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Original poster

Car seat on plane?! Help

28 replies

Charis1503 · 26/01/2020 10:00

We r traveling to majorca in May with our 2 yr old.

I would like to take a car seat on the plane. Ive read that all britax 5point harness seats are airline approved.

Im usually pretty savvy online but cannot seem to find any thing decisive about what would fit/be allowed. We r flying easyjet.

Has anyone traveled with a car seat for a toddler on plane? How did you find it? What seat did you take?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/01/2020 10:03

I would put it in the hold rather than take it onboard. If you take it onboard it will need to be able to be fitted with a lap belt only and be the correct dimensions for the size of the plane seat

dementedpixie · 26/01/2020 10:10

Easyjet says this about their seat size:

Our minimum seat dimensions are as follows:

Pitch (distance between back of seat and back of seat in front): 29" (approx. 72.5cm)Width (distance between armrests): 17 ½ " (approx. 44cm)

edgewater · 26/01/2020 10:13

Just check it in. It’s a complete faff carrying it around the terminal, getting it in place etc. The child will have to be in it the full flight etc. It’s a pain.

Shakirasma · 26/01/2020 10:13

Put it in the hold. It's of no use in board.

Seat belts are for keeping people in their seats only, during take off, landing and turbulence when unsecured people are in danger of injury by hitting themselves on things and other people due to the bouncing around. They do an equally good job at this for both adults and children.

In the event of a plane crash I cant see how a car seat would be of any extra benefit than the seat belt it's on a whole other level from a car crash and nobody is likely to survive anyway.

cuckooken · 26/01/2020 10:15

Absolutely pain in the arse to take onboard.

nonsensicalmess · 26/01/2020 10:20

I checked ours in- wrap it well in bubble wrap and should be fine.

Original poster
Charis1503 · 26/01/2020 11:36

Im going to be 29 weeks pregnant and not sure i will cope/manage with him on my lap if he doesnt wanna sit in his own seat.

Im not using it for safety.. i just feel he will be more settled and comfortable in it.

Its only a 2.2 hour flight so i expect the seat belt signs would be on for the for the first 20/30 mins and again for decent.

My friend had travelled (different airline) recently with toddler and because in his car seat he nodded off for the journey and she highly reccomended car seat on board.

Im fully aware it can be placed in hold but will defeat the point of taking it
X

OP posts:
Longdistance · 26/01/2020 11:41

It’s such a faff to take a car seat onboard. Chuck it in the hold and just use the aircraft seat belt.
He won’t be able to sit on your lap if he’s 2+, it’s for under 2’s.

edgewater · 26/01/2020 11:46

Only under 2s sit on your lap. If he’s 2 and older he has to have his own seat and sit in it. You might be better looking at a cares harness rather than a seat.

Whynosnowyet · 26/01/2020 11:48

Imo is it worth taking your dc on holiday if you fear they won't even behave in the plane?

crustycrab · 26/01/2020 12:07

Particularly crazy to take a car seat on if you're pregnant. The person next to it (you) can't sit comfortably or manoeuvre around it and in and out of your own seat.

I saw someone attempting this and it was erm...amusing. They caused absolute chaos.

Just load up a tablet (buy him an amazon fire if he doesn't already have one) and surprise him with it on the plane.

crustycrab · 26/01/2020 12:07

And don't forget you'll have to carry the bloody thing. For such a short flight just keep him entertained

cuckooken · 26/01/2020 16:48

Its only a 2.2 hour flight so i expect the seat belt signs would be on for the for the first 20/30 mins and again for decent

Ignore the sign. It doesn't mean 'take your seatbelt off'. You should only unfasten the belt if you need to, to go to the toilet or whatever; if you are in your seat keep it on. It's for your safety.

The car seat though, no benefit in taking it onboard.

Namechangers87171717 · 26/01/2020 16:59

Tweet them an ask if you can take it

Original poster
Charis1503 · 26/01/2020 19:45

Quite suprised by all the unessesary/not very helpful comments.

I am aware it can go in hold. Ive had several reccomendations for using them on board and im after helpful advice on traveling with a car seat.

Generally he is impeccably well behaved and travels brilliantly in his car seat but gets fidgety on busses, the train ect. Even if he was going to be challenging on the flight... i am suprised by comments such as 'is it even worth taking him on holiday" a vast majority of parenting is challenging... i dont think people would leave the house is the possibility of their child playing up makes life experiences not worth having?!

This will be his 3rd flight and he already has a tablet and travel games. Last time he fell asleep and was so uncomfortable propped up on a slippery leather chair and ended up sleeping on me ( which as i have explained is going to be more difficult as i will be 30 weeks pregnant)

I get it will be a hassle lugging it around, but if he is going to be significantly more comfortable on the plane im happy to inconvenience myself.

Faa/caa rules state it must be fitted in a window seat so confused by others comments about issue trying to squeeze past it....

OP posts:
Vintagegoth · 26/01/2020 19:53

I would be worried about having to carry hand luggage and a grumpy 2 year old and a car seat around a terminal. Fill a small rucksack for him with snacks and toys and the flight should be fun. Get a magazine with loads of stickers or one of those books that you can colour with a water pen

QuitMoaning · 26/01/2020 19:57

You have stated “we are travelling......with our 2 year old” and that you will be 29 weeks pregnant so not comfortable with him on your lap.

Put him on his father’s lap then.

Delphinidin · 26/01/2020 20:01

We took our 2 year old to Menorca every three weeks for a few months (for work reasons 😬) and have done the take the car seat on the plane trip - it was a complete faff TBH, the subsequent times we went we took a pillow - a normal sized rectangular bed pillow - and used that instead! Worked a treat. He slept on it or it could be used behind to prop him up or under his butt. - highly recommend.

DesLynamsMoustache · 26/01/2020 20:02

I'm not sure why you've got so many negative comments, OP. There's nothing wrong with taking a car seat on board if you want to - that's why the option is there and airline-approved car seats exist! It might be worth calling easyjet direct to ask, though. Do you know the width of your car seat?

DesLynamsMoustache · 26/01/2020 20:06

Also car seats are actually safer when there's unexpected turbulence v just sitting on a lap or in their own seat with a lap belt. The FAA in the US recommend using one for children weighing up to 40lbs.

Delphinidin · 26/01/2020 20:10
  • for ref I think we have a britax eclipse and it fit okay - but we were on BA. Check the britax website, from memory I think it may have said ‘airline approved’.
dementedpixie · 26/01/2020 20:18

Remember it needs to fit in with a lap belt and some may need extra bits to help fit it in. Britax eclipse seems to be able to fit even though its dimensions suggest it is 1cm too wide. Depends where the extra width is though.

Found this previous post about it

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/longhaul/2396703-Car-seats-on-aircraft

AveEldon · 26/01/2020 20:20

Don't bother, carrying the thing is a pain and it's really not worth the faff

saraclara · 26/01/2020 20:24

I think the discomfort of carrying it around the airport will far outweigh the benefit on the plane. Particularly for such a short flight. Maybe the people who recommended it took long haul flights?