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Original poster

Using rearward facing baby car seat on BA flights

44 replies

TravelFraggle · 02/01/2025 10:18

Does anyone have experience of using a baby car seat on a BA flight? Or any BA crew here that can offer some clarification?

We will be travelling from UK to USA. Baby is 12 months old. We have booked a seat for baby on the flight with the intention of attaching our car seat to the aircraft seat.

The car seat is a Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 pro.

Our plan is to take this rearward facing car seat onto the aircraft to use during the flight, but securing the car seat to the airplane seat in a forward facing position. I understand that to meet BA’s rules we will have to have baby belted to us, on our laps, for take off, landing and turbulence. This is fine by us.

My concern is that our car seat is designed to be used rearward facing (in a car), but BA requires that the seat be in a forward facing position for the flight.
Can we simply pop the car seat on to the airplane seat in a forward facing position? Is that acceptable to BA? Or will BA refuse to let us use it at all as it’s designed to be used rearward facing?

I have tried several times to get clarification from BA regarding this, but they just keep referring me to their website which details the rules for taking a car seat on.

I guess I just want some real life experience info please! I don’t want to go to the effort of taking the car seat on our trip if we are unable to use it.

Thank you!

OP posts:
RabbitsEatPancakes · 02/01/2025 10:25

I found it almost impossible to use a safe infant carrier on flights in the UK.

The airlines want them forward facing and secured and generally also require 5 point harness' too. We had a maxi cosi too and couldn't find an airline that would accept it even though it was technically flight safe as it couldn't be secured forward facing. There's also the issue of the width of the seats.

TartanMammy · 02/01/2025 10:26

BA website is quite clear they need to be forward facing "The child in the car seat must face the same direction as the aircraft seat to which it is secured."

Your seat will probably be too wide anyway, there's a maximum width for airline car seats and most seats are wider than that. You need to be able to get the arm rests up and down. I would check-in your car seat and request a basinet seat.

YouveGotAFastCar · 02/01/2025 10:39

I don't believe that seat is approved for use on UK/EU flights. It's too wide for the seats, too.

Request a bassinet, if your baby is under the weight limit. Baby will need to be strapped to you anyway, as you've said.

Your car seat won't be road legal in the US either, so it's not worth the hassle of taking it and it getting banged around.

Original poster
TravelFraggle · 02/01/2025 13:23

Thank you for your replies.

I guess I just haven’t been sure whether or not we could secure the car seat forward facing in a way that is acceptable to BA without actually trying it on the airplane seat.

BA do indeed clearly state on their website site that “the child in the car seat must face the same direction as the aircraft seat to which it is secured” but they also state that “if the car seat does not meet the safety requirements, it can still be used, but your infant (under 24 months) must sit on your lap using an extension seat belt during taxi, take off, landing and turbulence.”
This is what I am finding particularly confusing. It sounds to me like any car seat that fits in the airplane seat can be used except during taxi, take off etc.

We measured our car seat and it is just on the limit for width, so there’s a chance it won’t fit anyway….

We don’t need the car seat for use in the US, we just wanted it for the flights, so it not being road legal in US isn’t an issue.

Baby is too big for the BA bassinet which is why we’ve booked a seat.

So overall from your replies it doesn’t sound very promising 😅 We don’t want to take the car seat unless we’re certain we can use it, as it’s such a pain to carry. So, we will look into alternative options!

OP posts:
RabbitsEatPancakes · 02/01/2025 20:13

Honestly I'd just book the extra seat and then use it for the space. Car seat is bulky and I can't see an active 12month old wanting to sit in it for too long.

I flew a lot when mine where small. I got a tall inflatable foot rest which makes the seat big enough for my 2yo to lie down on with a blanket from home. I've used it with BA on a window seat. It takes 2 mins to blow up and weighs hardly anything. Also gives them more space to play/ less things dropped on the floor. And comfortable to put my legs on if she decides to sleep on me instead.

mitogoshigg · 02/01/2025 20:23

I used forward facing graco seats with mine (from 2, they were in the bassinet until then and fitted fine

AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/01/2025 20:24

Also carrying such a seat through the airport , particularly somewhere like Heathrow, will be a challenge in its own right. Leave the car seat at home, it’s more hassle to use on the aircraft than it’s worth. They won’t allow you to use any inflatable seating in front of the seat either.

3luckystars · 02/01/2025 20:24

Why are you bringing the car seat with you ?

Justploddingonandon · 02/01/2025 20:27

I don't think it'll work but a 12 month old could probably sit in the seat without a car seat unless he needs to be strapped in. Also BA have a baby seat thing that goes in the bassinet spot and has a higher weight/size limit than the normal bassinet ( can't remember exactly but my then not particularly small 9 month old slept in it happily)

eurochick · 02/01/2025 20:28

Most car seats won't be narrow enough to fit.

Plus I have travelled a lot pre-Covid and never seen a car seat used for a baby. They won't want to be strapped in for long and then you are stuck with the seat and no extra space. Don't bother.

3luckystars · 02/01/2025 20:29

I just don’t why you would even think about bringing a car seat for the plane, when it’s not suitable for the plane and you don’t need it after getting off the plane.

TickingAlongNicely · 02/01/2025 20:29

My understanding is you need a seat that can be fitted with a lap belt... which isn't sold in the UK market.

Expatinsingapore · 02/01/2025 20:30

I have flown over 30 times with my children (who are 4 and 5). We live in Singapore and are from the UK.
I wouldn't take the car seat, it is too much bother.
Request a bassinet and check in the car seat.

jimmyateworld · 02/01/2025 20:30

I've just got off a plane with a ten month old, a car seat would've been such a nightmare !! She was fine on our laps, we just took turns.

Simonjt · 02/01/2025 20:42

BA seats are only 33.something cm, so you won’t find something that fits, plus rear facers don’t work with the lap belt as it will just constantly slip out. However the inflatable gap fillers are great to give young children more room to sit and sleep, just make sure you fill it with slack for when the person in front reclines.

FlippityFlippityFlop · 02/01/2025 20:45

I have flown with BA and used the Joie Steadi. It fits in fine. It's a seat that can be used forward and rear facing. I strapped it in forward facing on the flight and then used it rear facing in the hire car.
You will find that the check-in agents in the UK will try to get you to check it in the hold as its not something they deal with very often (the US are used to it). Just tell them it's allowed. We even had a gate staff member tell us it wasn't allowed but we asked them to get a member of cabin crew who confirmed with them that it was fine

Millymollymine · 02/01/2025 20:45

We flew a few times when dd was 1 to 2 years old. We used a Diono Radian 5. Its a narrow seat that is airline approved. The lap belt simply threads through the back and is secured that way. It is a car seat which you can rear face as well as forward face - it was our everyday carseat, we used it in our hire car when we got to our destination. It was brilliant to keep my dd strapped in for the flight. The only thing to think about which we didn’t factor in was carrying it across the airport it weighed a tonne. So the next time we got a little trolley for it. We didn’t find it a faff but we did use it at destination - if we weren’t using at destination then am not sure we would have used it.

Abridget7 · 02/01/2025 20:48

Don’t understand why you’re even considering this.

Nc54684 · 02/01/2025 20:50

The only reason I would take a car seat on a plane is if I HAD to use it in the destination country. Why do you need it otherwise? Confused

took our 18 month on long haul and he was in the bouncy chair at the front of BA flight in the bassinet area (they have two types a lie down and a sit up)

Roryno · 02/01/2025 20:52

Are you just wanting to take it to make baby more secure and comfortable in the big seat? Could you take a few inflatable pillows and cosy blankets? While you could take a rear facing seat on to use during the cruise it would have to be taken down during taxi, take off and landing - and in any turbulence. And there’s no guarantee it will fit in the overhead locker or wardrobe, so may end up in the hold even if you carry it to the plane..

SeaToSki · 02/01/2025 20:59

I would always fly with my small dc in car seats . I felt they were much more secure and comfortable with their own space and so was I. On American owned airlines car seats are encouraged, they are attached in the manner in which they attach in a car and can be used for take off and landing. British airlines are a nightmare for it though. If you can switch to a US airline, i would do so. Since BA is code share with AA, you might just be able to switch to the AA flight for the same day with just a change fee and not actually cancelling.

www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/traveling-children.jsp

FlippityFlippityFlop · 02/01/2025 21:07

Roryno · 02/01/2025 20:52

Are you just wanting to take it to make baby more secure and comfortable in the big seat? Could you take a few inflatable pillows and cosy blankets? While you could take a rear facing seat on to use during the cruise it would have to be taken down during taxi, take off and landing - and in any turbulence. And there’s no guarantee it will fit in the overhead locker or wardrobe, so may end up in the hold even if you carry it to the plane..

That's not correct. My 2year old stayed in his seat for takeoff and landing. If you have an infant then you have to have them on your lap for takeoff/landing/turbulence but you don't need to remove the seat.

Surelyitscoffeetime · 02/01/2025 21:17

Nc54684 · 02/01/2025 20:50

The only reason I would take a car seat on a plane is if I HAD to use it in the destination country. Why do you need it otherwise? Confused

took our 18 month on long haul and he was in the bouncy chair at the front of BA flight in the bassinet area (they have two types a lie down and a sit up)

Edited

We did the same on a BA long haul when our DS was 14 months. Worked out well.

makemineadecaf · 03/01/2025 06:39

My ds flew in a baby seat provided by BA in the bulkhead space when he was 13m and again at 20m - both to the states. You must book bulkhead seats though.

makemineadecaf · 03/01/2025 06:41

Same as @Surelyitscoffeetime

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