Carseats on planes

[kellia]

Sorry, I have yet another question!

My twin sons will be 4 in Jan, a couple weeks before we go to Florida. We have to bring their carseats because we are getting a car in Orlando. Should we bring them on the plane or is that too much hassle, especially since we change flights? I just worry about going through the airport with 3 kids, 2 stollers, 2 car seats, carry-ons, etc. I want them to be safe, but honestly, if something happens with the plane will the car seat will make much difference?? (Yes, I know that sounded horrible!) If you check the car seats, what do you put them in? Do they get thrown around a lot so they need to be packaged carefully?

Sorry, as you can tell, we don't travel much! LOL! None of my kids have ever been on a plane and dh and I have only been a couple of times in our lives. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Happy4Disney]

I used to take the car seats on the plane but that got to be too much trouble and especially now since there are limits to how much you can carry on. I went to Babies R Us for a car seat bag, they might have them at Wal Mart too. It is pretty much just a big vinyl zipper bag made for a car seat. Much easier checking the seats instead of lugging them through the airport. I will say the best thing about using carseats on the plan is that the kids are used to them and it keeps them nicely in their seats.

When you get to the baggage carousel you will see lots of carseats in those bags, I think a lot of people check them. Now my girls are older and don't need them but it seems like yesterday when we had all that gear!

 

[dana1003]

nah you dont need them..i had my 3 year old twins in the reg seat belt and they were fine-also coming and going i saw no kids w/carseats, all seatbelts.

 

[twinspluscade]

I'd definetely check them. Not sure if your boys are still in carseats or in boosters; but if they're in boosters they won't let them use the boosters on the plane anyway. Plus there's not a whole lot of room between the airplane seat and the seat in front of you; unless your boys are really small they might be uncomfortable. We didn't bring a carseat for our almost 3-year old; and couldn't bring boosters on for our 4 year old twins.
I'd also suggest checking the strollers; that's two more things you don't have have to haul around the airport. It's enough of a pain having to get the kids and carryons through security without worrying about two strollers as well. If you're flying into Orlando Internation Airport there isn't a whole lot of walking (at least I didn't think so), my 4 year olds and almost 3 year old handled it fine.

Kelly

 

[o2bacelt]

We usually take our car seats on planes but after this last time (this past October) even with checking the stroller and using a gogokidz attachment on our seat, it was easier but I think our DD is getting too tall for the car seat on the plane.

Next time we'll check both the seat and the stroller and just take her and our carry ons through security. Our seat is always a pain at our home airport, since it's a Britax and they have to hand search it but in Orlando they have the bigger machines so it's easier on that end.

I agree that there isn't much walking at Orlando. Our home airport can be a walk but will get better when they finish the new subway to the midfield terminal.

 

[NotUrsula]

The key question is, how much do they weigh? The FAA recommendation is to use a 5-pt harness seat until the child weighs 40 lbs., at which point they will have the same risk level in a lap belt as an adult would.

However, current coach seat pitch being what it is, I've found that a child who is over 4 ft. tall really cannot sit properly in a carseat on a plane in coach; the angle of the lower leg is too wide, and will force their ankles against the seat in front.

 

[Zoemakes5]

Should we bring them on the plane or is that too much hassle, especially since we change flights? I just worry about going through the airport with 3 kids, 2 stollers, 2 car seats, carry-ons, etc. I want them to be safe, but honestly, if something happens with the plane will the car seat will make much difference?? (Yes, I know that sounded horrible!) If you check the car seats, what do you put them in? Do they get thrown around a lot so they need to be packaged carefully?

Will it be a big pain, yep, unfortunately. Would I gate check them or take them with me, yes. I've been "caught" two times before when changing planes where I got stranded at my connecting airport and was taken to hotels nearby. Once when one of my children wasn't paid yet, so I didn't have her in the seat.
Plus, I've read in Conde Nast just the other day that there's a huge upswing in lost luggage. It would be terrible to get to your destination and not have car seats! That's one piece of luggage I would not want to lose!
And, YES, having the car seat on the plan can make a huge difference if there's a problem. Seat belts are made for adult people. Even in heavy turbulance, kids can slide out of those seatbelts. If, God forbid, there was something that caused the plane to take a very sudden dive or to become inverted, a small child becomes a projectile. Plus, most kids under about 5 or 6 don't have the length between their back and the back of their legs for the width of the seat, so you either have them with their feet fairly straight out or with their bodies scooched forward so that their legs are bending right. Not something you want.
I always liked having them for behavior purposes, too. My kids know that when you're in the carseat you have to stay that way. They are used to riding in the car that way. So, theres none of the opening and closing of the seatbelts or arguments about whether they can take them off. Also, it's a comfort thing. They're familiar with their car seats, it's their smell and touch. They have at least partially rounded sides, too, which helps for naps.
For ease in carrying around, you can do a number of things. One, you could purchase a couple of those luggage straps and carry the car seats over your shoulder or over the back of the strollers when the child is in the stroller for counter balance. We actually purchased a car seat cover with my oldest child. 12 years and three kids later it's still going strong, just very beat up. Best $60 gadget I ever bought. It made it easier to carry, kept it covered, and we were able to toss blankies/lovies into the "free space" between the seat and the zipper for easy access. For the one time we checked the car seat instead of using it, the cover kept away some sort of oily substance that stained the cover. For a period of time, we had two in car seats, and we used a luggage carrier/cart (the wheeled thingys) for the larger one and put the smaller one in the carrier.
If you are going to check the seats,

 

[Zoemakes5]

I'd definetely check them. Not sure if your boys are still in carseats or in boosters; but if they're in boosters they won't let them use the boosters on the plane anyway. Plus there's not a whole lot of room between the airplane seat and the seat in front of you; unless your boys are really small they might be uncomfortable. We didn't bring a carseat for our almost 3-year old; and couldn't bring boosters on for our 4 year old twins.
I'd also suggest checking the strollers; that's two more things you don't have have to haul around the airport. It's enough of a pain having to get the kids and carryons through security without worrying about two strollers as well.

They do allow a wide variety of boosters, there will be an FAA sticker somewhere on the car seat. Typically they are the high backed boosters.
Personally, I would most definitely take the stroller(s) and gate check them, as I've found they're invaluable for coralling small children and for the long walks (many airports there's a lot of walking involved) and for naps in if there's a delay. And, for us, it always helped with lugging stuff. Also, when we're getting the luggage, it helps the kids stay put and within focus instead of running around.

 

[jodifla]

They do allow a wide variety of boosters, there will be an FAA sticker somewhere on the car seat. Typically they are the high backed boosters.
Personally, I would most definitely take the stroller(s) and gate check them, as I've found they're invaluable for coralling small children and for the long walks (many airports there's a lot of walking involved) and for naps in if there's a delay. And, for us, it always helped with lugging stuff. Also, when we're getting the luggage, it helps the kids stay put and within focus instead of running around.

The would only allow a booster seat if it has a harness, so most boosters are not allowed.

I stopped using a car seat on a plane after DS turned 3. It was a HUGE HASSLE when I was traveling alone. I agree that strollers are great for keeping them corraled at the airport.

 

[kellia]

Thank you! They only weigh about 35 pounds, so they still have the 5 pt harness. I am sure they will grow in the next 2 months, but I doubt it will be that much! We just got new seats for the other car and I did make sure they were FAA approved.

 

[stacy6552]

Airplane seats are shallower than carseats. Therefore kids are safe on planes w/o carseats sooner than in cars. They should be fine on the plane without the seats.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just a note re: getting "stranded" at connecting airports because of weather problems. You can always gate-check carseats even if children are not sitting in them on the plane. The TSA folks have no clue about what the rules are for kids using carseats on the plane, so if you say that they will be using it on the flight, then they will let it through security. Once you get it to the gate, you can gate-check it to be delivered at the gate at your connecting airport, where you can gate-check it a second time to your destination. It is usually a good idea to ask at the main check-in desk for a heavy bag for the carseat if you are not carrying it in a satchel; they don't usually keep a supply of the bags at the gates.

PS: In regard to "booster seats". It doesn't matter if the mfr. calls it a booster or not; what counts for this purpose is whether it fits the FAA definition of a booster seat. The FAA's definition of a booster seat is a carseat that does NOT have an integral upper-body restraint system in it. If it has an integral upper-body harness, the FAA considers it a carseat, not a booster seat.

 

[LAL77]

I would definitely check the car seats if you need them once you get there. We've done two trips to Disney, one with two babies, two car seats, two strollers and two carry-ons. NIGHTMARE. Last week we scrapped the car seats and things were much easier. My girls are 2.5 and 3.5 and they both handled just the seatbelt beautifully. Since you need car seats once you get there you can check them. They will bag them for you but I would get the bags with the zipper and handle for extra protection.

Have fun!