Car seat on airplane????

[taylorsmommy05]

We are actually going to forgo the car seat for our just turned 4yr old on this next trip. We're using DME and Disney Transport so we won't need the car seat on the ground anyway. He is about 34-35lbs now. My concern before was his maturity and not being contained well enough by the airplane lap belt (too easy to undo). Now that he's older he can be reasoned with more so I'm hoping that he will do ok w/out the car seat this time. Or we just might end up regretting it when he decides he doesn't want to stay seated and wants to run up and down the airplane aisle instead. We'll see...

have you thought about using this?
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

pricey... but great especially if you don't need a car seat once you get there!

 

[HelenePA]

those cares things look nice but we dont plan to fly much so they really aren't an option for me.

 

[taylorsmommy05]

those cares things look nice but we dont plan to fly much so they really aren't an option for me.

Another option... Buy it use it... and sell it on ebay...selling for about the same as purchase!!
OR there is a lady on ebay...
who you can rent it from for 15 dollars I think.. then send it back when your done... Just a though!

 

[MommySiobhan]

The Britax car seats are FAA approved.

The britax marathon will hold a child up to 65lbs and the Britax regent will hold a child up to 80lbs and 53" tall.

They are pricey, $260-$299 range.

 

[dhardawa]

That accident is 20 years ago!! they DO NOT do that anymore.

Actually, it depends on the airline. Some still do. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. Planes typically hit the runway at about 100 mph. So, a 20 lb baby would be ripped from the mother's arms with 2,000 lbs of force. No one can hold onto a baby in that scenario. It is the same as holding a baby in the car.

 

[dhardawa]

OMG I'd NEVER hold my child on the floor!! Are they crazy?? what are they gonna do throw me off the plane?? I know one of you said they dont do that any more... but Holy cow!!!!!!!!!!

And I'm still debating on taking my car seat or not... another problem is my 4 yr old (almost 5) is only 36 pounds.. I am NOT taking 2 cars seats

No, they won't throw you off the plane, but they will proably arrest you as you get off the plane.

 

[dhardawa]

The Britax car seats are FAA approved.

The britax marathon will hold a child up to 65lbs and the Britax regent will hold a child up to 80lbs and 53" tall.

They are pricey, $260-$299 range.

The Regent is not FAA approved. It is too wide to fit in the airline seat.

 

[dhardawa]

My DD7 (will have just turned) DS3(will have just turned) I would NEVER have them in the car w/no car seat--we are taking Magical Express- not renting a car, so do I really need one on the flight (I know DD will seat in seat) but I am sure that I will have to go out & buy 2 new seats for the flight. The seats that I have in my car right now were rated high by Consumer reports-OF COURSE I WANT MY KIDS SAFE- But what do I do????? HELP!

Your daughter will be fine without a seat. There are no seatbelts on the Magical Express so no need for anything there. How big is your son?

 

[PrincessasMommy]

Just so you know.....bulkhead seats are thinner than the regular seats so carseats will NOT fit in them generally!

We learned the hard way...our oldest is special needs so we require bulkhead seating. We lugged 3 kids, 2 carseats and a double stroller to the gate. We preboarded to secure both car seats and at the last minute we had to gate check because they didn't fit!! I had called the airline ahead of time, got the seat measurements, measured and checked my seat met FAA guidelines and my 27 month old ended up just using the seatbelt and did great!

Also, I agree with the pp regarding behavior - my children have flown many times and are amazing on planes for 3 reasons.... because we prepare them by talking about flying/planes, we put the fear of God in them before we fly - behavior expectations, etc. and we prepare activities for on board - we do not relax for a second in flight - they have my full attention and they are great!! Then the people with the screaming kicking kids behind me who are reading magazines while their kids scream tell me how "lucky" I am to have well behaved kids!!!

 

[HelenePA]

No, they won't throw you off the plane, but they will proably arrest you as you get off the plane.

during a crash?? I would think they have better things to do than arrest me at that point

oh and which ones still make you hold your kid on the floor so I know never to even think about booking thru them.

Thanks I'll look into the ebay rental thing! that's a great idea!

 

[MommySiobhan]

The Regent is not FAA approved. It is too wide to fit in the airline seat.

Thanks for clarifying.

What about the Radian80. I think that is FAA approved? and goes up to 80lbs.

 

[NotUrsula]

The Britax Husky isn't approved for aircraft, either, again because it is too large.

Aircraft approvals are only valid when the child weighs less than 40 lbs. If you attempt to use a carseat to seat a much larger child, the FA may decide to deny it, even if the carseat is rated to a higher weight for motor vehicles.

In practice in coach seating, a child who is more than about 46" inches tall usually cannot sit in most carseats on board an aircraft. The reason is that because the seat pitch moves the carseat up and forward, most of the time the child's legs will be too long by that point to clear the seat in front of him.