Try to take it to the gate and use it on board. The car seat is safer than the bassinet.

I'm a former Flight Attendant and yes, infant bucket-style seats can fit in some overhead bins but there are two problems.

1. If you can't use it onboard, it would then count against your carry-on limit, which is usually now only one bag. Usually they don't count the diaper bag and/or the seat if you're using it during the flight.

2. You're taking up a lot of space in the overhead bin. Not a good way to make yourself popular with fellow passengers. When you're flying with a baby, you don't want to make yourselves unliked from the get-go.

Not all our aircraft had the larger bins and often, not all the bins were the big ones (i.e. smaller ones along the side or in certain areas). Each airline is different but the bigger planes that fly the transatlantic routes usually have decent sized overheads.

Take it to the gate and then they'll gate-check it if you don't manage it. Even if you're overbooked, one missed connection and you might leave with empty seats.

Some airlines require you to remove the baby in turbulence but you don't have to do that if he's strapped into a car seat. Very convenient!

Also, you'll have the peace of mind that your seat wont be lost and/or damaged en route and your baby will leave the airport at your destination safely.

On a side note, I took a five month old to Italy. She was a cute baby but nothing special (bald, brown eyes, nothing distinctive or exotic about her). OMG...do Italians love children or what?!? They went nuts over her, asking to hold her and cooing over her everywhere we went. It was a shock because in France and the U.S., she never got any special attention (in contrast to her very round, curly black haired, green-eyed sister). People thought my younger daughter was a boy but in Italy, she was a star! They just love all babies. Be prepared!

Good luck keeping and using it for your flight.