2 car seats next to each other on plane?

[TeamSy]

I know they are supposed to go by a window but has anyone ever flown with 2? Do you just do window and middle and you on the aisle?

 

[ActuallyLikesSSR]

Can’t give you a definite and may end up being up to the crew but I thought I read you could not have 2 car seats together in one row.

 

[saraheliz]

Can’t give you a definite and may end up being up to the crew but I thought I read you could not have 2 car seats together in one row.

That's what I thought, too, but no idea where I got that information from.

 

[katyjeka]

Southwest had my sister rearrange her seating as they would not allow two carseats next to one another in May of this year.

 

[Princesca]

IDK how big your kids are, but we used the FAA approved Kids Fly Safe harness on our recent trip and LOVEDDDDDDDDDDDD it. It held him very securely and was so much easier to cart through the airport than a giant carseat. If you have one kid who is big enough to use it, you could maybe shift them to the harness and use the car seat on the smaller one, so you can stay together.

It's about $80 online, but I found one like new on our local FB marketplace for $10. We had no issues using it, and it sets up super fast.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I know triplet families who were forced to book in three rows (and therefore travel with three adults) in order to fly with their infants. Definitely only one seat per three across row.

It's a safety thing in case an evacuation is needed. A car seat can't block in another passenger, including another car seat passenger. The middle car seat kid would be deemed to be blocking the window car seat kid.

 

[TeamSy]

IDK how big your kids are, but we used the FAA approved Kids Fly Safe harness on our recent trip and LOVEDDDDDDDDDDDD it. It held him very securely and was so much easier to cart through the airport than a giant carseat. If you have one kid who is big enough to use it, you could maybe shift them to the harness and use the car seat on the smaller one, so you can stay together.

It's about $80 online, but I found one like new on our local FB marketplace for $10. We had no issues using it, and it sets up super fast.

I was looking at this. I think we may JUST make it on the older one. A little nervous as she does so well and loves her carseat. Always passes out in it and is super comfortable. Was your child able to nap in this device easily?

 

[Princesca]

I was looking at this. I think we may JUST make it on the older one. A little nervous as she does so well and loves her carseat. Always passes out in it and is super comfortable. Was your child able to nap in this device easily?

Not only did he nap, he slept through take off. YMMV, but we really loved having it. The only sticking point is that it does wrap around the seat, so the person behind can see it, but it doesn't interfere with their tray table. It goes underneath it. Just to be careful, we did mention it to the people sitting behind him so they knew what it was for. No one had a problem with it.

 

[sponica]

I was looking at this. I think we may JUST make it on the older one. A little nervous as she does so well and loves her carseat. Always passes out in it and is super comfortable. Was your child able to nap in this device easily?

Mine definitely napped in it. I haven't decided if we're using it on our next trip, or if we're bringing the car seat with us. we're flying direct this time, so I might just go with the car seat.

 

[SirDuff]

I swear at one point that I found something (I think on the FDA site, but possibly it was a specific airline) that did explain how/where you could put two car seats. Maybe it was window/middle? Or aisle/middle in the middle section of the plane (assuming wide body)? Since that wouldn't block anyone in - but now that I think about it, it would make trying to grab the little ones in an emergency difficult. So, maybe I did dream it up. I've tried searching but cannot find what I was thinking of.

 

[juxtapose]

Is the 2nd carseat rear facing? I only ask because some airlines allow small forward facing car seats in the middle because they don't necessarily block the exit area, we did that once with my daughter in a Cosco small forward facing car seat on a Southwest flight.

 

[jodiariel]

I'm a CPST - you can put the 2 seats side by side middle and window and sit in the aisle seat. It just can not block you from exiting the plane. Here is the FAA circular - page 16, #20: https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_120-87c.pdf

I flew alone with my twins when they were little and wrote an article about it: https://www.bonbonbreak.com/safe-plane-travel-with-kids

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I'm a CPST - you can put the 2 seats side by side middle and window and sit in the aisle seat. It just can not block you from exiting the plane. Here is the FAA circular - page 16, #20: https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_120-87c.pdf

I flew alone with my twins when they were little and wrote an article about it: https://www.bonbonbreak.com/safe-plane-travel-with-kids

Now, this is incredibly interesting to me. I've heard a few triplet moms lament this and having to have a 3rd adult to fly with three car seats. I wonder if it's uninformed agents who don't understand the nuance of the rule and just go with the "one seat per row" party line.

 

[starry_solo]

Now, this is incredibly interesting to me. I've heard a few triplet moms lament this and having to have a 3rd adult to fly with three car seats. I wonder if it's uninformed agents who don't understand the nuance of the rule and just go with the "one seat per row" party line.

the circular doesn’t state that you can put them side by side.
it says to use good judgment when deciding where to place it

20. TRAVELING WITH MORE THAN ONE CHILD. In the event a parent/guardian is traveling with more than one child in a CRS or is traveling with several small children, only one of whom is occupying a CRS, good judgment should be used regarding placement of the CRS. As long as these conditions below are met, the CRS could be placed in a seat other than a window seat. At a minimum:
• The CRS should be placed so it does not block any passenger’s (including the parent’s/guardian’s) egress to the aisle used to evacuate the aircraft and
• The CRS should be placed so the parent/guardian can reach the child in the CRS to release and evacuate with the child, should an emergency evacuation be necessary.

 

[danceintherain]

Now, this is incredibly interesting to me. I've heard a few triplet moms lament this and having to have a 3rd adult to fly with three car seats. I wonder if it's uninformed agents who don't understand the nuance of the rule and just go with the "one seat per row" party line.

Probably. In my experience, flight attendants aren't very accommodating of car seats on flights, and would rather tell someone no than make sure they are super familiar with the policy.

 

[TeamSy]

Is the 2nd carseat rear facing? I only ask because some airlines allow small forward facing car seats in the middle because they don't necessarily block the exit area, we did that once with my daughter in a Cosco small forward facing car seat on a Southwest flight.

Yes one would be rear and the other forward. Which car seat did you use if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[TeamSy]

I'm a CPST - you can put the 2 seats side by side middle and window and sit in the aisle seat. It just can not block you from exiting the plane. Here is the FAA circular - page 16, #20: https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_120-87c.pdf

I flew alone with my twins when they were little and wrote an article about it: https://www.bonbonbreak.com/safe-plane-travel-with-kids

Oh that’s interesting. Ugh this just all seems like a hassle and I don’t want to get into it with any flight attendants. I would love to seat them middle and window but am now thinking of getting the CARES device for the older one as someone mentioned above and checking her car seat. I think she may just fit into it. For the younger one we definitely have to do a car seat!