Best Seats for Families

Bassinet Rows

Airline bassinets (also called sky cots or baby baskets) are wall-mounted cots for infants typically weighing under 11kg (24 lbs) and shorter than 75cm (30 inches). They attach to the bulkhead wall on rows with no seat in front. To use one, you must book a bulkhead seat with bassinet capability — not all bulkhead rows have bassinet mounting points. These must be reserved in advance by calling the airline or selecting them during booking on airlines that support it online.

On most widebody aircraft, bassinet rows are in the following locations:

• Boeing 777 (3-3-3): Row 32–34 center section (varies by airline)
• Airbus A380: Main deck row 25 center, upper deck row 70 (some configurations)
• Boeing 787: Row 25 center section on many operators
• Airbus A330: Row 26–27 center on typical configurations

Emirates is particularly generous with bassinet availability — four rows per A380 on long-haul routes, bookable online. Qantas and Singapore Airlines also have dedicated bassinets bookable via their apps. Some budget carriers charge a fee for bassinet row access.

Bulkhead Pros and Cons

Bulkhead rows (first row of each cabin section) are the default family seat choice due to extra floor space for a crawling infant and easier access for diaper changes. However, they come with significant tradeoffs that families should weigh:

Advantages: More floor space, no seat recline into your space from in front, easier to stand and settle a restless baby without blocking neighbors.

Disadvantages: Tray tables fold from the armrest and are narrower; no underseat storage during takeoff and landing (all bags must go overhead); IFE screens may be smaller; these rows are often colder (near aircraft skin or galley); and heavy foot traffic from galley access disturbs the area.

Row Configuration for Multiple Children

Families of 4 should target the center section of widebody aircraft: the 4-seat center bank on a 3-4-3 configured 777, or the 3-seat center section on a 2-4-2 A330/767. This keeps the family together without a window-seat parent trapped away from the aisle when children need attention.

For a family of 3, the window-aisle pairing in an ABC section of a 3-3-3 widebody is ideal: one parent at the window, one at the aisle, child in the middle who can access either parent without climbing over strangers. The middle seat is the strategic compromise that maintains family cohesion.

For a family of 5+, multiple rows is often better than a single long row: parents in row N+1 can easily lean forward to assist children in row N, while older children in the row ahead have some autonomy.

Exit Row Restrictions for Families

Exit row seats are generally unavailable to families with children under 15, infants, or passengers with reduced mobility. FAA regulations require exit row occupants to be physically capable of operating the emergency exit and following crew instructions. Airlines enforce this actively and will reassign families at check-in. Do not book exit rows expecting to use them for families — you will be moved, often to less desirable seats.

Airline Family Policies

Policies differ significantly by airline for families:

• Southwest: Family boarding after A group — parents with children under 6 board between groups A and B regardless of check-in time. Best family policy among US carriers.
• United: Children under 13 must be seated adjacent to at least one parent. United will automatically rearrange seats if this is not met.
• Delta: Similar adjacent seating policy. FamilyWise tool in the app automatically finds seats together.
• Ryanair/EasyJet: No free adjacent seating — must pay seat selection fee or risk separation. Consider the fee mandatory for families.
• Singapore Airlines: Pre-assigned seats for families, bassinets bookable online, exceptional crew attentiveness for families consistently rated #1 in surveys.
• Emirates: Complimentary baby meals, bassinets on long-haul, dedicated family check-in queues at most hubs.