Booster Seat and Flying

[jcc0621]

Can you take a booster seat/car seat on planes? I think my DS (3 1/2)will be more comfortable than in the regular airplance seat. Any help would be appreciated

 

[QueenGoblin]

Yes, as long as it has been approved by the FAA (or one of those groups that go by their initials... )
If you aren't sure about your particular seat you should be able to look at the instructions that came with it, or the manufacturer's website...but I think most sold in the US are approved. We have taken DD's Britax Roundabout on several flights and she seemed to be more comfy, and it sent her the message that she needed to stay seated and strapped just like in a car. The worst part is luggining it through the airport, so you might want to put it on wheels if you can.
Happy Flying!

 

[jcc0621]

Thanks! That is my biggest concern, keeping DS in his seat!

 

[Tiger926]

Only harnesssed seats are FAA approved. So if it has a harness, then you will see the FAA sticker on the side, but if it is a booster to be used with the car's seat belt, then no, you can't use that type of seat on a plane.

Happy flying, Tiger

 

[QueenGoblin]

The booster seat issue hadn't come up for us yet...we've only used a carseat, so thanks for the addtional heads up!

 

[U2_rocks!]

I can't find the sticker on my harnessed Graco seat. Will I have a problem? My kids really won't need to sit in them - I just don't want to luggage check them (I've seen how they throw suitcases around! ). I want to take them on the plane, but I won't mind if we have to gate check them instead of using them.

 

[QueenGoblin]

I can't find the sticker on my harnessed Graco seat. Will I have a problem? My kids really won't need to sit in them - I just don't want to luggage check them (I've seen how they throw suitcases around! ). I want to take them on the plane, but I won't mind if we have to gate check them instead of using them.

I just took a look at my Graco Snugride cause it is sitting right next to me, and it says it is approved for aircraft use, but it is just one line of text amid all the other warnings, cautions and legal beagle speak they've got crammed onto the sticker. So I would take another look at the seat and/or go to Graco's site because they have all their manuals in PDF format online. We have never had a flight crew "inspect' our seat to determine it is approved before letting us use it, so I think it is up to you as the user to make sure it is okay.

BTW I love your taste in food, music, literature and pirates.

 

[Tiger926]

I can't find the sticker on my harnessed Graco seat. Will I have a problem? My kids really won't need to sit in them - I just don't want to luggage check them (I've seen how they throw suitcases around! ). I want to take them on the plane, but I won't mind if we have to gate check them instead of using them.

I don't think you'll have a problem - sometimes they check and sometimes they don't. But I am confused though, if your kids won't sit in them, are you wanting to install their car seats in their airline seats, and have them sit on your laps? If you don't intend for your kids to use them, and they do ask to see the FAA sticker, then you'll have no choice but to gate check if they refuse to allow them to be on plane. Otherwise, there is absolutely nowhere to store them while on the plane - they will make you gate check them (which is a bit safer at times then the luggage check).

Good luck, Tiger

 

[U2_rocks!]

I don't think you'll have a problem - sometimes they check and sometimes they don't. But I am confused though, if your kids won't sit in them, are you wanting to install their car seats in their airline seats, and have them sit on your laps? If you don't intend for your kids to use them, and they do ask to see the FAA sticker, then you'll have no choice but to gate check if they refuse to allow them to be on plane. Otherwise, there is absolutely nowhere to store them while on the plane - they will make you gate check them (which is a bit safer at times then the luggage check).

Good luck, Tiger

It's not that they won't sit in them - they don't NEED to sit in them. I'm happy for them to just sit in the airplane seat if the seats can be easily gate checked. I just meant that I'm bringing the seats to the plane cause I refuse to luggage check them, but it won't matter if they don't let me use them in flight as long as they'll gate check them. I think they are more likely to be safer in gate check than in luggage check!

 

[U2_rocks!]

I just took a look at my Graco Snugride cause it is sitting right next to me, and it says it is approved for aircraft use, but it is just one line of text amid all the other warnings, cautions and legal beagle speak they've got crammed onto the sticker. So I would take another look at the seat and/or go to Graco's site because they have all their manuals in PDF format online. We have never had a flight crew "inspect' our seat to determine it is approved before letting us use it, so I think it is up to you as the user to make sure it is okay.

Good to know!

BTW I love your taste in food, music, literature and pirates.

 

[alikat99]

Yes, some airlines check, and sometimes it depends on the actual airport staff. We flew SWA and they did not check in Tampa, but flying back from Chicago, they checked and did not allow her booster (which is harnessed, by the way) onto the plane because it didn't have the FAA sticker.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Boosters without harnesses are not allow to be used one plane because it doesn't have the shoulder straps but you can check them at the gate or with luggage. carseats with harnesses can be used if the are FAA approved and pretty much all are. They say no wider than 17 inches on SW airlines but dd's was wider and fit just fine. I took her smaller/lighter convertible a Evenflo Titan or something like that because her Alpha Omega would have been too heavy.


They didn't check hers and the steward even helped install it and carried it in for me after I lugged it down the gate. It was quite a lug to get her seat and the bags and her but once we got on the tram thingy we were on the other side in no time where my dad was waiting for us with his stroller.

 

[all4fun]

Here's a link to the FAA-"child safety on airplanes" site.

It says

Make sure your CRS is government approved and has "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" printed on it. Otherwise, you may be asked to check the CRS as baggage.

If by "booster" you mean a belt positioning booster then you will have to check the seat (or gate check ) as it will not be approved for use on an airplane. Only seat that have an integrated 5-pt harness system are approved for use on airplanes.

We have flown numerous times with a car seat and as others have said, sometimes the gate agents check for the sticker, sometimes not, and sometimes I've even had the airline crew ask to see the sticker. If your seat doesn't have this sticker on it, then they can (& probably will) make you gate check it.

QueenGoblin wrote: I just took a look at my Graco Snugride cause it is sitting right next to me, and it says it is approved for aircraft use, but it is just one line of text amid all the other warnings, cautions and legal beagle speak they've got crammed onto the sticker.

That's the one! I remember the first time we flew I looked all over the seat thinking there should be some big red FAA seal of approval, lol. It's not that obvious! You found it... so no worries there.

ETA: this site has informaton on child safety while traveling and at the bottom of the page there are tips for installing car seats on airplanes I thought some of you might find helpful. Also another tip I read here that I have found very helpful is when carrying the seat down the narrow airplane aisle, put it upside down over your arm (like an upside down "L") and it makes getting it down the aisle so much easier! hth.

hth.