Car seat that fits on plane

[lmc318]

My DD will be a little over 3 when we go to WDW in October and she's already 30 lbs and 34 inches. I'm wavering between the CARES system and a high-back, 5 point harness booster for her on the plane. I think the booster would be better since we can just use it again in our cars and it'll let her see out the window. The problem I'm having is finding a booster that fits the 16 inches Southwest says is needed for their seats. It seems most car seats are 20 inches in width. I know her current car seats, both convertables, are more than 16 inches in width for sure (Evenflow and I don't remember the other one, but it's wide as well).

Does anyone have suggestions on harness boosters that can be used on Southwest? What have you all used? If I can't find one, has anyone used an Evenflow convertable on Southwest?

TIA!

 

[NotUrsula]

Don't worry about the width, but just avoid sitting in a bulkhead seat with fixed armrests. It is perfectly OK to have the armrest raised behind the side of the carseat.

The only carseats that really don't fit on an aircraft are a few of the larger Britax models, but they are also not approved for aircraft use, so they can't be used anyway.

If you want a lightweight travel seat, the most commonly used ones in the US market iare from Cosco, both the Scenera convertible and the high-back booster (with the cupholder removed.) The only caveat with that booster is that the top seat slots are a teensy bit low for a taller child.

Also, before anyone posts that booster seats are not allowed on aircraft, be aware that it doesn't matter if the MFR calls it a booster seat. What matters is whether the FAA defines it as a booster seat, and the FAA definition defines a booster as a child restraint seat that lacks an upper-body restraint. High-back "boosters" that can be used with and without a 5-pt harness are normally allowed as long as the harness is in place and used. (Though as always, check for the red-print aircraft-use sticker.)

 

[lmc318]

Thank you! That's a big help. SW's website says car seats over 16 inches won't fit and I just didn't know where we'd even get a car seat with a base under 16 inches to begin with! I thought something was odd!

I think we're going to get the high-back, 5pt harness booster since we'll need one by then anyway. I know the SW website says they are acceptable. I will call the airline and double check before we leave, though.

Thanks again for your help!

Lisa

 

[sshaw10060]

Be careful with a booster type seat. I don't believe they are approved for air travel. Only the more traditional car seats are (and not all of them) There will be a stamp on the seat itself if it is approved.

We loved the CARES harness and would check the carseat if we needed it at the destination. I hated hauling that thing through the airport.

 

[lmc318]

Thanks Scott. yeah, I'm definitely going to call the airline before we go to make sure they allow whatever seat we get. The booster seat I'm referring to isn't considered a booster for air travel, though. It's a high-back, 5 point harness seat, which is allowed. I know the low boosters aren't allowed. Honestly, if she could wear just the lap belt, I wouldn't worry. I just don't think she'd sit still the whole time and I just think having the car seat is both safer and will make it more like being in the car when she knows she can't get out.

I did look at the CARES system, but she'd want to get out of that too and the fact that there is no belt between the legs worries me. My DD would figure out how to wriggle out of that for sure. Or she'd slide right down! I figure the car seat will give her security and she can look out the window if she wants. Just another distraction for us, which we'll take!

 

[WicketsMom]

I would just take her regular carseat and use it instead of buying something else. We travel frequently with our almost 4-year old, and always put him in his Britax Marathon seat on the plane. We've found if we turn the seat upside-down on our carry-on rolling suitcase, it is pretty easy to get through the airport. At just 30 pounds, she is not big enough for a booster seat yet.

We have flown on nearly all the major carriers both large planes and regional jets and never had a problem with the carseat fitting in the plane seat. Another advantage is that it raises him up high enough to see out the window.

 

[2Pinks]

We flew this past summer with both my girls in their Graco Nautilus carseats. They were 6 and almost 5 years old. Fabulous seats to use on an airplane. They were bulky to get strapped in, but once in, my girls were comfortable and sat very well during the entire flight.

 

[Singledad]

just a warning, most airlines do not know every last car seat made, and cannot rightly tell you if a specific brand/make/model will work or not. This is why they created the approved for aircraft stickers. so long as it has one of those, it will work. the person sitting next to the car seat may be a little smooshed, but if you can live with that, the width doesn't matter too much.

So yeah, just make sure you have that FAA sticker and your good to go.

btw here is a nice resource if you still looking at seats: http://www.carseatsite.com/recommended_car_seats.htm#Travel Seats

 

[2Pinks]

the person sitting next to the car seat may be a little smooshed, but if you can live with that, the width doesn't matter too much.

At least for the airline we flew on (Southwest) we could only use 2 configurations when installing the carseats. A carseat HAD to be installed in a window seat with the accompanying adult in the middle seat. Or carseat at window, carseat in middle and accompanying adult in aisle seat. The carseat could not be in an aisle seat, nor could they be in the middle seat with the adult at the window.

With that, no one would be squished by the carseat except for you! I flew using both scenarios on our trip this past summer.

 

[lmc318]

Thanks everyone! We'll see how DD is before we go and if we need to go up a size for her car seat or we can stick with the one I have in my car. The one my DH uses is fine, but it's very hard to get buckled compared to mine and I don't want to be messing with that. I did speak with a friend who has a DS a year older than my DD and she flies a lot. She said she' never had a problem with any car seat on SW and she's flown Airtran as well and hasn't had a problem, so we'll just make sure the seat is FAA approved and go with it!

Thanks again for all your advice! It has really helped clear things up for me!!