Britax Roundabout on plane, questions...

[liznboys]

We're flying Southwest. Will our Britax Roundabout fit into the seat on the plane? Also, do you strap the carseat in yourself, or do the flight attendants do it? Do you only use the lap belt, or do you tether is too? I haven't flown in years, I have no idea if they even have a place to secure a tether on planes!?! Do they still have the families with little ones preboard so we have time to get the carseat installed? Any other tips are appreciated! This is our first time flying with our 3 boys. I'm getting a wee bit anxious! LOL

 

[akrake]

...not to wdw but on vacation...and i've used them in the past. you bring it on board when you and your family board & hook it in yourself. it's easy. have a great trip!!
amie

 

[lpberg]

I can't speak specifically to SWA but I can tell you how the Roundabout does.. You have to install it yourself, you need to use the lap belt (and if it's not long enough, ask the Flight Attendant for an extender), and there's no place to tether it. If you have the kind with LATCH, I'd strongly suggest that you try to install it in your car/van/truck without using latch so you're used to doing it with the lap belt.

My Roundabout is 5 years old and we've flown with it several times. Not difficult to install, hard to get a "tight" fit, but worth it to keep DS and DD "under control!"

I don't know about SWA (I'm thinking that they don't have assigned seating so not sure how they do things) but most other major carriers no longer allow parents with small children to preboard. IMHO, I'd rather wait until the end anyway to allow them to stretch their legs for as long as possible! What we used to do with DD was have my hubby or me (since I'm usually the one more familiar with installing the seat) go on first when our row was called, install the seat and then the other person comes on with DD.

Here's a link to a post I wrote the other day about traveling with kiddo's:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=800092

Good luck on your trip - and relax - It'll go fine!

Lynne

 

[becka]

We took DS's Britax Marathon which is bigger than the Roundabout on our SW flight last year. It fit just fine. We were allowed to pre-board since we had DS with us. DH actually put the carseat in. There are no latches - you just use the belt.

I can imagine your concern with 3 little ones. We just had DS last time and I think we will be driving this time with two. I break out into a sweat just thinking about taking 2 little kids on a plane.

Hope this helps.....

 

[liznboys]

Thanks Amie!

Lynne, I just read your long reply on that other thread, lots of great advice there, thank you!!

Becka, we drove down in February (it's a 14-15 hour drive for us in Maryland) and after that drive home, I vowed that we wouldn't be doing that again for a looooooong time! The drive down was ok, but it was a rough trip back home. I am thinking a 2-2.5 hour plane ride cannot possibly compare. (fingers crossed ) LOL ....Thanks for the info, sounds like it will be just fine.