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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What car seat can you use on planes for a 1yo?

110 replies

OriginalUsername3 · 06/10/2022 16:38

Using aibu for traffic. Does anyone have a car seat they use on planes? I cannot for the life of me actually find one. Googling "car seat for planes" just brings up loads that aren't actually suitable. Driving me mad! Would like one that's actually pretty safe, and preferably rear facing, in cars aswell as being suitable for planes.

OP posts:
WannabeMathematician · 06/10/2022 16:40

I don’t anyone who has taken one on? For short flights you are expected to hold an infant on long flights you can try and book the seats next to the baby bassinet in the from on the cabin.

Badgirlriri · 06/10/2022 16:40

What?! I’ve never seen a car seat on a plane!

BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 06/10/2022 16:42

Never heard of this. Just held baby on my lap and in arms

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 06/10/2022 16:44

I have never seen anyone take a carseat on a plane...you just hold them 🤷🏼‍♀️

bumpytrumpy · 06/10/2022 16:45

None. You hold them on your knee short haul. Or long haul can get a row with a pull down bassinet.

Original poster
OriginalUsername3 · 06/10/2022 16:45

He's big though and a wriggler. He'd never sit still for a full flight on my knee. And then you need a car seat at the other side anyway for on the transfer?

OP posts:
Carrieonmywaywardsun · 06/10/2022 16:45

You don't use one on planes, and rear facing isn't important when you're in the sky

NannyR · 06/10/2022 16:46

Different airlines have different requirements, for example this is British airways.

WannabeMathematician · 06/10/2022 16:46

How old @op? How long is the flight?

I don’t think that you could even fit a car seat to a plane seat.

Original poster
OriginalUsername3 · 06/10/2022 16:47

@Carrieonmywaywardsun the rear facing is so that we can then use it when we get there on the transfer.

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 06/10/2022 16:48

The Britax Eclipse was suitable but its been discontinued. It needs to be narrow and be able to be secured with lap belt.

Generally though you have them on your lap for landing and take off then they sit on their own seat when the seat belt light is off. Car seat in hold.

DarkAndDusty · 06/10/2022 16:48

I've heard of Americans doing this. Have you looked on US forums?

Original poster
OriginalUsername3 · 06/10/2022 16:49

@WannabeMathematician that seems to be the problem. The airline says "yeah sure, you can bring it on, it just has to be slim enough to fit between the armrests." Which seems obvious, but plane seats are so slim that no seat fits, has a harness, and installs with just a lap belt. All I've found have 2/3.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 06/10/2022 16:50

We took ours for taxi transfers but had to go in the hold then, years ago.
interested to know if that’s changed.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 06/10/2022 16:51

OriginalUsername3 · 06/10/2022 16:47

@Carrieonmywaywardsun the rear facing is so that we can then use it when we get there on the transfer.

Most transfers are coaches which can't have car seats. Again, you just hold thrm on your lap on the coach (presuming all inclusive holiday if using a transfer)

WannabeMathematician · 06/10/2022 16:51

Ok so that sounds like you are buying them their own full ticket? They still have to sit on your lap for take off and landing if they are under 2. Not popular but is this the sort of thing where you can use an ipad to distract them in the plane when they are in their own seat and put the car seat in the hold?

Ponoka7 · 06/10/2022 16:52

Email customer services. They'll give you definite dimensions.

cooolio · 06/10/2022 16:53

You don't take a car seat on the plane. You take entertainment to keep him occupied and hold on to your kid!

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 06/10/2022 16:54

As PP said, have you paid for his own seat?!

Under 2yo normally sit on one parents lap so no extra seat for them Or a car seat. You take tablet/toys/snacks etc to keep them entertained

cooolio · 06/10/2022 16:56

The transfer will be a coach too I'd imagine so again, no car seat

KrisAkabusi · 06/10/2022 16:56

But you'll have to buy a ticket for him if he's not on your lap? Taxis don't legally need car seats. If you are hiring a car you can hire a car seat as well. It's an awful lot easier not to bring one.

cluckinhell0 · 06/10/2022 16:57

You will have to pay for extra seat as don't get one as standard under 2 years. Easy jet accept seats on the plane. Joie Tilt has been used and then great safe seat for hire car at other end. 😊

Splutteramo · 06/10/2022 16:57

Just hold them.
yiure really going to buy another ticket for the baby? If you are you’ll have tons of room for them
to sit and play.
as for the car seat - you check them
in for free and pick them up with the rest of the luggage.

lisayf · 06/10/2022 16:58

Personally we've never paid for an extra seat for under 2 so never taken a car seat on a plane for them. We just make sure the transfer knows we would like a car seat. Never had a problem doing that and we've had rear facing too.

Pippylongstock · 06/10/2022 16:58

we did lots of long haul flights with kids and never used car seats. As others have said you check them- this is normally free. If you are paying for another seat - can’t they sit? We used these inflatables for the footrest which helped with sleeping ect