Using rearward facing baby car seat on BA flights

[TravelFraggle]

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!

That's not correct. My 2year old stayed in his seat for takeoff and landing

The rules are different for under and over 2s. Under 2s must be on laps when the seatbelt sign is on.

I fly a lot with little kids and I really wouldn't take a car seat. They'll be happier out of it and it's a lot of hassle.

Unless your seat is approved by the correct authority you have no chance of using it. Flew back from US with 11 month old in a forward facing seat which was US approved. (We were moving back). He was fine in his seat on US transatlantic flight, we reclined his seat and all got some sleep. Transferred at Heathrow to BA flight to Manchester and had to hold him on takeoff. Argued the point as safer in seat than on my lap but it was "I'm sorry madam but the flight can't take off until you are holding your child on your lap". I wasn't happy but had no choice.

The rules are different for under and over 2s. Under 2s must be on laps when the seatbelt sign is on.

I’m pretty sure as far as BA goes that’s an “it depends”.

If the seat meets the safety requirements stated by the airline the under 2 can be secured in it if the seat belt sign is on.

If the seat doesn’t meet the specification It can only be used as a comfort seat, and the infant has to be on a lap when the sign is on.

https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/family-travel/seating

I’ve never seen a car seat on a plane honestly (yes I have intentionally looked before!). We took our 11 month old to Florida, so loooooads of kids on that flight. Not sure they’d even fit!

As cabin crew, car seats are so complicated and IMO totally unnecessary. Check it in if you really need it, sure. But don't bring it onboard - please.

Yep they appear to be a right faff but I’m afraid you might get a bit of pushback on some of that.

There’s a lot of data out there supporting the view that in the (highly unlikely event) of an accident or serious incident car seats of the correct specification, correctly secured, provide much more protection for infants than them being secured in lap belts.

As an aside it’s a bit odd seeing claims that the Americans aviation authorities are great fans of car seats, given their history over many years of being absolutely resistant to the concept of restraining infants at all.

Still better late than never and poacher turned gamekeeper I guess.

@notimagain correct specification, correctly secured, is unfortunately highly unlikely to be the case for any car seat on a plane.

Maybe, maybe not…never seen any evidence that’s the case so would be interested to see the numbers.

Nervous flyers might need to look away now: There is certainly at least one study that cla8ms to show that small infants carries on laps can end up seriously injured due to the carrying adult jack knifing onto them in the event of a rapid longitudinal deceleration.

https://www.icao.int/safety/airnavigation/OPS/CabinSafety/Cabin%20Safety%20Library/Guidance%20on%20Infant%20and%20Child%20Safety/EASA%20Study%20on%20CRS.pdf

They don’t need it though, and won’t using it afterwards in an actual car.

They are only thinking of bringing it for the flight.

Sorry for derailing the thread but I used to know a few cabin crew but not anymore, I really miss all the stories! Do you love your job?

Sure. But the fact people always struggle to find a suitable car seat and therefore give up, hence rarely any car seats on planes, would show that it is very unlikely to have a car seat of the correct specification, correctly installed on a plane.

@3luckystars yes I do love it but it's changed quite a lot since I've had DC. I can't do the type of flying I would like to (overnights) hats off to the crew who do it with kids but it's just too tricky for me.

oh yes, sorry, you’re right. I was thinking they were over two. You’re correct, a one year old would have to go onto a parent’s lap with the orange extension seat belt for T,TO and L, and the seat could stay where it is.

I was cabin crew for a couple of decades too, and found that quite a few infants were more secure and quieter in their car seats. Some of them hated being in a big seat as a two year old. But they were always a nightmare for the parents to try to carry off on top of their luggage (and the toddler that ALWAYS falls asleep on landing!).

I used to take my under twos on my lap and it was great. :-)

OP it seems unlikely you will be allowed to use an infant carrier forward facing on the plane even if you take DC out of it when the seatbelt sign is on - they will class it as a hazard which could be ejected from the belt and harm other passengers.

You could look into taking something like a Joie Tilt which can be fitted RF or FF. Use RF in cars at your destination, FF on the plane. They may even allow you to use this in place of the infant lap belt. I have not personally done this but have seen photos on FB of parents who have found this combination to work for them.

Anyone can help on travelling with car seat on BA flight. We have DS - 5 months and I’m trying to find out if we can take our car seat (maxi cost pebble 360 pro) and store it in cabin as hang luggage. We taking car seat because we will be driving during our holiday and I don’t really want to check in the car seat.

Probably not as it will be bigger than the hand luggage limit…? Why not check it? People check car seats all day every day.

No as it will be over the dimensions. The only way to get a car seat on board is to book a seat for your infant and use the car seat on that seat. You'll need to check BA policy as to what their requirements are for car seats to be used on board. If the airline only accept forward facing seats, you can use something like Joie Tilt and keep baby on your own lap rather than sit them in the seat.

Personally for that age, I would buy a cheaper infant carrier or two-way type seat, wrap it up really well to check in, or check it in the cardboard box it came in.

Hi - I read this and was looking everywhere before flying trying to get clarity, hopefully my experience can help others who are looking for the same thing.

I flew easyJet last night (4.5h which ended up being significantly delayed an in the middle of the night) and my baby slept in his maxi cosi pebble 360 for the majority. Cabin crew helped me attach it, bay had to be on my lap for takeoff off and landing but other than carrying the seat around with me there were no issues and it meant I could get some sleep.

I wasn’t sure if it would be allowed all the way up to boarding but as the seat met all guidance on easyJet website it was very easy (note I had paid for the extra seat for baby)