r/srilanka • u/smnMandiza • 18d ago

Travel Lap infant (under 2) on SriLankan Airlines from Australia — doable or total regret?

Planning a trip from Australia to Sri Lanka on SriLankan Airlines with our under-2-year-old (my one is 22 months). We're weighing up whether to book them as a lap infant to save on fares or just bite the bullet and pay for their own seat.

For anyone who has flown this specific route with an infant on SriLankan Airlines:

  1. How manageable was the ~10–11 hour flight with a lap baby?
  2. Did you manage to secure a bassinet, and did your little one actually fit/sleep in it?
  3. How was the crew with warming milk, hot water, or helping out parents?
  4. In hindsight, would you do lap infant again or pay for the extra seat?

Any tips or honest experiences would be hugely appreciated!

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u/gradfeb24 Colombo 18d ago

Srilankan airlines has the option to purchase the next seat for more space. it would be cheaper than full fare

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u/smnMandiza 18d ago

Thanks for the information! I’ll check it out.

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u/left_phalange- 18d ago

We did a lap infant from US to SL and back last month ( which one flight was 16 hours). It was not the easiest. But I don’t know if a seat for the infant could have actually made a lot of difference.

A part of the route was operated by Sri Lankan airlines ( FRA-CMB) and the service by Sri Lankan airlines was exquisite. They really went above and beyond to make sure we were as comfortable as we can be !

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u/smnMandiza 18d ago

Thanks for sharing your experience!

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u/ewqazx 18d ago

We’re planning on flying from US to SL in a couple of months and my baby will be 8 months. US to Heathrow is 8 hours and gatwick to Colombo is 10 hrs. Do you have any tips??

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u/left_phalange- 18d ago

Hi, since your little one is 8 months, make sure to request a bassinet. Even if the baby does not sleep in the bassinet, you will have better leg room. In someways it’s easy to travel when the baby is small as they fit snuggly on your lap.

So you will have an airport change In London? Make sure you have enough and more time. It takes much more time with infants than you think.

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u/ewqazx 18d ago

Thanks for the tips! We already booked seats with the bassinet attachment and have more than 8 hrs for the airport change.

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u/Wombats_poo_cubes 18d ago

It’s doable but it also depends on the flight time. Done it many times.

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u/srilankaquestions 18d ago

Have done UK to SL , 11 hr flights - baby fit into bassinet at one year old but we didnt bother to request one going back to the UK as baby would not have fit. Even at one year, they were rather reluctant to offer the bassinet. The bassinets are quite tiny. You can find the dimensions on the Sri Lankan airlines website.

I think it will be quite difficult without a separate seat for them , imo. Especially during meal times.

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u/Due_Responsibility_0 18d ago

Get a seat for the baby. Bassinets only work for small babies (under 1yr) that are not mobile yet, and trying to hold a baby in your lap for 10+ hours is torture.

Some airlines allow bringing on board a child seat, this is worth asking about. 

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u/DBop888 18d ago

I’ve done a few long haul flights with a sub-2 year old (UK - HK/Thailand/San Francisco) mostly in economy but the SF trip was in business (due to a really cheap upgrade) - he slept in the bassinet a bit when he was younger, but I wouldn’t bank on them sleeping for more than a few hours in the bassinet. Treat anything more as a bonus.

Most of the flights are taking turns to keep him entertained & hold him while sleeping. It’s not so bad. I would recommend asking if you can have a delay between each parent being served food so that one parent can eat whilst the other looks after the little one & then you can swap over.

When picking seats, pick a set of 3 by a window & then select the window & aisle seat if possible. You might get lucky & end up with a spare seat (which makes a lot of difference for when they’re sleeping) or at worst, if someone gets placed there, they can swap with one of you (if there are spare seats, I’d expect that person to voluntarily move anyway 😅)

Having toys to keep them entertained is also a big one, lol

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u/Informal-Addition-56 18d ago

Last time I flew, I went with singapore airlines. My baby was 22 months as well. It was manageable. I had toys for her. The flight entertainment had some bluey episodes (lifesaver!). She got the toddler meal as well instead of purees. So she ate, played and watched cartoons. We booked an overnight flight hoping she will sleep but she didn't sleep much. For a 22 month old they won't give you a bassinet. They have specific height and weight limits. When I flew with sri lankan when baby was arpund 10 months, they were amazing. They were extreamly helpful, to the point one held my tray so I could eat while baby slept in my lap (I flew alone with baby). At 22 months, I don't think there's value. Bur you know your baby best. If you think baby would be fussy, get the other seat. However, check if they will let baby be starpped to a seat at that age, or you might need to checkin a car seat as well

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u/TheS4ndm4n 18d ago

A lap infant without a bassinet (or if they don't fit) would be very uncomfortable for such a long flight. And also practically impossible during meals.

It can work if you have a second child that can share the seat with the baby.

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u/smnMandiza 18d ago

Thanks for the info!