Travel with Children - Etihad Airlines: bassinet & stroller question

Travelling by Etihad Airlines (toronto-dubai-india):

1. I'm travelling with an infant- almost a 12 months at the time of travel. I was refused a bassinet because the infant is older than 10 months at the time of travel. An agent from Etihad told me the infant should be 10 months or younger to be given a bassinet. My question is: can i carry my fisher price rocker as carry on luggage? (this rocker looks like the bassinet/seat) they use for infants). Also, did anyone face the same problem? what did you do?

2. Secondly, how big/small can my stroller be to be put into as luggage? My son is big in size n heavy for me to use a umbrella stroller. I want to carry a regular stroller or a jogging stroller. Anyone had issues with the size of the stroller while travelling with Etihad?

Thanking you in advance (for reading and replying).

Just looked at their website and they state that infants heavier than 10kg or over 10 months may not use a bassinet so i guess unless you plan on buying a seat you'll have your son on your lap, you may want to plan on buying him his own seat if he is really that heavy specially considering how long the flights are :)

I wouldn't imagine you'd have any problem taking an average sized stroller, depends how bulky it is i guess but i can't find anything on etihad's website :rolleyes:

The question is, where would you put the thing, even if it were allowed? You can't sit in the exit rows (too cold for the baby anyway to put it there).

If you opt for a lap baby, then you'll have him on your lap. The bulkhead rows wont have any room for any contraption but at least you can get in and out of them more easily. You also wont disturb those in front of you. Try to get one, although those with smaller babies will be priority.

thanks for the reply!

I was assuming I could put it in the same place where the airlines puts the bassinet. Does Etihad have the same bassinet arrangement as British Airlines?

Also, will try and get those bulkhead seats atleast, if i'm not getting a bassinet.




The question is, where would you put the thing, even if it were allowed? You can't sit in the exit rows (too cold for the baby anyway to put it there).

If you opt for a lap baby, then you'll have him on your lap. The bulkhead rows wont have any room for any contraption but at least you can get in and out of them more easily. You also wont disturb those in front of you. Try to get one, although those with smaller babies will be priority.

Thanks for the reply! Will try and get bassinet at check-in or get bulkhead seat with more room. Getting a complete seat would be a waste, considering that 1 year old cant sit or sleep on a chair like a 3 yr old could. He would sleep in my arms/lap most of the time.

As for stroller, mine isnt too big. Though its not as compact as an umbrella stroller, but not bulky like those jogging stroller. It folds inwards for storage. However, i will try calling them up before i leave to confirm.

God, vacations are hectic, arent they??? :(




Just looked at their website and they state that infants heavier than 10kg or over 10 months may not use a bassinet so i guess unless you plan on buying a seat you'll have your son on your lap, you may want to plan on buying him his own seat if he is really that heavy specially considering how long the flights are :)

I wouldn't imagine you'd have any problem taking an average sized stroller, depends how bulky it is i guess but i can't find anything on etihad's website :rolleyes:

Getting a seat is not a waste. It's actually the only way to fly safely with an infant but you need to use a car seat and that's when things get complicated. So many foreign airlines have weird rules on them!

My children were usually with me anyway, but it was nice to have a place for them to sleep and where they were safe during turbulence (which they're not in a bassinet).

The chances of an accident are low so that's why lap babies are allowed, even though they're not secure.

Bulkhead seats aren't always roomier. There is often not enough space to put down a car seat. You would have to remove him in turbulence anyway (or maybe hold the whole seat-fun!)

I will warn you that the bulkhead seats might be prioritized for families with lap babies under 10 months old. Many airlines have that criteria. You can ask to be sure, and hope there aren't too many families on your flights.

Some parents find inflatable pillows good for lap babies. Not sure if your child is young enough for this.

Just be prepared to have your child in your lap for the entire flight.

My 1 year old slept fine in her own seat, no car seat, but maybe not a 10 month old for which i agree at that age you'd probably need a car seat which if you wouldn't need one at your destination would be awkward

My 1 year old slept fine in her own seat, no car seat, but maybe not a 10 month old for which i agree at that age you'd probably need a car seat which if you wouldn't need one at your destination would be awkward

She might have slept well but she wasn't secure. It's also a pain to have to pick up a sleeping baby in turbulence. That's also the case with bassinets.

As i don't drive i don't generally have a reason to take a car seat anywhere, neither at the time did i own one. On the way back we got a bassinet, but not the type where the child has to be removed during turbulance

What kind of bassinet do you not have to pick them up? Bassinets are not secure in turbulence. Some airlines might have more lax rules (or didn't bother enforcing them). Babies shouldn't be left in bassinets during turbulence (or at least bad turbulence). I wouldn't trust any bassinet.

VS's bassinet on the A340-600 is designed so the child does not have to removed during turbulance, its not the sky cot design found on the Boeings, it reminded me of a baby bouncer that attached to the wall and the child was then strapped in like they could be in a infant car seat.
I've used a sky cot also and agree that you wouldn't ever leave a child in them during turbulance, i've only had use of a bassinet/sky cot on VS however so couldn't comment for other airlines

I'll check it out but I'm still skeptical. It needs an actual harness and to be nailed into the wall. I would still lean over and keep a hand on the baby. Most turbulence is not enough to remove a baby from the bassinet but I worry about the head...