Flying With A Baby on Qatar Airways – Tips & Our Experience

If you are flying with a baby on Qatar or thinking of flying with them, then here is all the information you need to know about the airline – in one convenient place. This guide covers not only personal experience but all the information on airplane bassinets, baggage allowances, baby food, car seats, child restraint devices, strollers, toys we brought, entertainment available and more in one place – saving you time hunting through the official website. (Don’t worry, we link to the bits so you can also verify.) For general flying with a baby tips see here.

Our parent flies with Qatar regularly, since their baby was tiny so she gives us regular updates on her flights with them.

Qatar Airways is a popular airline for families and is often recommended to parents because of their family friendly amenities, including:

• Generous infant and child baggage allowance (details below)
• Requestable baby and child meals (details below)
• Kids’ activity packs on all routes.
• Bassinets are available on request.
• (Sadly, their airport strollers at Hamad International Airport have still not returned.)

What age can an infant fly on Qatar Airways?

An infant must be 8 days old to fly on Qatar. However, infants less than 8 days old may be accepted to travel under the following circumstances:
a. When travel is required on Medical Grounds provided Qatar Airways Medical Centre approval is obtained using a MEDIF.

b. When the mother is required to travel on compassionate grounds provided a Certificate is obtained from a Qualified Pediatrician indicating the infant is fit to travel and necessary travel documents for the infant is available.

Fo more information on flying with a newborn see here  or for specific tips on flying with a 3 month old baby see here.

What is the Qatar Airways baggage allowance for infants?

The Qatar Airways infant baggage allowance varies depending on your route. Details are as follows:

Flights to and from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the United States
One piece, not to exceed 23kg (50lb) or a maximum dimension of 115cm (45in)

All other routes
10kg (22lb) not to exceed a maximum dimension of 115cm (45in)
One stroller, collapsible carrycot, or pushchair per infant is accepted without charge.

Please note that Infants are NOT entitled to any hand baggage allowance. Their items need to be carried by the accompanying adult within their hand luggage. I found items like Window Spinners super useful and easy to pack and Ring links – perfect for the bassinet or stroller or to connect other toys to.

Child fare baggage allowance
Children and infants travelling on a child fare are eligible for the same baggage allowance as adults.

What is Qatar Airways stroller policy? 

You can bring a stroller additionally to your baggage allowance which is free of charge.

Can I bring a stroller and car seat free of charge as checked baggage?

If your car seat does not exceed a max dimension of 115cm then it can be brought for free as per the guidelines above.

Does Qatar Airways have complimentary strollers at Hamad International Airport, Doha?

Qatar Airways used to offer baby strollers at Hamad International Airport. This has not returned as of yet since they stopped in 2020. We used to find them so useful for transit especially. So we recommend using a compact travel stroller as carry on for now.

For other airports and airlines which provide complimentary strollers see here

Can I use a car seat on Qatar Airways?

Car seats can be used for infants and children aged between 6 months and 36 months only. A seat must be purchased at a child fare and be airline approved.

Do I need to purchase an aircraft seat in order to request a Child Restraint Device (CRD) from the airline or to use my personal car seat?

There is a child restraint device available on Qatar Airways (pictured above). You need to pay the child fare for the extra seat to use it.

What is a Child Restraint Device?

It is a special airline chair for children over 6 months of age which must be requested and a seat must be bought. Please read this detailed post on CRD. 

What does a Qatar Airways bassinet look like?

How to book a Qatar Airways bassinet seat

Airline bassinets are by request only. This is the case with every airline. If you have booked your ticket on qatarairways.com, you can select your seat from the booking confirmation page upon completion of your booking. 

You can also set your seat preference through “Manage Booking” on qatarairways.com. Enter your last name and booking reference number to retrieve your booking, then select “modify seat selection” to choose your preferred seat. Another option is to contact your local Qatar Airways office to request a bassinet seat. We often do this to double check the booking.

What is the Qatar bassinet weight limit? 

The maximum weight of the infant should not exceed 11kgs (24 Lbs) and the age must not exceed 24 months. Additionally, the infant must fit within the confines of the baby bassinet. Find out more airline bassinet weight restrictions here.

Where are the Qatar Airways baby bassinets located?

If you click on the Qatar Airways fleet information and scroll down to the fleet map table, then click on View map to see the seat layout. Bassinets are in the bulkhead positions which separate a cabin or cabin/ galley area. Bassinets are not available in the First Class cabin on-board the Airbus 380.  To check availability of a bassinet position seat on a specific aircraft and within a particular cabin, please contact your nearest Qatar Airways office.

Are sleep devices like Plane Pal, Bed Box, FlyAway allowed on board Qatar Flights?

Sadly, no devices are allowed as per their website here. Not even a Cozigo for the bassinet is currently allowed – making Qatar one of the strictest airlines when it comes to inflight comfort devices for kids and babies.

Qatar Airways Child Meal 

Like most long haul airlines, Qatar Airways provides child meals to kids over the age of two. These must be pre-requested at least 24 hours in advance. 

The plastic meal box contains a main meal,  a fruit juice and fun treats. The meal packs currently feature some of the characters from Hasbro.  Main meals are typically pasta, chicken etc.

Qatar Airways infant food 

Qatar Airways provides a baby meal for infants. This is pureed food in jars. This generally needs to pre requested at least 24 hours before your flight.  However, parents travelling with infants will have access to Qatar’s special kit, which includes diapers, baby food jars, a bottle and soft toys. Be aware contents can be limited so it is always best to bring your own.

If you have a weaned child under two, travelling as a lap baby, you will need to bring food for them. In an emergency a very limited amount of baby formula is carried on board, but please do bring your own.

Does Qatar Airways have a Kids’ club?

Qatar Airways have recently revamped their Oryx Kids’ Club – which includes toys, activity packs and meals boxes for all their routes, not just long haul. Babies are offered a soft plush toy and book. For more travel toys ideas see here.

I’m in transit at Doha Airport. What can I do?

• If you are in transit and have a few hours to spare, you can even enjoy family time together at the indoor swimming pool, located in the airport transit Oryx Airport Hotel.
• There are several children’s play areas throughout the airport. They have child sleeping pods with sofas, bean bags and TV’s playing cartoons.
• Alternatively, try one of the lounges- Priority Pass gives you access with a guest depending on what membership you have and can be used in Doha.
• Another great idea is consider their Stopover offer. If your transit in Doha is between 12 and 96 hours, make the most of your journey with amazing packages by Discover Qatar, including up to four nights in a hotel, tours, and memorable experiences. Choose from 4 or 5-star hotels in the package types.
• There are activity areas at Hamad International Airport. Each activity node offers televisions, internet browsing, interactive art pieces and family rooms that offer privacy and relaxation. There are five activity nodes inside the passenger terminal: one each in Concourse A and Concourse B, and three in Concourse C.  

To see the latest prices directly from Qatar Airways:

• Qatar Airways from Australia here
• Qatar Airways site from the UK  check here.
• Qatar Airways site from USA here

To compare flights with Skyscanner :

• Skyscanner Australia check here
• Skyscanner USA  check here
• Skyscanner UK check here
• If you’re still deciding which airline is best for flying with a baby, compare Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad options here

Qatar Airways Review

For more details and personal experience on flying with a baby on Qatar Airways review see here.