A note before we start: we haven’t flown Emirates with Nayeli yet, this guide is built from Emirates’ official policies and cross-checked against detailed accounts from parents who’ve actually used the bassinet, since the size and age limits genuinely differ in practice from what the headline policy suggests.
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Emirates is genuinely one of the more generous long-haul carriers for families on paper, bassinets, baggage, an infant amenity kit. But long-haul flying with a baby has more moving parts than a short European hop, and a few of Emirates’ rules (the bassinet size limit especially) are worth understanding before you build your whole flight plan around them.
Age, fees, and adding an infant to your booking
Emirates classes an infant as under 2 years old, travelling either on a parent’s lap or in a bassinet seat. Booking an infant generally can’t be done fully online, most parents end up calling Emirates directly or going through Manage Your Booking once the initial ticket is purchased.
- Minimum age: 7 days old
- Under 7 days: only permitted for emergency medical treatment (travelling in an incubator, with a completed MEDIF medical form) or compassionate travel for the mother
- Infant fare: typically around 10% of the adult fare, plus taxes and surcharges, confirm the exact figure at booking since it varies by route and cabin
- One infant per adult on the lap, if you’re travelling solo with two babies under 2, the second will need their own seat and fare
- Booking with miles can complicate the lap infant fee, some parents report the system trying to charge the same mileage as an adult, worth confirming with an agent directly if you’re redeeming miles
Bassinets: the size limit nobody quite tells you about
This is genuinely one of Emirates’ strongest family features, and also the one most likely to disappoint if you plan around the headline “up to 2 years” figure without checking the fine print.
- Bassinets hold babies up to 11kg (24.2 lb) and around 75cm (29.5 in) in length
- First Class bassinets are shorter still, around 25 inches
- Emirates will not let you use a bassinet if your baby doesn’t fit safely, regardless of age, this is a firm safety rule, not a judgment call you can push back on at the gate
- Numbers are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis, request one as early as possible when booking or via Manage Your Booking
- You can’t request a bassinet if your infant is booked on a child’s fare with their own seat, it’s only an option for lap infants
A CoziGo-style cover is permitted over the Emirates bassinet, and blocks ambient cabin light and stimulation to help your baby actually settle. Other sleep devices like Planepal or a BedBox aren’t allowed on Emirates, unlike some competitors such as Etihad, so don’t plan around bringing one.
Car seat policy
Car seats on Emirates come with more specific rules than most airlines, largely tied to your baby’s exact age and where you’re seated.
- A car seat is only usable if your child has their own paid seat, charged at the child fare, lap infants can’t use one in the cabin
- Forward-facing car seats: approved for children aged 6 to 36 months
- Rear-facing car seats: restricted to infants aged 7 days to 6 months, and must be installed at a bulkhead position specifically, if no bulkhead seat is available, it needs to go forward-facing instead
- You can’t combine a bassinet and a car seat on the same booking, since the bassinet only applies to lap infants without their own seat
- A CARES harness is a lighter alternative for older toddlers who can sit upright unassisted
Baggage, stroller, and what’s free
This is one of the areas where Emirates is genuinely generous compared to most airlines, infants get their own baggage allowance rather than sharing yours.
- Cabin baggage: infants get their own 10kg allowance, one bag, up to 55 x 38 x 20 cm
- Stroller or carry-cot: one fully collapsible pushchair or carry-cot can come into the cabin if there’s room
- If there’s no cabin space, the stroller or carry-cot is checked free of charge and doesn’t count against your baggage allowance at all
- Free stroller service at Dubai International Airport, available on arrival and in transit, useful if you’d rather not manage your own through a connection
Several parents flag Emirates’ general cabin bag weight enforcement as stricter than average, this applies to your own hand luggage rather than your baby’s specific allowance, but it’s worth weighing your bags at home if you’re travelling with a lot of baby gear split across pieces.
Onboard: food, changing, and amenities
This is where the long-haul difference really shows, Emirates puts more into the onboard baby experience than most short-haul carriers even attempt.
- Baby meals are available on request, alongside child meals for older siblings
- An infant amenity kit is provided, typically including diaper cream, bibs, and wipes
- Changing tables are fitted in the bathrooms on Emirates aircraft
- Breastfeeding at your seat is explicitly supported, with a blanket provided on request for extra privacy
- In-flight entertainment includes a dedicated selection of children’s shows and cartoons
FAQ
What is the minimum age to fly Emirates with a baby?
7 days old. Babies under 7 days are only permitted for emergency medical treatment with a completed MEDIF form, or compassionate travel for the mother.
Does Emirates have bassinets for babies?
Yes, on request and subject to availability, officially rated for babies up to 2 years and 11kg. In practice, many babies outgrow the roughly 75cm length limit well before age 2, so treat the age figure as a ceiling rather than a guarantee.
How much does Emirates charge for an infant?
Around 10% of the adult fare plus taxes, though this varies by route and cabin. Confirm the exact figure when you book, ideally by calling Emirates directly since infant fares often can’t be finalized fully online.
Can I bring a car seat on Emirates?
Yes, but only if your child has their own paid seat. Forward-facing seats are approved for 6 to 36 months, rear-facing seats only for 7 days to 6 months and must be installed at a bulkhead position.
What baggage allowance does an infant get on Emirates?
A 10kg cabin bag allowance, plus a fully collapsible stroller or carry-cot, which can travel in the cabin if there’s room or be checked for free without counting against your baggage.
“Emirates gives families more than most long-haul carriers on paper, but the bassinet’s real limit is your baby’s size, not their age, so plan for both outcomes.”
Request your bassinet as early as possible, but pack a carrier and go in mentally prepared to hold your baby for the full flight if they’ve outgrown it, especially past 6 months. Beyond that, the generous baggage allowance, infant amenity kit, and genuinely supportive onboard service make Emirates one of the more comfortable long-haul choices for a baby, once you know where the real limits sit.
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