infant car seat - flying from buffalo

[Agent J]

hello,

nervous new parent here with a first time flight with our baby and trying to get all our last minute trip details in order....i've looked on the bottom of our graco carseat for our 7 month old and it has the canada transport sticker that says it is good for motor vehicle travel (in canada that includes airplanes - i checked the TC website) but it doesn't specifically mention aircraft - i know the FAA stickers for USA carseats have this but our Canadian made seats would not...has anyone had any problems with using their infant seats with Southwest??? we leave in a few days so i hope we won't have any trouble...

thanks so much!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

We flew from Buffalo to Seattle with DS when he was 4 months. We hadn't bought him a seat but the flight was not full so they let us bring the carseat on board. No issues.

 

[ducklite]

hello,

nervous new parent here with a first time flight with our baby and trying to get all our last minute trip details in order....i've looked on the bottom of our graco carseat for our 7 month old and it has the canada transport sticker that says it is good for motor vehicle travel (in canada that includes airplanes - i checked the TC website) but it doesn't specifically mention aircraft - i know the FAA stickers for USA carseats have this but our Canadian made seats would not...has anyone had any problems with using their infant seats with Southwest??? we leave in a few days so i hope we won't have any trouble...

thanks so much!!!

I know other Canadians have bought car seats in Canada that had FAA approval on the sticker.

From the Graco site:

Question: Can I use my car seat on an airplane?
Answer: Most Graco and Century carseats are certified for use in aircraft when used according to manufacturer’s instructions. The booster seats are only certified when used as a five-point harness carseat. Please refer to your owner’s manual for specifics on any seat. However, even though the seat is FAA approved when used according to the manufacturer's instructions, we do recommend calling the airline you are traveling with ahead of time as each airline has its own policies.

I'd call Southwest and ask, but my guess is that without the FAA approval on the label, you won't be able to use it.

If they say no, maybe you've got a friend with a child of about the same age that has an FAA approved deat that you could trade for the week?

Anne

 

[mommytodarlings]

Car seats made in Canada may not show the FAA approval, however if it is manufactured here it will be okay. We have a higher standard for testing.

I flew last September out of Buffalo with no problems, no one asked to see the sticker. I had an Evenflo seat and I printed off some info from the website regarding carseat approval for Canadian made seats.

We had purchased a seat for dd and the only thing they said when we were boarding was that her seat had to be placed in the window seat.

HTH.

PS, I will look for the info I printed and post later.

 

[mommytodarlings]

I found this info from Transport Canada:

Labelling Requirements - restraint systems which are manufactured or sold in Canada must be affixed with a Statement of Compliance label which states that the system has been certified to CMVSS 213 or 213.1 and indicate the date of manufacture as being after January 1, 1981.

Seats manufactured to US standards between January 1, 1981, and February 25, 1985, must bear the label: "This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards."

Seats manufactured to US standards on or after February 26, 1985, must bear two labels:

"This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards"; and


"THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT" in red lettering.
In the United States, regulations require a separate label certifying the device for use in aircraft, as American manufacturers are only required to conduct an inversion test if the manufacturer wants to certify the device for aircraft use. Canadian manufactured child restraint systems do not require a separate label stating certification for use in aircraft as it is a requirement for all devices to successfully complete an inversion test

Here is the linkhttp://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/commerce/circulars/AC0177.htm

I printed it out and put it on the back of the seat where the manual goes, just in case anyone questioned it.

HTH

 

[Agent J]

thanks everyone for all the advice - we will definitely use the idea to print the Transport Canada info and put it on the seat - great suggestion !!!! we did purchase a seat for DS so hopefully no problems with the carseat but this extra info helps reassure a nervous mama...

after a winter of being cooped up in the house, I think baby and we are all looking forward to some fun in the disney sun next week!!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

I wouldn't sweat it. No one even gave the carseat a second glance let alone bothered to look for the sticker.

 

[snowy76]

I wouldn't sweat it. No one even gave the carseat a second glance let alone bothered to look for the sticker.

Yep. Especially if it's a type they see a lot. I think after a while the airlines are probably used to seeing many of the same types of seats - Gracos are VERY common in the States so I'd be surprised if they hassled you about it.

 

[dsneygirl]

Yep. Especially if it's a type they see a lot. I think after a while the airlines are probably used to seeing many of the same types of seats - Gracos are VERY common in the States so I'd be surprised if they hassled you about it.

Oh ya, they are a dime a dozen. I got mine at TRU last spring and they had the same model/patter in the US.

 

[connorsmom911]

We usually have no problem, but on our first trip when Connor was 20 mo. the lady in Orlando did ask to see the sticker and really gave us a hard time because it was Canadian and didn't say anything about FAA. I had to explain that Transport Canada was the same thing, but she wasn't happy about it. I kind of thought what would they do at that point? We were getting ready to board...no time to get a replacement. Would they have made us check it and have the toddler just sit in the seat? I think we just had a picky employee.

We'll have to check our infant seat though and see what it says. I don't know how big the new little one will be by Jan (due in July), but if he's anything like his brother, he'll be out of the infant carrier by 4 mo!

 

[Agent J]

thanks everyone - we just returned yesterday and didn't have any problems/questions - i did take a copy of the transport canada info just in case - it is tough to juggle carry-ons, baby, stroller etc so we need to travel lighter next time - new mom paranoia wanting all his stuff

baby slept both ways and was very happy in his seat - despite teething pain on home flight (4 upper teeth at once poor little guy)

thanks again!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

the lady in Orlando did ask to see the sticker and really gave us a hard time because it was Canadian and didn't say anything about FAA.

Actually, US labels don't say anything about the FAA, either. The wording is set as "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."

There is actually a provision in the US law that directs how foreign carseats are to be handled: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/....gpo.gov/cfr_2007/janqtr/pdf/14cfr121.311.pdf

The relevant section is at the bottom left of page 771. As long as you have the carseat's Canadian aircraft approval documentation, it should be accepted under this clause. Best bet is to print both the US law *AND* the Canadian law and tape them both in an envelope on the back of the seat shell.