FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus tickets: all about child and infant fares
Everything about child and infant fares on the bus.
Travelling by bus with a child or an infant does not work like the train or the plane: no infant travels on your lap. At FlixBus as at BlaBlaCar Bus, every child, even a newborn, takes their own seat, needs their own ticket and must travel in a car seat up to age 3. On Kombo we help you decode the main bus operators' conditions before you book.
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Child and infant fares: FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus
Child and infant fares at FlixBus
Reduced child fare: FlixBus's general conditions of carriage provide a reduced fare for children under 15, and the child automatically gets the cheaper price if a promotional fare is lower. This does not apply on journeys from France: the French annex to the conditions expressly excludes the reduced child fare on domestic French routes and on international routes departing France. There, the child pays the same price as an adult.
Infant on your lap: not possible. Every child, even a newborn, takes their own seat and must be booked at the same time as the accompanying adult.
Car seat required up to age 3: the child must travel in a car seat secured with the bus seatbelts and attachable with a two-point belt. On journeys to or from France a three-point belt is required. The seat is brought by the accompanying adult, and boarding is refused without a suitable seat.
Minors: children under 16 must be accompanied by someone with parental authority. Some countries set their own rules: in Denmark and Greece minors may travel alone earlier with written parental consent, while from France travelling alone is not allowed before 16.
Seating: passengers travelling with children get priority when choosing a seat, but sitting together is not guaranteed without a seat reservation.
Identity document: an official photo ID may be requested during a check. In some countries it is what entitles the child to the reduced fare.
Child and infant fares at BlaBlaCar Bus
No reduced fare: BlaBlaCar applies no child fare, neither on buses nor in carpooling. The child pays the standard price whatever their age.
Infant on your lap: not possible either. You have to book one seat for yourself and one for the child.
Car seat up to age 3: the child must sit in a car seat fitted with a seatbelt adapter, which BlaBlaCar does not provide, attachable with a two-point belt. The equipment is the accompanying adult's responsibility.
Domestic journeys: under 12 always accompanied by an adult. From 12 to 16, travelling alone is possible with parental authorisation. Over 16, without authorisation.
International journeys: under 16 always accompanied by a legal guardian or by an adult they have authorised. From 16 to 18, travelling alone with parental authorisation.
Identity document: every child must show a valid identity document matching the ticket and, where applicable, the parental authorisation form.
Please note: in April 2026 BlaBlaCar announced it would stop operating buses by the end of 2026. BlaBlaCar Bus routes keep running until they close gradually. Check that your route is available when you book, and compare it with the other operators on Kombo.
Car seat, stroller and baggage: what to plan for
The car seat, the piece of equipment that changes everything
This is the real difference between the bus and other modes of transport. On the train, a child under 4 travels free on an adult's lap. On a plane, the infant on your lap is the rule. On the bus, neither is possible: up to age 3 the child must sit in an approved car seat, brought by the accompanying adult, and take a paid seat. Check this before anything else, because a forgotten car seat means being refused boarding.
Stroller and baggage
Stroller at FlixBus: carried as special baggage, one per passenger, and it must be foldable. Non-foldable strollers are not carried. Registration is done by phone with customer service before departure, and carriage is free.
Baggage at FlixBus: one hold bag of up to 80 x 50 x 30 cm and 20 kg, plus one cabin bag of 42 x 30 x 18 cm and 7 kg. A child with their own ticket gets the same allowance as an adult, so travelling with a child doubles your baggage allowance.
Stroller and baggage at BlaBlaCar Bus: the conditions are not set out in as much detail as at FlixBus. Check them when you book.
Animals: FlixBus does not carry animals, apart from guide dogs and assistance dogs.
Frequently asked questions about taking the bus with a child or infant
Can an infant travel free on the bus?
No. Neither FlixBus nor BlaBlaCar Bus allows an infant on your lap. Even a newborn needs their own ticket and their own seat, booked at the same time as the adult's. That is the main difference from the train and the plane.
Do you have to bring a car seat on the bus?
Yes, up to the child's third birthday, at both operators. Neither provides one. At FlixBus it must attach with a two-point belt, or a three-point belt on journeys to or from France. At BlaBlaCar Bus a seatbelt adapter is needed. Without a suitable seat, boarding can be refused.
Is there a child fare on the bus?
At FlixBus yes, for children under 15, with one important exception: on domestic French routes and on international routes departing France, the French annex to the conditions rules the discount out. BlaBlaCar Bus has no child fare at all. In practice, always compare the adult price with the child price, because a promotional fare is sometimes cheaper than the reduced one.
From what age can a child take the bus alone?
At FlixBus, 16 as a rule, and from France without exception; Denmark and Greece have their own rules allowing it earlier with written parental consent. At BlaBlaCar Bus, 12 on domestic journeys with parental authorisation, and 16 on international ones. In every case the child needs a valid identity document matching the ticket.
Can you take a stroller on the bus?
At FlixBus yes, free of charge, provided it folds and has been registered by phone with customer service before departure. Non-foldable strollers are refused. At BlaBlaCar Bus, check the conditions when you book.
Kombo's tips for booking bus tickets for your child or infant:
Tips for travelling with children
Plan for the car seat: required up to age 3 and you bring it yourself, which is the most common reason for being refused boarding with a young child.
Plan ahead: child tickets sometimes have to be booked at the same time as the adults' tickets.
Check the policies: every operator has its own rules for children and infants.
Pack the essentials: bring things to keep them busy and some snacks to make the journey easier.
On Kombo, we make booking simpler by bringing all these options together in one clear interface. Book your tickets today and travel with peace of mind with your children!