently sustained by administrative regulation and court rulings. More details are available on the Senate portal.
Why the Plane Is Different from the Bus
Many people find these rules strange because, in land transport, such as interstate buses, there are laws that guarantee free travel and discounts for certain groups.
In air transport, however, the logic is different. The sector operates under a regime of pricing freedom, supervised by ANAC, but without a standard or imposition of free travel for children.
Therefore, on the plane, flying for free depends on the company’s policy, while on the bus, free travel is usually directly linked to the law.
What the Passenger Needs to Do Before Buying
The practical recommendation is always the same. Before finalizing the ticket, correctly inform the child’s age in the airline’s system and read the company’s official rules.
As ANAC itself reinforces, there is no legal obligation for discounts, and the conditions may vary according to route, ticket type, and travel date.
Understanding this difference avoids frustration and helps families better plan financially.
If this content helped you understand better when a child can fly for free by plane in Brazil, leave your comment sharing your experience or share this article with others who also have questions about air transport. Your participation helps bring quality information to more families.
Adoraria que a lei fosse regulamentada… Estarei viajando com meus netos um de 13 anos e os gêmeos de 02 anos e 5 meses… podendo ter desconto para as faixas etárias…
A matéria é bem esclarecedora, mas aos viajantes com filhos sugiro consultar a Resolução 400 da Anac que trata de vários pontos sobre os direitos e os deveres dos passageiros e dos operadores aéreos nessa relação de consumo.