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Original poster

long haul flights - which car seat to use

28 replies

simpz7 · 24/02/2018 13:40

so, ive done some research but im struggling to find the answers

im going to be travelling to the USA in april with 2 children. for one of them id like to take a car seat to use on the plane. she is 2, has her own seat booked, im aware of the standards that the car seat has to meet for the airline to allow it on, however i cannot seem to find any car seats for her age/group apart from ones that are £250+.

does anyone know of a car seat, certified for air travel which are reasonably priced.

regards

OP posts:
lashestans · 24/02/2018 14:00

A car seat for an 8+ hour flight will be really uncomfortable for them?

Dailystuck71 · 24/02/2018 16:45

Terrible idea. Really. No where for child to go or seat to go throughout the entire flight. It won’t be comfortable. Once the seat is in the seat that’s it. I’d strongly suggest not taking one.

Original poster
simpz7 · 24/02/2018 18:00

well I need one at the other end to use in the hire car and my 2yr old would sit and sleep more comfortably in the seat on the flight

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/02/2018 18:02

She does not need a car seat for actually sitting in on the plane. The car seat will in all likelihood not fit the aircraft seat dimensions and those things are also very heavy to carry down the narrow aircraft aisle in any event.

Rainshowers · 24/02/2018 18:05

Can't you just check it in? I have to say I'm not sure how comfy it'd be for a long flight. We flew to LA when DD was 2 and she's the sort that won't sleep anywhere other than her bed/car seat but she still slept almost all of the way home (night flight).

I think there's very few seats which match the dimensions/criteria for airplane use so I think if you want to use one you might have to accept the cost. Does the airline have any recommendations?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/02/2018 18:05

If you do take a car seat I would check it into the hold and not use this on the aircraft.

Dailystuck71 · 24/02/2018 18:05

Is your car seat legal in US? Not wishing to be difficult but just check. Example is uk seats are not legal in Australia.

I’d honestly just check it in if you can.

CurlsLDN · 24/02/2018 18:07

Do your car hire company offer car seats? That’s what we did when we took ds to the USA at a similar age. Cost something like £30 for two weeks

HotCrossBunFight · 24/02/2018 18:09

It is far safer in the enmvent of an emergency for a child to be in a car seat. Pain in the arse keeping them in it for 8 hours though!

BertieBotts · 24/02/2018 18:09

Interesting because if you had asked this question in the US people would be falling over themselves to suggest seats.

I think that one of the cheaper Britain seats is flight approved. The Eclipse or Prince. I can't remember which. It's legal to use a foreign seat when you are visiting a country but not if you're moving there. Don't take an iso fix only one because their iso fix is slightly different. Belt fitted is ok. We borrowed one of the britax ones I mentioned from an American friend who confirmed she'd used it like this but I can't remember which of the two it was.

BertieBotts · 24/02/2018 18:10

Britax, not Britain.

italiancortado · 24/02/2018 18:11

It is far safer in the enmvent of an emergency for a child to be in a car seat.

Not really. There is not much offered from a car seat in the way of protection during an air crash.

I would t even consider tying to contain a 2yo in a car sets for that length of time.

HotCrossBunFight · 24/02/2018 18:13

In the event of a crash nothing will help. With severe turbulence or a hard landing a car seat is far safer than the ridiculous lap belt, especially with one as little as 2 years old.

BertieBotts · 24/02/2018 21:55

If you use a car seat on a flight, they don't have to be in it at all times, only during the time that the seatbelt light is switched on.

Here you go - it's the Eclipse which is approved, apparently it needs an extra fitting kit, though. The seat is down to £80 at Mothercare at the moment - might still be cheaper to hire a car seat there overall, but your choice. For US car seat advice there is a forum called www.car-seat.org with some seriously obsessed people - you'll get useful advice there on whether hiring is safe compared to bringing your own.

www.britax-roemer.co.uk/car-seats/toddler/eclipse/1070.html

BertieBotts · 24/02/2018 21:57

Or it's even cheaper on amazon, only £70 - and here is the kit (which looks ridiculous for the price! But whatever.)

www.amazon.co.uk/Eclipse-Aeroplane-Accessories-Original-Replacement/dp/B00JSRFL0K?tag=mumsnetforum-21

BertieBotts · 24/02/2018 21:59

Maybe check with the airline to make sure, if it's a European one I'm sure they'll accept the TÜV certification, but an American one might require FAA certification instead. I'm not sure what you'd need to do then.

DonaldWeasley · 24/02/2018 22:05

Diono radian 5 is flight approved. And if it did turn out to be a pain it folds so could go in the overhead locker.

Dailystuck71 · 25/02/2018 03:42

If you use a car seat on a flight, they don't have to be in it at all times, only during the time that the seatbelt light is switched on.

True but there is no where to put the car seat so where does the child go if they are not in it?

italiancortado · 25/02/2018 09:38

If you use a car seat on a flight, they don't have to be in it at all times, only during the time that the seatbelt light is switched on.

But the seat takes up the whole airline seat so where would the child go if they were not in the seat?

In any case it is really silly to take your seatbelt off just because the light goes off.

Original poster
simpz7 · 25/02/2018 21:56

im thinking if she wants to sit on the normal seat i'll just upend the car seat and put it head down in the foot well. she'll be able to put her legs on top of it if required.

OP posts:
MaybeDoctor · 25/02/2018 22:01

You are not going to be allowed to keep a carseat in the footwell, really you aren’t.

MaybeDoctor · 25/02/2018 22:03

I have enough problems getting a novel out of my handbag when sitting in an airline seat, let alone trying to juggle a carseat and a two year old.

Longdistance · 25/02/2018 22:04

I doubt it’s fit in the footwell.

Don’t bother with it, it really is a hassle for you as s parent. I never took seats for mine as it’s a royal pita. I just lifted the armrests up if they wanted a sleep, and they’d lay their heads on my lap.
Check it in instead.

italiancortado · 25/02/2018 22:19

im thinking if she wants to sit on the normal seat i'll just upend the car seat and put it head down in the foot well.

Absolutely no way will this be allowed.

Grobagsforever · 25/02/2018 22:28

@simpz7 I assume this is your first time flying with a child...honestly your plan is mad. Carrying the seat, installing the seat, miserable child restricted in seat...for no benefit at all