can you take car seats onto aeroplanes?

[letsdolunch]

We are doing an 11hr flight in June with dd who will be 17 months. I can't face having her on our laps for that long. I've heard that it's possible to take your own car seat to attach onto a plane seat so that LO's can sleep. Does anyone know if this is right? We have a britax isofix seat.

We were allowed to on BA and it was really useful...in fact we strapped said car seat on to a seat to steady it. You can't use it on take-off or landing though.

I suspect airlines vary a great deal.

Each airline has its own rules but usually it has to be restrainable by a lap belt and fit the dimensions of the seat, for which you would have to pay a child fare. US-based airlines may insist on it being FAA (I think) approved an have a stciker to prove it. It is worth getting agreement to take it on board in writing beforehand otherwise the check-in staff make want to put it straight into the hold.

robin3, thanks for the quick reply. Not booked yet but will definitely be a BA flight. Pricewise, would I just have to pay for a child's ticket to enable me to get a seat for dd?

LIZS- think I better give BA a call! Good idea to get it in writing.

Anyone know if said Britax seat would be compatible in US hire car?

We were lucky because the seat was vacant. They'll usually place you at the very front where there is more leg room. The car seat will fit on the floor then. Try to pre-reserve seats.

Britax do sell seats in the US. They call Isofix Latch there. Also bear in mind that BA do sometimes code share, with American Airlines, I think, so they may apply different rules on the retunr leg if it is an AA operated flight.

Ooh I never thought of putting the seat on the floor. That would be fab and save loads of cash!! Not sure whether I want to take the chance of getting the extra legroom seats though!

They will not let you put the car seat on the floor.

Bulkhead seats (these are usually in the middle of the first row of economy class)on BA tend to be reserved for infants. Your family therefore may not get that particular row.

If your DD needs a seat you will have to pay full child price for her.

BA's website have a facility whereby you can reserve seats online when you've booked the flight.

You could check your car seat in as unusual luggage (can't remember correct name) but you don't put it through with at checkout - but a different area. pick it up with normal luggage though,

Then for the flight they must have child seats already for little ones - especially as 2 year olds have to have a seat anyway so must have something for them? best to phone or look at their website.

We flew to France with DD only 6 months old though, booked in car seat and had her on our lap (buggy to the door of the plane).

that was with BA

Do you have to have a car seat for her to sleep in?
If you want to use a car seat in flight, you will have to buy a seat to put it on, so you may be better just buying the seat then letting her sleep propped with a pillow and blanket, etc.

She would only be on your knee for take off, landing, and whenever the seatbelt sign is on.

Taking an appropriate car seat onto a plane is a minefield, as different countries and airlines have different rules, and they are all strict!

Yes Meerkatsunite- the guy at BA soon put me straight on the floor issue! He did tell me I could reserve a bassinet and that they were suitable for children up to 2 yrs!! I had to really push him to find out the length of the bassinet which turns out to be 68cm. Some use that would have been!

From the website it seems some flights have special seats for up to 13kg so need to phone again about that. It would be better than faffing with our seat on the plane. She'll just wriggle too much if not in a proper seat.