Traveling with a baby is supposed to be tough, and there’s a fair argument to be made that no aspect of family travel is tougher than the flight with a little one involved-whether there's an airplane baby bassinet or not.
Anyone who has even been on a long haul flight understands air travel with a baby is a potential disaster, and as parents we're under a lot of pressure.
Even putting aside the inevitable intolerant fellow passengers, personally I like to be able to rest as much as possible during a flight; hence, that means keeping the baby happy, comfortable and (perhaps most importantly) quiet.
Remember too that the airplane bassinet will help you keep your little one comfortable while sleeping when on the plane, but once you get off you're on your own again and may want to check this guide for the best toddler travel bed.
PIN for Later
Getting this done is isn’t always an easy feat, but airplane bassinets can be serious help if you're traveling with a baby that's a few months old. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then this article may be about to change your life when it comes to long haul international flights to Europe or Asia.
If you're familiar with the idea of an bassinet airplane cot, then read on to find out how you can get hold of one on most flights.
What is an Airplane Bassinet?
An airplane bassinet seat or cot, is, put simply, a portable bassinet (small bed) for the baby that can be attached to a specific part of the airplane’s wall. I think of them as the airplane equivalent of a baby car seat.
You wouldn’t put your little one in a car without a safety seat; and likewise, you probably shouldn’t put your little one on a plane without a bassinet for the baby in flight.
In fact, it’s worth noting that while babies under 2 fly for free (only pay taxes) many airlines don’t even allow babies to have standard seats of their own, making a bassinet on flight all the more important.
The standard airplane bassinet weight limit is around 20 pounds (9 Kg), so your baby should be pretty secure throughout the flight.
For anyone wondering though, without an airplane baby bassinet you’ll probably have to hold your baby throughout the flight. Again, this might not necessarily seem like a big deal on short haul flights.
However, after 12 hours of cradling a newborn over the Atlantic, you’ll begin to understand why a plane baby bassinet is kind of a big deal.
Kindle Fire 7- Kids Edition Tablet
Up to 7 hours of video, music or reading in a kid-proof case!
This seat map shows where the baby bassinets are for these two aircrafts on Air Asia (image by Air Asia)
How Big is an Airplane Bassinet?
The standard airplane bassinet size is 71cm x 31cm (28in x 12in), and the depth is approximately 26cm (10.5in).The weight limit is 11kg (25lbs). Age limit used to be two years old, but this has recently changed and the limit is now usually 18 months old.
The reason for this (as explained to me by a flight attendant) is that two year old kids were waking up while their parents were sleeping, sitting, and falling from the bassinet.
Skybaby Travel Mattress
The Sky Baby Travel Mattress is a compact pillow and mattress, and is useful in helping them to be more comfortable on your knee, airplane bassinet or anywhere else.
Do Airlines Have Bassinets for All Babies on Board?
Remember the saying, ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch?’ Well, that applies to getting a bassinet for your infant in flight.
To be sure, almost all carriers offer bassinet flights at no extra cost, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay through effort. It’s just not as simple as just turning up and expecting the cabin crew to hook you up with one of these cots of pure salvation and joy.
As many frustrated parents have discovered, most flights typically have 2-4 travel bassinets available for the airplane (and just as many bassinet seats available), but there are airplanes with just one.
So, if you just turn up on the day expecting to secure the only baby bassinet on plane, then you might be in for a rough surprise as they are provided on a first come first served basis.
Note too that business class seats don't always have a baby cradle, and seats booked with frequent flyer points are seldom extra comfort seats or bulkhead seats that offer a child seat position for babies that are more than a month old.
FURTHER READING:
THE BEST TRAVEL BED FOR
TODDLERS 2019
How Do You Get a Baby Bassinet for Your Flight?
To make sure you get a bassinet for a baby flight there’s a few simple rules to follow. Most important, book early and request upfront that you need an aircraft bassinet.
Note that airport customer service can't help with this, as this is specific to each airline and airplane.
If the carrier customer service agent can’t deliver, then you may want to consider booking a different flight. Bear in mind it’s very common for a bassinet seat in flight to be unavailable on short haul flights, especially any trip that’s shorter than two hours.
It might still be worth asking for a baby travel bed (airplane bassinet) if you’re interested, but just be aware that the flight company might not be able to deliver.
On a long haul, however, some kind of airplane bed for baby should be readily available.
Which Airlines Have Bassinets for Infants?
Pretty much any airline that travels long haul international will have them; definitely all major airlines do.
Tips for Booking Bassinet Seats
Since you need to explicitly ask for a seat with bassinet facility, booking your flight can be a little tricky. If you book online, you’ll probably need to call the customer contact center and ask for a bassinet seat.
What does bassinet seat mean, you ask? The bassinet seat is the seat next to the part of the wall where the actual baby travel basket/cot will stand, which are also known as a " bulkhead seats ".
The easiest way to explain this to the carrier is to either book over the phone or in person, so you can deal with an actual human being instead of a machine.
While speaking to said human being, it also helps if you know exactly what seat you’re after. This is because you need the specific seat with a nearby bracket for mounting the travel carry cot.
One useful tool here is seatguru.com, which can show you the layout of the specific airplane the baby and you will be traveling on. Otherwise, one other general tip is to aim for a seat just behind a bulkhead – ie, the parts of the wall that separate different sections of the plane.
There’s usually actually a handful of seats on most flights that will fit the bill and be compatible with a traveling bassinet. However, there could likely only be one bassinet bed on the airplane so, along with securing a compatible seat, you’ll also need to reserve the one free bassinet for baby.
Unfortunately, when it comes to airlines, saying something once doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it.
I recommend reserving an infant bassinet at the time of booking, then calling the company a few times before the flight to confirm your reservation. Carriers will often prioritize the youngest baby on board for the bassinet, which is why it’s so important to book early, and continuously insist on your bassinet.
If some other baby turns up at the last minute, then tough luck to them! Seriously, you need to be a bit pushy.
I’d also suggest you watch out for codesharing, which can really throw a spanner in the works at the last minute. Codesharing is when you’re put on a flight that’s not quite the same as the one operated by your carrier.
This is particularly common if you have any layovers. In this case, make sure you have the specific details of every different aircraft you’ll be flying on.
If there's a last minute unplanned aircraft change, there's a chance the seat you were assigned does not have the bassinet in the new plane.
This happened to us last December 2018 when flying from Madrid to Mexico City. The new airplane had the bassinet in the central seats instead of the window seats we were assigned, and the airplane was full.
What did we do?
We politely asked passengers if they were willing to change seats explaining the problem (which they had witnessed when we spoke with the flight attendant). One passenger was not willing to help out (for some odd reason he wanted the aisle seat on the window side, not the central side) but a mom and daughter were happy to help out. Problem solved.
Throughout all of this, don’t be afraid to be a difficult customer, and don’t worry about seeming pushy. You need that bassinet, and there’s nothing wrong with calling a dozen times to demand a bassinet for infant in flight.
It’s just an unfortunate fact that facilities for infants in flights are all too often lacking, so you gotta do what you’ve gotta do. Even after following all these tips though, you might still miss out on the bassinet.
Ultimately, the carrier and its cabin crew will decide who gets the bassinet, and there are all kinds of situations where you might have to accept missing out. Having said that, by following these tips I’ve had a pretty good success rate of 100% securing the bassinet for myself.
How to Use a Bassinet and What to Expect
Once you’ve gone through the arduous process of making sure you get that holy grail of air travel, the free bassinet, things are pretty straight forward. After take off, the cabin crew will usually set the bassinet up for you.
This will typically take place shortly after the seat belt sign goes off, though you might need to give a passing flight attendant a bit of a nudge. The bassinet can then remain up until the last hour or so of the flight, when the crew will take it down in preparation for landing.
Technically speaking, the cabin crew are also supposed to take down the bassinet during turbulence (fortunately our son was not born yet when our plane was hit by lightning and began to plunge), or any time when the seat belt light is on.
However, in practice, there’s a lot of flexibility when flying with a baby, and it’s pretty common for the crew to leave the bassinet undisturbed during minor turbulence. If you feel uncomfortable with this, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
On the other hand, if pushy crew do try to remove your baby for seemingly harmless turbulence, you can resist. Generally, I just politely point out that if they move the baby, they can expect a round of screaming and crying. 99 percent of cases, that basically ends the conversation.
Putting that aside though, it’s always worth remembering that safety comes first – if cabin crew seriously think the baby needs to be moved, then it might be a good idea to just go along with it, and listen to the professionals.
Finally, the airline should provide blankets and a pillow with the bassinet, though you might want to bring your own bedding. My little one always slept better with a familiar pillow from home, though this isn’t necessarily an issue with all kids.
If you're picky about cleanness you might want to bring an airplane mattress mentioned above.
Airline Bassinet Policies
As mentioned before each airline has its own policy and rules when it comes to bassinet regulations, use and specific sizes, though they all tend to be the same. Below are the rules major airlines enforce (in theory) when it comes to their use.
This information has been copied straight from each website.
Max weight allowed 10 kgs (22 lbs)
“Bassinet seats are offered for transatlantic flights, however they’re subject to availability and require pre-booking. You could also consider opting for increased comfort by purchasing a dedicated seat for your infant at a child rate.
Bassinet seats are unfortunately not available for infants with confirmed seating. For more information, please contact your local reservations office. * Bassinet seats are not available on Boeing 757 aircraft.”
On board, our priority is that you and your family travel with greater safety and comfort. We offer this service so that you can travel with ease and confidence, and so that you may relax during your flight.
- A limited number of cribs are available upon request and subject to availability.
- We provide cribs for infants weighing no more than 24 lbs.
- Cribs are complimentary, but availability is not guaranteed.
- During the check-in process, crib availability will be confirmed.
- Priority boarding will be required.
- Infants must be lap-held during takeoff and landing.
- An AM Plus seat must be purchased to qualify
Max weight 11 kgs (26 lbs) suitable for under one’s only
“At check-in, seats next to cot positions are first allocated to passengers who have made an advance booking. Before mounting a cot, our staff will check your infant’s weight and inform you about the rules for using the cot during the flight.
Infants carried in a cot must be placed with their legs towards the aisle. During take-off, landing and in turbulence the infant must not be left in the cot.”
Max weight 12 kgs (25lb)
“If you’re travelling with a young (or small) infant in Economy Class, you may request a bassinet in advance of travel by contacting Air Canada Reservations. However, we are unable to confirm availability until the time of your flight’s departure.
- Bassinets are assigned on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability at time of flight departure.
- Bassinets may be provided on the following aircraft:
- Boeing 787-9 (789)
- Boeing 787-8 (788)
- Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
- Boeing 777-200LR (77L)
- Airbus A330 (333)
- Boeing 767-300ER (763)
- For safety reasons:
- Bassinets can be used only for infants weighing less than 12 kg (25 lb) who are unable to sit upright.
- The cabin crew is responsible for installing the bassinet once the seat belt sign has been turned off.”
Max weight 10kg/22lbs. Must measure less than 70cm/27″
“You can request a bassinet on long-haul flights in the Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins, subject to availability.
To check availability and submit your request for a bassinet, please contact us by phone as soon as possible after booking your flight, and at least 48 hours before your departure.”
Max age – must be under two and fit in these bassinet dimensions. 71cm x 36cm x 19cm
“The preferred seat select scheme is available on the website on select routes operated by Air India. The paid seat selection doesn’t include Bassinet seats for infants which are free of charge.”
Up to 12 months old and/or weighing up to 11 kg,
” Please note that our baby cots can accommodate infants up to 12 months old and/or weighing up to 11 kg, depending on whichever condition is more restrictive.
Two infants accompanied by one adult may travel only if one of the two infants is over 12 months and is able to sit in a car seat approved for use on an aircraft. If this case applies to you, you will need to inform us at the time you book your flight and pay the applicable fare for the seat occupied by the child.”
Air New Zealand
“On international flights our Boeing 777-200, 777-300, and 787-9 aircraft may offer seats with bassinets that are:
- Designed for infants up to 8 months old and 11.8kg (26lb)
- Made up with sheets, a pillow and blankets
- 73.66cm (29in) long and 34.29cm (13.5in) wide
If you’re booking online, just select a seat with a bassinet icon from the bassinet row. Not all seats in this row have bassinets, so please select carefully. You’ll be asked to confirm the infant will meet the age and weight limits when they fly. If it turns out they don’t, you may be asked to move and will not receive a refund on any seat select fee.
If you are travelling with an infant aged between 8 and 15 months who does not weigh more than 11.8kg (26lb), we may be able to allocate you a bassinet seat when you check in.”
Air Seychelles
“Baby bassinets may be requested for infants up to 6 months of age and not weighing more than 11kg / 25 lbs. Bassinets are subject to availability. Requests should be made at the time of reservation.”
“Some long-haul flights offer on-board bassinets, for children less than 76 cm long and weighing no more than 11 kg, which can be requested when booking. For operational reasons, this service might not be guaranteed on board, even if booked. In this case, the child must travel in the adult’s lap.”
“Bassinets are available on a first come, first serve basis at the gate for travel only on 777-200, 767-300, 777-300 and 787 aircraft.”
Read more information on flying with a baby on American Airlines here.
- Business Smartium Class Seat: height of 71 cm or below + weight of less than 10 kg
- Other class seats: height of 76 cm or below + weight of less than 14 kg
The baby bassinet can only be used after making a reservation, and reservations may close early due to limited quantities. If the specifications are exceeded, the baby bassinet cannot be used in the cabin even if an advance reservation was made, and the infant must sit with their guardian.”
“Age: 12 months old or less
Height: Less than 74 centimeters
Weight: Up to 11 kilograms
Your baby must meet the height and weight requirements when travelling so that he or she does not exceed the size of the cradle (29.5 X 13.38 X 8.82 inches or 74.93 X 33.99 X 22.40 cms), and your request is not denied.
When making your reservation through the call center or at counters. There is a limited quota per aircraft. The service is available for all routes operated by the A330 or B787. The quota on each aircraft is three cradles.
Due to operational matters, the plane assigned for you trip may vary. In this event, we cannot guarantee the service. Flights operated by Avianca Ecuador S.A. do not offer this service.”
British Airways
“Our carrycots and child seats are for infants from birth up to 2 years old. You can reserve a carrycot/child seat position in advance on long haul flights only, as our short haul aircraft do not have carrycot/child seats.
Child seats and carrycots are supplied free of charge, but are subject to availability on-board the aircraft on the day. They will be given to the people sitting in the carrycot/child seat positions on a first-come, first-served basis.
Even if you’ve reserved this type of seat, we may have to move you on the day if there is a person with a greater need who requires it, such as a wheelchair user.
How to reserve carrycot/child seats
Please reserve a carrycot/child seat position in advance, using Manage My Booking. The carrycot seat positions are marked on the seat maps with a baby icon.
The carrycots supplied by us are:
- suitable for babies who weigh no more than 12.5kgs (27.5lbs)
- can only be used for an infant who is lying down
- available on all long haul flights (except on the London City to JFK service)
- not to be used during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence (when the fasten seatbelt sign is on)
- If you have reserved your seat at a carrycot position, you can ask the cabin crew for a child seat.The child seats supplied by us are:
- suitable for older babies who weigh no more than 12.5kgs (27.5lbs)
- available on all long haul flights (except on the London City to JFK service)
- adjustable to a variety of reclined positions
- not to be used during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence (when the fasten seatbelt sign is on)
Cathay Pacific & Cathay Dragon
- “All our aircraft are equipped with special baby bassinets. A bassinet measures 76.20cm (30″) x 38.10cm (15″) x 20.32cm (8”) and can carry up to 12kgs
- Please note however a baby older than 6 months may feel uncomfortable in a bassinet
- A request for a baby bassinet (BSCT) can be made at time of reservation if passenger is travelling with an infant.”
China Southern
- “Baby bassinet service is available for infant age between 14 days and 12 months who is no more than 70 centimeters in body height and no more than 12 kilograms/25 pounds in body weight.
- Request for Baby bassinet service must be made at least 24 hours before flight departure. (Please note that Daylight Savings are not considered by the system for this deadline.
- Baby bassinet service is ONLY available in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class on flights over 3 hours and operated by A380/A330/B777/B787 aircrafts.
- To ensure safety and service of the flight,there is a limit on the number of bassinet available on each flight. We ask for your understanding if your request is denied due to the limit had been reached.”
“In a baby cot with load capacity of 11kg and sizes of 75 x 34 x 22cm (but only on Airbus A319/A330 Business Class and on Airbus A330 Economy Class). Please request the cot via our Contact Centre during your seat booking.”
“For some of our smallest passengers on some international flights, we offer onboard baby bassinets. They’re ideal for babies weighing up to 20 lbs. and up to 26 inches long.
- Onboard bassinets, also known as SkyCots, are available free of charge for passengers in select seats on equipped aircraft for some international flights
- SkyCots can be requested by contacting Reservations before arriving at the airport and then speaking with the gate agent at the boarding gate, but cannot be guaranteed due to a limit of two SkyCots per aircraft and weight restrictions
- Please note that all infants must be held during takeoff, landing and whenever the seat belt light is on.”
“The bassinet can hold an infant whose weight does not exceed 18 kilograms and who can fit into the bassinet in a lying position (cot dimensions: length – 74 cm; height/depth – 22.5 cm; width – 34 cm).
For your child’s safety, please inform the flight crew of the infant’s current weight before the bassinet is installed.
The bassinet will be installed after takeoff and will be removed by the crew before landing.
Whenever the “Fasten Seatbelt” sign is illuminated, flight attendants will personally instruct you to remove the infant from the bassinet and hold him/her in your arms.
The flight crew will do whatever it can to assist you but cannot watch over the infant throughout the flight. Responsibility for the infant’s safety is that of the accompanying adult.
EL AL may refuse to provide a bassinet if the flight attendants believe it would be a safety hazard for the infant.”
“Our bassinets are approximately 75 x 33 x 22cm (29.5 x 13 x 8.8 inches) in size and can hold babies weighing up to 11kg (24.2lbs). Whilst our bassinets are designed for babies up to two years old, we won’t be able to provide one if your baby doesn’t fit safely. Please note bassinets are limited in number and subject to availability.”
“If you’re travelling with an infant who will weigh less than 11kg on the day of travel, you can request a baby bassinet when you book your flight. Your infant must also fit comfortably in the bassinet. Our cabin crew will confirm that your infant safely fits in the bassinet before affixing it at your seat position.
Please request your bassinet when you book your flight, as we have a limited number available on each flight. We allocate bassinets on a first come, first served basis.
If you would like to add a bassinet request to an existing booking, go to Manage my Booking and update the ‘Special Requests’ for your Infant.
Please note: For safety reasons, you may only use bassinets during the flight when the seatbelt sign is switched off and when the cabin crew permit you to do so. Please follow the instructions from the cabin crew.”
- “Baby bassinets are available aboard all EVA Air aircraft, but for safety reasons, height and weight limitations apply. Please advise us of your baby’s date of birth, height and weight when you make your reservation.
B777 70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide (only for Royal Laurel Class) 77.8CM Long x 34.9CM Wide
14KG 16KG
B787 70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide 14KG A332 76.8CM Long x 28.3CM Wide (only for 20W) 77.8CM Long x 34.9CM Wide
14KG 16KG
A333 77.8CM Long x 34.9CM Wide 70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide
16KG 14KG
A321 70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide 14KG
“Finnair has baby baskets on all intercontinental flights. Baby baskets are recommended for infants not older than 6 months. In order to use a baby basket, please reserve a seat suitable for cot/bassinet through Manage booking.
You can also reserve the seat through our Customer service or a travel agency. Seats are chargeable. Our cabin personnel will give you the baby basket and help you install it after you have boarded the plane.”
A “baby bassinet is available on Garuda Indonesia selected aircraft and it’s free of charge. Passenger must request well in advance via Garuda Call Center. Due to limited numbers of baby bassinet available on each aircraft, baby bassinet service is based on first come first served.
Passenger will be informed by check-in staff regarding the limited numbers of bassinet. Maximum weight of infant that can be accommodated in one bassinet is 9 kg.”
“Infants up to 7 months old, weighing no more than 10 kg and not more than 26” in length can travel using the onboard bassinets* (carry-cots). Please request a bassinet when you book your ticket to ensure availability and to obtain advance confirmation.
Should the baby – irrespective of age and advance confirmation from the airline – exceed these set limits, our Cabin Crew will not allow the use of a bassinet as this is perceived as being unsafe and not in compliance with civil airline safety regulations.
Remember to pre-reserve a bassinet on all flights during your journey, not just the first sector.
*Please note that bassinets are not available in Falcon Gold cabin on our new Boeing Dreamliner 787”
“Bassinets are available on most of our international flights.
To use our bassinets, your child must be:
- Under the age of 2 years old and
- Cannot weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kgs).
The bassinet is 32” in length, 14.5” in width and 7” in height.
Reserve Your Bassinet on A330 Flights
You may reserve bassinets on our A330 international flights to/from the following cities:
- Auckland, New Zealand (AKL)
- Beijing, China (PEK)
- Brisbane, Australia (BNE)
- Incheon, Korea (ICN)
- Haneda -Tokyo, Japan (HND)
- Narita – Tokyo, Japan (NRT)
- Osaka-Kansai, Japan (KIX)
- Sydney, Australia (SYD)
To reserve a bassinet, the accompanying adult must purchase a bassinet-compatible Extra Comfort seat. Please follow the below instructions to complete your reservation:
- Call Hawaiian Airlines Reservations
- Request to reserve a bassinet for your international flight
- If available, the accompanying adult must purchase an Extra Comfort seat in Row 14 (14 AB, CD or EG, HJ)
- If you prefer, you may purchase a bassinet-compatible Extra Comfort seat online and reserve the bassinet over the phone once you have a confirmed seat in Row 14
- Once your seat is purchased and bassinet is reserved, your reservation will be confirmed
If you’d prefer not to purchase an Extra Comfort seat, you may see an airport customer service agent at check-in (on the day of departure) for bassinet availability. If available, Hawaiian Airlines will accept up to two (2) requests per flight. Confirmed bassinets will be assigned during the boarding process. Priority will be given to the customer with the earliest check-in time.*
*Bassinets are not guaranteed if requested upon check-in.
Request a Bassinet on B767 Flights
Due to the configuration of the B767 aircraft, bassinet requests for the following cities cannot be reserved in advance.
- Sapporo – Chitose, Japan (CTS)
Bassinets are not available on flights to/from Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG) and Papeete, Tahiti (PPT).
To request a bassinet, please see an airport customer service agent at check-in (on the day of departure) for bassinet availability. If available, Hawaiian Airlines will accept up to two (2) requests per flight.
Confirmed bassinets will be assigned during the boarding process. Priority will be given to the customer with the earliest check-in time.*
*Bassinets are not guaranteed if requested upon check-in.
“For babies less than 8 months old. There are a certain number of cots for infants who weigh up to 11 kg on each Iberia aircraft on inter-continental flights. These cots, like the seats for the adults who accompany the infant, do not have to be booked online. Please book a cot through an Iberia Office in your country, where you can also get information about booking a seat for yourself in the designated cot area in advance. Depending on the cabin class, booking a seat will incur an additional cost.”
“Our bassinets are ideal for infants weighing up to 10.5kg (age 2).
Dimensions (length: 72 cms, width: 30cms, and depth: 15 cms). *Please note that bassinets are available in limited numbers and reservation may not always be possible.”
“For intercontinental KLM flights, on board carrycots can be reserved via My Trip or by contacting us. These are suitable for babies that are no longer than 65 cm and weigh no more than 10 kg on the day of the trip. Although we’ll do our very best, we cannot always guarantee the availability of a carrycot when you board the aircraft.”
“Availability: International flights only (Economy Class and Prestige Class on some aircrafts)
Service conditions: Weight – less than 11kg(24.25 lbs), Height – no longer than 75cm(2.46 ft)
Request deadline: 48 hours before departure.
Note: Even if the request was made in advance, an infant who is taller or heavier than the allowed limit will not be given a bassinet in flight.”
“You may request this service if your infant weights no more than 10 kilos and is under 71 cm.
Please note that we have one bassinet ready on each of our Boeing 767 and 2 on our Boeing 777 and 787 aircrafts. We would like to remind you to request the bassinet 48 hours before your trip through our Contact Center, as the service is subject to availability on each flight.
Service Conditions
- If you request this service you have to purchase the preferred seat for bassinet use. Companions that require to travel next to you will have to pay for their seats too.
- If you travel with other passengers we will assign the seats in accordance with availability and the conditions of the fare paid.
- The bassinet service is only available for flights operated by LATAM.”
“On our entire long-haul fleet we have special baby cots available to you. The bassinets are perfectly suited for babies up to 14 kg in weight and up to 83 cm in length. The number of bassinets on board is limited. You can reserve the baby cots up to 48 hours before flight departure. Please note that a seat reservation fee for the seat with bassinet may apply depending on your ticket condition. For further information please contact our Lufthansa Service Center.”
“A number of bassinets are provided onboard, depending on the aircraft. Due to safety and storage reasons, passengers are not allowed to carry their own bassinets into the cabin. Should you need one for your infant, reservations can be made at the time of your initial ticket purchase for a bassinet provided by Malaysia Airlines.
This service must be requested through the Reservations/Ticket Counter/Call Centre at least 24 hours before departure. Please call 1 300 88 3000 if you are within Malaysia or +603 7843 3000 if you are overseas.”
“Max weight size 11 kg (24.25 lbs)75 х 34 х 22.4 cm (29.5 x 13.38 x 8.82 inch)
Babies who weigh no more than 11kg/24,25 lbs and not more than 75 cm/2.46 feet tall can travel using the onboard bassinet.”
Norwegian
Limited amount of bassinets on board the Dreamliners (B787) and they are available on long haul flights only. The dimensions are: height 17.8cm x Depth 36.8 cm x Width 81.3cm. Maximum age is 9 months and maximum weight is 12 kg
“As bassinets are limited, please ensure that you request this at the time of booking. Bassinets on Qantas flights are approximately 71cm long, 31cm wide, 26cm deep, and have a weight limitation of 11 kg. If your infant is too large for a bassinet and is travelling on a parent’s ticket then they must be nursed.”
“Qatar Airways provides bassinets for infants. Please contact your nearest Qatar Airways office to request bassinet seats. Please note that the maximum body weight of the infant should not exceed 11 kgs (24 Lbs) and the age must not exceed 24 months. Additionally, the infant must fit within the confines of the baby bassinet.
*Bassinets are not available in the First Class cabin on-board the Airbus 380. To check availability of a Bassinet position seat on a specific aircraft and within a particular cabin, please contact the nearest Qatar Airways office.”
“We encourage you to request for a bassinet when you book an infant ticket, as only a limited number of bassinets are available on board and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Each bassinet measures at 768mm (L) x 298mm (W) x 158mm (H), and can support a maximum weight of 14kg.”
“Infants not exceeding 6 months of age, 10kg and 75cm are eligible for a baby bassinet on a first come first served basis. We highly recommend eligible customers reserve a bassinet during or shortly after booking their flight.
At a bulkhead seat, a cabin crew member can help to position a baby bassinet after take-off, once the seat belt signs have been switched off. The crew member will be required to confirm the age, weight and length of the infant prior to bringing the bassinet, to ensure the safety of the infant.
A bassinet cannot be used during take-off and landing and can only be used during the flight when the seat belt signs are off. If the seat belt signs are illuminated, the infant must be removed from the bassinet.”
“There are a limited number of bassinet seats available in a flight. You will receive a bassinet seat subject to availability. If bassinet seats are not available, then the passenger will be given a choice to select other seats as per their requirement. Please make sure that you request for a bassinet seat at the time of your booking.”
“Baby bassinets are available in all flight classes on long haul flights and in Business Class on European flights. They are approved for babies of up to 8 months and weighing a maximum of 11 kg. The number of cots is limited.”
“You can ask us to provide a cot if you are travelling with a baby. This service is free only on TAP-operated flights.
The following rules apply for the use of cots:
- They are only available on long-haul flights and Business Class of some medium-haul aircraft;
- The baby must not weigh more than 11kg/24lbs and the baby must be no more than 12 months old;
- The cot dimensions are 75cm / 29 in long by 34 cm / 13 in wide and 22.4 cm / 8.8 in high;
- The baby must always fit comfortably inside the cot;
- The cot can never be used during take-off/landing and during periods of turbulence;
- There are designated seats on the aircraft for cots and their number is limited. Therefore, please inform us when booking of all the flights on which the infant needs a cot;
- The number of seats available for cots varies from one type of aircraft to another and if there is availability. This information is immediate and it will be confirmed when you book;
- Each adult may take only one baby.”
“The Bassinet for babies less than 6 months of age, weighing less than 10 kg and not exceeding 62 67 cm in length.”
“A limited number of complimentary bassinets are available for use on international aircraft only. Bassinets are large enough to hold an infant weighing 22 pounds (10 kg) or less. They may not be used during taxi, takeoff or landing, or when the seatbelt sign is illuminated.
Bassinets are available for customers traveling international segments in United Polaris® business class on select 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft and in United Economy® on 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft. Bassinets are not available for customers traveling in United Polaris first class, United First® or United Business® at this time.
Customers can request a bassinet by calling the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the United States or the appropriate Worldwide Contact Center. We will provide accompanying seat assignments for an adult traveling with an infant and up to one travel companion.
You can arrange these seat assignments with the United Customer Contact Center or with a United representative at the airport free of charge. Bassinet availability is limited, and these arrangements are not guaranteed, so we recommend requesting a bassinet early for your flight.”
(Table from Virgin Atlantic website)
Economy and Premium sky cots
| | Boeing 747-400 | Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35cm wide x 21cm deep x 74cm long (13.8” wide x 8.3” deep x 29” long) | 28.6cm wide x 72.7cm long (11.25” wide x 28.6” long) |
| Maximium weight of baby | 9kg (19.8lb) | 11kg (24.25lb) |
| Maximium height of baby | 740mm (29”) | 760mm (30”) |
Upper Class sky cots
| | Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35cm wide x 24cm deep x 76cm long (13.8” wide x 9.4” deep x 29.9” long) |
| Maximium weight of baby | 11kg (24.25lb) |
| Maximium height of baby | 750mm (29.5”) |
(Table from Virgin Australia website)
“Bassinets are available onboard all our international long haul flights and on domestic flights operated by A330 aircraft, subject to availability. Our bassinets are designed for use by one infant at a time and size and weight restrictions listed below apply.
Bassinets are limited, so please request a bassinet for your infant at the time of booking. Pre-allocation of bassinets is on a first come, first served basis. Please contact our Guest Contact Centre to request a bassinet”.
| Maximum Bassinet Dimensions | B777 Aircraft | A330 Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 70cm / 27.5 inches | 70cm / 27.5 inches |
| Weight | 18kg / 40lbs | 11kg / 24lbs |
Final Thoughts
To recap, if you’re traveling with a baby long haul, then you should insist on getting a baby bassinet for airplane travel.
Book early (remember they are provided on a first serve basis), speak to a human, and make it clear from day one that you need a bassinet.
Book a seat that has bassinet facilities (there aren't that many), and call at least once to confirm the bassinet is yours (and yours alone).
You might need to check what kind of airline you’ll be traveling on (some low cost airlines with long haul flights like Wow Air don't have bassinets), and make sure you’re familiar with its layout.
It's always a good idea to have backup plan that includes plane activities for flying with a toddler though.
Be persistent but polite, insistent but ready to accept that you might not always get the bassinet if you haven't planned ahead. Like traveling with car seats, you have to do some extra work! And most importantly of all, have a good flight!
