Flying Turkish Airlines with Kids: Bassinets, Infant Fares & Family Boarding

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months pay approximately 10% of the adult base fare plus applicable taxes on both Turkey domestic and international routes. Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, unlike US carriers where domestic lap infants typically fly free, the airline charges the 10% rate on every route type. A minimum age of 7 days applies — newborns under 7 days are not accepted for travel. For infants turning 24 months mid-trip, a full child ticket is required for the return leg. The infant fare is calculated at the time of booking and applied per segment. Always verify the current fare at turkishairlines.com before finalizing your itinerary.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, infants under 24 months may travel as lap infants without a dedicated seat, paying approximately 10% of the adult base fare plus taxes. Purchasing a separate seat for the infant is optional and enables use of an approved child restraint system, which the FAA and aviation safety authorities recommend for all children regardless of age. A purchased infant seat carries the full child baggage allowance for that fare class. On long-haul wide-body routes exceeding 6 hours, a purchased seat with a forward-facing restraint can significantly improve safety and comfort compared to in-arms travel. Verify the specific fare and baggage entitlement at turkishairlines.com before booking.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, bassinets are available on 777-300ER, 787-9, A350-900, and A330 wide-body aircraft, with a weight cap of 11 kg / 75 cm (some sources cite 8 kg — confirm at booking). Availability is limited to 2 bassinets on A350-900 and 787-9 aircraft and 4 bassinets on 777-300ER. Reservation is by phone through Turkish Airlines reservations or via the airline's publicly listed Twitter/X support — online seat selection does not include bassinet booking. The critical cost: bassinet rows are designated extra-legroom bulkhead seats carrying a fee of USD 80–160 per person per segment. Turkish Airlines is the only Middle East carrier with this structural fee. A family of four on a round-trip may pay USD 640 or more above ticket prices solely to access the bassinet seats. Reconfirm your bassinet 72 hours before departure.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, ticketed children on a paid child ticket receive the full adult checked baggage allowance for their fare class. Lap infants on international routes receive 1 free checked bag up to 10 kg in addition to a collapsible stroller. On Turkey domestic routes, the infant baggage allowance is more limited and should be confirmed at booking. Children aged 2–11 on a child ticket are also eligible for approximately a 20% discount off the adult base fare. Strollers and car seats are accepted free of charge as additional items separate from the standard allowance on all routes. Verify the exact allowance for your specific fare class and route at turkishairlines.com before packing.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children ages 5–11 traveling alone and optional for ages 12–17. Children under 5 cannot travel as unaccompanied minors. The domestic Turkey fee is TRY ~700 (approximately USD 18), making it the lowest domestic UM fee in the 28-airline comparison set. International routes carry a USD 80 fee and long-haul routes USD 150. Connections are permitted only via Istanbul (IST) hub on Turkish Airlines-operated flights — no interline connections with other carriers. Booking requires contacting Turkish Airlines through its official reservations channels, not online self-service. The responsible adult at departure and the authorized guardian at arrival must both present government-issued identification. IST hub connection processing for unaccompanied minors can be variable; plan for a minimum 3-hour connection when routing through IST.

Per Turkish Airlines' published Flying Chef program, a trained cabin chef accompanies select long-haul flights and tours the economy cabin during business class meal service. The chef interacts with passengers, describes the meal being served, and offers children a look at how in-flight food is prepared. The Flying Chef program is a distinctive published initiative by Turkish Airlines — no other Middle East carrier replicates this specific cabin experience. The tour is conducted during the main meal service on applicable wide-body long-haul routes and does not require a special request. It is part of the standard service on qualifying flights. Families with food-curious children often find this one of the more memorable onboard touchpoints. Verify the program's availability on your specific route at turkishairlines.com or by contacting the airline before departure.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, the rows where bassinets are mounted are designated extra-legroom bulkhead seats that carry a fee of USD 80–160 per person per segment. This is separate from the infant booking fee. On a round-trip flight with two adults, families can expect to pay USD 320–640 in seat fees alone, on top of ticket prices, to access the bassinet. Turkish Airlines is the only Middle East carrier with this structural fee — per Emirates' published policy, bulkhead bassinet access is included in the standard booking without an additional seat premium. Families planning to use a bassinet on Turkish Airlines should budget for this cost explicitly and book the seat fee at the same time as the ticket to secure availability.

Per Turkish Airlines' published amenity program, a Hasbro/Disney licensed kids' menu box is served on long-haul wide-body flights. The kids' meal is halal-prepared by default, which is consistent with Turkish Airlines' standard catering policy. The branded box includes a main dish, a side, and branded packaging. Additionally, Cerelac-style baby meals are available on request for infants. The kids' meal service is part of the standard long-haul economy offering and does not require a special meal code to activate — cabin crew distribute it to children on applicable routes. For specific dietary requirements beyond halal, a special meal request should be submitted at least 24 hours before departure through the 'Manage Booking' portal or via Turkish Airlines' reservations channels.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, the domestic Turkey unaccompanied minor fee is TRY ~700, which translates to approximately USD 18 at current exchange rates. This is the lowest domestic UM fee in the 28-airline comparison set reviewed for this guide. By contrast, per Qatar Airways' published policy, the domestic/short-haul UM fee is approximately QAR 200 (~USD 55), and Lufthansa's published domestic European UM fee is approximately EUR 50 (~USD 55). US carriers such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines charge USD 150 each way for domestic UM service. The TRY-denominated fee means the effective USD cost fluctuates with exchange rates; confirm the current equivalent before booking. International routes are USD 80 and long-haul routes are USD 150, which are more in line with industry norms.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, strollers are accepted free of charge in addition to the standard baggage allowance. At Istanbul Airport (IST) mainline operations, gate-checked strollers are returned at the jet bridge upon arrival — a parent-friendly standard. However, on regional routes operated with Airbus A321 narrow-body aircraft, strollers may be returned at the baggage carousel rather than the jet bridge, which requires a longer walk before reuniting with your gear. Car seats are also checked free. Booster seats are treated as child safety equipment and accepted free of charge. Pack-and-play / travel cribs are subject to standard checked baggage fees and are not covered by the free child-equipment allowance. Verify your specific route's aircraft type to anticipate jet bridge versus carousel return.

Per Turkish Airlines' published policy, families traveling with young children receive complimentary priority boarding, typically covering those with children under 6 years old. Priority boarding is offered after business class and Miles&Smiles Elite passengers and before the general economy cabin. No additional fee is required, and no special request is needed at the gate — the family priority boarding group is called as part of the standard boarding sequence. Families with older children who fall outside the under-6 threshold should check in early and communicate with gate staff. Seat selection in advance via 'Manage Booking' is recommended to ensure the family is seated together, as adjacent seating is not guaranteed without pre-selection. Always verify the current boarding procedure at turkishairlines.com before travel.