Car seats and planes: what are the rules?

Our Evenflo "Triumph" convertible fit on Horizan and Alaska Airline coach seat flights we took from Eugene, OR to Alaska. The only problem was the TSA (Touching Stuff Administration) could not fit it in the x-ray machine, which was awkward for them. We used it in the forward facing position so I am not sure about the other way around, but then that might have been better since our 1 year old would not have kicked the seat of the tolerant young man in front of us.... We did need to use a seat strap extender though on one of the Horizan flights.

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My son had a Graco model (sorry, can't remember the type now. He's nine now, so we don't have it any more) that was fabulous. It was tall and narrow and fit perfectly in the seat. My daughter has an Evenflow, and I've just discovered that it's not certified for airplane use. We're going to borrow a friend's carseat (they just returned from Florida and she made sure theirs was certified) for our upcoming flight to Florida.

I've never had any problems with carseats on planes. As a matter of fact, every time I've traveled alone with my kids (haven't done it since my daughter was in the "pumpkin seat", as we called it), everyone has been really helpful and considerate. The flight attendants always helped me get my son's seat buckled in and they entertained my kids while I was getting everything settled.

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We've flown many times with our sons Graco convertible carseat, can't remember the model exactly, but it's your average size seat. We've never had a problem with it fitting any airline.
I have to say, though, it is a total pain in the neck to lug it through airports, to haul it up the aisle, wrestle it into the seat to buckle it, even when we preboard. Also, the seat buckle sits right in the middle of my childs back, so we have to put a pillow over it. Once seated, his feet are so high it makes for easy kicking, and the tray table won't lay on his lap. Also, keep in mind car seats MUST be by the window. Basically, traveling with any carseat is horrible, but we did it until my son was 3.

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We have found that car seats do not fit well on Continental-no leg room for child. All the other airlines have been fine though.

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We have a Britax Marathon, and I haven't had any problems with it. It's easy to carry too, because you can use the straps to carry it on your shoulder. I've used it on United, Delta, Northwest, and Continental with no problems.

I've found that the small wire luggage carts work really well for carrying your carseat around the airport if your child still needs to be carried and you're traveling solo. I strap my carryon bag in the carseat, and it makes it much easier to get through security and board the plane.

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We fly military, but it is your typical Airbus. We have had infant seats fit just fine, and you don't have to 'keep it facing rear' on an airplane. Also, the Britax Roundabout works great as does Evenflo (most any model). The only problem I have with seats is that the tray tables do not lay flat so we cannot ever use them. This is remedied by my bringing or asking for cookie sheets for the kids to use.

Ok, so I was reading over this and I realized that on commercial flights you probably would not be able to bring a cookie sheet with you, sorry! But any big board book would probably work well.

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We have a Britax Decathlon but haven't taken it on a plane yet. Anyone have a a good or bad experience?

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How about those car seats with collapsible wheels on the bottom and the handle to guide it around? I've seen them on airports around the holidays - they function as a car seat and a stroller at the same time. Has anyone used them? Are they any good? Thanks!

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The rolling car seat "sit and stroll" is what we are currently using, and it fits well on most planes. It is great for transporting kid and stuff through airport and is easy to fold/unfold. The greatest benefit, however, is that when you use it in the car, if your child falls asleep in the car you can just lift the entire seat out and go about your business with sleeping child in stroller.

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My question is this: Would a child who is over 2 years old be required to have a carseat? Would it be unadvisable to not use a carseat? Stephania, you mentioned that, after two, your daughter didn't use one. We may travel with our daughter this summer on a 3 hour flight. Does anyone know if she could just sit on our laps? I have seen these funky "strap to you" gadgets on onestepahead.com -- does anyone have experience with those?

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Sara: The age at which children have to buy their own seat varies by the airline. Most go to 24 months, but I think there's one or two that stop at 18 months. If you have a lap rider, you need to make sure it's noted when you buy your tickets. IIRC, I think lap children are capped at 2 per row, which means you might have to play musical chairs if someone doesn't mention it when they make their reservations. (It's only happened on a flight I was on once, but better to be safe than sorry.)

As far as the carseat goes, I would check the the webpages of the airlines you're considering flying on, because that might vary a little on their policies.

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So long as my children ride in carseats in the car, they will have one on a plane. Turbulance is violent. An unrestrained child is a projectile. together it's a deadly combination. Children restrained on an adults lap with a lap only belt may end up with serious internal injuries in the event of sever turbulance. (Imagine having someone who weighs about 6+ times your weight crushing you against a three inch wide piece of strapping)

Walmart has a great little lightweight luggage rack (two versions actually $15 and 25$) that my MA sits on quite nicely. It bungie straps on with little fuss, removes quickly and fits in the over head compartment. It also makes transporting it through the airport terminal a breeze.

Kudos to all of you who've purchased seats for your infant and small children who aren't *required* to by airline standards.

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I don't travel by air much at all, so this isn't really a problem for me. But reading over all of your posts, I have to wonder, if the airlines *require* seats for the kids, why do they not provide them for you? I know this would probably cause the airlines a bit of worry about where to store carseats, etc., but if they can have a special meal for a passenger (kosher, McD Happy Meal, etc), why can't they do the same with a carseat? You make the reservation, and note that a seat is needed, and they take one from stock somewhere and have it ready for you. Seems like it would cut down on a lot of problems all around.

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LS: I have heard of people renting a carseat at the car rental places in the airport, using it on the plane, and returning it when they fly back home. But it does tend to be more expensive than not, but I suppose it's an option for city parents who don't own a car or take taxis with their kids.

With that said, I honestly think it's easier to just bring your own carseat if you have one. For Paul's first trip, he rode on my lap in the plane. He fussed the the whole way on the car ride to my inlaws' house because my nephew's old carseat wasn't familiar. The same thing probably would have happened in the air with an unfamiliar seat.

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We've have a Britax Wizard and have flown United, Air Canada, American, Jetblue and Delta with it. It is a little on the wide side, but fits. The biggest problem is releasing the buckle after the flight. The buckle threads through the back over the latch bars and locks in the middle behind the seat. You have to use your fingers to slacken it and usually I'm struggling with it well after everyone deplanes and end up with at least one scrape on my hand. I carry it via the shoulder straps with no problems.

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We have taken two trips in the six months since our son was born. I can share the following:

Our seat was inspected very carefully upon check-in to determine that it was FAA approved (It was) The counter agent told us that he would get into "a lot of trouble" from the flight crew if he let a non-approved seat on the plane. (we later witnessed a lively exchange between a family, two stewardesses and the captain over this subject.)

Kids in seats must be at the window so they don't block movement in case of emergency. We learned this only AFTER my husband had our son strapped into the middle seat.

We used a Graco Snugride.

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we are frequent travelers and have always purchased tickets for our children. Oldest DD flew twice prior to the age of 2 and both times we paid an infant fare (50% of the adult fare). We always bring along car seats and just this past December was the first time she flew without a carseat (she's 5).

Youngest DD is 21 months and is flying for her second time this month. We again, purchase an infant fare (50%) and use a car seat for her.

I can't imagine putting a 2 year old in a seat without a car seat on a plane. My youngest DD was 10 months old her first flight and was able to undo the seatbelt that was strapped to her rear facing carseat on the plane (we forgot the base so it was strapped in on top, kwim?). At 21 months, there is NO WAY she would sit restrained for 3 hours if she wasn't in her carseat. Airline seatbelts are way too easy to undo ;)

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I have a Cosco Alpha Omega Elite...and I am wondering if it will fit on An American Airlines plane. It looks quite large to me, and I am worried it won't fit. Anyone know about this?

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As for European brands, our Maxi Cosi Citi (infant seat) and Kiddy Life Plus (booster seat) fit on US Air and Lufthansa whenever we fly to the United States. The booster seat needs a belt extention, though, when using the front lap piece.

It always gets me, though, that European carseats aren't approved in the US, and US carseats aren't approved in Europe. Not that I'd ever consider buying a second set of carseats for when we travel...

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I flew to Mexico with a Britax wizard and a "GoGo Kidz"
that attaches wheels to it. There are different models for the different models of seats. My 2 year old rode through the airport on it asleep. The only downside is you have to take the gogo kidz off to get the seat through the x-ray screener and it is too wide to wheel down the airplane ailse. (flight attendant will carry the car seat for you, if you ask, at least mine did) My best advice is this: ask for a seat belt extender and bring TWO "mighty tites". They cinch up tight and make it easier to get the seat snug. That also eliminates the problem of how the buckles are in the wrong place and wont fit through the back where the belt is supposed to go. I brought only one and the seat was not snug on one side. I now have two and am ready to fly to Chicago soon. I found that the flight attendant on Alaska was clue free about car seats. Then again, he did made it clear that he was a homosexual and didn't have a clue about children's gear in the first place. I think airlines should educate all of their staff on child seats so they can be more helpful. All of these products are available on line if you do a search. I hope this helps makes another parent's trip easier!

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