seat choice on narrow body planes

[kaytieeldr]

This is true, at least it was several years ago. We had our daughter sit in the car seat on the plane at least one time. I remember a flight attendant telling us not to put the car seat on the aisle seat. (For some reason, I think they may have recommended the middle seat, but I'm not sure on that one)

Generally, the window seat. You can only put a carseat in the midle seat if it's flanked by two members of your party.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Generally, the window seat. You can only put a carseat in the midle seat if it's flanked by two members of your party.

You can also put a car seat in the middle seat if you're sitting in the center section of a two aisle plane.

 

[SirDuff]

You can also put a car seat in the middle seat if you're sitting in the center section of a two aisle plane.

In fact, you probably should.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Getting back on track.....
When faced with a 3/3 configuration, I book window and aisle seats across from each other, hoping that the middle seat will stay open. If someone books the middle seat, we offer one person one of our window seats in lieu of their middle seat. We always get takers.
Granted, flights have been more full over the years and the odds of both rows having an open middle are low.

 

[NotUrsula]

The title made me think this was about real narrow-body aircraft ... Jungle Jets (Embraers) and the like. 3-3 is much easier than 1-2, particularly taking the overhead bins into account.

[snip]
AFAIK, the only restrictions on where the child can sit are exit rows, and if in a child seat they should be in the window seat. Otherwise, the rest of the seats are fair game.

I know there's also a C.A.R.E.S. harness that works as a supplemental restraint (gives additional shoulder restraint, but I don't think there's any restrictions no where it can be placed. I would recommend verifying with your airline of choice prior to leaving if you have any questions on seating arrangements as it's truly up to them to expand restrictions.

There are actually a few more "illegal" positions for carseats. They also cannot be placed in the row directly in front of or behind an exit row on most aircraft. On European flights they cannot be placed in the front bulkhead row, as the EU classes it as an exit row.

The rule about whether or not a carseat can be placed in the middle seat of a single-aisle aircraft is left up to the airline by the FAA. The FAA rule wording prohibits placing it where it might "impede egress", and some airlines interpret that in different ways. IME, Delta is the only domestic US airline that will consistently allow a carseat to be installed in the middle seat of a row, even if the person seated at the window is the child's parent. SWA definitely will insist on window-position placement, and they will usually also remind you that in case of an emergency evacuation, you are to take the child but LEAVE the seat behind and NOT unbuckle the seat belt holding it in place. (Personally, I can't imagine that anyone would try to carry a carseat off a potentially burning plane with a child strapped into it, but people do weird things sometimes.)

 

[elgerber]

Then my family must be one of the exceptions.

Mine too, although we sit two and two one right behind the other, even when they were young, my kids NEVER did that on a plane. They always sat in their seats, with whatever activity they had to keep them occupied. They almost never even got up to use the restroom.

 

[ice cube]

We always take 3 across and then the aisle seat straight across. I sit with the girls and my wife takes the seat across. Have been doing that since the little one was born so that past 9 years with a min of twice a year and never an issue. Don't know anything about needing a spa after the plane ride would rather sit with my girls then some stranger...sitting with stranger I leave to the wife.....

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I totally thought of this thread on a flight I was on this week.

Flew from MSP to SFO for work on Tuesday. There was a mom traveling with her two kids in the row in front of us. The kids looked to be around 3 and 5. OMG, the behavior! I have never, ever seen behavior like that on a plane before. Screaming. Spitting on their mom. The younger one was standing on her seat and JUMPING. The girls were fighting a lot, hitting each other, more screaming. Oh, and they were watching movies on an iPad with no headphones. Mom? She just reclined her seat, put on her headphones, and ignored them the entire 4 hours.

I wanted to jump out of the plane. I got my iPod out, cranked the volume, and just wished for the flight to be over. I now know why so many of you seem to be anti kids on planes.

 

[vatali]

We have done both ways. on domestic flights (IE not long flights) we do 3-1. on INT (IE 8 hr flight or more) we do 2 (window , middle) in 1 isle, 2 behind them. Allows the kids to interact (or sit together if they can be good) and insures 2 people sleep on window. We just don't bother with it on shorter flight cause all the kids want to do is play anyway.