Harness on a plane

[MrsT91]

Me and my husband and taking our daughter on holiday for the first time this April.
Our daughter will be 22 months when we fly and will have her own seat. Are we required to have a harness or car seat of some sort?
I read it on easyJet site but honestly can't say I've ever seen one in use so don't know if it's mandatory or not.
Also are we allowed our buggy right up to boarding?

When we took dd yes we could have stroller right up to boarding, but we bought a cheap one from mothercare, we didn't take our expensive travel system.
I thoughtvunder 2 years old, they don't have their own seat, they sit with you with an extra seat belt attachment

The airline provide you with an extension to clip to an adult seat belt. Can't remember about the buggy!

She'll need to be on your lap when the seat belt light is on unless shes in an airline approved car seat or CARES harness.

The CARES harness was a disaster for us. It can only be used on the back row of the easyJet plane as otherwise it stops the tray coming down. We just had DS on our lap for take off and landing and sold it.

You can book a seat for her but she’ll have to go your lap for take off and landing, secured with a special seatbelt that loops through yours. At least that’s always been my experience in Europe, the US is different (no infant seat belts for example). No need to take a harness or car seat, honestly you’d just be making work for yourself if you did try to take anything like that. Buggy is usually gate checked so you can take it as far as aircraft doors and you usually get it back there upon landing but this depends on your destination airport. On the way back again depends on your destination airport but IME the ones that don’t let you take the buggy past bag drop have airport strollers you can borrow.

As others they give you an additional belt to attach to yours for her.
Buggy right up to when your boarding.

Plenty snacks and toys!

They will give you an extension seat belt and she will sit on your lap for take off and landing. There’s a loop at the back of the extension seat belt, your seat belt will go through that.

Can I jump on here and ask people what they do when they get to the other end and need a taxi with a toddler? Presuming a lot of taxis in European countries don't have car seats? So what do you do? Can you hire them at air ports? Or have to take your own on the plane?

I used airline approved car seats for mine (but only over 2, under two they were on my lap) as I travelled long haul alone with them I preferred it.

Buggy to the gate, take an umbrella style one because if it's not a busy flight they take it into the cabin, again I mostly went long haul but I always had the staff store my buggy.

@mightbeyesmightbeno

Can I jump on here and ask people what they do when they get to the other end and need a taxi with a toddler? Presuming a lot of taxis in European countries don't have car seats? So what do you do? Can you hire them at air ports? Or have to take your own on the plane?

Usually we rent a car and the car seats, or pre arrange a taxi that can provide seats but on the odd occasion where’s there’s literally no other option then we take the seats and check them in with the suitcase at bag drop.

Suitcase on the plane is a complete pain the arse, the only time I’ve found it handy is when flying long haul and they’re at that awkward age that means they’re too long for the bassinet but not big enough to sit properly in their own seat which for mine was about 7-10 months old.

Thanks everyone.
Just to clarify. The airline will provide the additional seat belt for take off and landing so she can be on my lap but throughout the flight she ok to sit on a seat by herself with no seat or harness?
Do I need to notify them of any thing before hand or they automatically provide this?
Thank you also for the buggy info

@MrsT91

Thanks everyone. Just to clarify. The airline will provide the additional seat belt for take off and landing so she can be on my lap but throughout the flight she ok to sit on a seat by herself with no seat or harness? Do I need to notify them of any thing before hand or they automatically provide this? Thank you also for the buggy info

Would need to notify if she had an allergy to something etc. Otherwise nope! They'll know you have an infant flying with you. They brought the seatbelt to me, didn't have to ask. And there's a man waiting when you board to take your buggy off you.

Yea absolutely fine to sit her on her own seat once in the air.
I flew with a 9 month old and would have loved an extra seat then so can only imagine how it'll benefit you all.

@MrsT91

Thanks everyone. Just to clarify. The airline will provide the additional seat belt for take off and landing so she can be on my lap but throughout the flight she ok to sit on a seat by herself with no seat or harness? Do I need to notify them of any thing before hand or they automatically provide this? Thank you also for the buggy info

Yes she can sit by herself once in the air except if the seatbelt sign comes on like if there’s turbulence. And know she’s coming as she’s booked on the flight, no need to notify them just for that.

You don't need anything.

If you want to you can take a car seat (that's a mission in itself finding one they accept) or a CARES harness.

Most countries have a car seat exception for taxis so people simply don't use one. Of course you may not be happy with this, in which case it's a good idea to bring a car seat which can go on the plane or in the hold. Joie Steadi is on offer at Tesco apparently for £66.

Some places have baby equipment hire companies for tourists, that is worth looking up. Although you don't know what condition the car seats will be in, maybe check reviews?

Hire car company car seats are notoriously crap, have heard some real horror stories of old fashioned poor quality dirty seats that are unsuitable for the age of the child, as well as being stored haphazardly and not coming with instructions. Even Which? did an investigation into this: www.which.co.uk/news/2020/08/85-of-parents-had-problems-when-hiring-a-car-seat-for-their-rental-car/

Some people avoid foreign car travel at all with children too big for a travel system and too small for a booster seat, as it's just too awkward. Once they are big enough for a booster you can use Trunki or Bubble Bum as portable options.