Alamo Minivans..Please Help!!

[BrittnTylersMom]

We have to use Alamo for our car rental, they are the easiest to use a debit card with (just need proof of return flight). We want to rent a minivan.

My question is: Do the minivans rented from Alamo have the built in child safety seat?..the one that is revealed by flipping down the cushion on the back of a seat?. I'm trying to figure out what restraint devices I will have to rent/or bring with me for the kids. Alamo describes their current minivan rentals as being the Pontiac Montana or similar.

Any help would be greatly appriciated!!!

 

[BrerMama]

The Montana we rented in 2000 did not have a built in child seat. To be safe, I would either plan to bring the appropriate safety seats or plan to rent them.

 

[toystorymom]

We rented a minivan from Alamo just last month and there were no built in child seats. You are able to pick out your own vehicle so you may be able to find a van that has them, but there are no guarantees. We brought 2 car seats from home. Our 2 year old sat in his on the plane and we checked the other one. It wasn't really that much trouble bringing them with us.

Also, the van we got was great. It had captain's chairs, power everything, very clean and with only about 500 miles. Everything was very quick and easy.

Hope that helps!

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

Thank You so much!!

I've been planning to take my sons high back booster seat on the plane for him to sit in anyway. Was hoping the van would have the built-in seat for my son so that my daughter could use the one we bring with us, in the van. Hopefully in being able to pick your vehicle, I'll be able to find one with it..if not, looks like we'll be renting.

Thanks again!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I would double check on that booster seat, the FAA has some thoughts on this.

Although one might think that any type of restraint device would provide at least some degree of flight safety enhancement, this is not the case. Some child restraints may do a good job of protecting children in automobiles or in other situations, but are not appropriate for aviation use. Recent testing and research have led the FAA to ban the use on aircraft of certain types of child restraints that may be harmful to a child in the event of an aviation emergency. These include booster seats, safety belt extensions (commonly referred to as "belly belts"), and vest or harness devices that attach to an adult or to the seatbelt of the child's own seat. Although some were manufactured before the FAA's ban may carry an insignia and/or language indicating they are approved for aircraft use, please understand that they are no longer permitted.

http://www2.faa.gov/passengers/childsafetyseats.cfm

 

[sgtdisney]

Alamo tends to rent GM cars like the Montana as you mention. We have a Montana and Pontiac doesn't offer the built in child seats in the Montana anymore. They haven't for a couple of years now. I think that you can still get them on the Chevy Venture though. Chrysler still offers them on the Caravan as well.

Since the rental pools switch around a lot most agencies will not confirm or guarantee a built in child seat. I have rented cars from Dollar which had them, but have not seen one in a car from National (sister company of Alamo) in years. You can take a chance and just rent one at the airport if you need to, but bear in mind renting them for an extended period of time costs about as much as it does to buy a new one. Good Luck.

 

[mcnuss]

The only kind of high back boosters that meet FAA standards are those with their own straps. You can check your owners manual or the back of the seat or the manufacturer's website to find out if it's approved.

I would not count on renting a seat, either, nor are you likely to find a minivan with one built in. You can call Alamo to see if they have them, but they are very, very rare. I think most car co's are phasing them out bc they were not that popular. In terms of renting, they will not guarantee that a seat will be available to you when you arrive. I have seen people up a creek at the car rental counter when this has happened. I would just check one seat or carry both on board rather than take the risk.

Good luck.

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Thanks for the additional information all! If we do need to rent, I already have reservations with ABBF for other things that I can adjust to include the seat/s. I wouldn't dare spring this last minute at the Alamo desk!

Now I'm in a pickle! LOL

From the FAA site..

Reminders:
The safest place for a child on an airplane is in an apporved Child Restraint System based on the child's weight. While booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in automobiles, they are banned for use during taxi, take-off and landing. Although they are permissible for use during the cruise portion of flight, they do not afford the same level of protection as a hard-shell CRS.

In the United States, supplemental lap restraints, "belly belts," are banned from use in both automobiles and aircraft."

I'm wondering if they are referring to the boosters that are just the few-inches-tall-piece-of-padded-plastic that kids sit on??
This is the exact same high back booster seat that we have:
The Century Next Step High Back DX

This is a hard-shell CRS, for children weighing 20-40 lbs used with the 5 point harness, and 40-80 lbs. without the harness, as a regular seat belt positioner. The sides are down in the pic, but you can push the buttons seen on each side of the front and rotate the 'armrests' up, making it even more secure. Century says it IS approved for aviation use ONLY when using the 5 point harness system. My son will (I'm pretty sure!) still be under 40 lbs..requiring the 5 point harness wherever he uses it.

hmmm??? Can I use it or not?? lol Has anyone else used one of these types of seats on the plane??
Are they allowed during the whole flight??

Sorry so long... HEeeeeelllppppppp!!!!

 

[safetymom]

Does your booster seat have a sticker on it saying FAA approved? If it doesn't then you can't use it on the plane.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by BrittnTylersMom
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Thanks for the additional information all! If we do need to rent, I already have reservations with ABBF for other things that I can adjust to include the seat/s. I wouldn't dare spring this last minute at the Alamo desk!

Now I'm in a pickle! LOL

From the FAA site..



I'm wondering if they are referring to the boosters that are just the few-inches-tall-piece-of-padded-plastic that kids sit on??
This is the exact same high back booster seat that we have:
The Century Next Step High Back DX

This is a hard-shell CRS, for children weighing 20-40 lbs used with the 5 point harness, and 40-80 lbs. without the harness, as a regular seat belt positioner. The sides are down in the pic, but you can push the buttons seen on each side of the front and rotate the 'armrests' up, making it even more secure. Century says it IS approved for aviation use ONLY when using the 5 point harness system. My son will (I'm pretty sure!) still be under 40 lbs..requiring the 5 point harness wherever he uses it.

hmmm??? Can I use it or not?? lol Has anyone else used one of these types of seats on the plane??
Are they allowed during the whole flight??

Sorry so long... HEeeeeelllppppppp!!!!

They have banned the use of those seats, regardless if they say FAA approved or not.
Call your airline and ask.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by safetymom
Does your booster seat have a sticker on it saying FAA approved? If it doesn't then you can't use it on the plane.

Hi there,

Although some were manufactured before the FAA's ban may carry an insignia and/or language indicating they are approved for aircraft use, please understand that they are no longer permitted.

The FAA has banned them.

 

[llane]

The van we had in november had the built in car seats. I don't remember which one it was but it was a GM model. We just kept looking in all the vans until we found one with the built-ins.