Five year old in booster seat?

[JenC025]

I was thinking of bringing our booster sear on the plane, the airline oked it but am not sure if I should. He's only about 42lbs and am not sure how the secure the seats are for a young child. Can someone tell me for his age how are the seats on continental? This is the first time flying with a child. TIA

 

[staylor]

Hello. I am a flight attendant, maybe I can help. It depends on what type of booster seat it is. If it is the type that has a high back and harness type seat belt, then yes it will be fine. If it is the booster that has the flap that flips over the child's lap, then no it may not go in a seat. I do not work for continental but have flown on them plenty. Like I said, if you have the high back seat than it should be fine. I have a 5 year old son who also weighs 42 pounds. I don't bring his seat anymore only because I bring his brother's (16 mos) seat. My son does have the high back booster in the car. A 42 pound child is safe in the airplane seat. Just make sure that for take off and landing they are not sitting on their knees. They need to have their feet out in front of them. I always tell the kids this on the plane and they look at me like I am crazy. But if they are sitting on their knees they will go flying right out of that seat in an emergency. But, your child would be more safe in the booster with the 5 point harness than in the airplane seat. IMHO. I don't like riding in the passenger seats on the plane. I would rather sit on the jumpseat with my shoulder harness' too. But, that doesn't mean that the seats aren't safe. I just feel more secure that way. Feel free to email me with any questions.
Staci

 

[honeymom]

One thing to point out - even if it is a high back booster - if you are still using as a convertible carseat with the harness straps, yes it is okay.

HOWEVER, if you are using as a booster (where you put your car's seatbelt over your child's shoulder) then it is not okay.

My guess having a five year old who is about the same weight as yours is that you are doing the latter.

Last year, while my daughter still fit with the harness straps we used the seat on the plane. However, because she was already so big, she was very uncomfortable and was really too close to the seat in front of her. So now we don't use it anymore.

I haven't flown Continental for a few years, but I used to have a job that required me to fly every week, often on Continental. My only complaint with the airline is that they never had enough blankets and pillows and their planes were always freezing. Make sure you take sweatshirts for the plane and try to get blankets and pillows as soon as you get on if they haven't been left in your seat. That way if they run out of blankets and the plane gets cold, you won't be one of the people without one.

 

[tjmw2727]

Check the back of the seat for an FAA sticker, if it dosen't have one it can't be used. On a high back convertable seat (ie century breverra et al) the sticker usually states that it is FAA approved with the three point harness and not when used as a "booster" with the lap/shoulder belt. FWIW, this seat should not be used with the 3 point harness for children over 40lbs, check your owners manual for more information.

Short answer is that your son should not be able to use a booster seat on the airplane as he is to heavy for the 3 point and the seat is not FAA approved for lap/shoulder belt use.

My 4yo did fine with the regular seatblet, we just enforced the car rules, stay seated and wear the seatbelt.
Have a great time.
TJ

 

[skeezixspud]

... harness (that being the harness that is attached to the carseat itself, which stays attached when you take the seat out of the vehicle.) Most US-made high-back booster seats are rated to 40 lbs. with the 5-point harness, but should be used without it after that weight; the stickers on the seat should tell you the limits. The FAA regs do not allow high-back booster seats to be used on aircraft when the integral 5-point harness has been removed.

Integral 3-pt harnesses do exist, but only in infant-only seats. I'm mentioning it because this conversation might be confusing to some readers outside the US. Safety seats manufactured in the US can all be secured using a lap-only belt, but many European-made seats cannot. The stickers on some booster seats I've seen refer to the vehicle's lap/shoulder belt as a 3-point harness, so it might be an important distinction.

 

[tjmw2727]

Your right and that is an inportant distinction. That should read 5 point harness but I believe all the other information stands.
TJ