Car seat in window seat only?

[MassMom]

If we bring a car seat for our toddler, will the airlines allow us to use it in the middle or aisle seat, or will we be required to use it in the window seat only? Thanks for any experiences!

 

[tinker-kyle]

window seat only ... if its in the middle it can block the window seat person from exiting in an emergency

no more "baby" sandwich between mom and dad ... so of course mom is harried and stressed coming off the plan ... and dad's had a nice snooze

 

[DebbieB]

That's correct, I was on a flight once where the FA made the parents move it over to the window seat.

I think I heard too that it can't be within 1 row of an exit row.

 

[KMH1]

While during our last two trips we were still using the infant car seat, we had no problem putting it in the middle seat between DW and I. Although I would have been happy to take a snooze on the aisle while Amy kept Alyssa entertained.

-- Kevin

 

[moretigger]

In April we flew USAir from Pittsburgh and back with the carseat in the middle each way. I had no idea that we couldn't, and no one said anything about it.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Window side only on Delta/Song.

 

[jckdisneybound]

All the flights we have flown (SW, AA, NWA) they all have made us put her seat in the window seat.

 

[MagicLovinMama]

When we flew last year, DS was 3.5 so we just checked the carseat with our luggage and picked it up once we got there so we didn't have to deal with carseat hassle on the plane. I've been doing that since he's been a toddler and it really seems to make more sense to me.
Just a thought.

 

[toesmom]

I think the reason it is so tough with little ones on the plane is because they are confined to a small seat with little movement, something that they maynot be used to for more than 15 minutes. Try a 3 hour flight, they will drive you crazy.

With the car seat that they are accustomed to, then the toddler will sit in it as if he were going for a drive. Maybe a bit restless, but a lot less crazy because he's already used to sitting in the chair.

Just my opinion.

 

[Barbday62]

My daughter checked her toddler seat in as luggage from Phoenix to Seattle and they lost the car seat. She had to drove home with out it. I would never check a car seat unless its gate checked.

We have flown Alaska and America West. Both required us to use window seat. And the Alaska flight was from Seattle to Orlando and we werent able to have two kids in same row and they made someone else move because we was accidently assigned the row infront of the exit row which was a no no too. The poor people who had to change with us had no clue when they switched the seats didnt recline in the row we were switched out of.

 

[Tamie]

Just a reminder make sure that the car seat is FAA approved some of the booster seats are not approved for airplane use. Found that out a couple of years ago and ended up checking the booster seat.

 

[k_k_100]

It depends on how “deep” the car seat is. We have a Graco Ultra CarGo seat that converts from toddler to booster (we can only use it as a harness seat on the plane). The seat of the car seat (depth) does not go over the front of the plane seat (going into the leg room). An infant seat (rear facing) will always be to “deep”. When traveling w/ dd (in an infant seat) we put her between us a couple of times w/out incident – but, for every time we were allowed to put her between us, there were 2 when we were told to move her. It just depended on how attentive the attendant was.

Even now I’ve had gate agents tell me to put the car seat next to the window – the flight attendant later came to check it and it was o.k. in the center. The only rule is I (or an adult traveling w/ the child) have to be next to the window – you cannot “trap” a stranger next to the window. When I travel alone w/ dd(3) I sit next to the window & put her in the middle – I personally find it more comfortable not to be crammed in next to a stranger – the seat provides a nice “buffer”.

 

[NotUrsula]

The FAA rule for the airlines is that CRS's must by placed where they "do not impede egress in an emergency", which translates as "someplace where no one will have to climb over them in the dark." Not all FA's will be aware of the rule without looking it up, if they don't fly a lot of routes popular with families they may not have had reason to know it.

On most aircraft, the rules means that a CRS must be in a window seat, but on a widebody with a center section, the seat can be placed in the center seat of the center section and still fall within the rule, since the evacuation plan calls for passengers to use the aisle nearest their seat.

 

[Dana_Buckley]

I like it when the plane has three seats across the middle, it seems like alot more room. When my DS was just 20 months, I checked his carseat. I was flying by myself with my two boys. We had a lot more room, with the armrests pushed up. I sat in the middle and they both fell asleep with their heads on my lap. But, it can be tricky to keep them occupied from FL to CA! Consider buying or renting a portable DVD player for the flight. You can rent them in most airports and return them when you land. IT's great!

Best wishes for a wonderful vacation!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

window seat only ... if its in the middle it can block the window seat person from exiting in an emergency

no more "baby" sandwich between mom and dad ... so of course mom is harried and stressed coming off the plan ... and dad's had a nice snooze

LOL Easy solution to that...go to the bathroom and hubby moves over to be by baby... when you return- plop yourself down in hubby's seat and have yourself a snooze too. LOL

 

[wfloyd]

On Southwest we were lucky enough to get the first row and were able to put the seat in the middle. This was probably because there is enough room in front of the seat to get by. On the return trip, the carseat had to be put by the window though.

 

[pjupton]

The only rule is I (or an adult traveling w/ the child) have to be next to the window – you cannot “trap” a stranger next to the window.

That's been our experience on several flights too - the carseat can only block in "family".

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I didn't know there was a rule about window seats, it makes sense though. When we flew to Germany a few months ago out of 6 flights only one asked us to put DD by the window. She was in the middle on all the others.

Last time we flew to Florida she was in the middle also and no one said anything. In fact the stewardess put her there. We didn't have an actual seat for her but the plane wasn't full so she said "Here, your daughter can sit right here".

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Car seats MUST be in window seats.
2) They can be in middle seat, if there is no passenger at the window.
3) Some stewardesses don't enforce the rule.


NOTE: Before we get into the argument, I consider cabin crew as stewards and stewardesses, and seldom as flight attendants. Too many do not comply with the safety rules. When they only serve food or beverages, they can only be called stewardess. Flight attendants have safety duties, and serve beverages as a sideline. I have had to remind SEVERAL stewardesses of some of the safety rules. (Sorry to vent, but this is one of my few pet peeves.)

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

You'd think common sense would say it's okay for the carseat to be in the middle and not next to the window if the person in the window seat is a PARENT of said child! As if that parent would really take off without the child in the first place!
Meaning if it's me, baby and DH... if I'm by the window- I wouldn't leave without baby anyway! So I'm not "trapped" by baby... so it would make no difference if I was sitting in middle next to baby sitting at window or if I was sitting by window and baby in the middle. Mom ain't going if baby ain't going. Period. I would think the same would be for all parents??? So who cares if the PARENT is "trapped" by the window by their own child in a carseat?