Airplane Bassinets
Every limit is published somewhere and none of them are on the booking page. Here they are, with the aircraft and cabin conditions that decide eligibility.
By Ryder M. · Published September 27, 2026 · Last reviewed
The short answer
Airline bassinets are supplied by the airline, attach to a bulkhead wall, and have hard limits. Delta publishes under 25 lb and up to 26 in long, on widebody international flights or widebody domestic flights over 1,500 miles, two per aircraft. American publishes 777-200, 777-300 and 787 aircraft only, first come first served, and not in First or Business.
The published limits
| Airline | Weight / length | Eligible flights | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (SkyCot) | Under 25 lb (11.3 kg), up to 26 in (66 cm) | Widebody two-aisle international, or widebody domestic over 1,500 miles | Free on qualifying flights, select seats, two per aircraft |
| American | Not published on the page we read | 777-200, 777-300 and 787 only | First come, first served at the gate; not in First or Business |
| Southwest | Not applicable | No bassinet provision published | Lap child only; carriers cannot be used for taxi, takeoff or landing |
| United | Not verified | Not verified | Family-travel page not readable to us — see our United page |
From delta.com, aa.com and southwest.com, read 2026-09-27. Blank cells mean the figure was not published on the page we read; we do not fill them in from other sources.
Why the limits are so specific
A bassinet hangs on a bulkhead wall, so the constraint is structural and the numbers are not negotiable. Delta’s published figures — under 25 lb and up to 26 in long (delta.com, read 2026-09-27) — are about what the mounting can carry and what the bassinet can contain. A baby who is 27 in long does not get one regardless of how much they would benefit.
The other specificity is the aircraft type. Bulkhead bassinet positions exist on widebody aircraft; there is nowhere to hang one on most narrow-body jets. Delta publishes widebody international or widebody domestic over 1,500 miles; American publishes 777-200, 777-300 and 787 only. Check your aircraft type on the booking, not just the route — an aircraft substitution can remove the bassinet from a flight that had one when you booked.
Two per aircraft is the number that matters
Delta publishes that SkyCots are limited to two per aircraft. On a full long-haul flight with more than two infants on board — which is most long-haul flights — the majority of babies are not in a bassinet. American’s first-come, first-served-at-the-gate approach has the same effect by a different route.
So: request it as early as you can, confirm it as close to departure as you can, and plan the flight as if you will not have one. That means a carrier for holding at cruise — subject to the taxi, takeoff and landing rule — and, if the child is in a suitable size range, considering a purchased seat with an approved restraint instead. Our car seat on a plane guide covers that decision.
You cannot bring your own
Airline bassinets attach to the aircraft. A portable bassinet you own — a Baby Delight Slumber, a Graco Day2Dream insert — is for the hotel room, not the aircraft. Our travel bassinet roundup covers those, and they are a genuinely different product category.
Questions parents actually ask
What is the weight limit for an airplane bassinet?
Delta publishes under 25 lb (11.3 kg) and up to 26 in (66 cm) long. American does not publish a weight limit on the page we read, stating instead that bassinets are available first come, first served at the gate on 777-200, 777-300 and 787 aircraft only. Limits are per airline — check yours.
Which flights have bassinets?
Delta publishes widebody (two-aisle) international flights, or widebody domestic flights over 1,500 miles only. American publishes 777-200, 777-300 and 787 aircraft only, and not in First or Business cabins. A domestic narrow-body hop will not have one.
Can I bring my own bassinet?
No. Airline bassinets attach to a bulkhead wall and are supplied by the airline. A travel bassinet you own is for the destination, not the flight — see our travel bassinet roundup.
How do I get a bassinet seat?
Request it as early as possible, because bassinet positions are limited: Delta publishes that SkyCots are limited to two per aircraft, and American publishes first come, first served at the gate. Early request plus a plan for not getting one is the realistic approach.
Does the baby have to come out of the bassinet?
Yes, during taxi, takeoff, landing and turbulence — the same phases in which a carrier cannot be worn. A bassinet is for cruise. Plan on holding the baby for anything else.
Sources
- Delta Air Lines — infant travel — read 2026-09-27
- American Airlines — traveling with children — read 2026-09-27
- FAA — does the FAA require children on commercial flights to be in child restraint systems? — read 2026-09-27
- Southwest Airlines — traveling with an infant — read 2026-09-27
Every figure on this page traces to one of the sources above. Airline policies and manufacturer specs change without notice — check the primary source before you rely on a number.
Read next
- Flying With a Baby
Airline by airline: lap infants, bassinets, gate checks and what you are allowed to carry on.
- Flying With a Baby on Delta
Lap infants free within the US, FAA-approved seats or a CARES harness, and SkyCot limits of 25 lb and 26 in.
- Flying With a Baby on American Airlines
Lap infants under 2, a 20 lb carry-on stroller limit, a free infant checked bag, and bassinets on 777 and 787 only.
- Best Travel Bassinets
Portable bassinets for the newborn months, compared on published limits, footprint and weight.
- Flying With a Baby: The Checklist
A three-phase checklist with the published airline rule behind each item — a week out, at the airport, and in the air.
More in Flying With a Baby, or start from the front page.