Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To book a seat for my baby on flight ?

65 replies

Newmumin23 · 10/09/2023 14:38

Looking to see if anyone has booked their baby a seat on a plane with car seat before?
We’re travelling to Ibiza next week and a friend told me it’s possible to book an extra seat (at a cost) and you can put the car seat in the seat of the plane?
Has anyone done this before and is it worth it? I’m thinking extra space and not holding baby the entire flight. Or am I being stupid and will holding baby between me and DH be fine?

OP posts:

caerdydd12 · 10/09/2023 16:49

LittleBrenda · 10/09/2023 16:46

Why would the baby be flying through the air?

Everything that isn't secured flies through the air when there is turbulence. That's why there are seatbelts.

Yes but I'm trying to ascertain whether they mean because the baby is in an unsecured car seat (like the OP suggested) or because the baby is on the parent's lap with the lap belt, hence asking for clarity.

saythatagaintome · 10/09/2023 16:53

Waste of money, OP, unless your baby will sleep through the whole thing. I took my four month old baby to visit my parents (5hr flight), and she nursed in my arms the entire time. We were also planning to buy a Ticket. Now, if you want the extra space for yourself and can afford it then sure. I’d only really do that though if I could stash the car seat below the seat and car seats are bulky.

buckingmad · 10/09/2023 16:55

We took car seat but put it in the hood. Baby sat on our lap to tenerife (4.5 hour flight) when she was 4 weeks, 7 months and 13 months. Was fine, I’d definitely not bother paying for a seat to Ibiza which is a shorter flight.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/09/2023 16:56

@QueenOfWeeds there should be nothing that would hinder exit from the plane in an emergency, yours or someone else’s, You could lose precious seconds taking off the seat belt if it was threaded that way under the carrier and if the carrier was discarded it could be a trip hazard or straps could move around your neck if there was violet turbulence. I suppose if anything happened to you then someone could grab the baby if they weren’t fastened to you too. Even neck pillows should be stored away to keep aisles clear. Some safety devices (seat supports for those unable to sit themselves for example) can be tested for safety but it takes months to get them approved and sometimes only in certain seat positions. It’s easier to say no to something like a carrier which isn’t ‘needed’ when seated as a blanket rule.

gogomoto · 10/09/2023 16:58

I used my forward facing seats on long haul flights from age 2, I don't think you can use a rear facing one. They had to be CAA or FAA certified

ActDottie · 10/09/2023 17:11

For that distance I wouldn’t but only because I’m pregnant and was looking at holidays next year with little one and looked at both with and without a seat for a baby and I personally didn’t think the cost justified it. But if the price is still ok for you and your budget then I can see why it may be easier for you both.

mathanxiety · 10/09/2023 17:35

I'd call the airline to find out their regs.

I've had the experience of a car seat being slightly bent out of shape in the hold. I think you should take it on board if at all possible, regardless of whether you get to use it as a baby seat.

I'd definitely book the extra seat for the baby even if you don't end up putting the seat in it. It is incredibly nice to have that extra space for baby stuff and general stretching out. You can put an underseat bag in the space you book for the baby and stick your legs under the seat in front.

Tailfeather · 10/09/2023 17:37

If you book business class you'll get a spare seat plus extras such as lounge access and meals and drinks on the plane.

Curiosity101 · 10/09/2023 17:40

Momtotwokids · 10/09/2023 16:36

Isn't anyone worried if there is a lot of turbulence and the baby flying through the air?

You're given a secondary belt which you secure around the infant and it attaches to your own seat belt. So with a combination of you holding them and having the belt around them they're not going anywhere.

I preferred my baby carrier for this though. I had my seatbelt on and DS in the carrier. There was no way he was coming out of that and he was definitely safer in that than with the lap belt. But I still had to take him out and use the lap belt for take off and landing.

You can also get kids air harness things which are like a 5 point harness rather than just a lap belt if they have their own seat but are still quite little.

I do think the car seat is probably in theory the safest option. But I've never bothered in the flights we've done with our two. And tbh my two barely used their own seats even when they were old enough that we needed to pay for them. They much preferred to sit with one of us.

I'm hoping with our next long haul DSs will be 2 and 4, that they will be happy in their own seats for a change, but we'll see.

SummerSazz · 10/09/2023 17:42

Flying long haul with a baby and toddler we had a bassinet and car seat (has to be a narrow approved one which we had and was going to be used in hire car).

For short haul, baby was just on my lap

Whawillthefuturebring · 10/09/2023 18:47

Katrinawaves · 10/09/2023 14:44

They won’t be allowed to sit in exit row seats with a baby. Are there generally other extra legroom seats on short haul flights not in exit rows?

Show quote history

Yes, there are often a few rows. It depends on the airline.

DragonFly98 · 10/09/2023 22:48

FettleOfKish · 10/09/2023 15:51

@DragonFly98 It makes perfect sense to me? A car seat can't just be placed on an airline seat, it needs to be secured to it. If the plane drops 150 feet in turbulence an unsecured car seat will first hit the ceiling, and then possibly another passenger as it falls back.

Yes but the op said they would take baby in and out of the secured seat or keep the seat in the hold. Nowhere did she suggest the car seat not being secured if it wasn't in the hold.

dementedpixie · 10/09/2023 22:51

The OPs seat wouldn't be compatible as infant carriers can't be secured with a lap belt. It wouldn't be secured and would be unsafe

Penguinmouse · 10/09/2023 22:58

Waste of money to buy a seat at four months for a short flight with two adults to share carrying duties. You can also buy bags for car seats easily on Amazon - we put ours in one on a flight to keep it clean mainly and it was fine.

FettleOfKish · 10/09/2023 23:06

I was under the impression if the car seat wasn’t compatible they could still sit in it for the flight, but had to be on knee for take off and landing, is that not the case?

@DragonFly98 The OP's words above reference a car seat that's not airline compatible, and thus can't be secured.

Flip

1 2 3