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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:
KindergartenKop · 06/10/2022 18:10

About 10 years ago we had something called a CAREs harness.

Darbs76 · 06/10/2022 18:16

I’ve definitely heard of people doing it, just check airline website

Original poster
OriginalUsername3 · 06/10/2022 20:20

I've paid for another seat for him. I didn't really want to check the car seat because I don't trust them not to damage it. But I also can't bear the idea of not having a car seat there.

OP posts:
Thumberline · 06/10/2022 20:32

Joie steadi is only 42.5cm wide and rear facing until 18kg. I think it’s one of the slimmest on the market so could be a suitable option.

ReeseWitherfork · 06/10/2022 20:35

Who are you flying with OP? Most airlines list their exact requirements on the website.

dementedpixie · 06/10/2022 20:35

For most flights from the UK the seat needs to be forward facing and be able to be fitted using a lap belt only. I dont know if there are many that meet that criteria

ReeseWitherfork · 06/10/2022 20:36

(I feel confident I can come up with a car seat narrow enough having researched the hell out of them when I was trying to make three fit on the backseat of my car.)

AutumnalCosyness · 06/10/2022 20:37

What?

Toddlerteaplease · 06/10/2022 22:33

If you are in a plane crash. A car seat will not save them!

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 06/10/2022 22:51

Toddlerteaplease · 06/10/2022 22:33

If you are in a plane crash. A car seat will not save them!

It's just for comfort during the flight...

PurpleBananas22 · 06/10/2022 22:53

Apparently I am in the minority but I have done this several times! It's not a massive deal but it's been great.

I bought a second hand Britax car seat especially for this purpose and have flown short haul and long haul with it. Each airline has slightly different requirements but it will say somewhere on their website what their criteria is.

I think the main points are it has to be forward facing, slim enough to fit in the seat and be a 5 point harness

The 5 point harness refers to the car seat itself, so a pretty standard UK FF car seat.

Once on the plane, the seatbelt is used to fasten the car seat to the plane seat, a bit like you would in a car using the lap belt.

I have always printed off the airlines own instructions and take a copy on the flight with me just in case the Cabin crew weren't sure how to use it.

FettleOfKish · 06/10/2022 23:01

DoubleDuvetDay · 06/10/2022 17:08

Lots of people who clearly never fly on these threads
If you have a baby in their own seat then you can fit a car seat, it depends by airline and you need to check. It is very common.
Some seem to also be mini pull along wheel seats that then go into the plane seat.

You say that, but I've been selling flights for nigh on 20 years and I have never, ever, had anyone want to take a car seat on to use on the plane. I've travelled extensively myself and never witnessed it.

It's very rare, in Europe at least.

OP I would package it well and check it in. I've had plenty of people do that over the years and don't ever remember a damage complaint. A few buggies and myriad suitcases but never a car seat.

Taytotots · 06/10/2022 23:02

As @PurpleBananas22 check the airline website and print out and take a copy with you. I had to take a car seat when I flew with my twins on my own when they were under one. One had to be in s car seat as too small for adult belt. We used a britax two way elite. It wasn't great trying to get two babies and a plane set off the plane though as they sent my buggy through to the baggage hall. Luckily someone took pity on me and helped me carry them.

Taytotots · 06/10/2022 23:04

The seat will have to be airline approved. Not many uk ones are.

FettleOfKish · 06/10/2022 23:05

Ps.. depending on the type of transfer you've booked you may not be able to use it. A private car almost certainly, but a coach likely not.

stormelf · 06/10/2022 23:07

I'm pretty certain the britax twe is approved for use on a plane but please double check in case I am wrong. It has to be forward facing on the plane but can be rearward facing when used in a car. It may not be suitable for your child depending on their size though, my son was only big enough for it at around 18 months but he is small for his age.

The Facebook group car seat advice UK or extended rear facing may be able to help you

Shmithecat2 · 06/10/2022 23:10

Thumberline · 06/10/2022 20:32

Joie steadi is only 42.5cm wide and rear facing until 18kg. I think it’s one of the slimmest on the market so could be a suitable option.

It can't be installed with a lap belt though, it needs 3 points.

GreenCereal · 06/10/2022 23:14

Yes it’s a very American thing to do. They also do not use the infant lap belts that are common in the rest of the world.

JustLyra · 06/10/2022 23:18

Most airlines have a list - your car seat will have a label telling you if it’s approved as well.

you could also Google the name/make of your car seat and plane.

The seats don’t have to be rear facing on a plane - it just needs to be able to be secured by the belt

JustLyra · 06/10/2022 23:48

Shmithecat2 · 06/10/2022 23:10

It can't be installed with a lap belt though, it needs 3 points.

Show quote history

Some can be secured on a plane with the lapbelt, even though that wouldn’t be acceptable in the car.

it’s why the OP needs to check with their actual airline.

Some infant carriers for example can be fitted forward-facing with the lap belt only on a plane, yet you couldn’t do that in a car.

Notsoglamanymore · 07/10/2022 02:16

I have this same problem as flying long haul in January with DS who will be 20 months but then. I just wanted one for the safety aspect. However from my research is seems like although it is the norm in the US it’s incredibly rare in the UK and most folk just have babies on their laps.
It’s incredibly difficult to find an airline approved car seat in the UK and there are only maybe two options. So I’ve decided to go with having him on my lap for the flight (night flight so praying he’ll sleep) and buying a Joie Tilt or Joie Steadi (both rear facing up to 18kg and under £100) to go in the hold for use when we get to our destination.

Also that I must admit to being a little reluctant to paying nearly £1000 for a seat for DS when I don’t technically have to yet but the safety aspect still nags at me.

cooolio · 07/10/2022 02:34

"Also that I must admit to being a little reluctant to paying nearly £1000 for a seat for DS when I don’t technically have to yet but the safety aspect still nags at me."

How do you think a car seat will help him in a plane crash?

cooolio · 07/10/2022 02:37

"I think the main points are it has to be forward facing, slim enough to fit in the seat and be a 5 point harness

The 5 point harness refers to the car seat itself, so a pretty standard UK FF car seat.

Once on the plane, the seatbelt is used to fasten the car seat to the plane seat, a bit like you would in a car using the lap belt."

The child must have so little space in this situation. You reduce their space after paying for a seat for them, just so you can strap them down and reduce wriggling on your knee? Why?

JustLyra · 07/10/2022 02:39

The child must have so little space in this situation. You reduce their space after paying for a seat for them, just so you can strap them down and reduce wriggling on your knee? Why?

A child strapped in their car seat on the plane would have the same space they’d have in the car

Aintnosupermum · 07/10/2022 02:44

I flew all over the place with 3 children ages 5 and under. My children were in a car seat until they were 4. So much easier, especially for my son who has sensory issues linked to his autism.

I was US based and flew back and forth to Europe as well as in and around North America. I used the cosco scencera car seat because it’s so light and easy to handle. Crew tried to complain but I asked the pilot for permission, explaining the child being in a car seat was probably safer as it was just me with 3 children. The pilots always let me use the car seat.

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