Carseats on airplane opinion, please

[DopeyDame]

I did make a mother unhappy on a flight where I was preboarded with medical issues and when she got there I was already reclined in my seat and she could not fit her rearfacing carseat. she ended up front facing seat unhappily as that was only option FA give as it was full plane. it was a young one not sure how young. FA would not try to reseat all 3, offered for mom and baby but not the whole row

If the baby was under 22 pounds, the FA was absolutely wrong to have the parents turn the seat around, and I wouldn't have done it. Children are allowed - and should according to the NTSP, FAA, AAP, AMA, etc - be properly restrained in something designed for their age and weight. For a baby under 22 pounds, that is a REAR facing carseat. The FA should have tried to reseat the entire party, which shouldn't have been hard - I'd bet a million dollars there was a row who would have easily done a 3-for-3 swap. Most people don't really care if they are in row 22 or 21.
(This is different then the poster who asked about her 17 month old, who I'm guessing is over 22 pounds. At that point, you can think about issues of courtesy.)

 

[Angel Ariel]

(This is different then the poster who asked about her 17 month old, who I'm guessing is over 22 pounds. At that point, you can think about issues of courtesy.)

I wouldn't make the assumption that age = over a certain weight. DD is 21.5 months, and she is still under 22 lbs (just barely..21.5lbs right now). DD is healthy, not failure to thrive or anything like that, she's just on the low end of the percentiles for her age.

 

[Lisa71]

He could have said something too as he paid for a seat that could recline. Glad he didn't push the matter and cause a scene, but that is why it is always nice to sit another family member in front of the car seat baby if you can.

If my DH sits in a regular seat he is too tall and the person in front of us cannot recline. He is 6 ft 6 and mostly legs..we had one person complain and there is no guarantee seats recline. He cannot remove his legs and the baby being safe is more important.

 

[Lolsmum]

This is strictly a curiosity question. Is rear facing actually safer on flights? UK airlines actually do not allow rear facing seats to be used, only foward facing. Obviously these cannot be used for children under 6 months. Most airlines will provide a cot that secures to the plane if you are seated at the bulkhead (and those seats are generally reserved for families with infants) which cannot be used for take off, landing or turbulence. They provide an extension belt for lap babies and for use when the cot cannot be used. I have to admit, the one time I flew with a lap baby in the US I was pretty freaked out by not being offered any method to secure him.

Anyway, is rear facing actually safer on a plane, where the primary direction of force is likely to be different to a car accident?

 

[DBDiz]

I don't know the specific physics involved, but I've been doing some research and the regulations here in the US seem to have changed with seat study advances. Before the early 1990's, US airlines did not allow rear facing seats either. Since then, the flying rules state any FAA approved Child Restraint System/Seat can be used in a forward-facing seat only (meaning the seat you secure the child seat into must face the cockpit) but that the CRS must be secured according to manufacturer instruction. Ergo, if the seat says rear-facing until x weight or age, then you are within your right to secure your seat in said manner and any FA that attempts to prevent you from doing so is in violation of an FAA FAR.

Also, I've noticed that US regulations tend to focus on child safety due to litigious history. International regulations focus on adult passenger safety (a loose child becomes an unpredictable injury hazard during an incident) for similar reasons.

 

[DBDiz]

Also of note, UK safety seats differ from US seats in that they require a three point harness to secure them, whereas the US seats only require two points and all airplanes (save military planes w/ four pt harnesses) have two pt belts.

 

[maxiesmom]

If my DH sits in a regular seat he is too tall and the person in front of us cannot recline. He is 6 ft 6 and mostly legs..we had one person complain and there is no guarantee seats recline. He cannot remove his legs and the baby being safe is more important.

If it came down to someone who was seated early because of a disability, and a baby in a seat, I don't know either of them is more important than the other.

 

[Lisa71]

Seated early does not die in a plane crash. Just my opinion but we always bought seats for our kids.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Seated early does not die in a plane crash.....

 

[Lisa71]

The poster had said seating early due to disability had priority to recline over an infant in a car seat. I disagree since reclining seats are not guaranteed and an infant not properly secured could die or be injured in turbulence.

 

[maxiesmom]

The poster had said seating early due to disability had priority to recline over an infant in a car seat. I disagree since reclining seats are not guaranteed and an infant not properly secured could die or be injured in turbulence.

I think if someone is reclining a seat due to a disability they deserve as much consideration as a child who doesn't technically even have to have their own seat. Or once they have a seat are not required to be in a car seat.

 

[KalamityJane]

If I bought a seat for my child, it doesn't matter if they technically don't "need" one. They actually do need one, but FAA rules do not require it. The FAA actually strongly urges not having lap children as it's very unsafe. Unfortunately, laws say they are okay.

If I had a person that needed to recline due to disability in front if my child, I would see if I could switch seats if my child was under forward facing age/height/weight. Some seats only allow forward facing after 34" for example, so asking for the seat to forward face if the child is under that height is actually illegal use of the CRS.

 

[lorenni]

Last time we flew, we had two 4 yr olds and did not use carseats on the airplane. This time we will have a 5, 2 and 1 yr old. This is only our 2 nd time flying. What are the rules and recommendations for carseats? How do we get kids, bags and carseats through the airport?

We have a CARES harness that straps to the seat and then over our toddlers shoulders to the regular safety belt - resulting in a 5 point harness. It feel like his car seat to him, so he doesn't mind it at all. There are height/weight restrictions - we started using it when he turned 2 and will likely use it until he is 4 or 5 depending on how quickly he grows out of it. It folds up and fits into a very small bag (5x7 or so inches) and is light weight. Money well spent.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think if someone is reclining a seat due to a disability they deserve as much consideration as a child who doesn't technically even have to have their own seat. Or once they have a seat are not required to be in a car seat.

Of course they deserve as much consideration. Both should receive *equal* consideration, as both passengers' seats were paid for. The statement above basically comes across as the child deserves less consideration because they aren't required to have a seat in the first place. My child's safety is my responsibility, no one else's, and if I've paid to have her in that seat, you better believe she's going to be in that seat as safely as possible. If that means I have to move so someone can recline, sobeit. But I'm not going to put my child into a situation that I believe is less safe when I have paid for the right to have her sit in that seat safely, just like everyone else.

I also don't believe airlines will allow a parent to sit a child under 2 in a regular seat with just the lap belt. I'm pretty sure if you are intending on having an infant have their own seat, that they are then required to be in their FAA approved car seat.

 

[MsDiz]

Last time we flew, we had two 4 yr olds and did not use carseats on the airplane. This time we will have a 5, 2 and 1 yr old. This is only our 2 nd time flying. What are the rules and recommendations for carseats? How do we get kids, bags and carseats through the airport?

I always had our carseats on the plane for the kids. Safety is important for sure, and it made me feel better about flying with them since flying scares me. They are used to their own seat that is already adjusted to them. Plus they are more apt to falling asleep on the familiar seat. The other people on the flights who were rolling their eyes as we loaded carseat an kid onto the plane were also the ones who complemented my kids for being so well behaved and quiet on the five plus hour flights.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I would definitely have carseats for the 2 and 1 y/o. As long as your carseats are FAA approved, you can use them on the plane. We have a Britax Marathon, and we use the Britax Travel Cart to wheel the car seat through the airport. There are other off-brand versions of the same thing that may be cheaper. I only have one DD (almost 2), but when we fly I usually wear her in a carrier (a Beco Gemini, like an Ergo) on my back. This way my hands are free to do whatever I need, DD is safe and sound and close, and we don't have to bring the stroller through the airport. (We generally rent a City Mini from an offsite company when we go to Disney). As for dealing with luggage - we use curbside check-in. With DD being worn, I can help roll the luggage over to curbside and wait with it there while DH gets the rest of the bags over. The skycaps take our checked luggage from there - so it's dealt with pretty quickly. As for carry-on luggage, we try to limit ourselves as much as possible. On previous trips, I was EPing, so to fit what we needed, we brought 1 rolling suitcase, 1 laptop bag (that fit over the handle of the rolling suitcase, so they could be rolled together by 1 person), and the diaper bag (which was a backpack that DH wore). The diaper bag has also been put into the car seat on the travel cart on past trips. On our last trip, DH rolled the car seat and the diaper bag (it's a bit more unwieldy) while I rolled the rolling suitcase/laptop bag combo and wore DD in a back carry. Also, with boarding the plane, we always made sure DH boarded before DD and I (with as much of the carry-on luggage as he was allowed to take). This allowed him to get the luggage stowed and the car seat installed before DD and I were on the plane. Then when DD and I got on the plane, she could go in the car seat immediately and I could get situated without impeding the flow of other boarding passengers. Another tip for flying - try to plan flights around naptime, and have something for your youngest 2 to drink/suck on while taking off. We've done this each time, and DD has always slept on the plane (almost the whole flight!). The sucking/drinking also helps keep her ears from popping/feeling painful.

This is EXACTLY what we do to a T

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[maxiesmom]

Of course they deserve as much consideration. Both should receive *equal* consideration, as both passengers' seats were paid for. The statement above basically comes across as the child deserves less consideration because they aren't required to have a seat in the first place. My child's safety is my responsibility, no one else's, and if I've paid to have her in that seat, you better believe she's going to be in that seat as safely as possible. If that means I have to move so someone can recline, sobeit. But I'm not going to put my child into a situation that I believe is less safe when I have paid for the right to have her sit in that seat safely, just like everyone else.

I also don't believe airlines will allow a parent to sit a child under 2 in a regular seat with just the lap belt. I'm pretty sure if you are intending on having an infant have their own seat, that they are then required to be in their FAA approved car seat.

What I am trying to say is that many posters are saying that children have to have car seats to fly, therefore their need trumps anyone else's. Technically speaking, that is not true. A car seat is a want, not a need, from the airline's point of view.

While some parents may be more comfortable with their children in car seats, as it is not technically a need, I don't think the car seat trumps the need of an adult for a certain seat. If they have a medical reason that they need to recline for the flight I think it is just as important. It is as if some people are thinking "We have a car seat, we are the most important!". I don't agree. Both should be accommodated when possible.

 

[Angel Ariel]

What I am trying to say is that many posters are saying that children have to have car seats to fly, therefore their need trumps anyone else's. Technically speaking, that is not true. A car seat is a want, not a need, from the airline's point of view.

If a seat has been purchased for a child, that parent has the right to fly them in a car seat. The airline can't tell them "you've purchased this seat for the child, but you must now hold them as a lap child instead." And as I said before, I don't believe an airline is allowed to let a 6 month old fly using the lap belt...if the child has a seat, at that point they must be in the car seat to use the seat.

While some parents may be more comfortable with their children in car seats, as it is not technically a need, I don't think the car seat trumps the need of an adult for a certain seat. If they have a medical reason that they need to recline for the flight I think it is just as important. It is as if some people are thinking "We have a car seat, we are the most important!". I don't agree. Both should be accommodated when possible.

Both should be accommodated, period. I'm not saying a person with medical needs is less important. I'd be happy to move me and my child to accommodate a medical need. Every person on the plane does not have a medical need to recline, so if I need to be moved somewhere else, that's fine. But if I have purchased a seat for that child, I have the same right to use that seat safely for my child as anyone else on the plane. Just because I didn't "have" to purchase her seat, doesn't mean anyone has the right to tell me I have to fly with her as a lap child once I have purchased the seat. Dd flying in a car seat is not optional in our family. We pay the same $$ for her seat as we pay for ours, and she will fly in the safest manner possible. That's not up to anyone else to decide. As I said, I'm happy to move for anyone who has a medical need to be able to recline, but I will be using the seat I paid for for my child in the safest way possible.

 

[AZMermaid]

Both should be accommodated when possible.

I would agree with this.

Reality is, someone has to move if they line up. It is probably a case by case basis of who it is easier to move. I had a gentlemen in front of me who had a large back brace and was very slow moving. It would have been easier in that case for us to move (even though moving once settled with the seat would be truly awful, it still would be easier for us). I would think in most cases, a solo adult traveler would be easier to move though. If groups, maybe the adult could switch to another seat in the row since the car seat has to be next to the window.

I don't think any group is more important. Mass transit can be tough for anyone who has needs outside the "norm."

 

[Lisa71]

I think if someone is reclining a seat due to a disability they deserve as much consideration as a child who doesn't technically even have to have their own seat. Or once they have a seat are not required to be in a car seat.

You cannot recline in take off and landing and as the parent of a child with a disability I agree every thing should be done to accommodate. It should have the people reseated however and not place the child in danger. Our kids always had a seat on the plane and car seats. Our son has CP and it would have been really hard to fly at all if we had not done it..and I am a safety nut. I was not trying to be contentious but safety is always first.