On many long-haul flights, airlines attach a small bed called a bassinet to the bulkhead wall, usually in the front row or extra-legroom seats. It is provided free of charge by carriers like Turkish Airlines and is created for parents' convenience rather than for primary safety.
To keep the baby safe, infants may occupy the bassinet only while the seat-belt sign is off; they must be removed whenever the seat-belt sign illuminates during takeoff, landing, or any turbulence warning. The airline supplies the bassinet to a child, but the child must fit its limits: age under six months, weight below 22 pounds (10 kg) and length not exceeding 26 inches (67 cm). Because bulkhead attachment is dictated by safety requirements, seats with extra legroom are frequently associated with a fee, yet a bassinet reservation itself usually adds no charge. Parents should remain alert to safety alerts and cabin crew instructions to remove the child promptly when required.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
What is a bassinet in an airplane?
A bassinet is a small bed that is attached to the plane wall in front of a bulkhead seat, giving parents personal space and extra legroom during flight. It is alternatively called an Airline Baby Bed, Basket, sky cot, or cradle.
The bassinet is for infants not exceeding 75 cm (29.5 in) in length and 11 kg (24.3 lb) in weight, roughly babies less than one year old. It reduces the need to hold the baby continuously and is offered free on a first-come, first-serve basis, although some airlines limit the number per aircraft.
Where are the bassinets located on planes?
Bassinets are installed only at bulkhead rows - the first row of a cabin section or the rows located directly behind a wall or partition that separates cabin classes. They are attached to the bulkhead wall in front of the passenger seat, sometimes behind the galley or toilets, and must be placed there because the wall provides the structural support and weight capacity required for safe attachment.
Airlines designate specific bulkhead seats as bassinet positions which have fixed armrests and offer extra leg space. For example, on the 787 aircraft the accompanying adult must purchase an Extra Comfort seat in Row 14 (14 AB, DE, or GH), while on the A330 aircraft the same seats are 14 AB, CD or EG, HJ.
Because the number of bassinets at one location is limited by available space and the weight the bulkhead can hold, a request must be made in advance to secure the equipped bulkhead seat.
What are some airplane bassinet tips for traveling with a baby?
Airplane bassinet tips for traveling with a baby include booking early and reconfirming when you check in, because requests are subject to availability and no airline guarantees them. If your airline offers bassinet reservations, reach out as soon as you have your reservation, ideally at least 48 hours before departure. Parents must check the exact policy before booking and look for the aircraft type. Bulkhead seats have the special mounting bracket, but your ticket class may not entitle you to book them and extra cost will apply. Bassinet weight limit ranges from 20-27.5 pounds (9.1-12.5 kg), and airlines tend to prioritize babies under 6 months old. A sound machine, sleep sack, pacifier and bottle help recreate a mini version of the normal sleep routine. The baby must be removed from the bassinet before takeoff and landing. A lightweight collapsible umbrella stroller can be wheeled right to the gate and fits in overhead bins. Reconfirm availability again closer to departure and at the gate, because fittings on the wall do not always mean the basket is on board.
Is it safe to use an airplane bassinet during turbulence?Airplane bassinets generally cannot be used during turbulence. Infants must be taken out of the bassinet and held securely during these times. Cabin staff must remove infants from bassinets when turbulence occurs, and the cot must never be used during take-off, landing, or periods of turbulence. Because the bassinet is not stable during turbulence and will swing up and down, it must be stowed away. Infants must be secured on the adult's lap using the infant seat belt when there is turbulence, since unrestrained lap children are prone to in-flight injuries during unexpected turbulence.
Qantas and Virgin are exceptions, allowing your baby to stay in their bassinets during turbulence, but for all other carriers the baby must be removed from the baby bassinet during turbulence for safety reasons whenever the seat belt sign is switched on. The safest scenario is still for a baby or toddler to fly in his own car seat or to use the CARES flight safety harness, which is FAA-certified for children up to 40 inches tall (102 cm) and weigh between 22 and 44 pounds (10-20 kg) and is approved for use during all phases of flight including take-off, landing, and turbulence.
