Long Haul flight with 9 month old with potential no Bassinet

Long Haul flight with 9 month old with potential no Bassinet - Colorful air balloons flying over old eastern city

I will be flying with my wife and daughter to the US and back again from New Zealand. Going there should be no issue, we should be able to use a bassinet but there is no guarantee we will get one on the flight back. We are flying Air New Zealand and they state that babies over 8 months could get a bassinet but if there are babies under 8 months they take priority, even if you request one well in advance.

So we won't know until we get to the airport whether we get a bassinet or not which will cause us an issue. An additional infant ticket is quite a lot and there is no guarantee there will be a free seat in case we get no bassinet.

So, what is the best way to handle this?

Bite the bullet and purchase a seat (we will have a car seat with us anyway) or hope there is a bassinet available?

Is there a third option where we have no additional seat and no bassinet? 13 hours on the lap is probably out of the question.

Thanks






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Long Haul flight with 9 month old with potential no Bassinet - Picturesque scenery of old town with mosque placed among rocky formations in Cappadocia under flying hot air balloon in cloudless sky in daytime
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Can we take 9 months baby to flight?

International flights have bassinets but they are tiny so don't expect your baby to fit in after the age of 9 months or so. Also, when there is turbulence, you will have to pick up your baby and bring her to your lap.

How do I keep my 9 month old busy on a plane?

11 Ways to Entertain Babies and Toddlers on a Plane
  • Let the novelty of being on an airplane wear off first. ...
  • Bring some carefully chosen toys. ...
  • Encourage screen time. ...
  • Get them to draw. ...
  • Download some kids games before the flight. ...
  • Bring a few carefully chosen books. ...
  • Ask about in-flight entertainment options for kids.


  • How do you survive a baby on a long haul flight?

    Tips for flying long-haul with a baby
  • Research the baby bassinet offered by the airline. ...
  • Find out if you can pre-book the bassinet. ...
  • Check flight loading. ...
  • Be anally organised. ...
  • Brief your travel buddy. ...
  • Feed on take-off and landing. ...
  • Bring extra bottles and formula. ...
  • Lap up the extra attention.


  • Where do babies sleep on long flights?

    Call your airline to secure a bassinet for the baby. Let baby sleep!! If you're traveling with an infant in arms, you may want to call the airline to request a bassinet for the baby. (only available on long haul flights) These bassinets give the baby their own place to laydown flat and sleep uninterrupted on the plane.



    How to Travel Long Haul SOLO with a Newborn | FLYING TO NZ DURING A PANDEMIC




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Julia Volk, cottonbro, Meruyert Gonullu, cottonbro