Bloody Easyjet and their impossible challenge

[mindthegap79]

We're flying on Easyjet in a few weeks with dd who will be nearly 18 months. We've flown with her when she was tiny and had her on our laps, all fine.

She's now very tall and wriggly, so my inlaws very kindly offered to pay for her to have her own seat. Very lovely of them.

We were told to book her on as a 2 year old and then ring them so they could put a note on the booking to say she's under 2. All fine, and after a mere 55 joyous minutes on hold I got through to an actual person on the phone this morning.

Now for Easyjet and their impossible challenge... The woman told me that because dd will be under 2, she needs to be in an upright, forward facing car seat if she's to be allowed to use the extra seat we've booked. She can be on our laps for take off and landing, but if we want to use the seat, car seat is essential. That's fine - we were planning to buy a lightweight one to take with us to use in the hire car - cheaper than renting a seat.

However, she said that the seat must be able to be secured by a lap belt (obviously) and mustn't exceed 42cm width.

Today dd and I went to five, FIVE shops that sell car seats, to find such a seat. I also have been trawling the Internet for the past hour.

The seat does not exist. It doesn't. I can't find a single seat on the market which is suitable for a toddler, 42cm wide or less, and securable with a lap belt. The man in John Lewis actually laughed. The woman in Babies R Us said she loved a challenge, but she was defeated.

Does anyone know if such a seat exists, and if so will you please tell me what it is? Or should I just ask easyjet to refund the third seat? Argh. Thanks.

It is a ridiculous rule! Someone recommended the Britax Prince ihearttc but it's slightly too wide sadly.

Ah damn...sorry!

Both mine youngest now 6 had own seats on Easy jet and I never used a car seat. On my lap for take off and landing and turbulence then they sat , stood,, played it was a god send and I was never asked for a car seat. I never even told them on booking, just on check in and then again on board when they did the head count especially when she was nearing 2.

I work for a UK airline and am not sure why they want you to have a car seat. An under 2 has to be on your lap for take, landing, turbulence etc, basically any time the seat belt signs are on. The rest of the time you don't need to be strapped in so why would you need a car seat?

Thanks for posting OP - I am flying with my 18m in Nov on a 9 hr flight. Have bought him a seat but didn't think about a harness. This is a great reminder but it'll kill me to pay €100 extra for a cares harness

I'd ring easyjet back and ask them for specific recommendations of models that meet their criteria as you haven't been able to find any and nor have mothercare, toys r us, etc .

If they are asking for the impossible - maybe so they can say that they provide people with the option of doing this - but not having to actually every worry about it - then they need to be called out on it.

You could also try tweeting them and asking for specific models - it can often be quite an effective route to getting information from airlines (I know several people who have had much more luck tweeting airlines!) - and copying in mumsnet or moneysavingexpert or the travel desk of a big newspaper etc - might help to focus their minds!

Chinook is right- you don't need one

Trunki Boostapak Car Booster Seat is excellent & can be carried by child.
www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/1736809.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:18091973125%7Ctsid:59156%7Ccid:189942085%7Clid:96718915165%7Cnw:g%7Ccrid:71525381965%7Crnd:2125560606192465211%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1o4%7Cbku:1

This is ridiculous! I've flown in easy jet with a 15 month old and there happened to be a spare seat next to us so I plonked dd in it (obviously she was on my lap for take off/landing).
Are u sure they aren't just talking about take off and landing?

Is it just me wondering how on EARTH you're going to keep her still and happy in a car seat (or a normal seat) for the duration of the flight?

I can't bear the idea of trying to do this with my 2yo! He would either be struggling to escape or would scream a lot.

Hope it is a short flight anyway and good luck

You need the brittax eclipse. These are approved for plane seats (ie they fit and can be secured with lap belt) and are only about £50ish. We got them for our kids for long distance flights and they were great. But tbh I think it's an odd request - if she has to be in your lap for take off and landing anyway she doesn't need to be in a seatbelt the rest of the time (unless turbulent) so a car seat shouldn't matter. I'd bet the cost of your holiday no one would check it if you didn't bring one on board! You'd have the spare seat next to you then anyway.

That CARE thing is great but some airlines don't accept them

I'm going to tweet them. I saw the Britax eclipse but sadly it's 43cm wide, sob. I'll ask them about the cares. To be honest though if we can possibly get away with it I'd rather not buy or even rent one - so expensive! I want to just buy a which approved seat, check it in and dd to have as much roaming space as possible!

I had endless issues with TCook about the same thing when taking a 15 month old on holiday.

It took weeks to get approval from them of a seat (ended up being britax eclipse).

We also had to lie (at TC request) about DC age on the booking to use a carseat. God only knows why. The knob heads also ended up assigning us with emergency exit seats which are unsuitable for kids which resulted in endless pissing about at the airports with them moving grumpy passengers at the last minute.

That aside, i recommend taking a carseat.

Some posters are suggesting a carseat might be a waste of time and not necessary. Or too difficult to entertain kids for long periods in one. They only actually have to be in the car seat for takeoff landing and turbulence the rest of the time they can sit on your lap and play etc.

It was a god send for us once they fell asleep, it is extremely handy to pop them in in the car seat and fasten their harness. Job done. If they fall asleep on your lap and turbulence starts you have to disturb them to fasten your belt/add a connecting child belt/or move them to the car seat.

In addition they can go in the carseat for a short time while you eat/go to the loo/have a drink etc as there is very little room especially with a pull out tray to keep them on laps at all times. The car seat will stop them getting up and wandering about and climbing about when you have your hands full.

I just think having the option to use a carseat is better than not having it. I also wouldn't rely on having an empty seat nearby that you can just pop your child in. In my experience cabin crew are strict about having young children in appropriate seats with appropriate belts on. I also don't think they will allow you to book a seat for a child under a certain age without a car seat.

If you look on the easyjet site their seats are 44cm wide so the eclipse will fit - they are erring on the side of caution. That's said I think this is all a lot off fuss about nothing - you can just have her on your laps for takeoff and landing the let her roam free. If she can walk the cabin, she can sit in a seat without a car seat. And I say this as someone that has done A LOT of flying with infants and toddlers!

There's a Britax one which fits - I have it and have used it on Easyjet. Had to argue with the cabin crew though as they has no idea about car seats! Ridiculously a different approach was taken each way on the journey too. IME you'll have no problem using the spare seat without a car seat anyway - the cabin crew won't bat an eyelid.

Just checked - I have the Eclipse so it definitely does fit. Have on Easyjet several times. HTH!

All fine, and after a mere 55 joyous minutes on hold I got through to an actual person on the phone this morning.

Wow well done for getting through to a person. After a recent experience trying to contact EasyJet Customer Services we had reached the conclusion that there isn't actually anybody there on the other end.

Im sure you could have her on your lap with lap belt for take off/landing then make use of the spare seat (without car seat) for the flights duration when seat belt signs come off, they couldn't have an issue with that.

Sorry just seen echoing what UPSEEDAISIES has said, am also with a 19 mont old who has flown a lot so for me this would also be the best bet. The faff of carrying car seat with you through terminal/departures and onto pane then off again on ground sounds like a nightmare.

You're aware I'm sure that it's for your child's safety. In the event of a serious turbulence or depressurisation incident, your young child in a seat on their own I'd extremely vulnerable. The car seat helps protect and keep them safe, much in the way it does in a car.

*is

I've never heard of this, and I fly a lot. I've often booked an extra seat for DS before he was 2, and as long as he sat on my lap anytime the seat belt sign was on, then there was no issue. I've even been given an extra seat (even a whole row) at times because I've been flying with a child and been told it's so I can put DS in his own seat during the flight. I'd go back to the airline, because I'm willing to bet that the need for a car seat is only if you want the child to sit in their own seat during take off/landing/turbulence, and not if you are just using it for extra room to spread out.

Car seat not essential but baby far safer in one, like car. Now law in the U.S. Apparently graphic videos online why lap not a safe place but as I couldn't find car seat in the Easyjet challenge (needs to be narrow AND on the European approved list) I couldn't bring myself to watch them. CARES device only option for 12mths +. Under 12mths you take the risk with your babies life by having them on your lap. Which is why after 6 flights (that I naively booked before I knew all this) my 9 math old DD isn't going on one for a while!!!
OP I feel your pain- the CARES is the best option i found in my research.