The BSCT airline code is an airline Special Service Request (SSR) code used for a bassinet request. It can be added to a booking when a passenger is travelling with a baby and requests use of an aircraft bassinet, sometimes called a skycot.
BSCT is not a disability code. It is an assistance-related airline code used to communicate a particular request associated with infant travel.
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Airline bassinet policies differ, so the presence of BSCT should not be treated as a guarantee that a bassinet will be available. Always check the operating airline’s current rules, including any infant age, weight or size restrictions and whether a particular seat must be allocated.
You can see how BSCT fits into the wider system in our guide to airline disability codes and SSR codes.
What Does the BSCT Airline Code Mean?
BSCT is the SSR code used for a bassinet request.
An aircraft bassinet is a small cot provided on some flights for eligible infants. Bassinets are usually fitted at specific positions in the cabin rather than being available at every seat.
Adding the BSCT airline code tells the airline that a bassinet has been requested. The airline still needs to determine whether a suitable bassinet position is available and whether the infant meets its requirements.
Is the BSCT Airline Code a Special Assistance Code?
BSCT is a Special Service Request code, but it should not be confused with disability assistance codes.
SSR codes cover many different passenger requests. Some describe wheelchair assistance, medical arrangements or disability-related support. Others relate to meals, animals, seating, infants or other services.
BSCT belongs to the assistance-related group because it records a request for an infant bassinet, but it is not the same as making a request for special assistance.
Does the BSCT Airline Code Guarantee a Bassinet?
No. Do not assume that having the BSCT airline code appearing on a booking guarantees that a bassinet will be provided.
Bassinet availability depends on factors such as the airline, aircraft type, cabin layout, suitable seating positions and the airline’s rules for the infant using it. Availability can also be limited because an aircraft may carry only a small number of bassinets. Typically, bassinets are at the bulkhead seats of the plane which are also marketed as having extra leg room – if someone pays for the extra leg room seat while you have a request for the same seat to use a bassinet, the airline is likely to give it to the paying passenger.
Confirm the request directly with the operating airline before travel, particularly if having a bassinet will make a significant difference to your journey.
Who Can Use an Aircraft Bassinet?
Eligibility varies between airlines. Carriers can set their own limits for the age, weight or size of an infant using a bassinet.
Do not rely on a general age or weight limit found elsewhere, as it may not apply to your flight. Check the operating airline’s current bassinet policy for your specific journey.
If your baby is close to an airline’s stated limit, ask what happens if they no longer meet the requirements by the date of travel.
Where Are Bassinet Seats Located?
Aircraft bassinets need designated fitting points, so they are normally associated with particular seating positions rather than ordinary rows throughout the cabin.
The exact location varies by aircraft and airline. Requesting BSCT therefore does not necessarily mean you can choose any seat and have a bassinet fitted there.
Ask the airline whether it also needs to allocate or reserve a compatible seat when the bassinet request is made.
Do You Have to Pay for a Bassinet Seat?
Charges and seat-selection policies vary between airlines. Some carriers may handle bassinet-compatible seating as part of the infant booking process, while others may have different seat reservation rules.
Check the airline’s current policy before choosing seats or paying a seat-selection fee. If you have already requested BSCT, ask whether the bassinet request and your seat allocation are linked in the booking.
When Should You Request to Add the BSCT Code?
Request a bassinet as early as practical after booking if you know you would like to use one. Bassinet positions are limited on many aircraft, and waiting until the airport may reduce the chance that a suitable position is available.
Ask the airline how it handles bassinet requests and whether you need to contact it again before departure to reconfirm the arrangement.
Can the BSCT Airline Code Be Added After Booking?
Airlines may be able to add a bassinet request after the original reservation has been made, subject to their procedures and availability.
If your booking is already confirmed, contact the airline and ask whether the BSCT airline code can be added and whether a compatible seat is available. If you booked through a travel agent, the airline may tell you whether the request needs to be handled through the agent.
Can the BSCT Airline Code Be Used With Other SSR Codes?
Yes. More than one SSR code can appear on a booking when a passenger has separate requests or assistance needs.
For example, the BSCT SSR code can record the bassinet request while another SSR code records a special meal, wheelchair assistance or another service. Each code communicates a different part of the booking requirements.
Is the BSCT Code the Same as Booking a Seat for a Baby?
No. Adding the BSCT code is a bassinet request. It does not mean that a separate passenger seat has been purchased for the infant.
Infant ticketing and seating rules vary between airlines and routes. If you want your baby to have a separate seat rather than travel under the airline’s lap-infant arrangements, check the booking and child-restraint requirements directly with the airline.
What Happens During Turbulence?
Follow cabin crew instructions whenever the bassinet cannot be used, including during periods when the crew requires the infant to be removed from it. Airline procedures and aircraft safety requirements take priority throughout the flight.
Ask the operating airline if you want to understand its specific bassinet procedures before travelling.
What Should You Check Before Flying With the BSCT Code?
- Check that the airline has recorded your bassinet request.
- Confirm whether the request has been accepted or if it remains subject to availability.
- Check the airline’s current infant age, weight and size restrictions for bassinets.
- Ask whether a particular seat must be allocated for the bassinet.
- Check whether any seat-selection charge applies.
- Have a backup plan in case the bassinet is unavailable because of an aircraft change or another operational issue.
What Should You Do if BSCT Appears on Your Booking?
If you requested a bassinet, seeing the BSCT SSR code is consistent with that request. Check that the infant details and any related seating arrangements are correct.
If you did not request a bassinet or do not recognise the code, contact the airline or booking agent and ask them to explain why it appears on the reservation.
Checking before travel is especially useful because bassinet availability and compatible seating can be limited.
BSCT Airline Code Summary
- BSCT is the airline SSR code for a bassinet request.
- It is an infant-travel request rather than a disability code.
- A BSCT request does not necessarily guarantee a bassinet.
- Bassinet eligibility and availability vary between airlines and aircraft.
- A compatible seating position may also need to be allocated.
- Confirm the airline’s current policy before travelling.
BSCT Airline Code FAQs
What does BSCT mean on a flight booking?
BSCT is the SSR code used to record a request for an aircraft bassinet for an infant.
Does the BSCT code guarantee a bassinet?
No. Bassinet availability depends on the airline, aircraft, compatible seating positions and the airline’s eligibility rules. Confirm the arrangement directly with the operating airline.
Is the BSCT SSR code a disability code?
No. BSCT is an infant-travel SSR code for a bassinet request, not a code identifying a disability.
Is BSCT the same as buying a seat for a baby?
No. BSCT requests a bassinet. It does not mean a separate passenger seat has been purchased for the infant.
Can BSCT be added after booking?
It may be possible, depending on the airline and availability. Contact the airline or booking agent and ask whether a bassinet request can be added to the reservation.
When should I request an airline bassinet?
Request it as early as practical after booking because bassinet positions can be limited. Check with the airline whether the request needs to be reconfirmed before departure.
Understanding the BSCT airline code can make it easier to check that a bassinet request has been recorded correctly on your booking. As onboard bassinets are limited and airlines set their own age, weight, size and seating requirements, request one as early as possible and confirm the arrangements directly with your airline before you travel.
Continue Learning About Airline Codes
Understanding the different airline codes can make it easier to understand what types of codes airports and airlines use, what different codes you might see applied to your travel booking and what they may mean for you as the traveller. You can explore my guides to airline SSR codes to learn what the different codes mean, when they are used and what support you may need to arrange before you fly.
- Airline and airport codes and what they mean
- Download a copy of all of the airline SSR disability codes for free
- Airline meal codes explained
- Download a list of all of the airline meal codes for free
- Learn which airline meal codes are for travellers with allergies
Continue Learning About Airline Disability SSR Codes
Airlines use disability and other Special Service Request (SSR) codes to record a wide range of passenger needs, from wheelchair assistance and mobility equipment to medical requirements, service animals and other forms of support. You can learn more about the different requests that these codes make and what they mean for you as the traveller using one of these codes.
- What does DPNA mean?
- What does MEDA mean?
- Download a free, printable checklist for MEDA passengers to complete before they fly
- What does ESAN mean?
- What does WCLB mean?
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