Car Seats?

[JGRU102]

I have a three year old and a one year old - just curious if you use your car seats on the planes on on the Magic Express?

 

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

If you have purchased airline tickets for both children, then I would definitely recommend using the car seats on the plane. (I'm assuming you purchased a seat for your 3 yr old, but not sure about the 1 yr old)

As for the Magical Express, they do not allow carseats on the bus. You'd have to have them stowed underneath for the bus trip.

Hope that helps!

 

[bas71873]

And not all carseats are airline approved. Whatever airline you are flying, you will be well served to call or get on their website & find out rather than hauling a carseat through the airport only to find out you'll be gate checking it anyway.

Personally, my DD has been flying since she was 18 months and we have never taken a car seat on an airplane. She's done fine being by the window with me in the middle to "contain" her (she's 5 now...or almost...next Tuesday .

 

[mdurette]

Car seat can be brought on the plane if you purchase a seat for your child. They cannot be used on Magical Express.

My first trip - without the seat on the plane - we bring it all the time now. She knows when she is in her seat she is stuck there - so it helps keep her from moving around - plus it is safer for them.

The only issue - around 2 her legs got long enough that they could reach the seat in front of her. Not on purpose her little legs would kick the seat - we had one bad experience because of this with an older man. Now, I always search out the plane to put her behind another kid in a car seat....just in case.

 

[MegaDisney]

Absolutely yes to carseats on the plane. We have 3 kids- 5, 3 and 22 months. We use carseats on the plane up to age 3 or so- whenever the kids seem comfy enough on the plane without them. We fly quite a bit so my kids are great travelers and never had a problem using the carseat on the plane. Now that the older 2 don't need them on the plane, they know they need to behave with just the seatbelt or back into the carseat they go. They've yet to give us grief about it.

Obviously this means we always buy a seat for them, but for us it's worth it. It's also the safest way to travel, so it's a no-brainer.

We've never used ME (always rent a car) but I know you can't use carseats on the busses (the Disney ones too).

 

[JGRU102]

Thank you guys for all your help! Do you think a 3 year old should have the car seat or just sit in the seat? It will be a 3 hour flight, so I do worry about her getting antsy and kind of like the idea of her being somewhat confined to the car seat.

 

[Scarlet_M]

I've traveled with my oldest at 15 months, 3 years and 4 years. My little guy traveled with us at 1 year (the older one was 4). We have never installed our car seats on the plane. We gate check them with the stroller.

With a lap child I use my sling for take offs and landings. Other than that, they are happy to sit and play with the gadgets I bring for them, eat their snacks or bounce between me and DH in order to check out our neighbors and the attendants. The plane's seat works nicely for the older guy.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Since I'm a car seat tech I am a bit biased...but we use a car seat on the plane every trip as long as our kids are using seats that can be used on the plane (ie, dd was 6.5yo on our last trip and her seat isn't FAA approved so she doesn't use a seat on the plane now). The last time we flew before this past December, dd was 3.5yo and she slept almost all of both flights in her car seat!

Ds was just 2yo during our December trip and we found it really easy to use his car seat on the plane... rear facing even! He was riding in a Britax Boulevard at the time and it fit really well in the airplane's seat.

There are lots of ways to get the car seat through the airport. OR.. to forgo the car seat altogether.

Go Go Kids makes a travel cart for car seats. It is pricey though at $79 on Amazon.

The Traveling Toddler is less expensive at $14.99 (also at Amazon), but you need to use your own wheeled carry on.

The Samsonite Micro Mover luggage cart is an older option (and what we've used for the last 6yrs) and about $25. The bonus w/ this is that it collapses easily to store in a backpack or other carry on.
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Extended:

Lastly...the CARES harness. This is NOT a car seat but a harness specifically designed for airplane use. This is a great option for a family that flies often and does NOT need a child restraint at their destination. The harness costs about $75 (at the CARES website) but you can also "rent" one on eBay.
The CARES harness can only be used with children between 22 and 44lbs and there have been some reports of younger/smaller children submarining a bit due to it not having a crotch strap.

ALSO... here is a great website w/ a TON of great info about using carseats on airplanes.

HTH!