Baby b'air

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

has anyone ever used a baby b'air? we have a 9 y/o, 3 y/o, and 18 m/o. I don't know what do for seating for the last two. I was going to just sit the 3 y/o in a seat, and the 18 m/o on my lap. But now I am starting to have second thoughts. What does anyone think? In case you are unsure of what I'm talking about, here it is:

Baby B'air

 

[ducklite]

Any child over two must have their own seat, they can't be a lap baby.

Baby B'Air's are not approved for use during taxiing, take off, and landing on US flights. Your child will be safest in it's carseat--you must buy him a seat to use it, most major carriers offer half priced seats for children under two.

In the event of an emergency, you will be instrcuted to place your lap child on the floor at your feet.

Please reconsider your decision and purchase a ticket for all members of your party so your children can be properly restrained, just like they are in the car.

Anne

 

[all4fun]

There was a thread "Baby on plane - where do you put them if not in a carseat?" on this board recently where this topic came up. Unfortunately it got rather heated and was locked. According to the FAA's website, their stance on this is

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

from FAA "tips for parents using a CRS"

The FA's have the right to request you not use it during landing & takeoff and may even confiscate it for the duration of the flight.

hth.

 

[disnutt]

I used it once when I had my daughter as a lap baby. No problems. We'll be buying my son (who's 20 months) a ticket for his car seat but we'll bring our Baby B'Air for times if he fusses to get out of the car seat.

Have fun on your trip.

 

[mom2lilandem]

I have a seat for my two year old but I'm checking her car seat. My 8 month old will be sitting on my lap. I purchased the BBA but then read that it was not approved for take off or landing so I'm not even going to bother using it.

"most major carriers offer half priced seats for children under two."

I'd like to know which carriers that is. I've been flying with the kids since my oldest was 3 months and I've never gotten a half priced seat for either of them. Maybe it's only at off peak times???

 

[jimmysmommy]

I have a seat for my two year old but I'm checking her car seat. My 8 month old will be sitting on my lap. I purchased the BBA but then read that it was not approved for take off or landing so I'm not even going to bother using it.

"most major carriers offer half priced seats for children under two."

I'd like to know which carriers that is. I've been flying with the kids since my oldest was 3 months and I've never gotten a half priced seat for either of them. Maybe it's only at off peak times???

I'd like to know which airlines too!!! I know Song isn't offering discounts!! I bought a ticket for my 18 mo old this time, but we flew when his brother was 18 mo old and he was a lap child. The only problem was, he was very large for his age, and got very heavy after a while. It would have been nice to have some place to put him down.

 

[Colinsmom]

I have a seat for my two year old but I'm checking her car seat. My 8 month old will be sitting on my lap. I purchased the BBA but then read that it was not approved for take off or landing so I'm not even going to bother using it.

"most major carriers offer half priced seats for children under two."

I'd like to know which carriers that is. I've been flying with the kids since my oldest was 3 months and I've never gotten a half priced seat for either of them. Maybe it's only at off peak times???

Note that your DD will have to be seated in her seat with the seat belt on whenever the seat belt light comes on. Not many 2 year olds can do that, but perhaps yours can. If not, you might be wise to use the car seat on the plane for her.

I've gotten half price tickets for DS (when he was under 2) several times on United and American. I usually have to call the airline directly to get the special price. It's never been offered to me, but I've always gotten it when I've asked. Southwest offers it, too, but their special fares are often cheaper than the half price infant seat (the half price does not apply to the special fares).

 

[ducklite]

I've gotten the half price fares for my nephew from Delta and US Airways.

Like the others said, they aren't published on the web site, you have to call and specifically ask about them. THye aren't restricted to off-peak days/times.

Anne

 

[cinjam]

I've always gotten half price tickets (for babies under 2) from Continental and Delta/Song. Doesn't come up on the web site - you have to call and ask.

We just flew Song from Newark to Orlando last month and got the 50% off.
And we've flown during super peak times and still gotten the discount.

http://www.tinytravelers.net/trips/infant.html

Call you airline & ask - couldn't hurt!!!

 

[CEDmom]

We used this when we brought our DD home from China at 10 months old. She had never been in a carseat before and I wasn't going to introduce her to one on a 16 hour flight. Plus, a seat for her would have cost $1100 and United had no discount for a baby - believe me I asked and even explained we were traveling to adopt our DD.

I put the vest on over her sleeper and then put a little jacket over the vest. DH and I had her hooked into one of our belts the entire time - take off, landing and flying. No flight attendant even noticed. It's not something that's very obvious. Would it be better to have a baby in their own seat - probably yes, but that's not always possible.

 

[lclark0621]

I used the Baby B'Air several times for my son. We used it on take off & landing, and through out the flight. When a flight attendant walked by us, 9 times out of 10 they would just smile or ask if we needed anything. They never asked me to remove the Baby B'Air.

American Airlines does off discounted seats for children under 2. But you need to call & ask about it, it is not listed on their website.

I was very happy with the Baby B'Air when we fly with my DS.

 

[tjmw2727]

Baby B'air is not FAA approved, most if not all carriers do not allow its use for taxi, takeoff and landing, and some don't allow its use at all.

Since I fly AA and Delta often I know they prohibit its use,

here is a link to AA's regulations
https://www.aa.com/content/travelIn... Restrictions

In case my link dosen't work here is a quote:

These are the Non-Approved:

"FAA Non-Approved Infant Seat or Child Restraint Devices
The following may not be used when an infant seat or child restraint device is required:
Any device without an approval label
Booster seats without an approval label or shoulder harness
Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint
Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult "

Southwest, Delta and Jet Blue have similar wording.

Best advice is to check your specific carrier to see if and when BBA is allowed. They may even have a section on the webstie on flying with children.

I have seen FA's not allow the BBA and most parents have complied, those that didn't had the BBA confiscated for the duration of the flight.

HTH
TJ

 

[justhat]

Continental no longer does half price tickets for under 2s. We flew on them from Newark to New Orleans to visit my in-laws last December (18-23) and we had to pay full price for my daughter's seat (she was 9 months old). Actually, my in-laws bought the tickets and they had to pay full price, so we called and were told they do not offer discounted seats for under 2s. We flew to Orlando on them last June and got a half price seat so I guess the change was sometime between June and December (or November when the ticket was bought). We've also gotten her a seat on AirTran and Independence Air and they don't do discounted seats for infants either. We have gotten half price seats on USAirways several times.

 

[dtsaos]

I was one of the people discussing the baby b'air on that other thread...
anyway, I used it with my son when he was 4 months old and I DID use it during take off and landing and no one said anything to me either. However, I was nursing and knew that if he had his own seat he'd cry for me and I'd end up holding him anyway. For any baby over 1 year, I'd buy them their own seat. Perhaps I woud do what disnutt said and do both. I do highly recommend the baby b'air for infants and IT IS allowed during the flight and apparently they are trying to get it approved for take off and landing as well. But just my opinion, for an 18mo. old, I'd probably get them their own seat.