Need help re: child seat on plane

[slug]

My dd will be just shy of 3 yo. She'll weigh about 30-32 lbs and be about 38 inches. I'm looking for a carseat that I can use on the plane AND in the rental car. I've just discovered that booster seats are not good for planes and aren't allowed.

Does anyone have any info or suggestions as to what my best option is. I know I could just check my booster seat and have her just sit in the plane w/o a seat but I thought she might like to be in a seat better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

 

[LadyShiva]

My dd will be just shy of 3 yo. She'll weigh about 30-32 lbs and be about 38 inches. I'm looking for a carseat that I can use on the plane AND in the rental car. I've just discovered that booster seats are not good for planes and aren't allowed.

Does anyone have any info or suggestions as to what my best option is. I know I could just check my booster seat and have her just sit in the plane w/o a seat but I thought she might like to be in a seat better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

I have a Britax Boulevard. On a Frontier flight with a 30" tall 22 month old, she had about an inch of foot room for a 3 hour flight, facing forward.

With a 3 year old, it might be a good idea to figure out how much space you have in a seat on your airline of choice, then go to a Babies'r'us and start measuring to fit your pocketbook.

Next flight, I'm checking her carseat in the hold (even though Frontier has broken one before). I just won't go in a car without a car seat if I can help it by bringing one.

Brandie

 

[NotUrsula]

What kind of "booster seat" do you have? If she uses a high-back booster with a 5-pt harness she probably CAN use it on the plane. Check the outer sides of the seat shell for a sticker with red lettering that says "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." If it has such a sticker, you can use it on the aircraft as long as the 5-pt harness is in place.

It really doesn't matter if the mfr. calls such a seat a booster. What counts is the presence of the sticker, because the FAA definition of "booster seat" is a seat that lacks an upper-body restraint harness.

 

[slug]

What kind of "booster seat" do you have? If she uses a high-back booster with a 5-pt harness she probably CAN use it on the plane. Check the outer sides of the seat shell for a sticker with red lettering that says "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." If it has such a sticker, you can use it on the aircraft as long as the 5-pt harness is in place.

It really doesn't matter if the mfr. calls such a seat a booster. What counts is the presence of the sticker, because the FAA definition of "booster seat" is a seat that lacks an upper-body restraint harness.

Yeah, I checked the manual of the one I have and it says it's not airplane certified.

A friend has a seat that she says could go on the plane. It's just a seat w/ no back at all so I wasn't sure if it'd be good for the car.

We will only be in the car for short times, but I still was hoping to bring something more substantial than just the seat with no back.

I'm getting the idea that my 2 options are the seat with no back or checking the other, booster seat. I don't want it broken or lost however.

I'm flying JetBlue. Not sure if their seats are smaller or larger than other comparable airplane seats.

 

[NotUrsula]

She's really a bit young yet for a backless belt-positioning booster. She can legally go without a carseat of any kind on the plane, but not in a car. (Your friend's seat cannot be used on board the aircraft; no back equals no aircraft certification. You would have to check it.)

If you need to buy another seat and not spend too much, I'd suggest that you get a high-back harnessed booster that she'll be able to use for another few years. Your most economical choice would be one that Cosco makes that runs about $40 at places like Walmart and Target: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1943168
The Graco Treasured CarGo (also linked on that page) would be a step up from the Cosco; it is rated for more weight and has higher shoulder slots so it can be used longer with the harness; it is about $20 more expensive.

As to checking a carseat: I prefer always to gate-check if I can't use it on the plane. That way the seat ends up on TOP of the pile of baggage, and you know that it won't end up on the wrong plane.

 

[robinb]

If your 3-year old is tall, she may be too big for a car seat on a plane. When my DD was 3, the car seat gave her enough room to reach the seat in front of her with her legs. The car seat also got in the way of the tray table.

 

[slug]

I just discovered that the booster seat we use in our car now IS O.K. for airplanes. But it's BIG - a Britax Marathon.

I was confused b/c apparently the definition of "booster" seat is different when using it in a car than in an airplane.

Is it possible to gate check a seat if it turns out to be not good for the plane? Also, I can't picture this seat fitting thru the belt to go thru security - Do they just eyeball it?

 

[LadyShiva]

I just discovered that the booster seat we use in our car now IS O.K. for airplanes. But it's BIG - a Britax Marathon.

I was confused b/c apparently the definition of "booster" seat is different when using it in a car than in an airplane.

Is it possible to gate check a seat if it turns out to be not good for the plane? Also, I can't picture this seat fitting thru the belt to go thru security - Do they just eyeball it?

Well, at least it isn't a Britax Husky...

Get a carseat bag with rollers from Babies'r'us. I strongly suggest you check the car seat at the gate (less chance to get dropped, in my estimation).

Another gadget to carry your carseat is a backpack carrier:
http://www.familyonboard.com/pac_back_carseat_backpack.html

We have one, and while you shouldn't turn quickly, it is reasonably comfortable to carry a Britax (and ours is heavier than yours!). This also allows you to push a stroller (or luggage) and carry the car seat.

You have to take the car seat off or out of the bag and flip it over to lay face down to put it through the X-ray machine.

Oh, and Frontier only broke my Boulevard once. Took forever to get them to fix it (about 4 weeks from send off to receiving it back from the Britax plant), but it was fixed, with Britax's assurance ahead of time stating the damage was purely cosmetic and we could use it to drive home from the airport.

Britax has the best car seats, huh?

Hope that helps!
Brandie

 

[jekjones1558]

We are dealing with this same issue for 4 year old DN. I was planning on buying a backless booster that I hoped would fit in the overhead on the plane. Am I dreaming?

 

[chorlick]

In January, we used a high back booster seat for my 3 yr old grandson. We used it on the plane and in the rental car with no problem. they just made him seat on a window seat. (Southwest Airlines)

 

[robinb]

We are dealing with this same issue for 4 year old DN. I was planning on buying a backless booster that I hoped would fit in the overhead on the plane. Am I dreaming?

My Graco backless booster fits in a duffle bag, or even in a regular suitcase. Why would you carry it on? Just put it in some luggage and check it though. You won't need it until you get to your destination anyway.