infant basinet on united
 

Hi all,
Just called United to arrange a basinet when travelling from MEL-LAX. The agent mentioned there are two types, wall bassinet and floor basinet. Wall basinet is suitable for bulk head only and floor is suitable everywhere except exit row. Can any one help me with the difference between the two and which one I should ask for?

Thanks
Chandi

If posible ask for wall basinet, it gets attached to the wall in front of you not on your toes.

Also, your baby will sleep better, because is attached to a wall and not loose on the floor=less vibrations.

Best luck.

And of course this probably doesn't need to be said, but the availability of the wall bassinet is dependant on your ability to secure the appropriate and corresponding bulkhead seat assignments.

I believe United allows priority to mothers with infants in the bulkhead seats. Do they bump people out of their seats?

I've never seen a wall-mounted basinet on UA. I usually sit in row 25 C/D/F, which is a bulkhead row in C on a 747, and I've travelled next to seatmates with newborns who did not use any UA-supplied basinets.

On LH the wall-mounted basinet is pretty common but one thing to consider is that when the seatbelt sign comes on, the basinet has to come down.

They should probably then give priority to tall people and bounce short people out of the exit row. :rolleyes:

If I remeber correctly the Wall Bassinest are available only on select UA equipment, and I've never seen one on UA before. The floor bassinet is a joke, I don't consider it safe. If you're flying with an infant the european and asian carriers are the way to go.

I saw the wall mounted bassinet in use again on UA just 2 months ago in Business Class on one of my transatlantic flights. The pax had pre-ordered it and it was brought onboard by a ground agent in shrinkwrap. The agent ripped the wrap off, asked the pax if they knew how to use the thing (they did), and the agent went on their way.

I see it being used on occasion in Economy as well. I wouldn't say often. But it's there.

I don't think many folks here in the U.S. even know about their existence or what those bolt-things on the bulkhead wall are for. Some just from lack of flying experience.

Perhaps Reservation Departments on non-U.S. carriers just do a better job of informing potential users of this option?

Anyone know the weight and/or size limits for the wall and floor bassinets?

I hear Quantas has much nicer accomodations for your bassinet .

Only half joking

No Wall-mounted basinets for Coach
 

Just finished ORD-->IAD-->CDG-->ORD in coach with family (spouse + 1 infant). United's Pathetic about basinets...

In coach they either don't have the wall-mounted supports to put the basinet on, or if they have the supports, they don't have the basinet itself. They gave us the basinet for the floor, which is similar to a body-bag...pretty useless i think, because it takes away any leg-space you have. That thing wasn't even cleaned from the last time...-had cheerios and stuff in it :rolleyes: .

I'm just Premier but managed to get bulk-head seating and it still wasn't good enough (see below).

I've flown on Lufthansa and KLM with the baby...both offer FAR superior basinets and flying with them was a pleasure.

I'm giving on United metal next time and flying Lufthansa. Perhaps you should consider the same and fly AirNZ.
-and yes, if you fly business, then its all fine and dandy - they(UA) do give u the nice basinets...

Good Luck,

There Are Wall Mounted Bassinet Available
 

There are 2 types of bassinets on UA international widebody flights, floor bassinet is so outdated that you can use it as last resort; the wall mounted one is much nicer, there is even a seatbelt in it so you don't have to pick the baby up when there is turbulence, the maximum weight on this is 25 lbs. Don't know where you will be sitting, for all the parents here, please write down the seat numbers where the sockets for wall bassinet can be found on the bulkhead because sometimes agents don't really know: on 747-400, which you will be flying to MEL: 6A, 6H, 36D, 36G, 50D, 50H, there may be also in C second bulkhead but I am not too sure; On 777-200: 8A, 8E, 8J, 17A, 17C, 17G, 17J, 31C, 31G. On 767-300: 1A, 1C, 1F, 5A, 5F, 15C, 15E. Maybe you can call ahead to have one of these seats reserved. Once onboard be sure to ask F/A for wall bassinet and they will install it for you after take off. :)

As a 1P travelling with my non-status wife, daughter, and infant, is there any chance they will let me into the E+ bulkhead seats to use a bassinet? Or do the usual rules apply (only 1 person with me into E+)?

Thanks
 

Thanks all, secured wall basinet for the SYD-LAX legs. Also the upgrades have come through. I was told there are no wall basinets for domestic flights.
Thanks for all the info.
Chandi

Not a chance at reservations.
Not a problem at check-in.

I actually argued with reservation that by paying for my infant's seat, I was being penalized, when I could just bring him as a lap child and sit in E+. It didn't fly. At check-in, I got wife, son and neice into E+.

P.S - Having his own seat meant he slept in his carrier, which he seemed to quite enjoy, and when he woke up, I stuffed it with pillows to make it "flatter" inside so he could lay around and play. (4-5 months old).

Personally, I didn't miss not having bulkhead or bassinet.