Travel with Children - United Airlines seating issue: flying with a baby

My wife and I will be traveling with our 9-months baby with United Airlines (Montreal-Washington-Beijing). However, when we purchased the tickets online, there are only back seats available (last 3 back rows in B777) to choose. I called United Customer Care Centre, they said that they can do nothing for the seating except that we pay extra 149$ per person to get Economy Plus class seats.

I wonder if the airport check-in agent or flight attendant could find 2 front seats for us on the day of departure. I have heard that basically, airlines agents will put passengers with baby in front seats. We really worried that we will fly with our baby in the back of aircraft for 14 hours.

If you get really lucky maybe...never heard of people with babies get front seats. Those seats are reserved for elites and paying pax.

Front seats on UA are called Economy Plus. They have extra leg room and require either that you pay extra to sit there, or you get free access because you have status on the airline. Virtually all UA flights run full -- it is very, very unlikely that you would be given seats in the Economy Plus section.

Aside from maybe feeling the turbulence a little more, what is the issue with sitting towards the back of the plane? Seems that it shouldn't matter whether you're traveling with an infant or not.

The front of United's cabin is Economy Plus, as the other poster explained. Were you hoping for a bulkhead seat for a bassinet? United says they're suitable only for babies up to 6 months so your son is probably too big. Also, United prioritizes the bulkhead seats for their ff's, not families with small children.

I've flown long haul on United many times in the back of the plane and honestly, it wasn't a problem at all. In fact, it was convenient being close to the lavs back there.

I have a daughter who only has to look at a car to start throwing up (like when I was little). We're just a very, very motionsick prone family. Only once did a child throw up (and that was kind of borderline "spit-up" frankly). I've had kids throw up on the way to the airport only to be fine on the flight itself (though it's not really an ideal way to start a journey).

Having said this, here's what you can try. Call within a week of flying and see if they can change it. If not, call 48 hours prior. If not, request yet again at check-in. You might get lucky. Once at the airport, when they saw that my husband was in business (on a separate reservation), they moved us to the very first row that wasn't E+, all four of us, just so that we would be physically closer. I didn't even request this!

I would not count on anyone switching on the flight itself. Passengers always say no to Flight Attendants anyway (experience speaking).

Yes, the back is bumpier but in the economy section, it's really not enough of a difference to worry about. Try to get forward and if not, relax. The slight extra movement might even help put your son to sleep!

UA is not the best for families with infants. I would pay the $149 to get economy+ - it will be well worth the investment with a lap infant. In the grand scheme of things it is not that much for a much more comfortable flight.

Yeah, I think you should pay up for the economy plus seats. I think that is your only chance of moving up some rows, but it's still quite possible you will not get use of a bassinet. At least you'll have a little more space overall, though

I wonder if the airport check-in agent or flight attendant could find 2 front seats for us on the day of departure. I have heard that basically, airlines agents will put passengers with baby in front seats. We really worried that we will fly with our baby in the back of aircraft for 14 hours.
Not on UA. These seats, as already posted, are reserved for UA's and now CO's elite flyers. IMO, your child will be too big for a bassinet anyway, and very doubtful you could still get the bulkhead seats necessary to use one. I've actually never seen a bassinet in use on UA on all my international travel with them.

If you want to sit closer to the front, you'll have to pay for it. Suggest you purchase Economy Plus yearly option, which will cost you $425. This is good for two people and you can use this for your outbound and return flight. It's cheaper than paying for each leg, and it's good for one year.

I also am not sure that sitting in the back is a bad thing with an infant.

Thank you for all your reply and suggestions.

I already paid $298 US to get 2 Economy + seats. I think it is wise to do so. I will post my feedback after my trip.

Encore une fois, merci de vos réponses.
(Once again, thank you for your responses.)

Thank you for all your reply and suggestions.

I already paid $298 US to get 2 Economy + seats. I think it is wise to do so. I will post my feedback after my trip.

Encore une fois, merci de vos réponses.
(Once again, thank you for your responses.)

Use seatguru.com to check for the best seats.

Use seatguru.com to check for the best seats.




Thank you. I will check.

And make sure the check-in at each gate early. When we had a VIE-FRA flight delay that shrank our FRA layover and we weren't at the gate 45 minutes ahead. United then gave away our Economy Plus bulkhead bassinet seats and assigned us to the back row of Economy for FRA-SFO.

They gave away seats that you'd paid for?

They gave away seats that you'd paid for?

United stated that it is their policy to release seats of any passenger not at the gate more that 45 minutes before departure. As a UA 1P we were compensated later. Being that we had reserved the seats 10 months before, they knew exactly how late our inbound flight was, had staff directing us to our FRA-SFO flight, I don't see why they chose to release our seats even though the flight was not overbooked.

United stated that it is their policy to release seats of any passenger not at the gate more that 45 minutes before departure. As a UA 1P we were compensated later. Being that we had reserved the seats 10 months before, they knew exactly how late our inbound flight was, had staff directing us to our FRA-SFO flight, I don't see why they chose to release our seats even though the flight was not overbooked.That may have been what the GA told you, but it's not UA policy. I think you were lied to by a GA who was betting your flight would be later than it was. If that should ever happen again, as for a customer service supervisor, or the station manager -- what they did was wrong.

Agreed and please write this incident up, especially since you paid and you're a 1K.

That may have been what the GA told you, but it's not UA policy. I think you were lied to by a GA who was betting your flight would be later than it was. If that should ever happen again, as for a customer service supervisor, or the station manager -- what they did was wrong.

Basically I had enough time to see they had changed our boarding passes and tell them it was wrong. Then the plane was leaving and they said I could wait for a station manager and try to get on the later flight or just get on ours (which had a connection following it) and take it up with the purser. So we just got on our's. I explained it to the purser who said, "There is nothing I can do." I then saw our seats were empty so we just sat and waited. Another passenger came by and asked which seats were our's and I responded "These." and they just continued on. I'm guessing they were the people "upgraded" to our seats. At least they didn't make a big deal about it.

Once home I contacted UA to ask what had happened. (We also never received the requested bassinet on either sfo-fra or fra-sfo and on sfo-fra 2 infants had been assigned to our row but only enough O2 masks for 1 so after we were seated we were moved that time too.) The UA agent apologized and gave us both $500 e-certs. (At the time I didn't even know what an ecert was or that UA even cared if you called about poor service.) So those covered a trip to Hawaii for us, so we felt more than compensated.

Basically I had enough time to see they had changed our boarding passes and tell them it was wrong. Then the plane was leaving and they said I could wait for a station manager and try to get on the later flight or just get on ours (which had a connection following it) and take it up with the purser. So we just got on our's. I explained it to the purser who said, "There is nothing I can do." I then saw our seats were empty so we just sat and waited. Another passenger came by and asked which seats were our's and I responded "These." and they just continued on. I'm guessing they were the people "upgraded" to our seats. At least they didn't make a big deal about it.

Once home I contacted UA to ask what had happened. (We also never received the requested bassinet on either sfo-fra or fra-sfo and on sfo-fra 2 infants had been assigned to our row but only enough O2 masks for 1 so after we were seated we were moved that time too.) The UA agent apologized and gave us both $500 e-certs. (At the time I didn't even know what an ecert was or that UA even cared if you called about poor service.) So those covered a trip to Hawaii for us, so we felt more than compensated.I'm glad you got compensated, and I'm glad you complained. Most of UA's GAs are conscientious people who do a great job, but there are a few who like to look for the easy way out and then make up "policies" to support themselves.

And make sure the check-in at each gate early. When we had a VIE-FRA flight delay that shrank our FRA layover and we weren't at the gate 45 minutes ahead. United then gave away our Economy Plus bulkhead bassinet seats and assigned us to the back row of Economy for FRA-SFO.

I paid extra to get 2 bulkhead seats in Economy Plus Class. I hope that we will arrive at the gate 45 minutes ahead because our 2 flights connect time at Washington (IAD) Airport is 1 hour 16 minutes.


Thank you for your advice.


I called United Reservation Centre regarding our request for bassinet. I explained that our baby will be 9 month, but looks like 6-month baby as he is a premature baby. They answered that they can not confirm right now and bassinet request is based on 'first come and first served'. We have to double check at the airport on the day of departure. Therefore, by the time we arrive at the gate, we are not sure that we will have a bassinet. Anyway, I think our 2 bulkhead seats will be more comfortable even without bassinet.

I paid extra to get 2 bulkhead seats in Economy Plus Class. I hope that we will arrive at the gate 45 minutes ahead because our 2 flights connect time at Washington (IAD) Airport is 1 hour 16 minutes.


Thank you for your advice.


I called United Reservation Centre regarding our request for bassinet. I explained that our baby will be 9 month, but looks like 6-month baby as he is a premature baby. They answered that they can not confirm right now and bassinet request is based on 'first come and first served'. We have to double check at the airport on the day of departure. Therefore, by the time we arrive at the gate, we are not sure that we will have a bassinet. Anyway, I think our 2 bulkhead seats will be more comfortable even without bassinet.

On the 747 at least the bassinet position is 19F&G. The rest of the row does not have the mounts on the bulkhead. We were offered a floor bassinet that never came after 2 requests when our seats were moved. So making sure your seats actually have the mounts would be the most important. As for the floor one I guess just keep on the flight crew to bring it.

On the 747 at least the bassinet position is 19F&G. The rest of the row does not have the mounts on the bulkhead. We were offered a floor bassinet that never came after 2 requests when our seats were moved. So making sure your seats actually have the mounts would be the most important. As for the floor one I guess just keep on the flight crew to bring it.

Thank you for the information.
The plane (between Washington and Beijing) will be Boeing 777 and we already chose 2 bulkhead seats (in Row 17).

Thank you for the information.
The plane (between Washington and Beijing) will be Boeing 777 and we already chose 2 bulkhead seats (in Row 17).

Any UA 777 experts around here that know the bassinet position seats on row 17? Being that the bulkhead is at 17 it would be an old config 777.

UA is not the best for families with infants. I would pay the $149 to get economy+ - it will be well worth the investment with a lap infant. In the grand scheme of things it is not that much for a much more comfortable flight.

Yes. We paid $149 x2 to get 2 economy + seats. It well worth the investment. We are in the 1st row of Economy +. We have a lot of extra legrooms as we had 2 bulkhead seats. Plus, the aircraft is a recently renewed Boeing 777 with AVOD (Audio Video On Demand) for all the seats on Economy + and Economy Class.

My wife and I are very satisfied with this 14-hour flight. Our 9-month baby also enjoyed the flight except that he did not sleep a lot. (He is very curious baby and he wants to check everybody and everything on the plane).

Front seats on UA are called Economy Plus. They have extra leg room and require either that you pay extra to sit there, or you get free access because you have status on the airline. Virtually all UA flights run full -- it is very, very unlikely that you would be given seats in the Economy Plus section.

This is wrong, at least for planes with bassinet seat positions. Seats with an infant bassinet are reserved for travelers with infants and often blocked by the airline for that reason.

On United, if you're travelling with an infant and request an infant bassinet seat, you (and up to one travel companion!) will be given economy plus seating at no charge. I just did this for my wife flying SYD-SFO with our 5 month old. See the "Bassinet" section for more details:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/infants/default.aspx

I've been told by two agents that UA only has bassinet seats on international flights. This page has more details about which planes have bassinet seats:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/aircraft/default.aspx

This is wrong, at least for planes with bassinet seat positions. Seats with an infant bassinet are reserved for travelers with infants and often blocked by the airline for that reason.

On United, if you're travelling with an infant and request an infant bassinet seat, you (and up to one travel companion!) will be given economy plus seating at no charge. I just did this for my wife flying SYD-SFO with our 5 month old. See the "Bassinet" section for more details:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/infants/default.aspx

I've been told by two agents that UA only has bassinet seats on international flights. This page has more details about which planes have bassinet seats:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/aircraft/default.aspxMy post was made when United was United and it was right when I posted it. Now it's Continental-Flying-As-United. Everything changed after the merger.

My post was made when United was United and it was right when I posted it. Now it's Continental-Flying-As-United. Everything changed after the merger.
Yes, that's why pulling up old, outdated threads is not useful.

I will add, I have not noted UA blocking any bulkhead seats to accomodate nonpaying E+ passengers and their infants, and I don't think they should. Of course, I am not on every international UA flight either.

Yes, that's why pulling up old, outdated threads is not useful.

I will add, I have not noted UA blocking any bulkhead seats to accomodate nonpaying E+ passengers and their infants, and I don't think they should. Of course, I am not on every international UA flight either.

I agree that continuing an old discussion is not that useful. But this thread happens to be the one of the top Google results when searching for how to fly with an infant on United.

I replied to this thread in the interest of helping others.

I agree that continuing an old discussion is not that useful. But this thread happens to be the one of the top Google results when searching for how to fly with an infant on United.

I replied to this thread in the interest of helping others.May I humbly request that, in the future, you preface such a response with, "This has changed," or, "This is outdated," rather than, "This is wrong."?

May I humbly request that, in the future, you preface such a response with, "This has changed," or, "This is outdated," rather than, "This is wrong."?

Absolutely, sorry about that.

Thanks for pointing that out.