Traveling with a baby on KLM? Here's an honest breakdown of what worked — and what didn’t — from my recent experience flying both regional (Cityhopper) and transatlantic with a lap infant.
⭐ Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
👶 Infant-Friendly Services
Cityhopper flights:
Though the flight is short, they still handed out crackers — a small but helpful gesture to keep a baby busy for a few minutes. If you're traveling with a stroller, you're allowed to check it at the door and pick it up again right at the door after landing, which made transitions easier.
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| KLM Kid's Welcome Kit |
KLM truly shines once you're in the air. Families with children are allowed to board first, and the in-flight crew was incredibly accommodating and kind. We were offered a kids’ entertainment pack during boarding, which helped distract my little one, and the flight attendants went out of their way to offer snacks and good vibes — even for my lap infant, which is usually not included.
📍 Airport & Boarding Experience
This was the most frustrating part of the journey.
I had two flights canceled in a row, which meant I had to go to the airport three times before finally getting on a flight — all due to KLM's operational issues. After all that, I was rebooked last-minute and assigned a middle seat with my infant, even though I had clearly requested a window seat at the counter. Despite their multiple departure failures, KLM made no proactive effort to make up for the disruptions. I had to advocate for myself during boarding and speak directly with a flight attendant, who thankfully helped relocate us — but only because there were open seats available. If the flight had been full, I would have been stuck.
That’s a big fail in my book. After multiple canceled flights, the burden should not have been on me to fight for a reasonable seat.
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| KLM Cityhopper Tarmac Boarding |
🪑 Seating & Bulkhead Reality Check
Important tip: You won’t automatically be assigned a bulkhead seat unless you request a bassinet—so request one, even if your baby is too big to use it. KLM appears to assign middle seats by default, especially for passengers that don't have a seat assigned when checking in. If you don’t proactively select a seat or advocate for yourself at the counter, you could end up stuck between two strangers while juggling your baby. Don’t rely on the airline to prioritize comfort or common sense when it comes to seating.
✅ Final Thoughts
The contrast between ground operations and in-flight service is striking. While logistics and preflight support were a letdown, KLM’s in-flight crew went above and beyond to make our experience manageable and even pleasant. The thoughtful gestures in the air were appreciated — but the disorganization and lack of empathy on the ground left a lasting mark. If you fly with KLM, be prepared to speak up often and early.
Next time: I’ll always pre-request a bassinet, push harder for seating before boarding, and avoid tight connections with Cityhopper if possible.
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