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Flying with children and infants 

Let our family care for yours

Lots of our team are parents themselves, so you can trust us when we say we know what it takes to travel with children. If you’re preparing for a trip with the little ones in tow, here’s everything you need to know.

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Family-only check-in

Families flying from Abu Dhabi can use our Little VIP check-in desks in Terminal 3.

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Preferential boarding

For extra time to get settled, families travelling with infants will be invited to board first.

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Children’s activity packs

Warner Bros World™ Abu Dhabi activity packs will keep children entertained.

Tips for flying with children

From where to sit to what to pack, here are our expert tips to make sure everyone has a happy journey.

Packing

  • Bring only the essentials to avoid carrying too much (but remember a change of clothes in case of accidents).
  • Prepare for security by placing items that need to be removed at the top of your bag.
  • Travel with a smaller pushchair, check it in when you arrive and use our complimentary strollers around the airport. Or hand us your pushchair at the gate.

Your seats

  • Bassinet seats, if available, are complimentary. Just let us know before you select your seat by adding this as a special request for your infant at etihad.com/manage.
  • Book a ChoicePlus fare and book your seat for free any time.
  • Or pay to secure your seats early at etihad.com/manage.  Some seats may be free when you check in online – but they fill fast!
  • Sit children away from the aisle to keep little hands away from hot food and drinks passing by.

Food and snacks

  • At least 24 hours before you fly, pick a child's meal by adding a special request at etihad.com/manage.
  • Have a bottle of water or milk ready for take-off and landing. Swallowing helps with changes in air pressure.
  • Snacks are always a good idea, especially in case there are delays.
  • On short flights less than two hours, you may wish to bring your own food as children's and infant's meals will not be available on these flights.

Entertainment

  • Bring along activities your kids will love – quiet toys work best to keep everyone happy on board. Suction cup spinner toys are perfect for babies!
  • Over-ear headphones are available, but if you’d prefer to pack your own, headphones with a single pin can be used on board.
  • We have dedicated children’s channels and games on our E-BOX entertainment system, with safety options for you to control what they watch.
  • Seat-back entertainment is not available on our smaller planes (A320 and A321) but can be streamed to your own device.

Business and First Class

  • Bassinets are available in Business and First Class.
  • Children are welcome to use our airport lounges, and we have a dedicated Family Room in our Business Class lounges in Abu Dhabi and London.
  • It’s not possible to fix car seats to our seats in Business or First Class.
  • Due to the configuration of our Business and First cabins, you may not always be sat next to your child or have clear visibility of them in their seat. If you haven’t flown with us before, take a 3D tour of our cabins.
  • For your child’s safety, please ensure they stay in their seat and wear their seatbelt whenever the seatbelt signs are on.
  • Upgrade to Business or First Class online or at the airport for more baggage and extra space on board. And with priority check-in and boarding, you can fast-track through the airport.

Policies and advice by age

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Infants are aged seven days to 23 months. Every infant must be accompanied by an adult. This also applies to twins.

 

Baggage

  • Checked baggage to/from USA and Canada: 23kg
  • Checked baggage to/from all other destinations: 10kg
  • Cabin baggage: One piece, 5kg
  • Pack extra nappies, toys and clothes in your cabin bag.
  • You're permitted to carry one pushchair, carrycot or car seat for free, in addition to your child’s checked baggage allowance.
  • Complimentary strollers are available at Abu Dhabi airport for when you arrive or when you're in transit.
  • Or use your own pushchair up until you board – just hand it to us at the gate.

 

Bassinets

  • Bassinets are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis.
  • Our bassinets are specially designed carry cots to help your baby sleep flat during the flight.
  • Your baby must weigh less than 11kg and be up to 75cm tall, and they must be able to fit comfortably in the bassinet.
  • To request a bassinet, visit etihad.com/manage and add a special request for your infant. Then select your seat from our seat map. 
  • Our cabin crew will confirm that your infant is safe to use a bassinet.
  • For safety reasons, you may only use a bassinet when the seatbelt sign is switched off and when the cabin crew permit you to do so. 
  • When the seatbelt sign is on, you must secure your child either on your lap with an infant seatbelt, or in an approved car seat or child restraint device.
  • If a bassinet seat is not available and you do not select a separate seat for your infant, they must sit on your lap for the duration of the flight.
  • For more space on board, stretch out with extra legroom in Economy Space or keep up to four seats empty during your flight with our Economy Neighbour-Free seats

 

Car seats

  • Children up to 36 months travelling on a child’s ticket may use an approved car seat on board. Find out more in our FAQs.

 

Seats

  • Infants don’t require their own seat and can sit in your lap for the duration of the flight, secured by a special seat belt.
  • Alternatively, you can purchase an infant seat. If they are in an approved car seat they can stay in the seat for the duration of the flight.
  • If you do not have an approved car seat, they must sit on your lap during take-off and landing, and whenever the fasten seatbelt sign is illuminated.

 

Meals

  • We offer plenty for little tummies on board, including children's meals and pureed fruit and vegetables for babies. Children's meals are non-vegetarian, but if your child has any dietary needs, we also offer a range of special meals.
  • Pick a child's meal by adding a special request at etihad.com/manage at least 24 hours before you fly.
  • If you'd prefer, you can bring your own baby food, make up a bottle or reheat milk or baby food on board.
  • If you're planning to breastfeed on board, you may wish to bring a nursing scarf or cover. Blankets, where available, can be requested from our cabin crew for additional privacy.
  • We always recommend packing yummy snacks you know your children will enjoy on board too.

 

Entertainment

  • We recommend packing plenty of toys, books and games to keep tiny travellers busy on board, as well dummies, soothers and comforters.
  • You’ll also find plenty of children’s TV shows and their favourite films from Disney and Pixar on E-BOX.
  • Plug points are available if you need to charge your own device. Devices are not permitted to be fixed to bassinets.
  • Children up to two can snuggle up with a super-soft blanket to take home, starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester and Tweety.

 

Changing facilities

  • Baby changing facilities are available in our toilets on board.
  • Changing mats are not available on board so you may wish to bring your own.

Better for children, kinder to the planet

We've removed plastic packaging on our new children's packs, and our cosy new blankets are made from recycled materials. You can even take our reusable cutlery home with you.

Flying during pregnancy

Find out everything you need to know if you’re planning to fly during your pregnancy.

Learn more

Children flying alone

If your child is between 5 - 11 years old, they can travel on their own if you pre-book our Unaccompanied Minor service.

Learn more

Flying with the family 

An Etihad Guest Family membership lets everyone earn miles individually and spend them together as a family. 

Join now

Frequently asked questions