Infant Car seat on a Plane? How does it work?

[Grendalynn]

I have skimmed the top boards about how to travel on a Plane with an Infant in a carrier, but no luck. Honestly, I did not dig deep into the archives as I think someone can answer this quicker if I just post the Question.

We are flying for a family trip to Florida in April. Unfortunatly its not to Disney World this time, but Florida never the less. Our son will be a fresh 6 months on our trip. I am assuming that he will be in his Infant carrier still. I am not quite sure how to do it. He does have his own seat, Dear Inlaws purchased them, I probably would have just had him on my lap, but whatever....

So - how does it work? Do I bring the base and clip him in just like in a car or just run the lap belt up ovet the feet area and run it thru the clippy things on there? I honestly cannot rememebr seeing a Baby carrier on a flight in the past, but I wasnt looking for it either.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Disney Ron]

bumping...I would like this info also. We will have a 5 month old with us in March. We are using a Graco infant carseat and he has his own seat as well.

Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[laughinplace199]

Sorry I don't know the answer. I think that you buckle the seat in without the base, but I'm not sure. Hopefully someone who knows will answer soon.

We will be flying with a 5 month old in April and will be using his Graco Safe Seat on the plane. If we don't need the base for th eplane, I'm not sure if I should leave the base at home or bring it to use in the rental car.

 

[Grendalynn]

Counds like its a good thinh this question was asked! I was afraid I was beating a dead horse by asking or just being too lazy to search thru the threads! I hope an All-Knowing person outthere has some feedback for us!

 

[Grendalynn]

Sounds like its a good thinh this question was asked! I was afraid I was beating a dead horse by asking or just being too lazy to search thru the threads! I hope an All-Knowing person outthere has some feedback for us!

Wow what a slow connection today!? Must havetried posting 2 0r 3 times before it finally went thru....

 

[loveysbydesign]

I asked this very same ? a week or so ago and nobody could really give me an answer either-LOL! Our baby will be a lap baby so I needed to know if the infant seat will fit in the overhead compartment. We'll just strap the seat in the rental car w/o the base. I'm afraid to gate check the seat as it could get damaged.

 

[GatorGal]

You should be able to buckle just the carrier into the airplane seat without the base. When I traveled with my dd at 6 months I put the base in the overhead bin (our you could gate check it). Check your owner's manual on how to install the seat without the base before hand. The infant seat must be installed in the window seat and the person in front of him maybe not be able to recline their seat with the car seat behind them. Most people will understand, espcecially if you warn them ahead of time. Make sure the sticker that states the seat has been approved for airline use is still visible (writing must be in RED) and you know where it is in case a FA asks to see it. With the seat rearfacing, it'll be easier for you to occupy and interact with your son.

You'll be glad that he has his own seat. My dd always slept most of the flight. You might want to have a bottle handy for take off and landing. Do a diaper change immediately before boarding and have a clean top for youself in your carry on in case he spits up on you.

HTH

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I think it depends on the type of carrier. I had a graco Snugride and you could use it without the base. The seatbeat basically went across the top under grooves..hard to explain but your instructions should have info on using it without the base. We never brought the base with us.

You do have to have it in a window seat so you should double check the ticket.

Have fun!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

When I traveled with my dd at 6 months I put the base in the overhead bin (our you could gate check it).

We're opting not to purchase aa airline seat for our baby, will the infant seat itself fit in the overhead?

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I think you could measure the dimensions of the seat and check with the airline you are flying. I've never tried to fit an infant seat in the overhead storage but looking at some of the luggage people try to pass off as "carry-on" it probably would fit. Worst case the Flight attendant will need to take it and gate check it if it doesn't fit.

 

[summerrluvv]

You don't bring the base, you just buckle the seat in without it. Most infant seats fit in the overhead bins, but if you aren't using it, the flight attendant will probably have you gate check it.

 

[GatorGal]

We're opting not to purchase aa airline seat for our baby, will the infant seat itself fit in the overhead?

Your baby will be safer (and probably more comfortable) in the infant carrier. I was suggesting that the bottom base be stowed in the overhead bin. I don't know if the FA would even allow you to put the carrier in the overhead bin, they can be crowded so if you don't put the baby in the carrier in the seat you paid for they might insist that you check the carrier.

 

[northriver]

Not all infant seats can be used without the base. The ones designed for this are just as safe with or without the base. So you need to read the manual for your seat.

It has been awhile since I flew with an infant seat, but my experience and that of a couple of my friends is that is was hard to unhook the buckle since it has that flap thing rather than just a push button like a car seatbelt. I think using just the seat without the base will give you a real advantage here. The unbuckling problem is especially stressful when you have a short layover, and/or you are traveling alone. They make you get off the plane last with a carseat anyway.

Oh and finally - there is special certification for using a carseat for airline travel. So when you are reading your manual be sure to confirm this! I'm assuming it would be certified with or without the base but double check! It should say on the seat itself.

Hope this helps!

 

[bellarella]

You can't carry on a car seat if you haven't purchased a seat. You have to check it, but you can check it at the gate.

As for installing it on the plane, don't bring the base. Just follow your seat's instructions for installation without the base. It's the same on an airplane as a car, but with the emphasis on the seat being level not very important (I don't bother trying to level a seat on the plane).

 

[egoldber]

Most, but not all, infant car seats can be used without the base. We have a Graco Snugride and we leave the base at home and just use it without the base when we travel. For me, its not worth the hassle of having to keep track of the base when traveling. Read your manual for how to install it without using the base and thats how you install it on the airplane. FYI, you may need to bring your locking clip with you to use it in a rental car.

Generally with an infant seat the seat belt isn't hard to undo but that can be a real problem with convertible carseats. To solve this, ask the FA for a seat belt extender. This should enable you to put the belt buckle in a more easily accessible location.

If you did not buy a seat for your infant, you may still be able to use the infant seat on the plane. When you check in for your flight ask if there is room and they may be able to assign you a seat. If the ticketing agent can't do it, all hope is not yet lost. Take the infant seat with you to the gate. Ask the gate agent if there is room (they can block seats that the ticketing agent can't). If there is no room, you can gate check the infant seat with the stroller. An infant seat will typically fit in an overhead bin, but they may not let you carry it on due to space constraints in the bins and safety issues.

If you buy a seat, make sure they don't put you in an exit row. Also, your carseat must be installed in a location that does not block anyone's access to an exit. Typically that means it has to be installed next to the window. However, on some wide body aircraft with a section of seats in the middle, you may install the carseat in an inner location, but not on the edge. Although some FAs may give you a hard time about this.

 

[Grendalynn]

Window seats willnot be an issue! We have booked 2 - with 2 older brothers it shouldn't even be an issue to stick the baby seat in the middle of older brother and myself or DH. I will be sure to check out the manuel and seat for instructions or regulations. Not too concerend about the car ride form the airport. Its with my Inlaws so I can ask them to purchase a base if needed! thanks so much - I always know I will find the info I am looking for on here!!

 

[all4fun]

FYI: the reason you can't use the base on board the airplane is because (mainly) the airplane seatbelt buckles in the middle, not on the side, like in cars. The buckle can interfere with the mechanism that attaches the base to the car seat.

FAA child safety on airplanes

Good for your parents for purchasing your LO his own seat. They clearly has his best interest at heart and you'll all be a lot more comfortable this way.

 

[magic_john]

As egoldber mentioned, ask for the infant block. My wife and I have reserved seats d and f. Usually, no one will want seat E. Then ask the gate agent to infant block seat E. If the plane is not too full, they might do it. That seat can, of course, be used if needed, but they will try to avoid using it.

It worked well for us. If the seat is not available, gate check the seat and no harm done.

 

[NotUrsula]

Window seats will not be an issue! We have booked 2 - with 2 older brothers it shouldn't even be an issue to stick the baby seat in the middle of older brother and myself or DH.

Sorry, but you'll almost surely have to put any carseat in the window position, and definitely will if it is a rear-facing seat. The reason for that placement is in case of an emergency evacuation, because you would not remove the seat to evacuate, just the child who is in it. That would leave the person sitting on the other side of it to have to crawl over the carseat in the dark in order to exit the aircraft. That is the issue, because the FAA forbids carseat placement in any location where the seat would impede emergency egress.

You also cannot install a carseat in the the row directly in front of or directly behind an exit row -- again, because of emergency evacuation procedures. If there is a seat buckled into either of those rows, it might get in the way of equipment being used for the evacuation.

As always, infant seats should be installed rear-facing. Because aircraft seat belts buckle in the center rather than on the side, most of the time a snap-in base cannot be used on board an aircraft.

 

[TiggerStac]

Sorry, but you'll almost surely have to put any carseat in the window position, and definitely will if it is a rear-facing seat. The reason for that placement is in case of an emergency evacuation, because you would not remove the seat to evacuate, just the child who is in it. That would leave the person sitting on the other side of it to have to crawl over the carseat in the dark in order to exit the aircraft. That is the issue, because the FAA forbids carseat placement in any location where the seat would impede emergency egress.

I was just discussing this w/my hubby. When did the start not allowing in the middle seat?? DS #1 flew in his infant seat at 5 months and he was in the middle (backwards) and then flew several times in his carseat forward and was always in the middle. We are flying next month and I have 4 seats, I am going to run into a hard time w/this...DS #1 is going to want the window, but I guess I'm going to have to put the baby in that spot!!