Can you help me help a friend....flying with infant

[Zoemakes5]

Just got this email today from a friend and would love any input you have....I'm going to post on the transportation board too, but thought this particular group might be able to help.......

We recently flew on an international flight (8 hours) with our 4 month old. Shortly before we took off a flight attendant came over and told us we weren't going to be able to use our infant seat in a rear facing position (which is the only position it is intended to be used in) once we were in the air. He said it would interfere with the person in front of our dd being able to lean back their seat. We paid full fare for her ticket and thought we were doing what was best for her safety. If we can't use the seat the way it was intended to be used, then there was no point in buying her a ticket. Everything I read before we left strongly recommended using an infant seat as much as possible during the flight.

I found these quotes from the FAA's website:

Quote:
Did you know the safest place for your little one during turbulence or an emergency is in an approved child restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap?



Quote:
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a CRS. The FAA recommends that a child weighing:

* Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS



After cooling down for a few days, I decided to call the airline to complain. The first time I called, the person I talked to told me that according to FAA regulations, ALL children must face forward while flying, even though this was obviously contradictory to what the FAA's website says and what the AAP recommends. Frustrated, I hung up, deciding to contact the FAA at some point.

After getting off the phone, I decided to look up this "regulation", and what I found read:


Quote:
(A)The restraint system must be properly secured to an approved forward-facing seat or berth;

It does not say you can't install a car seat in a rear-facing position, just that the car seat must be installed in a forward-facing seat (as opposed to rear-facing seats found on Southwest Airlines).

It also says:


Quote:
No certificate holder may prohibit a child, if requested by the child's parent, guardian, or designated attendant, from occupyng a child restraint system furnished by the child's parent, guardian, or designated attendant provided the child holds a ticket for an approved seat...

Of course, you have to use a car seat approved for aircraft (which ours is and clearly states so on the seat).

Armed with my ammunition (so I think), I decided to call back today, only to be told by someone else at this particular airline that she has never EVER seen a child riding in a rear-facing car seat on an airplane (and she has flown A LOT, according to her), that she has only ever seen children in car seats facing forward. She couldn't, on the other hand, substantiate the information I received yesterday. I called the same number as yesterday, by the way. So these people aren't even on the same page.

We fly back in 5 weeks, and I would really like to know what I can do about this to prevent this from happening again. I plan on printing out the FAA brocure and other information I have found.

So, what do you think? Am I crazy here? What else can I do?

 

[TiggerStac]

We've flow w/DS#1 rear facing...and will be flying that way w/DS #2 next week. I did read something on a website about the person in front of a rear facing won't be able to recline, due to the seat and space. I have recently been reading delta and FAA sites.

Did the person in front complain?? Still not a good reason, but I don't understand this.

 

[twinspluscade]

Maybe it was because it was an international flight?? That's the only thing I could think of.....

Now, I'm a parent myself and I can only imagine how hard that would be having to hold a 4 month old for the entire 8 hours. But that being said, it would annoy me a bit if I couldn't recline my seat back for an 8 hour flight. Or worse yet if my kids couldn't. After all, I paid full price for my ticket too
(Now donning my flame-resistant gear in preparation of the Dis flaming I'm sure will follow: ).

Kelly

 

[tjmw2727]

I am sure that on domestic flights you are to use the seat per mfg instructions - as you stated in your quote. I wonder if it varies on international flights. Mfg instructions clearly state that until at least 1yr and 20lbs an infant shoud stay RF.

I would bring the instruction manual for the seat in addition to the FAA regulations in case she has trouble on the return flight. I have seen carseats installed RF and we fly fairly often.

As far as the person in front not being able to recline - perhaps a family member could sit in front of the carseat? That's what we did when my dd was still in a carseat (FF) and somtimes kicked the seat in front. DH or I would sit in front with my other dd.

FWIW I know there are some posters who travel internationally on the transportion board, perhaps a re-post there would get you some more information.

Good Luck
TJ

 

[daisyduck123]

As far as the person in front not being able to recline - perhaps a family member could sit in front of the carseat? That's what we did when my dd was still in a carseat (FF) and somtimes kicked the seat in front. DH or I would sit in front with my other dd.
Good Luck
TJ

Good thinking!!!

Sounds like a good solution to that part of the problem.
I know if I were on an 8 hour flight & couldn't recline my seat a bit I would be hopping mad.

 

[castleeto]

My mom works in the customer relations department of a major airline, and works with these issues, so I'm doing some research with her and I'll get back to you with what she says!

 

[Hannathy]

I agree with the posters who say book the seat in front of the infant and then use the seat, because I would not tolerate not being able to put my seat back during an 8 hour flight either. Did they offer to trade with the person in front? I'm glad the FA stuck up for the person in front because they are not the ones who should be inconvenience for your child, you should be.

 

[nelljay1973]

I've flown twice from Canada to Australia with infants, though not as young as 4 months.

I'm surprised they paid for a ticket because long haul flights..ie international on 747's have a basinet for infants as long as they have the correct lbs. Seeing they have paid, I would request that I sit in the bulk head seat as they would have sat the family there, it's right where they but the basinet..for anyone that has flown its right near the big screen for movies. Bulkhead means - no-one in front of them..therefore no-one to complain. Interesting, read the manual of the carseat, because mine specifically says that it cannot fly rear facing.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

I'm glad the FA stuck up for the person in front because they are not the ones who should be inconvenience for your child, you should be.

She wasn't trying to be rude to the person in front of them. She was just trying to use the seat correctly and I am sure she didn't realise before the flight that the person wouldn't be able to reline their seat. There is no other way to use an infant seat. I have seen it done but it is NOT to be used forward facing.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

agree with the posters who say book the seat in front of the infant and then use the seat, because I would not tolerate not being able to put my seat back during an 8 hour flight either. Did they offer to trade with the person in front? I'm glad the FA stuck up for the person in front because they are not the ones who should be inconvenience for your child, you should be.

i would agree with you!

 

[castleeto]

Here's what I found out:

It's her airline's policy that all children under 20 lbs can travel in a rear facing seat. Usually they fit fine in the seat, without limiting another passenger's ability to recline, but in the rare situation that it happens, their policy is to give the child's safety priority over the comfort of another passenger. They would make every attempt to put the seat behind an empty seat, and if that is not possible, they would ask for volunteers to sit in the seat and would likely compensate them with a voucher for future travel.

However, it sounds like airlines do have some discretion with this, and some car seats are too big for certain airplanes. It's tough to say exactly what the problem was for your friend without knowing which airline, which aircraft type, and which car seat she was using. Also, depending on the route she was flying, certain FAA regulations may or may not have applied. SO, the best way to handle this situation is to call the specific airline directly and ask about their policy. They should be able to give you specific dimensions about what size of a car seat will fit rear facing in their seats. I'm sorry there's not a more definitive answer.

I think the idea about someone in your group offering to sit in front of the seat is a good one, because it isn't a safety issue (there is no FAA regulation prohibiting it), just a comfort one. Someone also mentioned the bulkhead seats, but on many airlines, the bulkhead is the emergency row, where children are not allowed to sit, and some also are a little smaller and don't have movable armrests so the seat might not fit.

I travelled quite a bit with my daughter (internationally too) when she was a baby and toddler, and never had this problem. For an infant as young as 4 months, I'd recommend an infant seat, instead of the bigger convertible ones, because they would fit in all seats. We had the Graco Snug ride and it was great on many domestic and international airlines.

I hope your friend is able to find a good solution!

 

[Samar]

We flew internationally to India (DH's family) from NJ to London. London to Bombay and then Bombay to Nagpur. We requested a bassinette seat in the bulk head position. IF your friend bought the ticket at the child's price then she should use the bassinette holder in front of her. IF NOT, she should ask up front if there are any open bulkhead seats for her and the baby to sit in (if they are not taken by the handicapped, tall people or those using the bassinette holders) so that she can have the seat facing the rear and not have anyone backing up into her

I think next time she should just save the money and buy the bassinette seat at a cheaper rate.

I'm with the others, flying for so long and not being able to recline your seat at all would be a pain in the butt and a pain in the back.