Flying with Babies: What Airlines Offer Onboard to Make Your Journey Easier
- Nikki Taylor
- Apr 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 5
✨Flying with babies : What airlines can offer onboard to make your journey easier
Traveling with a baby can seem overwhelming, especially when it comes to managing their needs in the confined space of an airplane. Fortunately, many airlines offer special services and amenities designed to make flying with little ones a bit easier. Here’s a guide to what you can expect onboard and how to take advantage of these offerings to ensure a smoother flight for you and your baby.
✨Infant Bassinets
For long-haul flights, some airlines provide bassinets for babies. These small beds are attached to the wall in the bulkhead rows (the seats at the front of the cabin) and allow your baby to lie flat, making it easier for them to sleep comfortably during the flight.
How to Secure One:
Bassinets are typically available on long flights and must be requested in advance. You’ll need to contact the airline ahead of time to reserve one, as they are usually offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Occasionally airlines will have you purchase them, as we found when flying Turkish Airlines.
Keep in mind that bassinets are typically available for infants up to around 6 months old or until they can sit up unaided, so it’s best to check the specific airline’s policy.
Some airlines like Virgin Atlantic, will advertise online that children up to the age of two years will be able to use their sky cot. This is more of a baby seat rather than a bassinet seat. It can fit older babies and gives them the opportunity to lie down or sit up. My baby had just turned 12 months when we used one and he fit beautifully, but any older and he wouldn’t have done. With the bassinet you are looking at around 6 months before they grow out of it for bigger babies. Mine was 8 months when we flew and he’s on the smaller side but he only just fit in comfortably.
Take a look at our specific blog on bassinets on flights to Orlando
✨Priority Boarding and Extra Time for Settling In
Many airlines offer priority boarding for families with young children, allowing you to board early and get settled in without the rush of other passengers. This extra time can be particularly helpful when you need to:
Arrange your baby’s supplies.
Settle them into their seat or bassinet.
Get your carry-on bags stowed in the overhead compartment. (This is particularly important if you want your baby’s bags close to you as if you board last they can end up at the other side of the plane if there are no spaces around your seats)
✨Baby Meals and Snacks
On longer flights, airlines will often provide baby meals or baby-friendly snacks. These meals are typically designed for babies who are eating solids, and they can include items like pureed vegetables, fruits, or rice cereals. If your baby doesn’t have their own seat they will not get a child’s meal so bring your own supply as well. From our experience travelling from Manchester to Orlando with Virgin, milk can be warmed for you as they heat it with hot water but meals cannot be heated as they don’t have microwave facilities.
How to Make the Most of It:
Call ahead and let the airline know about your baby’s dietary needs, such as whether you need special baby food or formula. It’s a good idea to bring extra snacks or meals just in case.
If your baby is still on formula or breastfeeding, airlines generally allow you to carry these items in quantities larger than the usual liquid restrictions (especially for international flights).
Some airlines also provide snacks for older babies and toddlers, such as crackers, fruit pouches, and small sandwiches, which can be a life-saver when they need a little something to tide them over.
✨Baby Changing Facilities
Airplanes typically have changing tables in the toilets, though these can be cramped and not always easy to navigate with a baby in tow. However, it’s important to note that most modern aircraft have dedicated changing tables in the bathrooms, and many airlines equip them with additional items to help make nappy changes a little easier.
Pro Tip:
Bring a changing mat along to keep your baby comfortable and ensure a clean surface for nappy changes. Some parents recommend changing nappies just before takeoff and landing to avoid the rush of needing to use the bathroom during peak times.
We have also found the disabled toilet tends to have a bigger changing table than the regular ones.
Being far more nappies and wipes than you think you will need!
✨Onboard Entertainment for Babies and Toddlers
While your baby may not be able to take full advantage of in-flight entertainment, some airlines offer baby-friendly features to keep little ones engaged. These might include:
Children’s TV Shows or Movies: Airlines like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways offer a range of kid-friendly entertainment, which may include cartoons and shows aimed at babies or toddlers.
Interactive Games and Apps: For older infants and toddlers, some airlines offer educational apps or games via their entertainment system. You can also bring your own tablet with age-appropriate apps, videos, or games to keep them entertained during the flight.
✨Specialized Infant Kits
Certain airlines offer “infant kits,” which are care packages designed for babies traveling with their parents. These kits often include items like:
Nappies and wipes.
Baby lotion and hand sanitizers.
A small blanket.
A pacifier or small toy to help soothe your baby.
Socks or mittens to keep baby warm and cozy.
Make sure to ask about the availability of these kits when booking or during check-in, as not all airlines offer them. If your airline doesn’t offer a kit, consider packing a similar bundle in your carry-on bag.
✨Assistance from Flight Attendants
Flight attendants are there to help you, and many are parents themselves, so they’ll understand the challenges of flying with a baby. They can assist with:
Stowing your baby’s pram or car seat: Most airlines allow you to check your pram at the gate, and flight attendants can help ensure it gets properly stowed.
Providing extra milk or baby formula: If you’ve run out of formula or need a little extra, they may be able to help with getting a bottle of hot water to warm up milk. This is absolutely not guaranteed so be certain to bring as much as you think you will need and more!
Offering a helping hand: Whether it’s holding your baby for a few moments while you use the bathroom or offering a moment of respite, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance if you need it.
✨Comfort Items It’s always a good idea to bring familiar comfort items from home to help your baby feel secure, such as:
Blankets or small pillows to make your baby comfortable.
Toys: Soft, non-noisy toys are best for flights as they can help distract and entertain your baby.
✨Final Thoughts
While flying with a baby can present some challenges, many airlines go the extra mile to provide comfort and convenience for families. From bassinets and baby meals to entertainment and extra help from flight attendants, there are plenty of resources available to make your flight as smooth as possible. By taking advantage of these amenities and planning ahead, you can ensure a more comfortable, enjoyable experience for both you and your baby.
✨We also have an article on flying with children if yours are slightly older than the baby stages.
On the topic of flying with babies, check out our blog on jet lag
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