Flying with 5 point harness seats?

[U2_rocks!]

Unfortunately I think my 4 and 5 year old DDs are just going to be too small to use just the backless booster for our upcoming trip - we're going to have to take their harnessed seats (both will be under 40 lbs and short). As far as I'm concerned they are old enouh to fly without carseats, but we will need to carry the seats to install in the rental car.

How have you all traveled with such seats? Do you gate check them, count them as luggage, shrick wrap them, bag them, what? I have no idea the best way to get them there! At least the backless boosters are easier to transport - they can even fit into some suitcases! Last time we flew with kids we only had DS, and we took the carseat on the plane b/c he was under 2.

 

[becca011906]

your kids are both so much safer in a 5pt harness. Good for you for keeping them that way! My suggestion would be if they are light weight seats just put them on the plane with you they kids will be able to sleep better in thier own seats, they will behave better, ect. and you don't have to worry what might happen to them w/ all the lugage, how know how they might come back to you after that... BUT if you really want to check them then I'd look around online or at Babies r us for thoes car seat carrier bags that will help keep them a little safer with the lugage stuff. HTH

 

[U2_rocks!]

Is it true that they have to be FAA approved in order to be used on the plane? Is there a sticker that shows that somewhere on the seat itself? I can't even remember what kind of seats they are exactly - I'll have to check them this weekend.

You know, one of the reasons we're bringing the seats (apart from safety) is the aspect of falling asleep while driving - they still fall asleep very quickly in a moving car if they're tired, and I expect some very tiring days at WDW! Backless boosters have zero support for a sleeping child! If there's a chance they'll sleep in the plane then maybe we should take the seats on board.

 

[all4fun]

Is it true that they have to be FAA approved in order to be used on the plane? Is there a sticker that shows that somewhere on the seat itself? I can't even remember what kind of seats they are exactly - I'll have to check them this weekend.

You know, one of the reasons we're bringing the seats (apart from safety) is the aspect of falling asleep while driving - they still fall asleep very quickly in a moving car if they're tired, and I expect some very tiring days at WDW! Backless boosters have zero support for a sleeping child! If there's a chance they'll sleep in the plane then maybe we should take the seats on board.

Here's the FAA "child safety on Airplanes" site:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

You seats should have a white sticker on them that says in Red lettering:
"This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" .

If it has a 5-pt harness, even if it can convert to a booster seat, it should have this sticker on the side somewhere. If the sticker isn't there, then they might make you check it.

I've read that the eddie bauer bag at Target is a good one. You could also double bag it in some garbage bags, and sometimes the airlines have clear plastic bags they can give you at the check in counter as well.

FYI: I wanted to add that backless boosters are really not that great overall. Some have 30# minimum weight requirement but many have a 40# minimum. They also provide no Side Impact Protection. A High Back booster is much better, if the child isn't too tall for one. LBB's only provide protection from seatbelt injuries. THIS ARTICLE HERE explains in more detail if you're interested.
hth.

 

[Neelloc]

I've flown with the 5 point harness carseat twice. Once I had Avery sit in it on the plane, the 2nd time, we checked it and she just sat in the seat.

The seat has to be FAA approved to be used on the plane. The flight attendants did check our seat.

The time we checked it, Southwest just put it in a giant plastic bag and it ended up being fine.

 

[becca011906]

FYI: I wanted to add that backless boosters are really not that great overall. Some have 30# minimum weight requirement but many have a 40# minimum. They also provide no Side Impact Protection. A High Back booster is much better, if the child isn't too tall for one. LBB's only provide protection from seatbelt injuries. THIS ARTICLE HERE explains in more detail if you're interested.
hth.

TOTALLY AGREE!!! Hi back boosters are so much better over all! and do help a lot with kids that nap often in cars, although if they nap often in cars then you might consider a higher weigh limit harness seat b/c if a child falls asleep in a BPB they will be out of possition for the seat belt to work properly in a crash, they should only be moved to a booster seat if they can stay in the correct position the WHOLE ride. My ds who's almost 7 is in a britax parkway that is for kids up to 60" and has the only booster that has True side impact protection. It also has no upper weight restriction. so you can use it past the 100lbs mark if need be.

 

[dismom301930]

Is it true that they have to be FAA approved in order to be used on the plane? Is there a sticker that shows that somewhere on the seat itself?

We brought our daughter's seat on the plane with us. She is 40 inches, 35 pounds. She slept the whole way down. It does have to have the sticker on it, which ours does, although we flew Southwest and they didn't check our seat either way.

As we watched them load (or "throw" might be a better word) the luggage onto the plane, my DH and I both decided that we would never check a carseat. If we can't bring it on the plane, we will gate-check it.

 

[Disnewbie_N_MO]

Is is mandatory to have a child in a car seat? When I was getting a quote on airfare, it gave seat or lap as options for children under 2.

 

[all4fun]

Is is mandatory to have a child in a car seat? When I was getting a quote on airfare, it gave seat or lap as options for children under 2.

The way the FAA site is worded, it's not mandatory but it is highly recommended. Airlines can also make their rules stricter than the FAA requires ie they can require that a child under the age of two who is traveling in their own seat use a CRS. Check with your particular airline.

If your child is under the age of two and will be in their own seat, then they will be more comfortable using a car seat, plus it's just safer.

hth!