do you use car seat for a 5 years old in a plane

[fac]

I have always bought tickets for my girls and always use car seats on the plane.

Now that my girl will be 6 in Aug but is less than 40 lbs, I am not sure whether I need to use car seat for her.

The issue is not bringing to 2 car seats on the plane (I have a 3 years old), but the policy is that car seat has to be placed on the window side. This gave us a problem in our last trip because the seats on the plane are 3 - 3, even we arrived the airport 2 hours prior to departure, we were not able to get 2 pairs of window/middle seat (I have 2 girls) from the ticket counter. Again, it was without success on the gate, basically our seats are 2, 1 and 1. We were told to go up to the plane and the FA would fix it. I had to put one of the girls sat by herself in a middle seat while I am waiting in my seat for the FA to see who would change the seat for her. In the meantime, she was screaming. Eventually, we were put on the last row. I do not want this to repeat again.

BTW, I never had this problem in the past and I think not all FAs are aware that car seat has to be placed on the window seat.

 

[ducklite]

I wouldn't. There isn't enough room between the seats to accomodate a car seat and the longer legs of a child over the age of three or so.

Also I could be wrong, but I don't think those large "booster" seats are FAA approved.

I'm sure Gail will know

Anne

 

[safetymom]

At that age the seat belt will work for your daughter in the plane. Her legs would probably be hitting the back of the seat and not be very comfortable.

Most booster seats are not allowed on planes. If you need the seat in Florida just check it along with your luggage.

 

[dougsmom98]

We didn't use a car seat in the plane for our 5 year old or our 3.5 year old twins. There was so much more room without them. On our last trip when the twins were 2 and our oldest was 4, it was terribly crowded with the car seats and the kids kept kicking the seats in front of them. Without the car seats, they couldn't reach the seats in front of them with their legs. Our kids also behaved better because they could access the tray table and act like grown ups. It was also very nice not to have to drag three car seats through the airport.
-Amy

 

[beattyfamily]

I stopped using car seats on the plane once my DDs were 4. It's SUCH A PAIN to transport them!!

Now I pack 2 small booster seats into one car seat bag and check it with our luggage for our rental car.

 

[fac]

thank you all.
It is reassuring and I will check in the car seat for my 5 years old
but will bring the car seat for the 3 years old.