Car/booster seat on airplane?

[hannah03]

This might be dumb but will my 4 year old need one of these or she sit in a seat without one? I've never flown, so this is why I'm asking.

 

[beattyfamily]

This might be dumb but will my 4 year old need one of these or she sit in a seat without one? I've never flown, so this is why I'm asking.

Nope, they don't need a carseat on the plane.

I think age 4 would be too uncomfortable in a carseat anyway. Their legs would be hitting the seat in front of them as there isn't much leg room anyway.

Have fun!

 

[amy2girls]

No need, she can sit in the seat with the regular seat belt! Have fun!!

 

[emerymt]

If she doesn't use a car seat now, don't take it on the plane. If she does, then you should take it. Among other things, she'll feel more comfortable with a familiar seat. However, you cannot take a booster seat on the plane. We tried that one time and ended up having to check it.

Have fun! Four-year-olds are fun to fly with- they are so excited about everything new.

 

[lg3]

If she doesn't use a car seat now, don't take it on the plane. If she does, then you should take it. Among other things, she'll feel more comfortable with a familiar seat. However, you cannot take a booster seat on the plane. We tried that one time and ended up having to check it.
Have fun! Four-year-olds are fun to fly with- they are so excited about everything new.

Good advice. We took our dd(almost 4 at the time) car seat on the plane, as we needed it later on in the trip. It was not a big deal, and am glad we did. That said, we couldn't lower the seat tray in front of her because there was no room, so she just put her food/etc. on my tray next to her. (Why should flying be any different? ) A portable DVR helps too!

 

[Princess Roo]

If I understand correctly (I'm trying to figure out what next carseat to buy for DS right now, since he's outgrowing one of his convertible seats!) the only point of a booster (assuming it's not a 5-point harness) is to get the child in the right position for the shoulder belt, which is a non-issue on a plane, so you wouldn't need it.

 

[jessica52877]

If she doesn't use a car seat now, don't take it on the plane. If she does, then you should take it. Among other things, she'll feel more comfortable with a familiar seat. However, you cannot take a booster seat on the plane. We tried that one time and ended up having to check it.

Have fun! Four-year-olds are fun to fly with- they are so excited about everything new.

Agree totally! If shehe uses a 5 pt harnessed car seat now then I would take it, it is no different then a car. My son is 4 1/2 and still has one and we lug it on planes, he is used to it, likes it and has plenty of room, just like in the car, not anymore, not anyless then myself.

Trays don't work, but we don't have them in the car either.

 

[jcc0621]

Make sure the car seat you bring has an FAA approved sticker on it. I had the same question for DS and wrote the airline. This was their response:

Thank you for contacting AirTran Airways. In order to use your child restraint seat, you must have purchased an additional ticket exclusively for your child and the seat must be FAA approved for use on board an aircraft. If there is not an FAA approval tag on the car seat it will also have to be gate checked. Upon arrival at your destination, your stroller and/or car seat will be returned directly to you via the aircraft door.

Booster-type child seats, vest and harness-type systems, and lap held child belts are not approved for use in the aircraft during movement on the surface, taxi, takeoff and landing. They may be used during cruise flight only.

It is not required for minor passengers to use a child restraint seat during air travel. If you use the items to the departure gate, and check them there, they are considered a mobility aid for your infant or child, and will not count against your free allowance of checked baggage. If you check the items with the rest of your baggage, at the ticket counter, they will count against your free allowance and any excess baggage fees will apply.

Please let me know if there is anything else I may help you with. Have a good day and thank you for choosing AirTran Airways

Hope this helps

 

[all4fun]

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

This is the wording you want to look for on a sticker on the childs car seat:

"This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft"

If I understand correctly (I'm trying to figure out what next carseat to buy for DS right now, since he's outgrowing one of his convertible seats!) the only point of a booster (assuming it's not a 5-point harness) is to get the child in the right position for the shoulder belt, which is a non-issue on a plane, so you wouldn't need it.

Actually a booster also boosts the child up so the lap belt rests across the hip bones instead of on the abdomen, which can cause severe internal injuries in an accident. But you're correct, it also must be used with a lap/shoulder belt, and airplanes don't have those. FYI: if you want/need some car seat recommendations, www.car-seat.org is a wonderful resource.

There are some seats that have integrated harnesses that can be converted to booster seats when the harness is outgrown. Those are typically allowed to be used on airplanes, as long as you're still using the harness.

Hth

 

[dhardawa]

If I understand correctly (I'm trying to figure out what next carseat to buy for DS right now, since he's outgrowing one of his convertible seats!) the only point of a booster (assuming it's not a 5-point harness) is to get the child in the right position for the shoulder belt, which is a non-issue on a plane, so you wouldn't need it.

Technically, a booster positions both the shoulder belt and the lap belt. Being higher causes the lap belt to ride across the child's hips (bones) instead of his stomach (soft tissue and internal organs). But, you are correct, you don't use boosters on a plane.

Edited: I really should read to the end of the thread to see that you have already been told this. On another note, I'm a CPST and if you let me know his age, weight, and height I'd be more than happy to make some suggestions for you.

 

[emerymt]

We were not allowed to use a five-point harness booster seat on the plane. The seat attached by means of the lap belt through the back rear. We were surprised by that- but I am sure they have their reasons. I wish I could remember the name of the airline, but I can't.

 

[Princess Roo]

Edited: I really should read to the end of the thread to see that you have already been told this. On another note, I'm a CPST and if you let me know his age, weight, and height I'd be more than happy to make some suggestions for you.

Thank you (and All4Fun). Sorry to hijack the thread, too, OP!

Right now DS is in a Britax Marathon and an Evenflo Triumph in the two cars. He is about to outgrow the Evenflo heightwise, but should have ~1 more year on the Marathon. He is 2 years old (today!), 38.5" (tall torso, "regular" length legs) and 34 pounds. We are also expecting a second child who will likely be ready to use the Marathon in a year or so. We would like to get a 5-point harness seat that will later convert into a regular booster. Our cars are not very big, so we'd rather not get something as large as the Britax Regent, though we have thought about getting another Marathon to last him for one more year before buying something else.

 

[all4fun]

Thank you (and All4Fun). Sorry to hijack the thread, too, OP!

Right now DS is in a Britax Marathon and an Evenflo Triumph in the two cars. He is about to outgrow the Evenflo heightwise, but should have ~1 more year on the Marathon. He is 2 years old (today!), 38.5" (tall torso, "regular" length legs) and 34 pounds. We are also expecting a second child who will likely be ready to use the Marathon in a year or so. We would like to get a 5-point harness seat that will later convert into a regular booster. Our cars are not very big, so we'd rather not get something as large as the Britax Regent, though we have thought about getting another Marathon to last him for one more year before buying something else.

The only combination seat that currently goes past 40lbs is the Cosco/Safety 1st Apex HERE It harnesses to 65lbs, 17" top harness slots (about the same as the Marathon's) and then converts to an OK booster seat. It has nice open shoulder belt guides however parents who have used it as a booster seat have noted that the width of the seat can make it very awkward for kids to buckle themselves in, unless it's in a bucket seat (like in a minivan, for instance). Also, this seat requires a tall seatback &/or adjustable headrest behind it - the seat is outgrown by height once the tips of the ears go past the top of the vehicle seatback/headrest. Also, this seat is just a little bit smaller than the Britax Regent, so size wise, it doesn't sound like what you want.

I really don't want to recommend a 40lb limit combo because it doesn't sound like it will last you until age four w/the harness (bare minimum recommended booster age). If you wanted to look at those though, the only two I'd recommend that make good booster and harness seats are the Recaro Young Sport ($250) and the Evenfo Generations/Bolero ($90-110).

I'd actually recommend getting another higher weight limit harness seat
The ones I'd look at are the Sunshine Kids Radian (65lb limit, 18" top slots), another Marathon, or a Regent (20" top slots, will last the longest) or if you can wait, Recaro is coming out with a new convertible seat that will harness to 35lbs r/fing, 70lbs f/fing, 19" top slots, cost $219 & 259 depending on the model (one will be basic like the Marathon, the other will have SIP "wings" similar to the Britax Boulevard). ETA: these are scheduled to arrive on the market in June/July. Here's a site that is preselling them: http://www.proamauto.com/recaro_como_seat.htm

HERE's a thread with a picture of an 8yr old in a SK Radian someone posted just today on the BBC car safety tips board.

Pics of the Regent and Apex side by side HERE.


hth!

 

[dhardawa]

Thank you (and All4Fun). Sorry to hijack the thread, too, OP!

Right now DS is in a Britax Marathon and an Evenflo Triumph in the two cars. He is about to outgrow the Evenflo heightwise, but should have ~1 more year on the Marathon. He is 2 years old (today!), 38.5" (tall torso, "regular" length legs) and 34 pounds. We are also expecting a second child who will likely be ready to use the Marathon in a year or so. We would like to get a 5-point harness seat that will later convert into a regular booster. Our cars are not very big, so we'd rather not get something as large as the Britax Regent, though we have thought about getting another Marathon to last him for one more year before buying something else.

I agree with a lot of what All4Fun posted. I would NOT recommend the Radian though. It has huge incompatibility issues and the company sells some devices that are extremely dangerous for car seats which makes me question their integrity.

The Cosco is okay, but if space is an issue, I'd pass. It is pretty much as big as a Regent. Honestly, at his size, I'd at least try the Regent. It sounds to me like he is going to outgrow any combination seat well before he is old enough to use it as a booster. Either that, or hold out for the Recaro. I can't really recommend them because I haven't seen them, but Recaro is a very good company and I can't imagine they would release an unsafe seat.

 

[dhardawa]

We were not allowed to use a five-point harness booster seat on the plane. The seat attached by means of the lap belt through the back rear. We were surprised by that- but I am sure they have their reasons. I wish I could remember the name of the airline, but I can't.

This is a perfect example of why all parents should go to the airport with the FAA recommendations in hand. The airline was wrong. If your seat was FAA approved (which most are), you should have been able to use it on the plane.