Do any international airlines provide bassinets for infants, if so how do i book it?

Question

Do any international airlines provide bassinets for infants, if so how do i book it?

Answer 1

I've seen one on Delta/Air France on an international flight. In the very first row in the middle section of the economy class, the bassinet hooked into some contraption against the wall.

I have no idea how to book it or if they still allow it... this was a few years ago. And I have no idea about other airlines, but I imagine that  if you call around to the airlines they will be able to provide more information.

Answer 2

Depends on the airline and the aircraft.

I was an international Flight Attendant for 13 years with two companies and none of our aircraft on either airline had them. Someone explained that our company tried but the FAA was so strict that they kept rejecting the designs. Finally, one did show up and I think I saw it once, and never saw it used.

On foreign airlines, often they do have them on the bigger planes. I used them on Lufthansa and Air France. Usually, they're wall mounted so you would have to be sitting in a "bulkhead" seat (those with a wall in front, located in different places depending on the aircraft). A friend who flew Air Canada told me she used a wall hung bassinet in a center seat (not a bulkhead).  This, I've never seen.

Each airline has different weight limits. They also have different rules regarding them, i.e. if the baby has to be picked up during tubulence and one airline wont let an awake baby sit in one. All bassinets have to be stowed for take-off and landing. The baby then either goes on the parents' lap or into the car seat.

Some airlines have bassinets which simply go on the floor. These are really not that helpful so be sure to ask if you book. Make sure it's a wall-mounted bassinet.

The bulkhead seats are very popular so if you aren't successful getting one when booking, have your request put in the computer and try again on check-in, and again before boarding.

As someone else pointed out, a bassinet is no replacement safety-wise for a car seat and I've flown with my children with both and actually, I don't find the bassinet more convenient in flight. It would be for a lap-held infant. If you're alone, you can't leave the baby by itself in a bassinet. I could with my baby asleep in a car seat. Of course, it was only to quickly pop in the lav and I told a neighbor or F/A where I was.

I fly alone with my three children between Europe and California about twice a year, plus other flights. When people started asking me questions, I wrote an article for a local expat newsletter about 8 years ago. I've since expanded it and put it on a blog to more easily share. I go more into details, especiallly if you're interested in bringing a car seat (how to get it through the airport, which ones are approved, etc.)

There is a lot of information on the web on this subject but mostly written by people who never worked directly for the airlines and/or are commercial.

Please feel free to visit;

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

Good luck!

Answer 3

a bassinet is for a baby to sleep in. where would you put one on the plane? the child should be in a car seat and airlines do not provide them

Answer 4

Yes they do, Emirates for example offers them, in fact I believe most international flights have them. Well you could ask them at the ticket counter if yo have to reserve them or as soon as you get on the plane. I persoanlly would ask the ticketing counter first for further information. Hope that helps :-)