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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To worry that there is no clear car seat policy for travelling with Monarch?

42 replies

RudeNot2 · 30/05/2014 05:09

I've spent £500+ on flights for 1 infant, 1 two year old toddler, myself and DP. I've got an AMSAFE CARES restraint but it's not clear if you can use these on a monarch flight. It looks like I will have to purchase a car seat for the toddler. Monarch are unable to pre-confirm which car seats are acceptable (but can confirm that "bucket type based car seats" are not. This leaves me in the position where I will have no Idea what's acceptable to them until I turn up at the boarding gate (with two fractious little people). Are there any car seats which are light And a good bet with most airlines? Or even foldable?

Wishing I had booked with a different airline as, added to this, monarch gets dreadful reviews online!

OP posts:

littlewhitebag · 30/05/2014 07:11

Perhaps I am being dim here but car seats are for cars. Why do you need a car seat for the plane? I have never seen a child in a car seat in a plane and I travel a lot. Just sit the toddler on the seat. I assume the infant is on your lap.

QuintessentiallyQS · 30/05/2014 07:15

Car seat?? What for? To use on a car on the other end?
I travel a lot and have never seen a car seat nova plane !

HRHQueenMe · 30/05/2014 07:16

The Amsafe is usually allowed onboard, but its your responsibility to fit it. As for car seats, to be used on board it needs to be forward facing with a 5 point harness (not 5 straps, but crotch legs arms torso secure) but the IMPORTANT BIT is there must be space at the back of the seat to loop the aircraft seatbelt through the moulded part of the car seat. You cannot secure the seat over the seat or child it must be secured at the back.
I know rearfacers are safer but they are impossible to strap into aircraft seats hence they are not allowed, i.e most baby carryers. You can bring a baby seat on board but cant use it for take off or landing (you will be given an extension seat belt) but if you have paid for a seat for the baby you can usually use it in flight. Good luck .

mycatlikestwiglets · 30/05/2014 07:17

Do you mean to sit on whilst in the seat on the plane? If so there's a Britax one (the eclipse I think) which as far as I'm aware is the only seat which is actually airline approved for use in flight - would suit your 2 year old. You don't actually need a seat though - you'll have to have your 2 year old on your seat during take off and landing but can sit them directly on the seat the rest of the time.

IMHO airlines aren't very clued up about the right car seats anyway - I had to argue with an air steward who tried to tell me DS wasn't allowed to use his carseat (the Britax one mentioned ^^) during take off. They ended up having to get their policy manual out to check (I was right )

Tinkerball · 30/05/2014 07:17

Why do you need a car seat on a plane?

QuintessentiallyQS · 30/05/2014 07:19

You bought seats for both if them? The baby too?

LIZS · 30/05/2014 07:22

We used an infant seat once but not allowed for take off and landing when they have to be on your lap . Most people check them into the hold rather than faff around on the plane itself. Whatever carseat you use has to be the right pitch/width for the plane seat, fixable with a lapbelt alone (most aren't) and this will vary. Most families just use the airline harness but it looks like yours is ok . The worse that can happen is that they say no.

Groovee · 30/05/2014 07:23

I took a car seat on the plane with dd at 15 months but if I was doing it now, I'd stick it in the hold and just have her freely on the plane in her own seat as it would give more room. She had to be on our knees for take off and landing.

Only1scoop · 30/05/2014 07:24

I took maxi cosi pebble on board when dd was tiny and purchased an extra aircraft seat and used it. Never used one onboard for toddler in flight though. Are you worried about safety aspect?

BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure · 30/05/2014 07:28

Try looking on the FAA website - they are more clued up.

If the toddler is 2, I don't think you need a specific seat or harness. How old is the infant?

JellyTipisthebest · 30/05/2014 07:40

My britax babysafe says you can use it on a aeroplane. it has a instruction book to show you how to fit it.

The eclipse is also approved for use on a plane

To worry that there is no clear car seat policy for travelling with Monarch?

vestandknickers · 30/05/2014 07:43

Oh how disappointing. I thought this thread was about the etiquette of making sure the Queen buckles up if you give her a lift to the shops.

TheBogQueen · 30/05/2014 07:51

Frankly if the plane's going down it's Goodnight Vienna anyway.

Just use a lap belt

LollipopViolet · 30/05/2014 07:55

FAA is the US aviation people, for UK regs check the CAA, they'll have clearer info :)

LIZS · 30/05/2014 07:56

are you flying far , hiring a car or using transfer service ?

SocialMediaAddict · 30/05/2014 07:59

I've never seen a car seat on a flights And I've flown loads.

ilovepowerhoop · 30/05/2014 08:07

www.monarch.co.uk/faq/flights/flying-with-children-and-pets/infants-in-car-seats = says you cant use an infant carrier (I assume thats what a bucket type seat with a handle is) and need a forward facing seat that can be fitted with a lap belt.

I have never used a car seat on board and have never seen one being used either. Do you really need it on board or could you check it into the hold if you need it on your holiday?

CelticPromise · 30/05/2014 08:13

I've used a car seat on a plane, a Britax forward facing one with 5 point harness. We were taking it anyway to avoid hiring a crap one. It was more Jake than it was worth and next time we put it in the hold.

CelticPromise · 30/05/2014 08:14

Who's Jake? Hassle I meant.

DesertRose1958 · 30/05/2014 08:16

Airlines are inclined to say they permit the use of car seats on board the aircraft but the reality is they will generally try and get them off you at check in.

Boudicca1 · 30/05/2014 08:21

We flew this week with Monarch with DD1 (2yrs) and DD2 (5months) and to be honest, they couldn't have been more helpful. DD2 sat on my lap for the flight and had a seatbelt attached to mine.

I'd never seen a child in a car seat on a flight before, so was v cynical about taking it on board for DD1 but I didn't want it getting trashed in the hold, so it came on board with us & she sat in it on her plane seat for the flight. It's a maxi-cosi Axiss which also then had the benefit of being able to rotate 90 degrees so there was no danger of her kicking the seat in front mid flight.

She also slept the entire 3 hr flight as she was in her regular car seat & just felt like she was on a long car journey.
The car seat was fixed into place using the plane's seatbelt - one of the stewards was wary about it working but DH just went ahead and fixed it in place. Alternatively, DD1 could have just sat in the seat with the regular aeroplane seat belts.

I'd take the car seat on board again.

ilovepowerhoop · 30/05/2014 08:31

they shouldnt have let you use the Axiss seat though as it is designed to be fitted with a 3 point seatbelt and not a lap belt only. It wouldnt have been very safe in the event of a crash. They specify a seat that can be fitted with a lap belt only.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 30/05/2014 08:33

Sorry yabu.

OddFodd · 30/05/2014 08:37

Ilovepower - in the event of a crash, I don't think it really matters whether the car seat has 55 point fixings

BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure · 30/05/2014 08:39

Oddfodd - maybe not a crash but an emergency landing,

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