FAA Approved Booster Seat

[patiruss]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a FAA approved booster seat available. We will be flying with our 5 year old granddaughter and would like her to have one on the plane and then be able to use it in a car when we get there. She has a good high back booster car seat, but we were thinking of a backless seat. Can anyone help???

 

[chicknoodle99]

I cant give you any specific brands but every seat that is approved by FAA for travel will have a sticker on the seat. The airlines look to make sure that the seat is safe for airline travel.

The sticker can be anywhere on the seat and it usually says "this restraint is approved for motor vehicle and aircraft"

I have also seen some that specifically say "this restraint is NOT approved for airline travel"

Good luck and have fun!

 

[patiruss]

Thanks for your reply. I do know about the sticker and all the boosters I've found so far are not approved by FAA. I was hoping somone would know of one that was approved. It may not even exist. Thanks again for your input.

 

[mobetsy]

I don't think FAA approved boosters exist for a single specific reason: boosters are designed to be used with a lap-shoulder belt combination. That is the only way they are safe, not with a lap belt only. Airplanes only have lap belts.

Good for you for making sure she will be properly secured in a booster! You can get several different makes of backless boosters for $20 or less at places like Target; either put it in a small duffel/suitcase and check it, or carry it on and toss it in the overhead compartment (my preference, because then you know it didn't have hundreds of lbs of luggage stacked on top of it).

 

[safetymom]

Can I use a car safety seat on an airplane?"
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the AAP recommend that children be securely fastened in child safety seats until 4 years of age, then be secured with the airplane seat belts. This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing, or in case of turbulence. Most infant, convertible, and forward-facing seats are certified to be used on airplanes. Booster seats and travel vests are not. Check the label on your car safety seat and call the airline before you travel to be sure your seat meets current FAA regulations.

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

I don't think your grand daughter would need to be in a booster seat on the plane. If her legs are long she would be very uncomfortable. There is not a lot of leg room. She will be fine with just the lap belt. Check the booster seat for your use in FL.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by patiruss
Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a FAA approved booster seat available. We will be flying with our 5 year old granddaughter and would like her to have one on the plane and then be able to use it in a car when we get there. She has a good high back booster car seat, but we were thinking of a backless seat. Can anyone help???

You won't find an FAA approved booster seat as they require a shoulder harness. In addition, I think a 5yo would be very uncomfortable in a carseat on the aircraft anyway due to the small size of the seats and proximity to the seat in front of you. We stopped using a carseat on the aircraft with our dd's at about 3ish due to this reason.

We have a cosco low back booster seat that we use for travel. It fits in a small duffell bag and I check it through with the checked luggage.

TJ

 

[patiruss]

Thank you everyone for your replies. They were very helpful. We won't use booster for the plane, but will have one available in Florida.

 

[Threeblues]

Thank you everyone for your replies. They were very helpful. We won't use booster for the plane, but will have one available in Florida.

We use a recaro 5 Point harness booster seat. They allow a five point harness seat in the planes that are faa approved. It fit in the seat with no problems.

 

[kaytieeldr]

First, how exactly does one secure a five point booster seat to a seat with only a lap belt?

Second, would you mind posting pictures of the GAS label in conjunction with the booster seat?

Finally, given th a the traveler in question is now 19, discussion is moot.

 

[CarrieR]

FWIW, you secure a 5pt harness booster seat (“combination seat” in technical terms) by putting the airplane’s lap belt through the forward-facing belt path and tightening it. No tether necessary on the airplane. (I’m a Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor, for what it’s worth.)

I can grab a photo of the sticker once I’m home next week if no one else gets it before then.

Obviously not for the OP’s Grandbaby, but just as an FYI for your future knowledge

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ah, okay. I was under the distinct impressions that (,a) booster seats are not usable on aircraft; and (b) that a convertible CRS indicates a car seat that converts from rear-,facing to front-,facing as the child grows.

 

[Threeblues]

My recaro has a place for the lap belt it also tethers and can be used with a shoulder belt. It can be used with a lap belt with harnesses that are on the seat. This was posted by me for future people looking for a solution not the op who is to old now. You know offering a solution for everyone! I can post the sticker when that car seat is home it’s in my husbands car. Besides this seat is easy to get the belt back out some seats your hand need to be thin etc and it can be a pain. My seat goes to 110 pounds as a booster.