car seat on long haul flights - confused!

[smother]

We're flying to Sydney with my 18 month old DD with Air China. As she's fairly big, we've decided to book a seat for her as she won't fit in the basinette thing.

So far, I've received several different bits of official-ish advice about what car seat to bring/not to bring for her.

The travel agent said we had to take a car seat for her, Air China said we didn't..... Mothercare said it should not be a Group 1 style seat as these have got a large base and are hard to fit on a plane seat, Britax said these were the best.

I'd be very grateful if someone could enlighten me? What seat have you taken on flights and which work best?

Many thanks!

have a look at www.seatguru.com. This site has the aircraft layout contained on it together with details of seat pitch and width of seat.

I would not actually take such a seat on the aircraft because you'll be unlikely to be able to use it when you arrive in Australia (they have their own strict laws on child seats and I think also have to have Australian kite marks which UK seats would not have).

The above post is correct. Your car seat will be illegal in Australia so don't drag it all the way here. If you are driving and involved in an accident in Australia with an unapproved car seat your insurance will be invalidated....if they realise but it is honestly not worth the worry.

Your daughter can still have her own seat but ask for a child belt so she can sit on your knee for take off and landing.

Our son (2) slept for 8 hours in his seat from Perth back to the UK last month. It was tight but he was able to lie out. Take her favourite blanket/toy with you if she has. If not the airline should have pillows/blankets.

If you are doing online check in make sure and book a row of 3 seats together. Much easier than having a stanger next to you on a row of 4.

thanks very much for this advice, very helpful.

I had just assumed that the car seat would be ok to use once in Australia, that was part of the reason for taking it, so very useful to know that it won't be.

so to be clear - you really think that an 18 month old will be safe and comfortable enough on a long flight without a car seat? that seems to be your experience, tefal, it's just different from the advice i've been given but very happy not to have to lug a car seat with me if it's not necessary....

thanks

I can only tell you about our son who was 2 and 1 month when we travelled back to the UK.

He was fine. Sat on my husband's knee for take off and landing. We got pillows and plankets from cabin crewe and he was able to lie out. You can still get the seatbelt around them when lying out.

I wasn't comfortable with him sitting for hours in his child seat anyway. Supposedly bad for their posture.

Another point to remember is that once the car seat is in position that is it..you can't move it or store it which means your daughter won't have space to play, sit forward etc.

For me, a car seat was too restrictive.

Others might tell you differently though.