Flying w/ 2 1/2 year-old- car seat needed?

[TTFNTigger]

Decided to fly into MCO instead of driving 9+ hours with a 2 1/2 year old. Never flown with a child this age. Do we need to bring her car seat? Does Magical Express have car seats?

TIA

 

[DebbieB]

Decided to fly into MCO instead of driving 9+ hours with a 2 1/2 year old. Never flown with a child this age. Do we need to bring her car seat? Does Magical Express have car seats?

TIA

No car seat required on plane, optional. Car seats are not allowed on busses.

 

[TTFNTigger]

Thanks so much for your quick response!

 

[bumbershoot]

The child will need to be trustworthy in just a lap belt for the flight; if you worry that s/he will not be OK in that setup, bring the carseat if it will fit in the 17" wide seat area. (and a carseat needs to be in the window seat so it doesn't block people from getting out of the seat row in a hurry.

Then on DME it will go under the bus for the trip.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if you use a carseat on the plane plan on child not repeat not being to use the tray table. you will not be able to use on buses DME or park

 

[OKW Lover]

Also be aware that any car seat to be used on the plane must be FAA approved. There should be some kind of label on the seat if it qualifies.

 

[TTFNTigger]

So those of you that have flown with a 2 1/2 year old, do they have to sit in a car seat in their own seat? Can they ride in a parent's lap? Can they have their own seat without a car seat?

I'm asking for a family member. Everyone has their own preference for travelling- I myself would rather drive than navigate airports with a toddler, but my kids are good travelers and I grew up traveling long distances in a car. Also with having to go through security, catch connecting flights, and wait on ME to take me to the hotel I'm not sure that flying is going to save them time or stress, but again to each their own and driving can be more stressful than flying to some.

Thanks again!

 

[OKW Lover]

So those of you that have flown with a 2 1/2 year old, do they have to sit in a car seat in their own seat? Can they ride in a parent's lap? Can they have their own seat without a car seat?

I believe the rule for most airlines is that a child under two can be a lap child, but over two they need their own seat. Check your airline to be sure.

Car seats aren't needed on the plane. If you intend to use one it must be FAA approved for use in flight. There should be some kind of sticker on the seat if it is.

 

[cmarsh31]

Up until age 4-ish, my kids rode on planes in carseats (we used an Evenflo Maestro - by far NOT my favorite carseat, but it's superlight weight and low profile, so it fits well in an airplane seat). Yes, children over two have to have their own seat (and honestly it's not worth any amount of $ saving to try wrangle a toddler without a seat to me). Also, kids know to stay in their carseat - that makes sense to them, so we never had an problems with them getting antsy or wanting to move around when they were in their own carseats.

 

[PSULion]

My 2 flew multiple times as lap kids and then in their own seats. A 2 1/2 yr old must have their own seat and must sit it in during take off and landing, whether in a car seat or just using the seatbelt. We never took a car seat and they were perfectly fine. No issues at all simply sitting in the seat and wearing the seatbelt.

 

[TTFNTigger]

Thanks again! Will pass this info on to my family.

 

[Dis703]

At 2 1/2 they will have to have their own seat, but a car seat isn't necessary. I will say I find them very helpful though. Kids are used to having to stay put in their car seat, but the seatbelt on the airplane is pretty easy to open or maneuver out of for a toddler. With my oldest we brought his car seat and it worked out great. For my twins lugging 2 car seats was not something I wanted to do so we rented the CARES harness and that worked very well also.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It's not an airline rule it's an FAA regulation. If your child is 1 day over 2 you must purchase a seat.

Also you need to bring a copy of the birth certificate or maybe A shot record to provide proof of age for lap kids. I have heard SW has denied infants without documents

 

[tjmw2727]

It is a tough decision at that age - they are required to be in their own seat (no more lap flying) so if they can't stay seated then a car seat is a valid consideration. If the child will stay seated and belted in the airline lap belt and you (they) don't need a car seat for car travel then you can forgo the carseat. I had one child who would stay seated at 2 1/2 and be fine in the airline seat and another who needed the structure of the car seat until after 3ish. FWIW we always put a member of our family if possible in front of the car seat in case of potential seat kicking!

 

[pooch]

Took our grandson at 2 1/2 with a car seat. He jumped right up and napped the whole flight. Used a small rolling cart at the airport that also held our carry on and folded flat. I was happy we used it. YMMV

 

[njmousefest]

A car seat at that age does add a level of comfort and familiarity for the child. A little inconvenient for travel through the airport, but all in all better for the flight.

 

[Muskrat191]

The FAA recommends car seats until a child reaches 40 lbs. Small children may not be adequately protected in the case of turbulence, etc. by the airplane seat belt alone. Car seats are allowed after 40 lbs.

In the past, I have brought a lap desk for my kids since they can't use the tray table.

 

[TTFNTigger]

At 2 1/2 they will have to have their own seat, but a car seat isn't necessary. I will say I find them very helpful though. Kids are used to having to stay put in their car seat, but the seatbelt on the airplane is pretty easy to open or maneuver out of for a toddler. With my oldest we brought his car seat and it worked out great. For my twins lugging 2 car seats was not something I wanted to do so we rented the CARES harness and that worked very well also.

What is the CARES harness?

 

[TTFNTigger]

The FAA recommends car seats until a child reaches 40 lbs. Small children may not be adequately protected in the case of turbulence, etc. by the airplane seat belt alone. Car seats are allowed after 40 lbs.

In the past, I have brought a lap desk for my kids since they can't use the tray table.

Recommended for under 40 lbs but not required?

 

[Muskrat191]

No, the FAA recommends but does not require car seats. However, that doesn't mean that the seat belt alone will be safe for small kids in the case of turbulence (common) or aborted takeoffs or landings (much less common).