Carseat ON the plane or gate checked?

[lecach]

Since we're renting a car in Orlando we want to take our carseat for our 3 y.o. I was told it's not a good idea to gate check carseats because they get banged around. But DH said he has never seen a child sitting in a carseat on a plane. So I was just wondering what everyone else does.

 

[mousemomof2]

Our family went March 9-16. My niece and I took our car seats for our 3 1/2 year olds. On the flight to Orlando my seat would not fit in the airplane seat because it was too wide. I believe it was something to do with the side of the plane we were on or being closer to an exit. Not too sure. The arm rests did not go up. On the way home I did not even try. I gate checked both ways and had no problems. Now my niece was able to use hers both ways. I will say that she was the only one. Hope this helps.

Carolyn

 

[camdensmom]

We took ours on the plane twice. My son was 18 months and 1.5 years so I didn't feel comfortable with him not being in it on the plane. Both times and on both legs of the trip, the airline crew commented on how smart we were because it is the safest way for the children to travel.

On our December trip we did not rent a car and used Magical Express since we were staying at the POLY. It was REALLY nice to not have to deal with the bulky car seat.

If you do opt to take it I would STRONGLY suggest buying a luggage cart, They sell fancy-schmancy car seat carriers for a lot of money, but we bought a collapsible luggage carrier from Kohl's for 15.00 and attached our car seat with a bungy cord to make it easy to get through the airport.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

We have a carseat bag, and always just checked them as luggage. Generally it works out great...although we did have one occassion where we made it to Boston at midnight, and our carseats didn't, but that is a very long, very drawn out story.

 

[taitai]

How often does your husband fly? I average about once or twice a week and see car seats on every flight. When our kids were small, we brought them on each time. Makes the flight so much easier for everyone.

On another topic, I have gate checked strollers a million times (never car seats as we always take them on) and never have had a problem with anything getting battered or broken. Guess I am just lucky.

taitai

 

[TarzansKat]

I have always taken our DS carseat on flights with us. Most carseats indicate whether or not they are FDA approved, so that may help. I just know my DS is very comfortable in his seat, and now that he's 3, I really don't trust him to stay buckled in otherwise.

 

[twinmom2]

This is what we use

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

We travel a lot so it was worth the money for us. I like it for safety reasons and it also allows me to gate check the car seats......so much easier.

when they were younger we always used a car seat because they sleep better in it. we have been using this belt since the girls where 2.5

 

[WhitGB]

We have two children 4 and 1, and we have always flown with the child sitting in the carseat. The problem is carrying the seat through the airport so now that DD is 4 she sits in the regular seat and we carry the carseat for the 1 year old. Just an FYI, the child needs to sit next to the window and the car seat needs to be Flight approved (it will be stamped on the side - and I have had flight attendents check). Since it takes time to put the carseat into the seat have someone in your party board the plane before you and the child to place the seat in and then come on with the child 5 minutes later. It avoids you creating a huge line while someone struggles with the seat.

Also, if you are flying with a child under 2 you can get 1/2 price flights on most airlines, if you order your flights online you will need to call and have the child discounted.

Hope this helps.

 

[kim_o]

If you're going to check the car seats, gate check them because the luggage sorting machines aren't gentle (I used to have a video of how banged around the luggage is but can't find it at the moment).

I personally always bring the seats. It's just so much safer for children. Most plane accidents are on the tarmac, so the equivalent of a car accident. The seat belt just isn't made to fit the little ones properly. I have a backpack/wheeled bag to help carry them through the airport.

 

[kim_o]

Also, if you are flying with a child under 2 you can get 1/2 price flights on most airlines, if you order your flights online you will need to call and have the child discounted.

Hope this helps.

What airline do you fly?! I'll have to check this out next time (we usually fly Delta)

 

[seth101]

nice pictrue trazanskat

 

[hammie59]

Also, if you are flying with a child under 2 you can get 1/2 price flights on most airlines, if you order your flights online you will need to call and have the child discounted.

Unfortunately not on Northwest.

 

[all4fun]

We always used a car seat on board the plane up until ds turned four. The FAA recommends using one for children under 40lbs, although there are several airline approved car seats that now go above that. Here's a link to the FAA site on Child Safety on Airplanes: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

Make sure your CRS is government approved and has "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" printed on it.

This site has installation tips: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplanetravel.aspx
and to add to that, I always found the easiest way to carry a car seat on board the plane was to flip it over so the base is on top, and let the seat rest on my forearm. The back of the car seat is narrower, so it fits down the aisle easier that way. We also split up and dh would board with ds last, in order to give me (the primary car seat installer in our family) a chance to install the seat first, and ds a little more time to run around in the airport terminal.

edit to add: also, we found that booking discounted internet fares (same as what we got for ourselves) for our child was easier & cheaper than trying to get a half-off rate, which is based on full fare price anyway. Somebody mentioned Delta - I think I read somewhere that they no longer offer 1/2 price tkts for the under two set...but I could be wrong about that. ok last edit (lol) I found on Delta's site that they do NOT offer child fares any more.

Travel Within the Domestic U.S.
Delta does not offer discounted infant and child fares for travel within the domestic U.S.

hth!

 

[WhitGB]

Just responding to the 1/2 price flights for kids under 2 sitting in a seat. I know it is an option on orbitz when you do an advanced search. The system will discount the flight for you. I believe we have gotten the 1/2 off on Northwest to Boston but that was when DD was younger and she is now 4.5 The last two flights were on Midwest, the most recent was last month to Ft Myers. I always call and have never had issues on the discounts. Hope this helps someone out there...

 

[EC0323]

If your child is young enough to be in a carseat, I would not check it. If it gets lost, you are going to have to rely on the rental company having one. It just adds to the "worries" you always have on a trip. Not to mention if something make spill on it or it may get banged up in baggage dept.

If you do take it on board, please double check to make sure that the car seat is faa approved. If not and the flight attendents check which they are supposed to do every time you will not be allowed to use on board.

I always take a car seat on a plane for my little ones. Seat belts do not protect the little ones as well as adults from unexpected turbulence. I also think it is more comforting to baby to be in his/her seat that he/she recognizes.

Whatever you decide Have a great safe trip!

 

[mybabesuz]

I have two carseats.
The Graco Safe seat step 2 that weights 22lbs
and an evenflo Triumph that is pretty wide and heavy too.

My DD will be 2 1/2 when we go in Sept.
She is not too big about 35 inches and 26lbs now.
We went last year and at 1 1/2 she sceamed
almost the whole way without her seat in my lap.
I would LOVE to bring her seat this trip.
DH not happy about it. Says we don't need it...
Too big and heavy... blah blah blah...
We also have a 3 1/2 year old DS but he is big and
already weighs over 40lbs...
Any suggestions on a lighter seat for DD...
I also looked at the Cares harness product
but I think a seat would be better for her.
I think they would just keep unbuckling the seatbelt part.

 

[labdogs42]

I say on the plane is the way to go. If your Dh needs to see it to believe it, here are some pictures of my DS in his seat on the plane! He has been to Disney 5 times, every time in his carseat on the plane!!
at 15 months in his Evenflo Triumph:

at 35 months (before buckling in):

all buckled in (same trip) Graco Nautilus carseat:

 

[labdogs42]

This is how we carried the seat through the airport this time (we gate checked the stroller):

and this is how we used to carry the Evenflo seat -- backpack style. It worked well for us!

 

[labdogs42]

I have two carseats.
The Graco Safe seat step 2 that weights 22lbs
and an evenflo Triumph that is pretty wide and heavy too.

My DD will be 2 1/2 when we go in Sept.
She is not too big about 35 inches and 26lbs now.
We went last year and at 1 1/2 she sceamed
almost the whole way without her seat in my lap.
I would LOVE to bring her seat this trip.
DH not happy about it. Says we don't need it...
Too big and heavy... blah blah blah...
We also have a 3 1/2 year old DS but he is big and
already weighs over 40lbs...
Any suggestions on a lighter seat for DD...
I also looked at the Cares harness product
but I think a seat would be better for her.
I think they would just keep unbuckling the seatbelt part.

I think the Cosco Scenara might fit your needs for your DD. I have heard it mentioned quite often on the car-seat.org boards as a good, lightweight seat, especially for plane travel. Its height/weight limits are similar to the Britax marathon, but the seat is inexpensive (under $75) and much lighter weight than the Britaxes. The only thing is, it isn't very padded. You might want to check them out and see if it would work for you or not.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Thanks for the photos Jessica! We are proud owners of TWO Graco Nautilus seats (one for dd- 6.5yo and one for ds- 2yo), a Regent (for ds) and a Turbobooster (for dd). I specifically got a Nautilus as one of ds' new seats so we could fly w/ it as he gets older!

It is great to see how well the seats works on an airplane!

Dd still fits in the harness of the Nautilus as well (about an inch or so to go above her shoulders) but we are using ME in July for her birthday trip so I'm not going to take hers w/ us for the plane. I'm figuring at 7yo she should be all right in just the seat belt!