Flying with carseat or no carseat?

[o2bacelt]

Why airlines don't provide carseats for infants in the first place?

Some airlines do. British Airways does have Britax seats available on some planes but they are available on a first come first serve basis. I don't know about any other airlines since I decided to fly United over and back this past summer we just brough our own seat.

 

[all4fun]

The OP was really on the fence and looking for opinions, not comments like "I choose safety over convenience" or stats from airplane crashes. Just opinions.

I assume it was my post towards the beginning of this thread you are loosely quoting? This is what I said:

"For me safety comes first, then convenience. jmho. hth."

This is what I was responding too:
"We like making things as convenient and quick as possible. "
and
"It's a pain to log around, takes up too much space and they don't like to sit in it for very long anyway."
And the OP did state:
"Any advice and opinions would be greatly appreciated. "

I was also responding to comments that were made stating that they could hold onto a child during severe turbulence. I posted quickly and was trying to not be too wordy in my response so I am sorry if I offended anyone with my comment at the end of the post. I guess it was sort of flippant sounding although it wasn't intended that way. Really, I acknowledge that the above two statements are correct - it is inconvenient and a pain to lug carseats through the airport. I look forward to the day I won't need to do it any more. I guess what I don't understand is what is wrong with responding with facts from reputable sources? That is how I came to conclude that it would be best to use a CRS when we fly and so that is why I quoted those sources. It was a logical choice for me - the only thing I get emotional about is the thought that my ds might become a "projectile object" on an airplane during turbulence or an accident. The thought of that litteraly makes me sick as I'm sure it does anyone when thinking about their own child. Anyway, once again, sorry to offend anyone. That was not my intent.

 

[NotUrsula]

Originally Posted by traci: Why airlines don't provide carseats for infants in the first place?

As far as I know, Virgin and BA are the only airlines that do, and they only provide them on their widebody aircraft on long-haul flights. BA's seats attach to the bulkheads, and I think that the maximum number of them that can be accomodated on a given flight is 6; though they don't always have 6 available for one plane.

No US carrier supplies carseats. The reason is two-fold: liability and logistics. The airlines are afraid of being sued if a child is hurt in any way (even pinched fingers, etc.) while using an airline-supplied CRS. More importantly, they are concerned about how much it would cost; not so much the price of the carseats themselves, but the peripheral costs: cleaning them, maintaining them, storing them, transporting them, the cost of the extra fuel required by their weight, training FA's to secure them, etc. The logistics ARE pretty difficult given a carseat's size; think about how difficult it would be to manage getting the right number of clean seats to the right aircraft at every stop. U.S. airlines just don't want to get into the carseat business.

Interestingly enough, the FAA just last summer FINALLY approved an airline-supplied harness option for kids who are over 1 yr. old and weigh less than 44 lbs. It is made by a company called AmSafe, and it is called the CAReS system. Here is what it looks like: http://www.amsafeaviation.com/cares.htm This would only be supplied by the airline as it is custom-made to fit a particular model of seat, and the FA would have to buckle the child into it. As of yet, no airline has actually signed on to start providing them, though they would eliminate most of the objections they have about carseats. They store very compactly in the overhead bin in a little cloth bag, and they don't weigh very much, either.

 

[hubermom3]

We flew numeroustimes with our kids when they were small and each time they both were in a car seat.

My reasons:
Partly for safelty,
MOSTLY to keep them restrained.

If they would have not been buckled intheir car seats and in the lap belt. Also the first time we flew there was terrible turbulance and thanks god they were strapped in because I was bouncing around.

We stopped using them in the plane when we stopped using them in the car.

 

[staylor]

Ok, as a flight attendant that I'm sure is about to be blasted, I've helped many parents on the boards over the years about this subject. First my Flight Attendant point of view is the car seat is safer, period. But after reading all of the previous posts I'm sure we all agree with that point by now. Now as a mom and a flight attendant I can tell you from my experience with my two sons. We did travel with a car seat not only because of safety but also becuase 1. our son's enjoyed being able to sit a bit higher to see out of the window 2. they didn't know any different and didn't realize they could get out of their seat, therefore them trying to run around was never a problem. 3. Their carseat felt normal to them, not like something new or foreign. So, I think they were more comfortable.
Some airlines offer a "baby fare" for a fraction of the cost of a regular ticket. Ask for that fare next time you make a reservation.
Just my opinion
Staylor

 

[texasthree]

I do always fly with my son in a car seat because he knows when hes in the seat hes not getting down. For me its always been easier to keep him confined and he usually falls asleep. I do have a suggestion that has helped me, if anyone decides to fly with the seat. I buy an inexpensive luggage carrier, the kind with 2 wheels that folds fairly flat when not in use. I bungy the car seat to the carrier and pull it trough the airport instead of trying to hold the seat and the baby. He like to ride it in that way too so I never needed a stroller to get to the gate and I had the car seat for the plane and any car rides. You do have to bungy it on tight but the bungies come right with the luggage cart and they are around $10 at any local store.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I have a 3 year old and am not planning on takeing a car seat. I feel it is just to much to carry/deal with. My question is though is what about the bus from the airport to the resort. We were told it was not necessary but it makes me much more nervous to have him without one on the highway than in the air.

 

[justhat]

You can't use a carseat in a bus, at least not the ME buses or WDW transportation buses. There aren't any seatbelts on the buses which is why you can't use them.

 

[dreamalittledream]

I just wanted to contribute this old thread with GREAT info for installing the carseat on a plane if you choose to use one. I saved I so I could try to follow it when we fly next month. Our 21 month old is a real wiggle worm and I am looking forward to keeping her in the carseat and OFF my lap!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=928160&highlight=carseat

 

[WDWCPAlumni]

OK so I had always brought my car seats on the plane. Last trip in October 2005, I thought maybe not this time. My kids were 4 and 2. Everyone said dont bring them just recline the seat and they will sleep.
My kids only sleep in their beds and in the car.
Let me say, it was miserable...........they needed the seat. They could not get comfortable to sleep, it took 2 hours of our 3 hour trip for them to go to sleep!
I am headed back in May and in October, they will be 2 and 5.......We ARE bringing them!!! No question

 

[cindermomma]

Just wanted to let you know if you plan to use the carseat to check if your carseat is approved for the airlines. We thought they all were . Nope! We were actually on the last leg of the flight home when an attendant looked and said it wasn't approved and she had to check it! Then he rode in the seat like a big boy. Good luck with whatever you choose and have a great trip!

 

[PrincessasMommy]

We've done both, the 4 flights where I had a lap baby I held her in my sling and was never told I couldn't. In fact the attendants briefed me on the oxygen mask for baby and the correct take off and landing position while she was in the sling. She slept comfortably for 3 hours each time on all 4 flights. Not recommending this, a carseat is always the way to go if an option for you. On our next trip when all children are over the lap baby age we will have them all secured in carseats. To each her/his own.

 

[PrincessasMommy]

By the way, one of the trips the baby was a lap baby as a result of the carseat which I lugged on teh plane not actually fitting in the seat despite me calling the airline 3 times to measure!
We had bulkhead seats which are thinner than the rest of the plane apparently, so all the good intentions in the world didn't help us there. Measure.

 

[disneygoof]

Just wanted to pass along two pieces of advice people might find helpful. We always use carseats.

We use travel system strollers. When we get out at the curb, we put the (hood? umbrella?) up and put the carseat on top of the hood. Baby in stroller, we then proceed not only to the gate, but to the door of the plane. We then take the baby and the carseat out/off, and leave the stroller where the physically disabled leave their wheelchairs. The stroller is last on, first off, and therefore is always waiting for us when we disembark.

Now I admit it's difficult to go through security, but only because the carseat and stroller have to fit through the x-ray machine. That's the only part that is more time consuming for us.

The second thing is that once a FA told us that our seat wasn't approved and that we'd have to check it. This being our flight home, we balked. Then we read through all the information on the seat and found the bit where it said it was FAA approved. We then showed it to the FA, and he agreed it was ok. He must just have been unfamiliar with the model? Anyway, I advise knowing where your approval label is, should it come up. We blocked the aisle for a minute while we looked and it could have been avoided.

Have a magical day!