Graco CarGo Booster Car Seat on plane for 3-yo--What was your experience?

[goofy4wdw59]

My DD will just be 3-yo when we fly to Florida. She's now in a high-back booster/5-point harness. Even though she's big for her age, I don't think she's quite big enough to sit in the plane seat with the regular belt, and, she won't stay in that belt if she can manage to wiggle her way out.
So, I just purchased the Graco "ultra CarGo booster" car seat with 5-point harness & is FAA approved. It appears lightweight/managable for carrying around. I'm wondering if anyone has used this model on the airplane, and what was your experience with it? Hopefully, it'll be easy to use with the plane seat/belt.
Thanks!

 

[shelly3girls]

We absolutely love ours! We have used it many times on the plane. The only minor problem is that sometimes the seatbelt buckle bulges in the back and DD could feel it. She never actually complained about it though and she normally complains about everything We like to travel with it b/c it weighs a lot less than her regular carseat and we were able to use it as a booster in the car once she outgrew her carseat.

 

[goofy4wdw59]

Thanks for the reply shelly3girls. DD will probably have trouble sitting for the length of the flight, so...I'm hoping I can keep her entertained AND in her seat!
Margaret

 

[k_k_100]

My DD will just be 3-yo when we fly to Florida. She's now in a high-back booster/5-point harness. Even though she's big for her age, I don't think she's quite big enough to sit in the plane seat with the regular belt, and, she won't stay in that belt if she can manage to wiggle her way out.
So, I just purchased the Graco "ultra CarGo booster" car seat with 5-point harness & is FAA approved. It appears lightweight/managable for carrying around. I'm wondering if anyone has used this model on the airplane, and what was your experience with it? Hopefully, it'll be easy to use with the plane seat/belt.
Thanks!

We purchased ours expressly for traveling. We love it! It always fits on the seats. It is relatively light weight (for a car seat). The buckle does bulge through the back as shelly3girls stated - but dd has never complained

It is small enough that it does not protrude over the edge of the seat. This allows us to put it in the center of the row of 3. If there are only 2 of you (in your party) in the row you will have to be next to the window w/ dd in the center and the other passenger on the aisle.

Use a small luggage carrier to transport it through the airport (the ones w/ small wheels work the best)

 

[shelly3girls]

Most airlines we have traveled required us to put the carseat in the window seat. I thought it was FAA regulation. USAir even made us move the seat one time.

 

[k_k_100]

Most airlines we have traveled required us to put the carseat in the window seat. I thought it was FAA regulation. USAir even made us move the seat one time.

Did your car seat protrude over the edge of the seat at any point? I've had a couple of attendants check - but they always gave me the ok when they found it did not overhang at all. I always had to put dd by the window when we had her rear facing (her old bucket seat).

This can be a hotly contested debate on the DisBoards- I'm just sharing my experience. I've had about 15 round trips w/ the Graco Ultra Car-Go & this has been my experience every time.

 

[shelly3girls]

Honestly I don't remember. It is very possible though. It really doesn't matter to be b/c I usually sit with both DDs so this way I sit in the middle and they don't argue! It is a good excuse to not seat them together.