Dedicated Travel Carseat

[HCinKC]

I've flown with both my kids since they were young. I never used a car seat on the plane. Before age 2, I didn't want to buy them a seat when I knew they'd end up in my lap most of the time anyway. We did gate check a seat, and I would definitely recommend getting a gate check bag, even if it's just the inexpensive red drawstring bag.

I agree with having a gate check bag. I had the stroller in one this time, and I'm so glad I did. There was a rip in the bag that no doubt would have been my stroller fabric had it not been covered!

FWIW to the OP, we also never fly with a car seat unless we need one upon arrival. Everyone has their own, often very strong opinion about it. I feel just fine with a lap child. I also feel just fine with only the plane's seat belt (without the addition of the CARES harness). Aside from personal beliefs, I think a child's temperament factors in, as well as a parent's willingness to have a child on their lap. Our 6yo was always great - lap, car seat, plane seat. Our 10mo is MUCH more fidgety, but he was fine on our laps this time. I don't know how he will be in a few more months though. Next time we fly, we may opt to get him a seat if we think he would be too hard to contain.

 

[karatstravels]

We have a Brixtax Marathon and use the Brixtax travel cart. We wheeled our 4 month old in it last time we traveled (we checked our stroller). Rolled right to the plane and gate checked it. Folds easily to fit in the overhead if you are taking the car seat on the plane. Worked like a charm and we had several people stop to ask us where we got it.

 

[MinMou]

We use the Nextfit on planes. We have flown with it on JetBlue and Southwest. When it was rear facing, we would ask the flight attendant for a strap extender, and it would fit with the arm rest up. We haven't flown facing forward yet, but that should be easier.

While our child is legally small enough to be a lap child, I value the extra room we get when he sits in his seat. You also get to carry on more things when you book the extra seat, and that means his carry-on is the diaper bag and his hand luggage is a toy bag.

 

[DopeyDame]

Diono Radian hands down! It folds in half and fits nicely in its carrying bag. Fits well on airplane seats. A little on the heavier side but very durable. Can be back or forward facing and converts to booster. Very easy to install. We bought it for travel and it ended up our main carseat when at home.

Before getting the Radian and after being out of the infant seat, I tried carrying our britax through the airport using one of those straps that you attach to your carry on. It was a pain.
Now that DS is 4 I just check the Radian in its bag at the counter. The airline people still cannot believe that "tiny" bag contains our car-seat. They sometimes unzip it to take a look to make sure we are not cheating and getting a free bag.

I can't disagree more strongly!!!!! We bought the (very expensive!) radian because of reviews like that. Everyone said it's great because it's skinny. One flight was enough for me to want to throw it out the emergency exit window. It's the heaviest POS on the planet, doesn't fold easily, and is so much harder to install than the Britax. I'll happily carry a dozen britax carseats through the airport before I look at the Radian again. (We ended up giving it to my mom to use as her extra grandma carseat)

Clearly everyone has different opinions about seats, so just make sure actually see one and hold one before you buy a radian.

 

[MinMou]

I recommend going to a store where they will let you try out the car seats and show you how to install your seat. That is why we don't have a Radian. It was heavy and very difficult to install. We went with the Nextfit because of its weight and it is SUPER easy to install.

The other seat we found that is easy to install and doesn't weigh too much is the Evenflo SecureKid DLX Booster Car Seat. When we needed a less expensive seat for lending out, it was recommended by a Car Seat Technician.

 

[laughinplace199]

We've had both the Cosco Scenera and Evenflo Maestro. Both were good for travel.

The only thing I didn't like about the Scenera was that I found it difficult to install rear facing in our rental car.

 

[Jing]

Thanks for all the great input!

We decided to go with the safety first Guide with a Jeep travel bag. Price, weight, European compatibility, and positive reviews factored in. Plus, I just wasn't comfortable with using the infant seat even though I know it would probably be fine. We have enough trips coming up where we have to get a car that it just seemed worth it to buy it now.

We head out on Tuesday for NOLA and will report back.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I need a recommendation as our Nextfits do not fit in a plane seat. I would like something that is comfortable, easy to install in planes/cars, and durable so I only have to buy one. I am okay with spending the money if the features are worth the cost.

We read good reviews of the cosco scenera next as a travel car seat. We bought one for that purpose..it'll make 2 round trip cross country trips this year