Flying using a car seat

[cardamomginger]

Hi Everyone,
DH, DD (will be 14 months) and I will be flying to NY in November. DH's ticket will be paid for by work so we decided to buy DD her own seat. I understand that we have the option of taking her car seat into the plane with us and strapping that into her seat. Has anyone done this? Is a good idea or a PITA? Have you had any problems? The upsides are that she will be able to sleep more easily on the flight, it's a bit safer for her, and we will have a car seat to use in the cab from airport to hotel. Downsides are that it's one more sodding thing to have to carry and we need to find somewhere to stash it if we don't want to use it at any point on the flight. She just about fits in her Group 0 seat - I think we'd have to take that one as the next size up is just going to be far too unwieldy to carry.
Would be grateful for any thoughts and advice!
X

I would speak with the airline before deciding to do this and see what they can offer instead of taking a car seat on board. Its just another thing to lug about (and at Heathrow in particular you can walk seemingly miles to the departure gates).

I would think carefully about this too because the car seat may not fit the aircraft seat (economy seats in particular can be very narrow). You will not be able to easily stash it anywhere on the aircraft if you don't use it so it will have to go in the hold.

I would arrange a private hire transfer from the airport to the hotel and request a car seat when the booking is made.

You need to check that the airline will accept your seat

We used one onboard once and it was a PITA to carry and install
If you want one on arrival just check it in with the rest of your baggage

check with the airline. your type of seat might not be suitable for the seat on the plane.

I think a maxicosi is the only carseat they'll allow on the plane, as it's slightly smaller. TBH I've flown with and without carseat and without is easier! Mainly so DS can stand on the seat and peek at the row behind.

Cabin crew are nice about keeping the seat at the front when you don't need it.

Have you got a totseat? Fabric thing which goes over normal chair for child containment. They are brilliant on planes and take up hardly any room in your handluggage.

we flew with a FF britax

Thanks everyone. The airline (AA) said we can take a car seat. The one we have is Maxicosi, so hopefully that will be OK. AA have a section on the website about the dimensions a seat needs to be, so I'll check that. And will double check with a human being.

Gracie - yes we have a totseat and are big fans - how does it work on a plane?

Private hire transfer might be the answer. Will look into it.
One of my other concerns and reasons for wanting to take the car seat is I don't know how easily she will sleep in her seat without it. I doubt the recline will be enough for her. Dunno!!

We took one several years ago and it was a PITA, firstly it wouldn't fit through the scanner so we had to go somewhere special to get it scanned and then when we got on the plane we weren't allowed to use it even though I had checked beforehand and it had to go in the hold.
I think children tend to sleep if they are really tired, I remember getting on a flight when ds was 2 and seeing the look of dread from some people sitting close to us. He fell asleep not long after take off and woke on landing! He was the perfect passenger : )

was thinking of taking our car seat when we take our 3 month old long haul next year - was planning to put baby in bassinette and stow car seat in hold - is this best idea or will it get knackered by being chucked around?

bump
Anyone done this?

Can I just point out that carseats manufactured for the UK market are not acceptable on US insurance policies (and vice versa), so if there were to be an accident involving the seat, the claim might be void. Worth checking with your hire car/taxi provider about this.

Also, your child will not be 'a bit safer' in its seat on the plane. They are designed to protect child from a car crash. If the plane crashes, nothing will save you. Planes tend not to have the sorts of accidents that cars have!!

Airline seats only have lapstraps so wouldnt be able to hold a rear-facing seat properly. In addition, children under 2 HAVE to be on a parent/adult's lap for take off and landing, even if you buy them their own seat. An unrestrained carseat with no baby in it during take off or landing could be a major hazard in the aircraft cabin, especially if you hit turbulence. This is why lots of cabin crew will insist on them being put in the hold or in a safe storage are on board.

If you do put the seat in the hold, wrap it in polystyrene or bubblewrap to prevent it from being damaged through, eg, dropping. Accidents dont always show up as damage to a seat but the integrity of the plastic moulding may well be compromised. This is why you should always replace them after a car accident even if they look ok.

Thanks - I wasn't planning on using it on the plane, seems like something else to carry on board... Do you think bubble wrap would be protective enough for putting it in the hold?