How do I install car seat on the airplane

[mangosink]

I'm bringing my Britax's and I've never done this before

 

[Crazy4Disney43611]

On my NWA flight there was no latch to hook up that portion of the seat. We just put the lap belt through the seat and went from there. A hint for you though, since you'll be traveling with small children and you hands will be full, either try to enter the plane first or last, my car seat was too wide to be carried between the seats so I had to lift it above the seats and there is much room up there either. Good luck and have fun! Sean

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Right..On mine I just thread the seatbelt thru the back of the seat. It will not be as sturdy as the car. I've never used my Britax Marathon on a plane...It is rather large. We bought a cheapo Cosco one..smaller, lightweight as the travel seat. I think it also needs to be less than 16 inches wide to fit in the seat?!?

The Flight attendants usually help if you are struggling...or traveling alone.

Good Luck!!

 

[Manda]

You are required to install it on a window seat. Flip up the arm rest between the two seats first. Loosen the belt and thread it through the spot where the latch strap usually goes (I'd leave the latch strap at home, so you won't have to worry about losing it). Tighten the belt. I'll warn you that removing it can be more difficult.

 

[latexscooter]

Yeah, what everyone else said. Also, take a look at the instruction manual that came with the seat - if you don't have it you can get it online. Review the instructions specific to installing the seat without the latch system.

We've flown JetBlue and Airtran with DD's seat and both airlines said their flight attendants can not help with installation of the seat.

 

[NotUrsula]

Have the smallest adult do the installation; there isn't much room to maneuver. LATCH does not apply on aircraft; you can't use that method.
If it is an infant seat, don't bother with the base because it probably won't work, either, due to the position of the belt buckle.

On the aircraft seat in the window position, raise the armrest, put the seatback to full recline, and pull the buckle on the seatbelt out to the fullest extension, leaving an inch or so of belt to grab onto. Thread it through the belt passage on the carseat, and twist the buckle one half-turn before you latch it, so that the latch mechanism of the buckle will not end up pressed against the seatback. Then push the carseat into position and draw up the slack on the plane's lapbelt until it (on a toddler carseat) disappears into the carseat channel and tightens up. Lastly, pull the aircraft seatback to the upright position so it tightens against the carseat. (You probably will not be able to lower the armrest with the carseat in position.)

If you have a seat that uses a belt path that runs directly behind the child's back inside the shell, ask the FA to provide a seat belt extender. Add it to the seatbelt and adjust the length of the two pieces of belt so that you don't end up with the lap belt buckle sitting directly in the small of the child's back.

If you cannot get the seat undone when you land, wait for the passengers in the row behind you to leave, then recline the seat again, go around to the row behind, and reach up between the cushions to release the belt buckle.

BTW, not ALL Britax carseats are approved for aircraft use. A few of them, like the Husky, are too large. Always check for the "approved for use in aircraft" sticker on the shell.

 

[PoohHappens]

Have the smallest adult do the installation; there isn't much room to maneuver. LATCH does not apply on aircraft; you can't use that method.
If it is an infant seat, don't bother with the base because it probably won't work, either, due to the position of the belt buckle.

On the aircraft seat in the window position, raise the armrest, put the seatback to full recline, and pull the buckle on the seatbelt out to the fullest extension, leaving an inch or so of belt to grab onto. Thread it through the belt passage on the carseat, and twist the buckle one half-turn before you latch it, so that the latch mechanism of the buckle will not end up pressed against the seatback. Then push the carseat into position and draw up the slack on the plane's lapbelt until it (on a toddler carseat) disappears into the carseat channel and tightens up. Lastly, pull the aircraft seatback to the upright position so it tightens against the carseat. (You probably will not be able to lower the armrest with the carseat in position.)

If you have a seat that uses a belt path that runs directly behind the child's back inside the shell, ask the FA to provide a seat belt extender. Add it to the seatbelt and adjust the length of the two pieces of belt so that you don't end up with the lap belt buckle sitting directly in the small of the child's back.

If you cannot get the seat undone when you land, wait for the passengers in the row behind you to leave, then recline the seat again, go around to the row behind, and reach up between the cushions to release the belt buckle.

I must say that this is an excellent explaination. You rememberd everything. I once forgot to twist the buckle and I could not get it to unlatch when the flight was over because you have to lift the thing and it was tight against the seat.

 

[dhardawa]

If you look in the manual at the lap bel only installation directions, that is exactly what you'll do on a plane.

 

[perdidochas]

I'm bringing my Britax's and I've never done this before

It's just like doing a lap-belt only installation in a car. You can probably practice in the middle of the backseat of your car.

 

[mskay]

Thanks for this great explanation! I'm gonna print this off and let DH "practice". I think I'll let him board before us and get all settled so to speak and then DD and I can board a few minutes later.

 

[TravelinGal]

I just want to add that you might want to consider a lighter/smaller car seat for travel. I just got the Cosco Scenera-Touriva 5-Point Convertible Car Seat for under $40 from Wal-Mart. It's really bare bones, but it's safe and much lighter than my Britax.