Car seat for flight

[BunloafAndCrumpets]

I'd like to take an ERF belt in car seat on a BA flight this summer and use it in the plane seat. My DD will be just 2. I need to buy a seat! Has anyone ever flown with either a britax 2 way elite or an axkid mini and did they belt in ok and fit in the seat?

I've looked up BA's rules and they don't need FAA accreditation but the car seat needs to fit in the plane seat (obviously!)

Would be v grateful for any advice / tips. Thanks!

[dementedpixie]

I thought you could only use a forward facing seat on a plane. I have never seen anyone with a car seat on board though. Could you check it in and he can just use the plane seat instead?

[FourToTheFloor]

How long is the flight and do you need the seat at destination? I'm a very seasoned traveller with young dc and would never take a car seat on a plane. I honestly don't know why you would!

[dementedpixie]

I have checked and it says it must be forward facing and able to be fitted using just a lap belt.

[xyzandabc]

www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/family-travel/seating

The British airways website says the seat must be forward facing.

The main problem is finding a carseat that can be secured using only a lap belt, most seats require a 3 point seatbelt as found in cars. I don't know of any though there may be some out there. Also the dimensions, plane seats are quite small.

Having flown quite a lot, I've never seen anyone using a carseat on a plane.

[Nicnak2223]

Neither there will fit nor would your child be allowed to be rear facing for taking off and landing.

You need to buy a seat anyway as your child is 2 they cannot sit in you lap.
Do you need the car seat at you destination?

[Blacksox]

I have never seen anyone using a car seat on a plane and I'm a frequent flyer too.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I wouldn't have even considered a car seat for a plane journey. Never seen anyone do that.

[fourkids]

People definitely do do this. I know that for a fact as I did when DCs were babies. Was a while ago though so can't help with seat type, I'm afraid.

[Artandco]

You can't use a erf seat eve belted on a plane as it needs to be fitted with a full seat belt and planes only have lap belts

The maxi cosi pebble can be fitted with lap belt an fit approved for airplane, but that's for 0-18 months max.

[welshweasel]

Just put the car seat in the hold and sit your child in the normal seat. After take off you can lift the arm rests and they can lie down to sleep.

[BunloafAndCrumpets]

Thanks all. People definitely take car seats on flights, I've seen it a lot! Never thought to check the model though. I know that the britax 2 way elite seat can be rf or ff and will strap with a lap belt. I don't know if it will fit in a BA seat though. I also don't know if the axkids one can be strapped with a lap belt though or be ff. Has anyone used either of those?

I want to take it as I have had too much luggage mangled in the hold to want to check it in! Think better chance that daughter will sleep in it too. Yes I will need it in the uk pre flight and then at our destination too. Thanks again.

[purplefizz26]

Once they are 2 I don't think they HAVE to use one.
I honestly wouldn't take it if there was a choice, utter pain in the arse carrying it about and makes no difference on the flight they can sit comfortably in a seat.

[purplefizz26]

But last time I flew with an under 2 I used a Britain eclipse which fitted fine.

[Artandco]

We fly roughly every 6 weeks with kids. I used to take the maxi cosi for them when they couldn't sit alone roughly 0-14months. Also I have two clols win age so menat baby could sleep on sit whilst I had 1 year old sitting on my lap playing or snoozing. Always booked kids own seat. Also meant baby had safe place and could stay in seat whilst I or Dh went to loo if travelling alone, and we could nap easier on long trip as not holding baby.

However after 1 year ish when they can sit alone without falling off whilst we eat or whatever I haven't taken seat as More hassle. Easier to just lift seat arm up and they can lay down to sleep . Plus no seat to carry in airport. Something like the axxikid would be heavy to carry through airport and no handle.

[AliceMum09]

The Britax Two Way Elite definitely fits on a plane seat.

It's so much safer for children to have a car seat on the plane, I do not know why European airlines make it so difficult (I think it's much more common in the USA for car seats to be used). I appreciate a car seat isn't going to save your child's life in a massive crash, but in terms of hitting unexpected turbulence or an emergency landing it's a lot safer to have your child strapped into a car seat.

These photos show car seats being used on a plane
m.facebook.com/pg/RearFacingTheWayForward/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1198217850191178&ref=page_internal

[BunloafAndCrumpets]

Thank you so much everyone! I think I will get the Britax seat and will make a judgement as to whether we want to take it on the flight or check it nearer the time - not going for another few months and appreciate children can change quite a bit so maybe DD will be more settled in a normal seat by then. The safety aspect of things does make me more inclined to strap her into a car seat tho. Alice, thanks for the reassurance.

Not too worried about carrying it through the airport as lots of family with us plus I've seen some little wheels you can buy for the seats which look handy.

Thanks again

[captaincake]

I hope so as i'm flying ba in a few months and planning to take my two way elite!

[TreaclePumpkin]

@BunloafAndCrumpets @captaincake

Hi both, I know it’s been a long time since you posted on here, but would you be able to tell me whether your TWEs did fit on a BA plane?

The BA website says they need to be 45cms wide. I know the TWE is about 46 (I’ve ordered but not received my car seats yet).

I’ll be flying short haul from London to Portugal in a couple of weeks and if I could take the seats on board, it would make life a whole lot easier.

TIA!