Flight compatable car seats....

[Mots]

We are flying on saturday with our DD who is 20 months. We have bitten the bullet and bought her the child ticket (2+) as long haul with her on our lap was something to imagine. We have a maxi cosi priori XP and were planning to take this on board and put DD in it.

www.maxi-cosi.com/gb-en/carseats/toddler/priori-xp

I have read that we have to make sure that our car seat is compatible with the airline seats - anyone know if these seats are? The BA web site talks about seats on a base not being compatible - are they talking about the iso fix base? Ours has no base, just strapped in with the regular seat belts.

Any help on this, greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Mots

The only the only thing you can do is take it and see it seams to depend on hostess on the flight as well as desk staff. Not very helpful I know. Friends of mine took a car seat on the plane staff didn't notice other people got to the plain and then had it taken off. You could try phoning ba. She will have to sit on you lab during take off and every time the seatbelt light is on anyway.

Thanks castleonthehill. It seems a bit of a lottery with the staff. Will keep trying BA, volcano ash was making it tricky to get through to them - hence the mumsnet plea!

I presume that the isofix thing is what they are talkin about - they must get some idiots who assume the plane will have isofix fittings!

But the website also says:
"The seat must be designed to be secured by means of a normal aircraft single lap strap and face the same direction as the passenger seat on which it is positioned."

I don't think that the Priori fits with a lap belt, does it? I know there are a couple of FF seats that do, perhaps you could borrow or hire one?

We have flown with our Britax Duo car seat (similar to the Maxi Cosi I think) without problems. If yours fits with the normal seat belt then the lap belt will do the job. My DD (just 3) slept really well in it on a night flight last week, and also 2 years ago - the familiarity and support it offers really helps them cope with the flight. It also means you don't have to rely on a dodgy hire seat on holiday! The only downside as far as I can see is carrying it around the airport. Even when it didn't fit through the x-ray scanner the staff seemed unfazed - they must see plenty.

I don't think infant seats (rear-facing) fit in airline seats - for infants (up to ~12m) you have to use the seat provided in the plane (which they call a crib or cot but is actually like a reclining bouncy chair).

Good luck!

Oh yes, I suppose actually it's not like you have to install it as securely as you would need to in a car, since it's really just to give her somewhere familiar to sit and more secure straps for her than just a lap belt. So as long as it didn't wobble with the slightest movement when strapped in with a lap belt, it should be fine even if you wouldn't install it in a car like that.

(Hope that makes sense!)

Thanks Catilla and BertieBotts (you were making sense in your last post). I hope it will be OK. All that clobber for the little ones - will certainly focus my mind and make me pack very light for myself!

Phone the airline. They should have a list of approved seats that will fit on their system.

With some airlines, you actually need permission to take the seat onboard in the first place so I'd definitely give them a call with the headsup.

Your seat might not fit.

Qantas won't take a seat unless you have forewarned them and have approval.

This is from BA's website:-

Car type safety seats
You may prefer to use your own car type safety seat, which must meet the following standards:

?The seat must be designed to be secured by means of a normal aircraft single lap strap and face the same direction as the passenger seat on which it is positioned.
?A purpose-designed children's car seat must have a 5-point restraining harness.
?The car seat must not exceed the dimensions of the aircraft seat.
?The maximum dimensions of the seat must fit into an area of 43x43cm (17x17 inches).

Please note: Two part car seats, where there is the seat and a base are not suitable for use on aircraft seats.

Infant or child restraint device (AmSafe System)
You can use your own AmSafe System, which is an approved child restraint device, consisting of an additional belt and shoulder harness that encircles the aircraft seat back and attaches to the passenger lap belt.

?It can be used for infants from 12 months to children of 4 years of age.
?The AmSafe System is not suitable for use on First class or Club World sleeper seats, or World Traveller Plus seats.
?It cannot be used in the same row as the emergency exit or the row in front or behind the emergency exit.
?We do not supply the AmSafe System, but you can bring your own with you.

If the seat is more than 17 inches (43 cms) x 17 inches I would not take it with you as it won't fit the aircraft seat.

Mots, can I just ask whether you did take your car seat on board? I am struggling to find one under the 43cm mark for a flight and any advice would be appreciated!
Cocopop