carseat on airplane question

[all4fun]

Thanks! My seats both expire in Dec 2007, so I have a bit more time with them. They are both the 5 pt harness seats that are good until 40 lbs. I dont want to have to buy new ones at this point because I do have some of those 5pt convertible booster seats as well, but I dont think they are aircraft approved. I should double check that. I plan on using those when my others expire. I own 12 carseats right now (no lie) and do not want to buy anymore. I have 4 kids in carseats so you would think I would have at least one with the sticker!

Thank you so much for the advice and information!!!

We've been on at least a dozen flights with a car seat and I've had them ask a few times but more often than not, they don't. If they do ask and you can't show it to them then they will make you check it.


FAA Child Safety on Airplanes link

The sticker should say "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft"

Hth

 

[stacy6552]

google your models. Bring a print out that they are FAA approved and you should be fine.

 

[Mommyoftwo]

We've been on about 6 flights with a car seat since our DD moved from our lap to her own seat. We've been stopped every single time at the plane door and the attendant has checked the car seat before they allow it on. We've also only flown Northwest, so maybe it depends on the airline.

I'd also recommend going on the plane before everybody else, especially with 2 car seats. It's not easy to get those car seats down the aisle, especially when people are in the seats. And it takes awhile to get them properly strapped in because it's so darn hard to get those airplane seatbelts through the carseat with not a lot of room. If you do it before others get on the plane, usually the attendants will help you carry a seat down (cuz it's hard to carry car seats, carry-on luggage and kids with only 4 hands). We've even had pilots help us carry the car seat to our seat! And it's so much easier to install them when your neighbors aren't staring you down, waiting to move through the aisle because your spouse is holding kids in the aisle until you're ready to put the child in the seat!

 

[Hannathy]

install them when your neighbors aren't staring you down, waiting to move through the aisle because your spouse is holding kids in the aisle until you're ready to put the child in the seat!

See I have to say something here. This is what I never understood, why does your spouse have to stand in the aisle? I'll never understand why they don't just step into the row behind or in front. or go back by the bathrooms. Please don't stand in the aisle let everyone else through. If families did this more there would be a lot less grumping by the rest of the plane. And don't count on the FA's carrying a seat especially on United or Northwest,forget about that! And when we used to take seats they always checked for the sticker. I never took them tho once they hit 2.

 

[my2minnies]

Well dh just came home from work and I was able to check the combo seats that are in his car. They are in fact for use in aircraft. I never even thought to check them, so thank you so much for that information. You saved me from some potential problems at the airport. It would be a nightmare if I were not able to keep my twins secure in their seats! Traveling with 4 kids is going to be tough, but wont be so bad if the twins are stuck in one spot.

 

[momxx5]

Flew last week from NC to WDW and back. Neither flights allowed a carseat or a booster seat. Southwest Air.

Plain and simple - had to gate check.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Flew last week from NC to WDW and back. Neither flights allowed a carseat or a booster seat. Southwest Air.

Plain and simple - had to gate check.

That is odd, no airline (in the USA) can deny you the ability to use a car seat as long as you have paid for a seat for your child (if under 2yo) and the seat has an FAA sticker on it.

It is part of the FAA rules for travel.

 

[tjmw2727]

Flew last week from NC to WDW and back. Neither flights allowed a carseat or a booster seat. Southwest Air.

Plain and simple - had to gate check.

Booster seats have never been allowed on aircraft but a carseat with a sticker stating it is approved for use in aircraft can be used.

Since Southwest Airlines recommends the use of a carseat for children under 4 and 4olbs I think there was a misunderstanding somehwere.
Here is the quote from SWA website:
"What Special Rules Apply to Infants and Children?
If you're traveling with an infant or small child, you should know that proper use of a child restraint device (CRD) enhances child safety on aircraft. For this reason, Southwest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommend that infants and small children who weigh under 40 pounds be secured in an appropriate CRD when traveling by air. Full details."

and the link for further info:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/infants.html

So to all those reading don't worry, this isn't the norm. We travel often and have never been denied the use of a carseat with the approval sticker.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

Well dh just came home from work and I was able to check the combo seats that are in his car. They are in fact for use in aircraft. I never even thought to check them, so thank you so much for that information. You saved me from some potential problems at the airport. It would be a nightmare if I were not able to keep my twins secure in their seats! Traveling with 4 kids is going to be tough, but wont be so bad if the twins are stuck in one spot.

Yea - good news - have a wonderful trip.

TJ

 

[disneyworldmom2]

We have flown 6 times with children, and have been asked to see the sticker every time. Many times, we have been asked more than once on the same flight. In fact, one time, it was checked prior to boarding the plane, then again by the first attendant on the plane. After I had the seat properly secured, a third attendant came by and insisted on seing the sticker for himself. I had to unbuckle the seat and remove it in order to show him the sticker.

I don't think I'd take the chance of not having a sticker, especially with 2 children.

One more thought.... ask for a seatbelt extender for each car seat. It makes it MUCH easier to buckle them!

Good luck!