Hi all - first time post, looking for any prior experience of being successful in adding a lap infant to a points partner booking. I have booked using Flying Blue points (AF) x4 return flights from Dublin to Abu Dhabi - direct each way on Etihad. The current booking is for x2 adults and x2 kids but I now need to add a lap infant, from initial calls with each airline both Etihad and AF have pointed to each other to do it and despite appearing to permit adding a lap infant for 10% of the adult cash fare, neither were willing to do so. After much back and forward with AF they finally quoted a price of almost USD9000 for the lap infant and so offered to charge 10% of that, USD900 - you can currently book the flights for less than this figure for an adult (less than the USD 900). I should say, flights are all economy. Has anyone had this situation before? Many thanks
Woah, berty, first, welcome to OMAAT (I see you 'joined 8 hours ago'), and second, congrats on the lap infant, but, yikes, that's insane (like, 'USD9000,' even if then 10% of that, still feels like hyper-inflation, to me). I'll admit, I have not experienced this situation personally, and I hope no one ever has to pay that much for something that should really be 'included.' Regardless, I would not pay that $900 just yet.
Partner award ticket mechanics—especially between Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Etihad—are notorious for creating this inventory glitch. Flying Blue agents see an operating carrier (Etihad) and try to push it off, while Etihad agents see a ticket issued by Air France and claim they can't touch a 057 ticket number.
If you call Flying Blue back (HUCA, 'hang-up, call-again,' is a known strategy in our hobby when one agent doesn't get things done), ask specifically for a supervisor or the Partner Ticketing Desk. Calmly and succinctly explain the situation, and request that they manually price the 10% fare against the lowest published Economy cash fare bucket currently available for sale on that DUB-AUH routing, rather than letting their automated tool default to full-flex Y.
If that doesn't work, try contacting Etihad direct support via WhatsApp. Rather than asking them to edit your Flying Blue ticket, consider asking them to create an associated infant booking attached to your main PNR and issue a standalone infant ticket on Etihad (607) ticket stock.
The last resort for partner award lap infants is to handle it in-person at the Etihad departure desk at Dublin (or any airport with an Etihad counter). Airport agents have supervisor overrides and can manually issue a lap infant ticket against real-time base fares or a flat fee. However, if you go this route, arrive at least 3 to 4 hours early on departure day to give them plenty of time—there is always a slight risk of running into a non-cooperative agent on the day of travel, so you want maximum buffer time to resolve it.
If someone else has better ideas, hope they'll share with with you soon. Regardless, we all should want this works out for you and yours. Safe travels!
Not sure if the timing is just a coincidence, or if Ben was trying to answer your question (and broadly discuss the topic), but he did just publish a comprehensive guide today on Infant Award Travel today: https://onemileatatime.com/guides/infant-award-travel/
Ben points out that when booking partner awards, airlines often bounce you back and forth on who should issue the ticket. Plus, he notes that while 10% of the cash fare is standard policy, agents default to calculating that 10% against the full-fare flex price rather than the lowest available cash rate. It confirms that the $900 quote you got is a miscalculation rather than what you're supposed to pay.
Yes, long time reader, very new member. OMAAT has been helping me with travel for years now but thats another story! Thank you very much both, leave it with me and I'll give it another go round and let you know. And yes, I saw the article today - complete coincidence! Thank you
Thought I'd update you - I tried with AFKLM, back to Etihad whatsapp and then onto AFKLM - used some of the script above and finally got someone who said they would review and call me back. 3 days later over the weekend I'd a missed call and follow-up email offering to finally resolve the situation and book a ticket for my infant at 126 EURO! Thinking this was the end of the story I called back, went all the way through to payment stage and then it failed again....again an email and call back and this time three HUAC until I finally got someone who understood, wouldn't stop trying and got the ticket issued - the holiday is on. Thanks again for your help
@berty619 WOW!! Way too much effort, but glad it got done, regardless! Phew! Safe travels and enjoy your well-deserved holiday!