And as far as infants pushing you over your cc : pax ratio, again its my understanding that the ratio of cabin crew to pax is based on the number of seats occupied...
Australia and Canada are the only two countries that base the cabin crew ratio on the number of passengers actually on board (1:36 passengers in Australia and 1:40 passengers in Canada). All other regulatory authorities base the ratio on the number of passenger seats installed.
In Canada, we have an advisory circular that addresses the issue of the number of infants that can be carried. Guidance is provided as follows:
In order to ensure a consistent passenger count procedure for infants, the inclusion of infants in the passenger count conducted on board Canadian commercial aircraft is as follows:
* An infant secured in a lap-held position by a parent or guardian passenger is not counted as a passenger for purposes of determining the minimum number of flight attendants required on board an aircraft, and the maximum number of occupants authorized to be on board an aircraft. However, the infant is counted as a passenger for purposes of applying regulatory requirements such as those pertaining to oxygen, life preservers and survival equipment.
* An infant secured in a restraint system is counted as a passenger for purposes of determining the minimum number of flight attendants required on board an aircraft, determining the maximum number of occupants authorized to be on board an aircraft, and applying regulatory requirements such as those pertaining to oxygen, life preservers and survival equipment.
Advisory Circular 0116 - Infant Passenger Count