Car seat on board a plane... has anyone done it?

[TroubledLichen]

Flying longhaul next month with DD 13 months, she has her own seat booked and we are considering taking her car seat on board as thinking she might be more likely to sit nicely in that (probably wishful thinking but we can but hope). Has anyone done it? Is it worth lugging it through the airport? The seat is FAA approved but it’s just under an inch wider than the airline seat. Will we be allowed to put the arm rest up so that it fits? The airline’s website isn’t clear, google suggests it will be allowed but most results are 5+ years old. It’s AA main cabin extra and the seat is a Britax Marathon in case that matters. TIA!

Yes, did it once and never again
It was a major faff and very awkward to carry etc

They won't allow it if you can't get the armrest down

A pillow is a much better idea

Interesting that you say it’s not worth it, was your LO not any more happy to sit in the car seat than on the regular seat?

Oh and I did managed to find the FAA guidance, apparently we do have a legal right to use the seat and that includes moving the arm rests to fit so we’re definitely ok to take it if we want to. But you’ve made me think that it’s more trouble than it’s worth so maybe not...

Nope.
Flown long Hall (NZ) with similar age.
Having 3 seats in a row, putting arm rest up after take off and having a ‘bench’ to clamber on/ lay across to sleep was much better. Pillow/ blanket/ tin of snacks/ iPad with photos and games.

Definitely ask the airline in advance, ideally by email, so that if they do say yes, then you have the agreement in writing with you.

Having flown loads with mine when they were little, I can't imagine anything more painful that faffing about in limited space with a car seat, that you will have had to lug with you and then lug with you again afterwards - but that is just my take on it. The only time your over 2 has to be in their seat is when the seat belts signs are on, other that that they can sit on your lap, or curl up in the seat with their head on your lap or pretty much any other wriggly toddler permutation thereof.

My child wasn't any happier in it
It reduced the available space
Trying to lug car seat plus hand luggage plus child down the aisle wasn't great

If you take the seat that is all the space the child has for the duration of the flight. The seat can’t go anywhere else other than on the airline seat if that makes sense.

I doubt very much if you will be able to take it anyway, part of the safety on board along with blinds being up and seat being upright is that the arm rests are down.

Seriously, it would be a pain in the arse to take it.

They have to let you. The faa actually advises that you use one.

We have travelled with one for 5 years.

Just get some wheels for it and you can wheel them around the airport whilst they're sat in it. You don't have to carry it.

Is the FAA guidance that you're read current?

My understanding was that take off is not allowed unless all seats are upright; trays are stowed and arm rests are down. It's a safety requirement.

I've also never seen kids happy in car seats in planes. It just takes up room for everyone else and adds stress. Most toddlers would prefer to wriggle about on the chair once the seatbelt signs are off; I think.

They legally have to let you as long as it's approved by the airlines country regulator and has the sticker to show it.

We flew without it once and it was a fucking nightmare.

"Did you know that the safest place for your child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap? Your arms aren't capable of holding your child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. It's the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination. The FAA is giving you the information you need to make informed decisions about your family's travel plans."

FAA advices are not applicable in the UK. This is what the CAA have to say about such things:-

"Infants under the age of two need to be secured whenever the seat belt sign is on. This can be achieved through the use of a seat belt loop provided by the airline to secure the infant on an adult’s lap, or by using a child restraint device i.e. car type seat, or an alternative provided by the airline.

Forwards facing child restraint devices may be installed on both forward and rearward-facing passenger seats but only when fitted in the same direction as the passenger seat on which it is positioned. Rearward-facing child restraint devices can only be fitted to forward-facing passenger seats.

Child restraint devices can only be fitted on a suitable aircraft seat using the type of seat belt/harness for which they were designed. For example a child restraint device that needs to be secured by a car type seat belt which includes a shoulder harness, cannot be installed on an aircraft seat that is fitted with a lap belt only.

The permitted use of restraint devices can differ between airlines, so it is important to contact your airline in advance of your booking or flight to ensure that the device that you may wish to use is acceptable".

In your case lichen I would not take this seat as it is also too wide to fit the aircraft seat so cannot be used on board anyway. I would not want to carry such a thing through the airport and onto the aircraft either.

Thanks all for your experiences and advice.

If anyone is interested, we can definitely take the seat, we live in the US, it’s an American seat that is FAA approved, can be fitted with a lap belt and it’s on flights to/from the US with American Airlines so we have a legal right to use it if we want to, including moving the armrests if necessary. I did call AA and they also confirmed this.

However, based on most of your experiences I’ve decided it’s not worth and we’re not going to bother. Thanks again everyone

We’ve got the jet kids bed box which I find much more useful than the car seat because DD can lay down fully and go to sleep rather than trying to sleep on my knee or curled on the seat.

Bed box has been banned on a
Lot of airlines.

I’m taking my 13 month old in a car seat this week. He’s walking and will scream if you try and sit him anywhere - he wants to be on the go all the time and the only place he actually relaxes is in his car seat. Also we have two other kids to deal with, so I want my hands free.

@anxious62 I’ve only seen the ban on Quantas and Jetstar, neither of which we fly with as we are UK based. So I wouldn’t class that as lots.