Car seat on the airplane

[jack'smom]

In our car, my 16 month old (24 lbs) is rear-facing. I will be using this car seat on the plane. Do I put her in rear-facing or forward-facing on the plane?

 

[Gracie09]

Either way, however if you put it rear facing the person in front of you can't recline so you may want to see if you can put someone from your own party there so a stranger isn't inconvenienced

 

[Mayhem1976]

We flown a few times when my boys were over 1 but still RFing in the car and I put them FF on the plane. I felt like the main reason for having them in the seat was for keeping them secure in the seat, not the force of an accident like in a car. Also, like PP said it can be hard with the seats being so close.

 

[DVC California]

FYI - You might have to check if your car seat is FAA approved for air travel.

We were stopped by the gate agent and had to gate check our car seat because we couldn't find the tag on it to document it was approved. This was 15+ years ago, so maybe policies have change.

You can always call the airline to find out their policy.

HTH, Steve

 

[tjmw2727]

You should use the seat according to manufacturers instructions and yes the seat must be approved for airplane travel.

Most seats are - look on the back for a sticker that reads:

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

As a pp mentioned we often put a member of our own travel party in front of a toddler - rf means they won't be able to recline and ff means the toddler may kick. Either way better someone you know !!

 

[jack'smom]

Either way, however if you put it rear facing the person in front of you can't recline so you may want to see if you can put someone from your own party there so a stranger isn't inconvenienced

Thanks, I didn't realize this. We are flying Delta, on a very full plane, and already have our seat assignments. So no switching now.

 

[jack'smom]

FYI - You might have to check if your car seat is FAA approved for air travel.

We were stopped by the gate agent and had to gate check our car seat because we couldn't find the tag on it to document it was approved. This was 15+ years ago, so maybe policies have change.

You can always call the airline to find out their policy.

HTH, Steve

Thanks. It definitely has the sticker.

 

[NotUrsula]

Thanks, I didn't realize this. We are flying Delta, on a very full plane, and already have our seat assignments. So no switching now.

Just FYI, there are certain seats on the plane where a carseat CANNOT go, and if you have reserved any of them, you will need to call and have your seat assignments changed.

A full-sized rear-facing carseat must be in the window position (unless the plane is a widebody, in which case you can put it in the center seat of the center section.) It also cannot be installed in the row directly in front of, OR the row directly behind an exit row. Most of the time it cannot be installed with the inboard armrest down, so that will normally have to be lifted to get it into position.

It also cannot be placed IN an exit row, but that one is kind of a no-brainer, since no one under age 16 can sit in that row.

BTW, to avoid whacking other passengers with the seat as you carry it onboard, it is best to carry it in the position of an inverted number "7" -- that is, upside-down and sideways. As a general rule, women can more easily install a carseat on an aircraft (because they have smaller hands and are usually shorter); so generally it works out best if Dad deals with the baby while Mom installs the seat.

Useful tip: due to the position and type of buckle on an aircraft seatbelt, it is important to flip the buckle-end of the belt one-half turn before you latch it to tighten down the carseat: this will insure that the lift-latch on the buckle is facing away from the carseat's shell, not toward it. If you forget to do this, it may be quite difficult to UN-buckle and remove the seat at your destination.

 

[bumbershoot]

I felt like the main reason for having them in the seat was for keeping them secure in the seat, not the force of an accident like in a car.

The plane is almost certainly not going to have the same sort of accident a car can have, so yep, it's about keeping them in the seat.

I would have had DS rear-facing for 10 years if it had been safest for him, but I never had him rear-facing on a plane.

 

[jack'smom]

Just FYI, there are certain seats on the plane where a carseat CANNOT go, and if you have reserved any of them, you will need to call and have your seat assignments changed.

A full-sized rear-facing carseat must be in the window position (unless the plane is a widebody, in which case you can put it in the center seat of the center section.) It also cannot be installed in the row directly in front of, OR the row directly behind an exit row. Most of the time it cannot be installed with the inboard armrest down, so that will normally have to be lifted to get it into position.

It also cannot be placed IN an exit row, but that one is kind of a no-brainer, since no one under age 16 can sit in that row.

BTW, to avoid whacking other passengers with the seat as you carry it onboard, it is best to carry it in the position of an inverted number "7" -- that is, upside-down and sideways. As a general rule, women can more easily install a carseat on an aircraft (because they have smaller hands and are usually shorter); so generally it works out best if Dad deals with the baby while Mom installs the seat.

Useful tip: due to the position and type of buckle on an aircraft seatbelt, it is important to flip the buckle-end of the belt one-half turn before you latch it to tighten down the carseat: this will insure that the lift-latch on the buckle is facing away from the carseat's shell, not toward it. If you forget to do this, it may be quite difficult to UN-buckle and remove the seat at your destination.

We are definitely ok on the seat assignment, but thanks for the useful tip. I'm having a hard time visualizing it, but I'm sure my husband will understand. He'll be the one installing the seat while I'm hanging out with the littlest one at the gate.