Tips on getting an infant bassinet when you fly

Flying with small children overseas?

Infant bassinets offer the perfect solution for babies and toddlers under 2 years old.

Although kids under 2 years old can usually fly free of charge if they sit on your lap, it's not always ideal when you’re flying long haul.

Even if you don’t think your baby or toddler will sleep in a bassinet, it’s still good to request one. You can use it for extra storage space or somewhere for them to play or rest in whilst you're flying.

Infant bassinets are not necessarily guaranteed on each flight, but it's something worth investigating to help make your journey a little more bearable.

Check out these useful tips on how to secure an infant bassinet when you're flying with babies and toddlers.
 

Tips on getting an infant bassinet when you fly

 

1. Types of infant bassinets

Every airline offers a different kind of infant bassinet, which can also vary from aircraft to aircraft, so it pays to check before you book your flight and ask friends about their experiences and preferred airlines.

Some airlines offer a Moses basket for smaller babies and/or a car seat style bassinet for older babies.

Check the weight and height of your baby to see if they would be suitable for your chosen airline’s bassinet.

2. Bulkhead bassinet seats

Try to book the bulkhead bassinet seats when you book your flights.

Phone your airline a week in advance to check that you have your bassinet seats confirmed.

Be aware though that even if you have booked the bulkhead seats, airlines carry limited bassinets on board which are often assigned to the youngest infants first.
 

3. At check-in

Leave yourself at least 2 hours to check-in at the airport (longer if possible) and reconfirm your bassinet seat at the desk. Unfortunately though this still doesn’t mean the uphill battle is over!

Ask how many babies will be on the plane and how many bassinets are available. This will help you gauge in advance the likelihood of getting a bassinet.
 

4. At the gate

It doesn’t hurt to keep asking! When you get to the gate, reconfirm whether there will be a bassinet available.

5. On board the plane

Hopefully your persistence pays off and you are allocated an infant bassinet for your baby or toddler.

Once you are sitting down, ask a member of the cabin crew to bring the bassinet as soon as you are up in the air. When the fasten seatbelt sign is switched off, they will set it up for you.

The rules vary from airline to airline as to whether you need to remove your baby if the captain turns the fasten seatbelt sign on during the flight, but the cabin crew will advise you.

6. Handy tip

Pack a black pashmina in your hand luggage! They often don’t dim the lights for the first few hours of a flight and a black pashmina draped over the bassinet will help create darkness and make it easier for you baby or toddler to sleep.

More kids travel articles to enjoy:

• Flying with small children
• Getting through airport security with young kids
• Surviving family holidays

^{Source: sassymamahk}