Do airplanes have bassinets for babies? Is it worth using an airline bassinet? Are bassinets on planes more expensive?
- What is an airplane bassinet?
- Where are the bassinet seats?
- Is there an age or weight limit for airplane bassinets?
- Do you have to pay extra for an airplane bassinet?
- How do you get a bassinet on a plane?
- Can you use a bassinet and a car seat at the same time?
- Possible downsides of airline bassinets
- Airline bassinet policies and how to book
A bassinet on a long-haul flight can be a real lifesaver! Many new parents are unsure how to book them or whether they need to pay extra.
What is an airplane bassinet?
A bassinet for babies on a plane is a special crib available on most large international flights for those traveling with an infant on their lap. They are sometimes called airplane cots, baby baskets, or skycots.
When booking an infant ticket for children under two (if you’re American, note you MUST book an infant ticket for international flights: you can’t just add a baby at the airport as you often can for domestic US flights), the baby must sit on an adult’s lap unless you buy a seat for them and bring an approved car seat.
On all non-US airlines, even a baby on your lap needs a special safety belt that attaches to the adult seatbelt.
We all know holding a baby for hours can be exhausting, so that’s where a bassinet comes in handy. A bassinet is a safe place for a baby to lie down and sleep during the flight. It attaches to the plane’s wall on a special shelf in designated seats, often called bassinet seats.
Bassinet sizes vary depending on the airline and plane! Some are larger or smaller, and a few are even adjustable, but they are usually rectangular boxes with a velcro or zippered top for safety reasons, which must always be closed while the baby is inside.
Where are the bassinet seats?
The airplane seat where a bassinet can be used is commonly called the “bassinet seat”. In economy class, you may hear them called bulkhead seats or bulkhead rows, usually positioned in front of the lavatories or cabin divider.
However, not all bulkhead rows have bassinets.
In business and first class, many airlines provide special shelves where the bassinet sits flush next to your seat. This setup is great as it doesn’t block your movement getting in and out, unlike many economy seats.
If you’re traveling with a pet, you can’t sit in a bassinet seat, but sometimes airlines may move your pet carrier to a seat if they’re busy, rather than under the seat.
Is there an age or weight limit for airplane bassinets?
Bassinets are ideal as long as your child fits. There isn’t an international standard, but most airlines allow requests for babies up to 18 months old, though the recommended age limit for long-haul flights is usually a maximum of 8 months.
Most airlines prioritize the youngest babies for bassinets, so if two families request one, the younger baby usually gets it—makes sense!
In fact, most carriers won’t allow a baby in the bassinet if they can sit up unaided for safety reasons.
If your baby is in the 70th percentile or above for weight or height, even at 8 months the bassinet could be a tight squeeze with some airlines.
Do you have to pay extra for an airplane bassinet?
The biggest myth about bassinets: they’re free! Some airlines might charge extra for the seat itself (since it’s considered ‘better’), but that’s rare.
How do you get a bassinet on a plane?
Booking a bassinet depends on the airline. For example, Emirates offers plenty, and assigns one automatically when you book for your baby. I didn’t even have to call, and we also received a free baby kit with toys and essentials.
Delta or American usually have just two bassinets per flight and block the seats (they’ll show as taken on the seat map). You can only get these seats at the gate.
ITA requires you to book bassinet seats in advance by calling the airline. Always double-check with your carrier to avoid surprises. At the end of this article, you’ll find a list of airlines and their bassinet policies.
Can you use a bassinet and a car seat at the same time?
No, you can’t. Car seats cannot be installed on bulkhead seats.
Possible downsides of airline bassinets
We’ve used bassinets on various flights. When our children were under five months old, it worked well, but sometimes it turned into a nightmare and we ended up trying to swap to non-bassinet seats (which isn’t hard since everyone wants them).
If you’re flying economy, many people love bulkhead seats for the extra legroom and no seat in front of you.
But these seats have their cons. For starters, they’re often right by the bathrooms, with frequent queues, doors opening and closing, and more noise—none of which help a sleeping baby.
They’re almost always under a bright map screen, too. You can ask the crew to switch it off, but not everyone will. That’s why many parents buy a CoziGo – a compact version of SlumberPod for strollers and bassinets.
Most airlines require you to take your baby out during turbulence, and you’ll need to fold up the bassinet for takeoff and landing. The only exception is Virgin Atlantic, as their bassinet includes a harness.
If turbulence hits or your baby doesn’t fit, remember that bulkhead seats usually don’t have movable armrests (though some newer planes have center armrests that move in certain 3 or 4 seat configurations), making it hard for another child to stretch out with you.
Plus, the tray tables in bulkhead seats fold out from the armrest and are smaller than those that fold down from the seat in front, which can make eating with a baby on your lap challenging.
And here’s a big one: you can’t have bags on the floor during takeoff and landing. This might not seem like a big deal—until you’re stuck on the tarmac for an hour after landing and can’t access your diaper bag while your baby is crying for milk, snacks, or a fresh diaper.
Airline bassinet policies and how to book
Each airline has its own rules for booking or using bassinets (see below). Most are only for babies six months or younger, and have a weight limit of about 9 kilograms.
They can only be used by babies who can’t yet sit up unaided (which makes sense—it’s not safe if your little one tries to get out mid-flight!).
