Flying with a baby
Airline bassinet limits on long-haul flights
Every airline sets its own bassinet limit, and the numbers run from 9 kg to 14 kg. The table below gives the weight limit, size, age limit, availability, booking route and fee for 13 airlines, each taken from the airline's own site and sourced on 20 October 2026.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Airlines change these rules and the limit can differ by aircraft, so use the table to compare and the airline's page to confirm before you fly. Some airline pages could not be loaded directly, so confirm each figure on the live page. This is a data guide, not medical or safety advice. We did not rank the airlines: a limit says what is allowed, not how good the flight is.
What a bassinet position is
A bassinet is a small cot that the crew fit in front of certain seats. It is for a baby who is lying down, and it is not a seat. The airlines below describe the same few ideas: a limited number per aircraft, a seat in a specific row, and an infant who must fit by weight and length. Turkish Airlines and Air France both say it cannot be used, or must be stowed, in turbulence.
Airline limits table
One row per airline. Weight, size and age are the airline's published figures. Not stated means the page we read does not give one.
| Airline | Weight and size | Age limit | Availability | How to request | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates (source) | Up to 11 kg. Economy and Business 74.93 x 33.03 x 16.51 cm. First 63.5 x 28 cm | Up to 2 years | Limited number, subject to availability. Not offered if the child is booked in a seat at a child fare | At booking, or later via Manage a Booking | Not stated |
| Qatar Airways (source) | Up to 11 kg (24 lb). The infant must fit the bassinet | Up to 24 months | Subject to availability and limited. Selecting a bassinet seat does not guarantee a bassinet. Not available in A380 First | Contact the nearest Qatar Airways office. The request must be entered in the booking record | Not stated |
| Singapore Airlines (source) | Up to 14 kg. 768 x 298 x 158 mm | Not stated | Premium Economy and Economy bassinets are held for infants, first come, first served. Not offered on Scoot | Contact the airline after booking, including for an unborn infant. Families with 2 or more infants may not sit together | Not stated |
| Lufthansa (source) | Up to 11 kg and 67 cm | Infants up to about 8 months on the main family page. A Canadian-site page says under 2 years | Limited number on the long-haul fleet. The Business last-row Privacy Seat can be equipped with one | Contact the Service Center early. Book the bassinet before the seat reservation | Free of charge |
| Air France (source) | Under 10 kg (22 lb) and under 70 cm (27 in) | Not stated | Long-haul, subject to availability and aircraft configuration. It must be stowed in turbulence | A paid seat option is the only way to guarantee one. Phone to check availability and placement | Seat option is purchased. Amount not stated |
| KLM (source) | Under 10 kg and under 65 cm on the day of the flight | Under 1 year | Not guaranteed until boarding. Framed around intercontinental flights | Contact the KLM Customer Contact Center. Earlier requests have better odds | Not stated |
| American Airlines (source) | No more than 20 lb (9 kg) | Younger than 2 years | First come, first served at the gate. Only on 777-200, 777-300 and 787. Not in First or Business | At the gate | Not stated |
| Cathay Pacific (source) | Maximum 12 kg (26.5 lb). Dimensions are listed on the airline's page | Recommended under 6 months | Nearly all flights except the Airbus A321neo. Seat rows are listed by aircraft | Request when booking so availability can be checked, or online via Manage My Booking | Not stated |
| Qantas (source) | Under 11 kg and must lie flat. About 71 x 31 x 26 cm | Under 2 years | Fitted to 787, A380 and A330. Limited number. Not offered on domestic and regional routes | Reserve in advance, at booking or via Manage Booking | International First, Business and Premium Economy are complimentary. Economy is charged, amount not stated |
| ANA (source) | Maximum 10 kg on the domestic-flights page. Long-haul limits not stated | Not stated | Limited number and positions, listed per aircraft seat map. Excludes Dash 8-400 and some partner flights. This is the domestic-flights page | Contact ANA at least 24 hours before departure. Needs a fare eligible for advance seat reservation | Not stated |
| Japan Airlines (source) | Up to 10.5 kg. 72 x 30 x 15 cm | Not stated | Limited number. All international routes except JTA international flights. Not offered on domestic routes | By phone to the JAL reservation call center or a travel agency, not on the website. Online check-in is unavailable | Not stated |
| Etihad (source) | Under 11 kg and up to 75 cm | Infants 7 days to 23 months | Subject to availability. Infant bookings are matched to bassinet rows where available | Special request at etihad.com/manage | Not stated |
| Turkish Airlines (source) | Up to 11 kg. The parent's declared weight is final | Not stated | Only on certain aircraft types, those with fixed class dividers. Not usable during takeoff, landing or turbulence | Request at the time of reservation, then pre-select a compatible seat | Free of charge |
What the table shows. Of the 13 airlines, Singapore Airlines publishes the highest weight limit (14 kg) and American Airlines the lowest (20 lb, or 9 kg). Air France and KLM both say under 10 kg. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines say up to 11 kg, and Qantas and Etihad say under 11 kg. Eight airlines give an age for the bassinet, from under 6 months at Cathay (recommended) to under 2 years at American Airlines and Qantas, so for the rest check weight and length first. Only Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines say the bassinet is free of charge.
How to reserve one, step by step
- Put the baby on the booking. Emirates says it does not offer a bassinet if the child is booked in a seat at a child fare.
- Request at the right time. Emirates, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines take the request at booking or in Manage booking. Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, KLM and Lufthansa ask you to contact them. ANA needs 24 hours' notice on the page we read, and American Airlines handles it at the gate.
- Ask in the right order. Lufthansa says to book the bassinet before the seat reservation. Air France says a paid seat option is the only way to guarantee one.
- Check again before you fly. Qatar Airways says selecting a bassinet seat does not guarantee a bassinet, and KLM says it is not guaranteed until boarding.
- Keep a plan for when there is none. Most airlines in the table describe their bassinets as limited, not guaranteed, or only on certain aircraft.
Which cabin and aircraft types have them
The pages differ on both. Singapore Airlines lists Premium Economy and Economy. Cathay lists nearly all flights except the A321neo. American Airlines lists the 777-200, 777-300 and 787 and not First or Business. Qantas lists 787, A380 and A330, and JAL lists all international routes except JTA international flights. Turkish Airlines limits bassinets to certain aircraft types. Look up the aircraft for your flight before you rely on a bassinet.
What to ask the airline before booking
- What is the weight limit, and the length or size, for the aircraft on my flight?
- Is the bassinet free, or is it a paid seat?
- Can I reserve it now, or only at check-in or the gate?
- Which row, and is there a seat next to it for the other adult?
- What happens if my baby grows out of the limit before the flight?
- What is the infant fare on my route?
To see how an infant fare changes the whole trip, use the family trip budget calculator. Ula, your AI travel companion, plans and books trips with your OK and remembers how you travel, so a trip with a baby starts from who is coming along. It is in early access, and you can join the waitlist.
Airlines not in this table
United and British Airways are not here. On 20 October 2026 we could not find a bassinet policy on United's own site, and the only British Airways page we found could not be confirmed as its own policy. We do not copy numbers from other blogs, and we will add them as we verify them.
Sources
- Emirates, travelling with infants: emirates.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Qatar Airways, children on board: qatarairways.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Singapore Airlines, travelling with children: singaporeair.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Lufthansa, flying with a baby: lufthansa.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Air France, families and children: airfrance.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- KLM, kids: klm.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- American Airlines, traveling with children: aa.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Cathay Pacific, bassinet: cathaypacific.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Qantas, bassinets onboard aircraft: qantas.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- ANA, domestic flights with family (domestic page): ana.co.jp, sourced 20 October 2026
- Japan Airlines, travelling with a baby: jal.co.jp, sourced 20 October 2026
- Etihad, flying with children: etihad.com, sourced 20 October 2026
- Turkish Airlines, infant passengers: turkishairlines.com, sourced 20 October 2026
Questions
What is the weight limit for an airline bassinet?
It differs by airline. Among 13 airlines sourced on 20 October 2026 the published limits run from 9 kg (20 lb) at American Airlines to 14 kg at Singapore Airlines. Air France and KLM say under 10 kg, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines up to 11 kg, Qantas and Etihad under 11 kg, Cathay Pacific 12 kg and JAL 10.5 kg. ANA says 10 kg on its domestic page.
How do I reserve a bassinet seat?
Request the bassinet at booking, in Manage booking, or through the airline's reservations team, depending on the airline. Lufthansa says to book the bassinet before the seat reservation. ANA asks for 24 hours' notice on the page we read, and American Airlines handles it at the gate.
Are bassinets guaranteed?
No airline in the table guarantees one. Qatar Airways says selecting a bassinet seat does not guarantee a bassinet, KLM says it is not guaranteed until boarding, and Air France says a paid seat option is the only way to guarantee one.
Are bassinets free?
It varies. Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines say free of charge. Qantas says they are complimentary in International First, Business and Premium Economy and charged in Economy. Air France sells a paid seat option. Most other pages do not state a fee.
What if my baby is too big for the bassinet?
Check the weight and length limit for your airline and aircraft before you book. Qatar Airways says the infant must fit the bassinet, and Qantas says the baby must be able to lie flat. Ask the airline what happens if your baby grows out of the limit before the flight.