Car seat location on the plane?!

[hannahdrewmom]

How difficult is it to travel with the Britax Marathon? My DS (14 mo) has outgrown his old infant seat (quite a while ago) due to his height rather than weight, and he's been in the Marathon (rear facing) for a while now. We will be traveling in a couple of months and were thinking about getting a smaller convertible seat because the Marathon is huge and we were afraid that it would fit in an airline seat (we are traveling Alaska Air), but if the Marathon works, we will take it.

He's now 23lbs and about 31 inches tall, and will be even bigger (16 mo) when we travel to Disneyland this spring.

Thanks!

Marathons fit without a problem both rear facing and front facing. We have traveled and still do with both. The hardest part is carrying the bulky thing through the airport! We've found that the carseat bags with the straps make it a little easier.

 

[haleyknits]

How difficult is it to travel with the Britax Marathon? My DS (14 mo) has outgrown his old infant seat (quite a while ago) due to his height rather than weight, and he's been in the Marathon (rear facing) for a while now. We will be traveling in a couple of months and were thinking about getting a smaller convertible seat because the Marathon is huge and we were afraid that it would fit in an airline seat (we are traveling Alaska Air), but if the Marathon works, we will take it.

He's now 23lbs and about 31 inches tall, and will be even bigger (16 mo) when we travel to Disneyland this spring.

Thanks!

The only problem (with the size of the seat) I had was less than helpful flight attendants when I was getting off the plane. I think it had more to do with my massive belly, having a baby in a carrier on my back AND trying to carry the seat. I was a little cramped in the seat because dd was in the window seat, I was in the middle and a stranger was in the aisle seat. Again, I think it was because I was pregnant.

However, now we only travel with our Radians. They are way easier imo. We just don't rear face them since they are so tall. One thing that really saved me in the airport was using a GoGo Kidz. It is the easiest way to travel with a car seat, but many people don't want to spend the cash on one. I had a friend who was willing to lend hers to me, but I just bought one since we fly often enough.

 

[maxiesmom]

The only problem (with the size of the seat) I had was less than helpful flight attendants when I was getting off the plane. I think it had more to do with my massive belly, having a baby in a carrier on my back AND trying to carry the seat. I was a little cramped in the seat because dd was in the window seat, I was in the middle and a stranger was in the aisle seat. Again, I think it was because I was pregnant.

I have to ask; Why was the FA "less than helpful"? I hope you realize that helping you with your stuff is not part of their job. If you cannot handle everything your bring onto a plane yourself, you need to rethink what you are hauling around.

I'm also quite shocked at all of the comments about how they told the FAs what for. Do you realize that they can have you kicked off of the airplane if you don't follow thier instructions? As Bren's Mom posted, it is up to them to decide where you can place your car seat. Is it really worth risking getting kicked off of your flight because you want the seat in the middle and not by the window?

 

[haleyknits]

I have to ask; Why was the FA "less than helpful"? I hope you realize that helping you with your stuff is not part of their job. If you cannot handle everything your bring onto a plane yourself, you need to rethink what you are hauling around.

I'm also quite shocked at all of the comments about how they told the FAs what for. Do you realize that they can have you kicked off of the airplane if you don't follow thier instructions? As Bren's Mom posted, it is up to them to decide where you can place your car seat. Is it really worth risking getting kicked off of your flight because you want the seat in the middle and not by the window?

Less than helpful as in taking their time to walk down the aisle when I was carrying a 20 pound car seat behind them, a 17 pound baby and my bags and not moving after saying "excuse me" multiple times. Stopping to have a chat with another FA at the gate while I was standing there waiting to go by even though I politely said excuse me. Personal conversations shouldn't come before customers.

I will gladly get kicked off a plane over the safety of my child. When someone tells me I can't have my 17 pound child rear facing in her car seat that requires the child to be 20 pounds to forward face I am going to object. When speaking nicely doesn't work I will speak to as many people as necessary to find someone that will listen and read their rules and/or the prominent sticker on the car seat. I am 100% fine with the seat being by the window, which is where it is on every flight we take.

The instances I am referring to were on different flights and I am never rude. I know what a thankless job FAs have and how essential they are to air travel. I am not out to make anyone's life more difficult and expect the same from others in the service industry.

 

[Brewmeister]

Thanks for the info! I think that we will save the money and bring the Britax. I'll look around for a carrying case to make it easier to haul.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I'm also quite shocked at all of the comments about how they told the FAs what for. Do you realize that they can have you kicked off of the airplane if you don't follow thier instructions? As Bren's Mom posted, it is up to them to decide where you can place your car seat. Is it really worth risking getting kicked off of your flight because you want the seat in the middle and not by the window?

I am not at all in favor of telling FAs 'what for'. Or for being rude in any way. However, over the years I've heard many stories of FAs who were not aware of their own airlines actual rules and policies, nor aware of the FAAs rules and guidelines, and who have told parents to do things which were not only wrong, but downright unsafe. (i.e. Parents who have bought a seat for an under 2 yo being told the MUST hold their child on their lap for takeoff and landing)

I am in favor of being educated, parents and FAs alike. I think if more parents were educated, and had the backup in hand when they boarded the plane, and calmly but firmly asserted their right to travel safely with their child within the written rules of the FAA and the airline they're traveling on then things would be better.

Uneducated and misguided FAs make things go bad. And so do uneducated or rude parents. There is a big difference between pulling out the FAA/airline's stated rules and asking for clarification, i.e. about the window v middle seat, showing that the person at the window can easily pass the rear-facing seat, etc. and calmly discussing the situation is within your rights as a passenger.

While, as NotUrsula says, the airlines can pretty much say anything is ncessary for 'safe operation' due to the wording...that does not mean that passengers should just shut up and take it if it potentially places their child at risk.

 

[michael's mom]

Hello CT neighbor!

Whether or not you must install in the window seat is open to interpretation. If you are in a row with 3 seats and only your family is in those seats it's likely you'll be able to install it in the center if that's what you'd prefer ONLY if you or dd will be able to safely exit past the car seat.

If it's rear-facing (which would be ideal in terms of ease of interacting with your ds as a pp said) then the window seat will likely be required.

If, however, you will not install it rear-facing or if you only have a forward-facing seat, then it's likely he can go between you.

It doesn't matter whether he's front or rear facing. The carseat must be in the window position. (at least on Southwest). We found out the hard way when we installed DS's seat(ffacing) in the middle and the plane wouldn't take off until we switched him. Boy did I feel like a bozo holding up the whole plane. It only took a minute, but I felt like all eyes were on me!

If he's rear-facing it won't matter if your daughter is in front of him or not, but he will be able to (very easily) kick the seat in front of you if he's forward facing.

Have a great time! The trip from CT to MCO isn't that long. Maybe he'll nap

 

[momof3poohlovers]

My son will be 15 months old when we fly in 2 months. He is still RF but weighs about 26 lbs. We are flying United, do you think they will give me a problem if I want to RF or will they force me to FF because of his age and weight?

 

[seashoreCM]

Less than helpful as in taking their time to walk down the aisle when I was carrying a 20 pound car seat behind them, a 17 pound baby and my bags and not moving after saying "excuse me" multiple times. Stopping to have a chat with another FA at the gate while I was standing there waiting to go by even though I politely said excuse me. Personal conversations shouldn't come before customers. .

Psst! Put down the child and the bags and relax, perhaps leaning against the wall. Take a deep breath. After the persons in your way (FAs, other passengers, etc.) have moved on several feet, calmly pick everything up and quietly and methodically proceed to board and get settled.

Can someone explain the benefits of rear facing or forward facing in a large vehicle such as an airplane? I thought it was just because the car seat fit better one way.

The dange of putting the car seat in the middle, even if you declare that you can be up and over it in a flash, is that there is a greater chance you might trip and fall flat on your face. Then you pick yourself up and get back in the race (for the exit). (paraphrased song lyrics)

 

[haleyknits]

Psst! Put down the child and the bags and relax, perhaps leaning against the wall. Take a deep breath. After the persons in your way (FAs, other passengers, etc.) have moved on several feet, calmly pick everything up and quietly and methodically proceed to board and get settled.

Can someone explain the benefits of rear facing or forward facing in a large vehicle such as an airplane? I thought it was just because the car seat fit better one way.

I'm usually the last person on the plane. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the cleaning crew lol. At that point waiting isn't really an option.

Rear facing is safer for many reasons. In most cases it is actually more difficult to install a seat rear facing because of how much room the newer, higher weight seats take up. I have several different seats, but our Radians would never fit in dh's car rear facing. They are just too tall. Here is a link:
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html

 

[crashbb]

I'm usually the last person on the plane. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the cleaning crew lol. At that point waiting isn't really an option.

Rear facing is safer for many reasons. In most cases it is actually more difficult to install a seat rear facing because of how much room the newer, higher weight seats take up. I have several different seats, but our Radians would never fit in dh's car rear facing. They are just too tall. Here is a link:
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html

Rear facing is clearly safer in a car, but is there any evidence that rear facing is safer in an airplane? It's not like there are generally front end crashes on airplanes. I think parents should be allowed to use rear facing if they want (subject to weight/size limits of the seat, of course), but I am just curious.

I did have a flight where I was in the window seat (I usually choose aisle, but I had missed a connection and was moved to this flight). A mom and toddler were also in my row and the mom tried to put the car seat in the middle seat (I had only taken the window seat about 45 minutes before flight time, so the window was definitely available when the mom checked in - she just didn't want it). I pointed out that it wasn't safe and offered to switch seats. She said that that would put her in a middle seat and she didn't want the middle seat and that I could just climb over the car seat Needless to say, I got the FA involved and the seats were switched!

 

[Carrieannew]

Thank you everyone! Did not realize this would bring such debate. I want both of my children safe. If they allow it and there is room I would put the carseat in the middle. If not he will go by the window.

 

[jessica52877]

We have never been allowed to place the carseat anywhere but the window seat and we have had all 3 seats in the row. This has been on several different flights.