Airplane Bassinets: What to Know Before Flying With a Baby

If you’re taking a long flight with a baby, an airplane bassinet can sound like the perfect solution. Your baby gets somewhere to sleep, you don’t have to hold them for the entire flight, and you may even get a little rest yourself.

That was exactly my thinking before taking my four-month-old on an 11-hour overnight flight from Los Angeles to London. I planned our entire flight around getting an airplane bassinet. I called to book our seats, added my son as a lap infant, asked about the bassinet and thought I had done everything right. Then we boarded the plane, walked right past the bassinet row and realized we didn’t have it.

Thankfully, the flight ended up going much better than I expected, but the experience taught me a lot about how airplane bassinets actually work, what you should confirm before flying and whether I think getting one is worth it. Here’s what I wish I had known before flying internationally with a baby.

If you’re planning your first trip, I also put together my complete guide to flying with a baby, including what I pack, how I handle feeding and what I’ve learned after 20+ flights with kids.

What Is an Airplane Bassinet?

An airplane bassinet is a small bed provided by some airlines for babies on certain flights and aircrafts. It typically attaches to the wall in front of a bulkhead seat, which is why families hoping to use one generally need to be seated in a specific bulkhead row.

Airplane bassinets are designed for younger and smaller babies, and airlines set their own age, weight and sometimes length restrictions. Availability also varies by airline and aircraft, so you should always check your specific airline’s current requirements before your trip.

The biggest benefit is that instead of holding your baby for an entire long-haul flight, you may have a place for them to lie down and sleep. As I learned on our first international trip, though, actually getting the bassinet isn’t always as straightforward as you might expect.

Are Airplane Bassinets Guaranteed?

I would never plan a flight assuming an airplane bassinet is guaranteed. Even if you request one in advance, availability can depend on the airline, aircraft, your baby’s eligibility, the number of bassinets available and where you’re seated. Airline procedures can also vary, so it’s important to check directly with your carrier before flying.

This was the biggest lesson from my first international flight with my son. I knew the bassinet wasn’t necessarily guaranteed, so I actually booked our seats over the phone. I almost always book flights online, but this time I wanted to talk to a real person specifically because we wanted the bassinet.

I added my son as a lap infant, asked about the bassinet and asked about the bulkhead. The representative gave me our row and seat numbers, and I thought we were all set. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize there was one more thing I should have checked.

The Airplane Bassinet Mistake I Made

From the moment we arrived at the airport, I kept asking about the bassinet. When we checked our luggage, I asked and was told to confirm with the gate agent. At the gate, I asked again and was told that as long as we were sitting in the bulkhead, we’d be all set.

The problem was that I thought we were in the bulkhead. What I never did was independently look at the seat map and verify that the exact row and seat numbers I had been assigned were actually in the bulkhead row where the bassinet attached.

We boarded the plane, started walking toward our seats and walked straight past the bulkhead, where another family was already sitting. At that point, there wasn’t much anyone could do. We had our assigned seats several rows behind them, and I suddenly realized that the entire sleep plan I had made for our 11-hour overnight flight was gone.

If I were doing it again, I wouldn’t just ask, “Do we have the bassinet?” I would specifically ask, “Can you confirm that these exact seat numbers are in the bulkhead row where the bassinet attaches?” Then I would look at the aircraft seat map myself and verify it.

Where Are Airplane Bassinets Located?

Airplane bassinets are generally located at designated bulkhead positions because the bassinet attaches to the wall in front of the passenger seats. However, not every bulkhead seat necessarily accommodates a bassinet, and configurations can differ between aircraft.

That’s why knowing that you’re sitting in or near the bulkhead isn’t enough. If getting a bassinet matters to you, confirm the exact seats that accommodate one on your specific flight. I would also recheck your aircraft and seat assignment as your trip approaches because schedules and aircraft can change.

What Happens If You Don’t Get the Airplane Bassinet?

Not getting the bassinet was the scenario I had spent the entire trip worrying about, and then it actually happened. My son was four months old and a great sleeper at home. We were taking an 11-hour overnight flight, and we hadn’t purchased him his own seat because we planned to use the bassinet. I was convinced we were about to have a disaster. Since then, I’ve flown both ways, and I now have a completely different way of deciding whether to buy my baby a seat on the plane or fly with a lap infant.

Instead, my husband held him, and our son slept essentially the entire flight. My husband doesn’t sleep on long flights anyway, so he became the designated baby holder. Of course, that meant he couldn’t easily get up, go to the bathroom or get comfortable. Once our son was asleep, neither of us wanted to risk moving him and waking him up.

It was absolutely not how I would recommend planning an 11-hour flight, and we got lucky that our baby slept so well. But it was also a reminder that losing the thing you’ve built your entire flight plan around doesn’t necessarily mean the flight will be terrible.

We Got the Bassinet on the Flight Home

On our flight home, we finally got the airplane bassinet, and ironically, my son barely used it. The big difference was that our flight home was during the day. He slept in the bassinet for maybe an hour or two during the approximately nine-hour flight and spent the rest of the flight awake.

I was still happy to have it because even one or two hours when you’re not physically holding a baby can feel amazing on a long flight. But it changed my perspective on whether I would choose a flight or seat specifically because of bassinet availability.

For an overnight flight with a young baby, I would absolutely try to get one. For a daytime flight when my baby is likely to take only one or two naps, I wouldn’t necessarily arrange our entire seating configuration around it.

Are Bulkhead Seats Better When Flying With a Baby?

Bulkhead seats can be great with a baby because they are where airplane bassinets are typically located and may provide additional space, depending on the aircraft. However, there are tradeoffs I didn’t fully appreciate until I actually sat there.

Because there isn’t a seat directly in front of you, you generally can’t keep your diaper bag under the seat ahead of you during takeoff and landing. The bottles, pacifiers, burp cloths, diapers and other baby gear you normally want within arm’s reach may need to be stored overhead during those periods.

Depending on the aircraft and seat configuration, bulkhead armrests may also be fixed. This matters more to me now that I travel with two kids because my older child likes being able to stretch out across us when he sleeps. Extra space sounds great, but the overall seating configuration still needs to work for your family.

Can a Baby Stay in an Airplane Bassinet the Entire Flight?

You shouldn’t expect your baby to stay in an airplane bassinet from takeoff to landing. Airline procedures vary, but bassinets generally can’t be used during takeoff and landing, and crew members may require you to remove your baby during turbulence or at other times when the seat belt sign is on.

That can be frustrating if you’ve finally gotten your baby to sleep, and it’s another reason I think of the bassinet as a helpful tool rather than something I would build my entire sleep strategy around. There is also always the possibility that you successfully get the bassinet only to discover your baby wants absolutely nothing to do with it.

What Are the Airplane Bassinet Age and Weight Limits?

There isn’t one universal airplane bassinet age or weight limit. Airlines establish their own requirements, and restrictions can vary based on the bassinet and aircraft being used, so you should check your airline’s current limits before relying on one.

This is particularly relevant as your baby gets older or larger. Even if your baby is technically eligible for a bassinet, you may decide that purchasing a seat and using an approved carseat makes more sense for your family.

Airplane Bassinet vs. Buying Your Baby a Seat

This is the decision I’m currently making all over again. We’re planning another international trip, this time to South Africa for my sister’s wedding. My daughter will be almost one, and I’m debating whether we should try for the bassinet or buy her a seat.

This time, we’re also traveling as a family of four. My older child likes to lie across us when he sleeps, so fixed bulkhead armrests could make things harder for him. If we purchase a separate seat for my daughter, we have more control over our seating arrangement and aren’t depending on a particular bulkhead setup for everyone to sleep.

That doesn’t mean buying a seat is automatically the answer. Another international plane ticket is expensive, and there are a lot of factors to consider. For me, the decision comes down to my baby’s age and size, whether it’s a daytime or overnight flight, how long we’ll be flying, who I’m traveling with, our family’s seating needs and the cost of purchasing another ticket.

Is an Airplane Bassinet Worth It?

For a young baby on a long overnight flight, I think an airplane bassinet can absolutely be worth trying to get. It gives your baby somewhere to lie down and, just as importantly, gives your arms a break during a very long flight.

For a daytime flight, I don’t think I would choose my entire seating arrangement around getting one. We finally had the bassinet on our daytime flight home from London, and my son only slept in it for an hour or two. I now think of an airplane bassinet as a really nice thing to have rather than something I would ever assume I absolutely need.

How to Request an Airplane Bassinet

The process varies by airline, so start by checking your airline’s current bassinet policy. Find out whether bassinets need to be requested in advance, which seats accommodate them, whether you need to call after booking and what age, weight or size limits apply.

Then confirm the actual seats, because that’s the step I missed. If I were booking that first London flight again, I would confirm the bassinet request, ask which exact seats on my aircraft accommodate the bassinet, verify that my assigned seats match those locations on the seat map, and then confirm again with the airline or gate agent before boarding.

I would also have a backup plan in case the bassinet isn’t available. If getting one is essential to your flight plan, I wouldn’t treat a request as a guarantee until you’ve confirmed exactly how your particular airline handles bassinets.

Frequently Asked Questions About Airplane Bassinets

Are airplane bassinets free?

This depends on the airline. The bassinet itself may be complimentary on some airlines, while obtaining the required bulkhead seat may involve a seat-selection fee or different fare. Check your airline’s current policy before booking because pricing and procedures can change.

Do you have to sit in the bulkhead to use an airplane bassinet?

Airplane bassinets are typically installed at specific bulkhead positions, so you’ll generally need to be assigned to a seat that accommodates one. Not every bulkhead seat necessarily has a bassinet position, which is why confirming your exact seat matters.

Can you reserve an airplane bassinet in advance?

Some airlines allow or require you to request a bassinet before your flight, but a request should not necessarily be treated as a guarantee. Procedures vary by airline, aircraft and route, so confirm the current policy directly with your carrier.

Can you use an airplane bassinet during turbulence?

Airline and crew procedures vary, but you may be required to remove your baby from the bassinet during turbulence or when instructed by the flight crew. I would never assume your baby will be able to remain in the bassinet uninterrupted for the entire flight.

What happens if the airplane bassinet isn’t available?

Have a backup plan for where your baby will sleep and how you’ll handle the flight without the bassinet. On our 11-hour flight to London, we unexpectedly didn’t get ours, so my husband ended up holding our four-month-old while he slept for essentially the entire flight.

Is an airplane bassinet better than buying a baby a seat?

There isn’t one answer that works for every family. An airplane bassinet can be especially useful for a young baby on a long overnight flight, while purchasing a seat gives you more flexibility and allows you to use an approved child restraint. I would consider your baby’s age and size, flight length and timing, seating configuration, airline rules and the cost of an additional ticket.

What I Wish I Knew Before Using an Airplane Bassinet

I would absolutely try to get an airplane bassinet again under the right circumstances. My mistake wasn’t wanting one; my mistake was thinking that confirming the bassinet meant I had confirmed everything else.

If you’re planning to use an airplane bassinet, check your airline’s current rules, find out which exact seats accommodate it, look at your aircraft’s seat map yourself and have a backup plan in case you don’t get it. I definitely wouldn’t want another parent to discover their mistake the way I did: walking right past the bassinet row with a four-month-old on the way to seats several rows behind it.