Car seats and airplanes

Dh and I are taking our soon to be 1 year old on a trip in June. We bought a seat for her on the airplane and will be bringing her car seat to use. I just wanted to hear other people's experience about this. Was it easy to install the car seat on the plane? What did you use to carry your car seat ? Did you get to board the plane before everyone?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

Car seats and airplanes

Depending in what airline you will board with family boarding. It's different on each airline. Car seat must be in the window seat.

Re: Car seats and airplanes

We are flying next week and have flown quite a few times with babies. We use the stroller attachment for the infant seat to bring it through the airport. Gate checked the stroller and brought the seat on board. It won't be that simple when she's out of the infant seat but DD is almost a year and still within parameters so I'm making it easy while I can.

In the past we have put baby in umbrella stroller and carried seat on top while holding it with one hand so it wouldn't fall off. Another option would be to get on of those seat trolleys and carry baby in ergo or in the seat. Or carry baby in ergo and balance seat on carry on luggage if you are trying to go with as little as possible.

Most airlines have family boarding.

I would make sure your seat fits in the plane before going. I have a Graco Snugride and it fits rear facing. There are Facebook groups (like car seats for the littles) that you can ask questions to and get answers from knowledgable techs.

Car seats and airplanes

i never take a car seat.. too much hassle. I rent one with the car through AAA.

However, Ive seen the family boarding process and they are always seated by the time I get on, don't seem overly stressed. I generally gate check my stroller.

Have fun with your trip :)

Car seats and airplanes

When we would carry on the infant car seat it was much easier!!!

We have a rolling brica carrier for our convertible car seat. My husband goes on the plane by himself during family boarding. We stay off. It's the worst to try to juggle the baby and not be in anyone's way while he installs it. Most airlines won't check but we always call the flight attendant over and asked them to see if they need to confirm that the seat is FAA certified. (There is a sticker on the side of your car seat). We didn't do this once and the seat was installed and baby in it and then the flight attendant came over and we had to undo everything to show the sticker. Never again!! After giving hubby a delayed start. We board and put day right in his seat.

The child has to be in the window seat and it is suppose to be forward facing but sometimes they don't make you.

We measures all our car seats and took the most narrow to help with room on the plane.

Re: Car seats and airplanes

We've boarded late with car seats.

It's not a big deal.

You use the seat belt to strap the seat in.

If you know anyone who has the car seat rolling device (it's made for this purpose), it makes things MUCH easier.

The window seat thing is good advice. The first time, I had to undo the seat to fix this.

Car seats and airplanes

Installing on a plane is pretty simple, it's a lap belt install so make sure you know how to install it with a belt. Also, make sure your carseat has a FAA sticker.

Carseats on planes are the best way to travel, and the safest. Using a stroller to get there is easy and then gate check the stroller.

The seat does NOT have to be Forward facing on the plane. A rear facing only infant carrier should always be installed rear facing on a plane. A convertible can be installed either way.

Car seats can not be installed on rear facing seats sometimes this causes confusion.

Re: Car seats and airplanes

We flew to WY this summer with DD who was 2.5 with her convertible car seat.

Just check the owner's manual on the seat. As long as it says: Certified For Use In Aircraft using 5-point harness, you will be fine.

Here is a website for the FAA that I found helpful.FAA

We purchased the following to carry the car seat around in the airports. We were able to carry it on our back like a back pack. We could also throw DDs lovies and blanket in there as well.Brica Cover Guard Car Seat Travel Tote

We flew Southwest and they required we use the car seat on the window seat. DH was able to easily install the car seat within a minute or two using the airplane seat belt and hooking it behind the car seat.

Southwest allowed families with small children to board after A-group boarded and before they started B group. Not sure how other airlines do it.

Re: Car seats and airplanes

Thank you all for your responses. We are flying JetBlue. I checked for the width of their seats and it is smaller than my daughter's convertible car seat. I know for a fact my car seat is flight approved but its too wide.

Are there any convertible car seats that are narrow?

Car seats and airplanes

A lot of times you have to put the armrest up to get it to fit. What seat do you have?

Re: Car seats and airplanes

I have the Graco My Ride 65 LX.
Jetblues seat is 17.5 inches wide and car seat is 20 inches wide. Would the armrest really gain me enough space for it to fit?

Car seats and airplanes

It should. The seat needs to be in a window seat since it will be used rear facing. With the arm rest up it might encroach a little onto you. I would bring a copy of FAA regulations just in case they try to tell you she should be foward facing. There's a group on Facebook called Car Seats for the Littles that has links to all the information you would need

Car seats and airplanes

The base of the seat is also a bit narrower than the seat itself.

Re: Car seats and airplanes

Car seats and airplanes

We use the cosco sereenca - it fits on Jet Blue and is very cheap at Walmart.