Car Seat for Air Travel: Safety First OnSide Air Car Seat

[Mama Bear Me2]

Re: Car Seat for AIR Travel: Safety First OnSide Air Car Seat with Air Protect Side Impact Technology

Hi. Your experience needed. Thanks.

1) Has anyone used the above noted car seat on an airplane?

2) What was your experience?

3) Any tips you can give for transporting the car seat in the airport?

4) Any tips for installing it on the airplane?

5) Can you confirm that this car seat is rated for air travel? Plan on using forward facing so is there a sticker on the car seat labelled as CMVSS 213?

6) Any other tips in general which you think might be useful?

My Background:

a) Plan to buy the above noted car seat for Travel purpose. We have Britax Marathon at home and it's huge. After some research, found info which suggested this car seat for air travel since it's "light weight" to move around and is a decent car seat for the lower price range category.

b) NO ... do not want to rent car seat. Friends warned us against renting ... they said they got dirty car seat and they promptly returned the rental and bought their own. Also, you can never be certain that the car seat has not been in an accident.

c) NO ... do not want to gate check or counter check my car seat. It will be brand new and read that car seats can sustain damage which might not be visible. Also, in light of the recent Air Canada fiasco about baggage handlers "tossing" luggage from a 20 foot drop for gate checked luggage (check out video on You Tube if you're interested) I don't trust that my car seat will be handled "gently".

d) I want to ensure that my car seat is not delayed in transit and that I will have it upon arrival so it needs to stay with me.

e) NO ... do not want to buy CARES restraint to use on the plane. I'm already buying a car seat just for travel. We probably won't get a chance to travel again before my little one outgrows this new car seat since we do not vacation every year. It's been over 4 years since our last vacation and the first time ever flying. Therefore, don't see the point in purchasing a new car seat and the CARES restraint.

Also, I believe that my little one will be safer strapped in a 5 point harness since I read that the CARES restraint is better for children around 3 - 4 years old (depending on their size) and who are at least 40 lbs. The smaller kids tend to manage to squirm under the belt and get themselves entirely free of the restraint. Yes ... it's been suggested that parents use a sticky rubberized shelf liner under their kid's bum and some have also doctored up some kind of crotch restraint but my little guy is pretty persistent when he wants down. A scary story: one mother's child only managed to get his body slid down under the restraint but his neck was caught on the belt. Choking hazard!!

Stroller: Gate Check

By the way, I will also be bringing a stroller. Unfortunately, will need to gate check it since it's a huge Graco Quattro stroller (no infant carrier just the actual stroller part).

1) Any tips on how to deal with gate checking the stroller?

No counter checking since I want to use the stroller up to the boarding gate.
No umbrella stroller ... need one with a large basket and one that can be reclined and I don't want to buy another stroller. Already buying a new car seat!

2) Do the airlines give you plastic bags for the strollers?

I plan to use some plastic bags (biggest ones that I can find so probably garbage bags ... did look into stroller bags but the size didn't fit and I don't want to remove wheels to make it fit into the stroller bag so might as well use garbage bags and tape, tape, tape).

3) Flying West Jet ... do you know if the stroller will be at the bottom of the ramp when we disembark the plane OR do we need to go to a special pick up zone?

4) For my peace of mind, anyone gate check their stroller (or car seat) with West Jet and how did you find their handling? Were they pretty gentle or was there visible rough handling?

Read on internet that some travellers noticed some signs of rough handling on their stroller bags when they travelled with other airlines so was wondering how West Jet performed compared to these other airlines.

SORRY ... numerous questions!! Any help that you can provide is greatly appreciated!

Even if you cannot answer all questions, please answer as many as you can.

Much obliged!! Thanks!!

 

[NiceOneSimba]

Okay, so we have flown with a big old car seat two or three times (although not the particular one you've mentioned). Here are the questions I'd recommend asking first.

How wide is the car seat at the base and the widest point? You can look up online to find out the seat with of the plane you're flying on, and you can check to make sure it will fit.

Does WestJet let you install a car seat with the armrests up, or do you have to keep the armrests down? If the car seat is wide, that may be important.

Do you have a window seat booked? I know the times we've flown with a car seat, it's had to go in the window seat.

My other random recommendations:

* Make sure you look up to to install the seat using just a lap belt. It's not always the same as with a lap/shoulder belt.
* Depending on your seat and the plane, you may need a belt extender.
* Send one adult on the plane to install the seat before the rest of the party boards.
* In our experience with a car seat, it is easiest to transport by putting it the stroller (instead of your child). Turn it upside down and wedge that sucker in there, along with any small bags you have. Of course, that's easier when your child can walk. ;-)
*I've purchased a luggage strap and used it to strap the car seat to a suitcase. There is some device out there that does this so the kid can ride in the car seat while it's strapped to the suitcase, but that's not what I bought (even though it looks totally cool).
* I think there's also some strap thing that turns the car seat into a backpack, but I have no personal experience with that.
*I've never used a bag to gate check the stroller. I've just folded it up and left it. Truthfully, I didn't really care if it got scuffed up as it was already scuffed up--as long as it didn't get damaged. It's been fine every time.
*Every time we've gate checked a stroller, it's been right there on the jetway right by the plane's doors.
*Everything will have to go through the X-ray on the belt. You'll have to fold up the stroller. It is possible that something won't fit (especially if your stroller folds up into a cube-shaped thing). It happened to us once with our big stroller. The security folks will know what to do, but it may take a while. Plan extra time, just in case.
*It is totally worth the money to check your suitcases when you are travelling with a stroller and car seat.

Hope that helps.

 

[rydersmommy]

I have no advice on the car seat. We are going to use the CARES restraint and we are taking the Disneyland Resort Express so we won't need a car seat.

We have gate checked a stroller in the past with Southwest Airlines. We didn't put it in a bag. We had no problems. The stroller was at the airplane door when we disembarked.

 

[Aladora]

Re: Car Seat for AIR Travel: Safety First OnSide Air Car Seat with Air Protect Side Impact Technology

Hi. Your experience needed. Thanks.

1) Has anyone used the above noted car seat on an airplane?

2) What was your experience?

3) Any tips you can give for transporting the car seat in the airport?

4) Any tips for installing it on the airplane?

5) Can you confirm that this car seat is rated for air travel? Plan on using forward facing so is there a sticker on the car seat labelled as CMVSS 213?

6) Any other tips in general which you think might be useful?

My Background:

a) Plan to buy the above noted car seat for Travel purpose. We have Britax Marathon at home and it's huge. After some research, found info which suggested this car seat for air travel since it's "light weight" to move around and is a decent car seat for the lower price range category.

b) NO ... do not want to rent car seat. Friends warned us against renting ... they said they got dirty car seat and they promptly returned the rental and bought their own. Also, you can never be certain that the car seat has not been in an accident.

c) NO ... do not want to gate check or counter check my car seat. It will be brand new and read that car seats can sustain damage which might not be visible. Also, in light of the recent Air Canada fiasco about baggage handlers "tossing" luggage from a 20 foot drop for gate checked luggage (check out video on You Tube if you're interested) I don't trust that my car seat will be handled "gently".

d) I want to ensure that my car seat is not delayed in transit and that I will have it upon arrival so it needs to stay with me.

e) NO ... do not want to buy CARES restraint to use on the plane. I'm already buying a car seat just for travel. We probably won't get a chance to travel again before my little one outgrows this new car seat since we do not vacation every year. It's been over 4 years since our last vacation and the first time ever flying. Therefore, don't see the point in purchasing a new car seat and the CARES restraint.

Also, I believe that my little one will be safer strapped in a 5 point harness since I read that the CARES restraint is better for children around 3 - 4 years old (depending on their size) and who are at least 40 lbs. The smaller kids tend to manage to squirm under the belt and get themselves entirely free of the restraint. Yes ... it's been suggested that parents use a sticky rubberized shelf liner under their kid's bum and some have also doctored up some kind of crotch restraint but my little guy is pretty persistent when he wants down. A scary story: one mother's child only managed to get his body slid down under the restraint but his neck was caught on the belt. Choking hazard!!

While I have not used that car seat for airplane travel, I *think* that it is rated for it. Best bet is for you to call Safety 1st and make sure. I would also check on how wide the car seat is and contact WJ to make sure it will fit in the airplane seat.

When DS was little we bought a Cosco Scenera for use on planes and while traveling and it was perfect. It is absolutely rated for use on airplanes and it only weighs 10 pounds, perfect to bring on vacation!

For transporting it through the airport, we rented a Gogo Kidz Travelmate and that seemed to work well. If you plan on traveling with a car seat often, you might want to look at buying one instead of renting.

Installing the seat on the plane was easy but make use of the pre-boarding! Go ahead and install the seat while someone keeps the little one in the waiting area to run off some energy before the flight!

We used the CARES harness once when DS was older, I think he was 4. I would use it for a child that age but not for one who was under 3. Great system but not for very little ones, might be something for you to look into when your little one is bigger. The trip we used the CARES, we brought his car seat to the gate and just gate checked it. Now that he is just using a booster, we just check the booster. We have checked his booster for 5 DL and 1 Ontario trip without a problem. Even though he is turning 9 this summer since DS is on the small side, we are probably going to be doing this for a few more years.

Stroller: Gate Check

By the way, I will also be bringing a stroller. Unfortunately, will need to gate check it since it's a huge Graco Quattro stroller (no infant carrier just the actual stroller part).

1) Any tips on how to deal with gate checking the stroller?

No counter checking since I want to use the stroller up to the boarding gate.
No umbrella stroller ... need one with a large basket and one that can be reclined and I don't want to buy another stroller. Already buying a new car seat!

2) Do the airlines give you plastic bags for the strollers?

I plan to use some plastic bags (biggest ones that I can find so probably garbage bags ... did look into stroller bags but the size didn't fit and I don't want to remove wheels to make it fit into the stroller bag so might as well use garbage bags and tape, tape, tape).

3) Flying West Jet ... do you know if the stroller will be at the bottom of the ramp when we disembark the plane OR do we need to go to a special pick up zone?

4) For my peace of mind, anyone gate check their stroller (or car seat) with West Jet and how did you find their handling? Were they pretty gentle or was there visible rough handling?

Read on internet that some travellers noticed some signs of rough handling on their stroller bags when they travelled with other airlines so was wondering how West Jet performed compared to these other airlines.

SORRY ... numerous questions!! Any help that you can provide is greatly appreciated!

Even if you cannot answer all questions, please answer as many as you can.

Much obliged!! Thanks!!

As with the car seat, we went out and bought a stroller for traveling so that we did not have to lug the bigger one we used at home. Again, it has been a while but I am 99% sure that we ended up buying a Combi stroller. It was lightweight but not an umbrella stroller and it had an okay sized basket underneath. It weighed under 15 pounds so easy to carry, the one we had even had a carrying strap that when the stroller was folded, you could sling it over one shoulder like half a backpack. Super easy.

We never used a stroller bag so no advice there but I am fairly sure that WJ does not provide bags.

The stroller was waiting for use immediately as we exited the plane, right at the door. No damage at all, not even a scratch.

 

[teambeaman]

We bought a Cosco Scenera at Target to use strictly for travel. It was $40, and it fits perfectly in all the airline seats we've used it on. It's lightweight and DH rigged the back strap (that you use to secure the seat when forward facing) so that he could carry it over his shoulder. DS is 3, 40 in, and 37lbs. and fits in the seat well. It has never taken us more than 10 minutes to install the seat in a car, or more than 2 minutes to install it on the airplane and it is FAA approved.
We are also able to put both the arm rests on the plane down with the seat in.

 

[thatgrljme]

Here is a link to the manual of the seat listed above -

http://safety1st.djgusa.com/product_instructions/en/4358-5258 onSide Air Final.pdf

In it I have found this is approved for use on an aircraft. It should give you measurements as well. If installing forward facing you would follow the instructions for installing forward facing on a car. I would suggest getting a belt extender from the flight attendant and you can find videos on YouTube on how to install on a plane. Might not be your specific seat but it will give you an idea of how to do it.

I bought a bag from Phil & Teds to pull my stroller and car seat thru the airport and I will be wearing my son in an ergo on my back. The stroller will stay in the bag to gate check because I've heard horror stories of more than just scratches.

For your specific seat if your not checking luggage you can get a bungee and run it thru the rear facing belt path and attach it to your carry on luggage to roll thru the airport. Otherwise use your stroller and if you have a baby carrier use that to carry your child thru the airport if they can't walk.

Hope this helps! We're not flying for another three weeks and it will be my sons first trip. He will forward face in the plane and rear face in the car. He's 2 but still rear facing

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[Aladora]

Here is a link to the manual of the seat listed above -

http://safety1st.djgusa.com/product_instructions/en/4358-5258 onSide Air Final.pdf

In it I have found this is approved for use on an aircraft. It should give you measurements as well. If installing forward facing you would follow the instructions for installing forward facing on a car. I would suggest getting a belt extender from the flight attendant and you can find videos on YouTube on how to install on a plane. Might not be your specific seat but it will give you an idea of how to do it.

I'm not sure if there is a difference, but that is a link to the American manual. Since the OP mentioned West Jet, I assumed she was Canadian.

 

[thatgrljme]

I'm not sure if there is a difference, but that is a link to the American manual. Since the OP mentioned West Jet, I assumed she was Canadian.

I would think the car seat itself would be the same but thanks for pointing that out. I wasn't aware west jet was a Canadian airline.

 

[Aladora]

I would think the car seat itself would be the same but thanks for pointing that out. I wasn't aware west jet was a Canadian airline.

It is the most ridiculous thing...as far as I know, the seats are the same but the regulations for testing are different. A few years ago the exact same seat testing in both countries ended up with different max weight ratings just because the standards were slightly different.

It is likely that the manual is the same but just in case they are different, the OP should check with Safety1st Canada, if she is Canadian!

Of course, if I am wrong and the OP is not Canadian, then I've just wasted all of our time!

 

[bumbershoot]

Cosco scenera was our choice for travel as well. Not sure it's a choice in Canada though.

Checking the stroller. Go to gate, ask for gate check tag, put it on, park it at end of ramp. Never got a plastic bag.

 

[Andray]

We bought a Cosco seat when our daughter was little. It was light weight and easy to carry upside down on our carry on suitcase secured with a bungee cord.

 

[DahliaRW]

I don't know how old your child is, but the top harness height on the onside air is only 15". I'd make sure it's going to fit height wise before buying. Is the Evenflo Maestro available in Canada? If so I'd do that instead. It's lightweight, but the harness height is 18" and it goes to 50lbs. So it will last you a whole lot longer. And it's about the same price.

 

[Aladora]

I don't know how old your child is, but the top harness height on the onside air is only 15". I'd make sure it's going to fit height wise before buying. Is the Evenflo Maestro available in Canada? If so I'd do that instead. It's lightweight, but the harness height is 18" and it goes to 50lbs. So it will last you a whole lot longer. And it's about the same price.

Cosco scenera was our choice for travel as well. Not sure it's a choice in Canada though.

Both the Scenera and the Maestro are available in Canada.

 

[mummabear]

Stroller: Gate Check

1) Any tips on how to deal with gate checking the stroller?

No counter checking since I want to use the stroller up to the boarding gate.
No umbrella stroller ... need one with a large basket and one that can be reclined and I don't want to buy another stroller. Already buying a new car seat!

2) Do the airlines give you plastic bags for the strollers?

I plan to use some plastic bags (biggest ones that I can find so probably garbage bags ... did look into stroller bags but the size didn't fit and I don't want to remove wheels to make it fit into the stroller bag so might as well use garbage bags and tape, tape, tape).

3) Flying West Jet ... do you know if the stroller will be at the bottom of the ramp when we disembark the plane OR do we need to go to a special pick up zone?

4) For my peace of mind, anyone gate check their stroller (or car seat) with West Jet and how did you find their handling? Were they pretty gentle or was there visible rough handling?

1) It depends on the airport/airline. We have frequently not been allowed to gate check (even with out small umbrella stroller) so be prepared to have to check it in with your other luggage. How old is your child? We usually use a front pack with bubs and an ergo carrier (http://store.ergobaby.com/) on the back when they are a little older (like 1 1/2-2 up)

2)No they don't give you a bag. Your garbage bag idea sounds like a good one. Don't forget to pack the supplies to do it again for the way home. Many airports also have a wrapping facility you could do instead.


3)The two times we have been able to gate check we still had to pick up the stroller at the luggage carousel (again why we use they carrier instead)

4) In our experience airlines don't treat them nicely and they can sustain at least cosmetic damage.

 

[taffy]

Hey,

WE have flown west jet and installed a carseat on the plane. We actually got the Diono RXT as our car seat that is also rated for air travel. A few important things to not. If you are flying from Canada the seat must have the necessary Canadian flight approval still on it. This means you cannot buy a carseat in the states if you Airport of origin is in Canada. aka it needs to be a canadian approved seat for planes with the correct sticker on it which I think has a maple leaf on it.

They are easy to install and the flight attendant will give you an extra strap that connect to the seatbelt that you feed through the back of the seat like you do in your car. It is best to go on in pre boarding to do this. Often I go ahead of my wife and do this before my son gets on as it is cramped.

For stroller you just ask to gat check at checkin and they will put a tag on the stroller, just as you get on the plan door you fold the stiller and place it by the door of the walkway. You will pick it up right there as you step off the plane when you land. we never bag it and it has been fine. We have gate checked the stroller over 20 times and it is still in one piece .

We love Westjet when flying as an FYI.

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

Hi Everyone! THANKS BIG TIME for all the tips. Please keep them coming!

Appreciate any and all info!! What's been posted so far is great!

Also, please recommend other car seats which you think I should look into before making my purchase. Willing to consider my options!

By the way, someone mentioned that maybe their tip was a waste of time in case I wasn't Canadian BUT you never know when a poster's tips/hints will come in handy!

In case you were wondering, yes, I'm Canadian!

Here's an update from additional research I've done:

West Jet Seat Size: For the one I'm flying on (Boeing 737 - 800) I believe the seat size is 17". By the way ... glad to hear positive feedback from West Jet!

Cosco OnSide Air & Scenera: Read on a blog that these seats are essentially the same seat except for the OnSide Air feature. Also, seat might have a "little" bit more padding. The prices are pretty comparable.

Based on a Canadian Seller's site the prices I'm looking at are:

a) OnSide Air: CAD$130 (before taxes)
b) Scenera: CAD$96 (before taxes)

(grumble from me ... always the case ... prices much higher in Canada than in the USA!)

Specs "copied" from a Canadian Seller's site (NOTE: these measurements are slightly different than the ones found on a USA site):

a) OnSide Air:

Rear-facing for infant from 2.3 – 18.2 kg (5 - 40 lb.) and from 48.3 – 81.3 cm (19 – 32 in.) tall

Forward facing with internal harness for children from 10 – 18.5 kg (22 - 40 lb.) and from 73.7 cm to 101.6 cm (29 in. to 40 in.)

Specifications:
Dimensions (L x W x H):
44.5 cm x 43.2 cm x 68,6 cm; (17.5 in. x 17 in. x 27 in.)
Weight: 4.3 kg (9.5 lb.)


b) Scenera:

Rear-facing for children: 2.3 kg to 13.6 kg (5 lb. to 30 lb.) and 48.3 cm to 81.3 cm (19 in. to 32 in.) tall

Forward-facing for children: 10 kg to 18.1 kg (22 lb. to 40 lb.) and 48.3 cm to 101.6 cm (19 in. to 40 in.) tall

Specifications:
Dimensions: (L x W x H):
77.2 cm x 42.2 cm x 46.5 cm (30.4 in x 16.6 in. x 18.3 in.)
Weight: 4.5 kg (10 lb.)

(NOTE: I think there must be a typo on the description here that I copied from the Canadian Seller's site ... the dimensions I'm "guessing" should read as (H x W x L) instead of the (L x W x H) shown above as I'm assuming that the seat "height" measurement must be the longest measurement

Important Reminder:

I'd like to reiterate an important note that another poster made here: You must purchase your carseat from your country of residence as the transportation labels on the car seat will pertain to your country of residence and thereby, be safety certified for your travel within your country of residence.

Translation: as the poster indicated ... Canadians do NOT purchase carseat in the USA if you live in Canada and intend to use your carseat in Canada. I'm "assuming" it's illegal to do so since all carseats used in Canada must have the proper CMVSS sticker on it. I'm "guessing" that something similar must also be true for your country of residence?

As an aside ... this makes me wonder ... is it OK then for visitors to bring their own car seats from their country of residence to use while visiting other countries? Example: for us to bring our Canadian certified car seats to the USA and use them? I'm thinking yes since everyone does it and never heard anything to the contrary.

Can anyone please enlighten me on this? Thanks in advance!!

Currently, I'm still leaning towards the Cosco OnSide Air since I like this extra feature over the Scenera. Have looked into the poster's suggested Evenflo Maestro. Thanks but I don't this one is for us even though it will last us longer ... really into the Air feature at this point. Will also look into the Diono RXT since I haven't had time to do so yet.

Thanks again everyone ... PLEASE KEEP THOSE TIPS COMING!!

You are all great and appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge and time!

 

[DahliaRW]

Just make sure, if forward facing, your child's shoulders are below the top harness height. My boys were too tall for the scenera around 3, my dd just outgrew it at 4 1/2. And as a visitor, you can use your seat in the US. (But this doesn't hold true in all countries, in the EU for example you have to have an EU approved seat regardless).

 

[taffy]

Hi Everyone! THANKS BIG TIME for all the tips. Please keep them coming!


I'd like to reiterate an important note that another poster made here: You must purchase your carseat from your country of residence as the transportation labels on the car seat will pertain to your country of residence and thereby, be safety certified for your travel within your country of residence.

Translation: as the poster indicated ... Canadians do NOT purchase carseat in the USA if you live in Canada and intend to use your carseat in Canada. I'm "assuming" it's illegal to do so since all carseats used in Canada must have the proper CMVSS sticker on it. I'm "guessing" that something similar must also be true for your country of residence?

As an aside ... this makes me wonder ... is it OK then for visitors to bring their own car seats from their country of residence to use while visiting other countries? Example: for us to bring our Canadian certified car seats to the USA and use them? I'm thinking yes since everyone does it and never heard anything to the contrary.

Can anyone please enlighten me on this? Thanks in advance!!

[/B]

So as I understand it it is very much a Canadian issue and how ICBC and the other insurers here validate car seats. Basically if you are a resident here and you have an accident in a non-canadian car seat then your insurance in invalid and will not pay out.

For non residents travelling here they fall under different insurance so can bring there car seats.

 

[danceintherain]

We bought a Cosco Scenera at Target to use strictly for travel. It was $40, and it fits perfectly in all the airline seats we've used it on. It's lightweight and DH rigged the back strap (that you use to secure the seat when forward facing) so that he could carry it over his shoulder. DS is 3, 40 in, and 37lbs. and fits in the seat well. It has never taken us more than 10 minutes to install the seat in a car, or more than 2 minutes to install it on the airplane and it is FAA approved.
We are also able to put both the arm rests on the plane down with the seat in.

Just make sure, if forward facing, your child's shoulders are below the top harness height. My boys were too tall for the scenera around 3, my dd just outgrew it at 4 1/2. And as a visitor, you can use your seat in the US. (But this doesn't hold true in all countries, in the EU for example you have to have an EU approved seat regardless).

This was going to be my comment. My son is around 38 inches tall, and his torso height is already pushing the limits of the Scenera (he may have passed it by now. He hasn't used it in about 6 months). It was an awesome seat for travel for a long time, but I imagine most kids will outgrow it by height while they are 3 years old, and likely won't make it to 40lbs.

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

Thank you again everyone for your help. You've given me lots to think about.

Unfortunately, if I buy this seat, it will be via online and I don't know if I can find a store with the physical seat to check out in person. I'm going to try though because seeing the seat and actually being able to put my child in it would be extremely useful.

I measured and my child's seated height from bottom to shoulder is about 12" (or maybe even a little above). Sadly, he's going to outgrow the seat quickly if the highest shoulder slot only goes up to 15".

Sigh!

Thanks again for your help!