Car seats for airplane?

IamJen

I'm not sure where to put this, so please move if need be mods.

We're preparing for our first flight (to Chicago) with the bean and are hoping to take a car seat/travel system sorta deal with us. We're flying United, who says that the seat must be FAA approved, but online elsewhere, it seems to be sufficient that the seat says something like "approved for use on aircraft".

We have a Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix seat now, but it doesn't seem that this is one that approved. Looking around to see what else we might buy/borrow/steal (kidding).

Does anyone know about seats that are okay, particularly ones you've flown with?

Thanks!

Caz3121

sorry if this is a silly question but assuming 'bean' is under 2, have you paid for an additional seat?

Gloomendoom

Caz3121 wrote: »

sorry if this is a silly question but assuming 'bean' is under 2, have you paid for an additional seat?

I wondered that. Otherwise, it's going to be a pretty uncomfortable flight with a car seat wedged under your chin. :eek:

mildred1978

IamJen wrote: »

I'm not sure where to put this, so please move if need be mods.

We're preparing for our first flight (to Chicago) with the bean and are hoping to take a car seat/travel system sorta deal with us. We're flying United, who says that the seat must be FAA approved, but online elsewhere, it seems to be sufficient that the seat says something like "approved for use on aircraft".

We have a Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix seat now, but it doesn't seem that this is one that approved. Looking around to see what else we might buy/borrow/steal (kidding).

Does anyone know about seats that are okay, particularly ones you've flown with?

Thanks!

Can't you just ask for a bassinet seat?

Ich_2

A difficulty may be that with United being an American airline they do come under the FAA which is the American airline regulator. (the CAA is the British one) whilst not impossible you may find it difficult to get an American approved seat in the UK.

As others have said you do of course need a seat to put it on.

mildred1978

I've flown long haul with my little one (he was about 8.5 weeks) and used a bassinet seat. Wild horses couldn't have persuaded me to take his very expensive travel system. I picked up a cheap umbrella fold pram at a charity shop and took that.

lgw29

if the faa have the same rules as the caa i hope this helps

passengers may provide their own car type seat for the use by infants within the minimum age of 6 months to a maximum of 3 years

the child seat must be facing in the same direction of the seat it is fixed too and be securely strapped to a passenger seat.it must be secured to the passenger seat by the lap strap and must remain in position for the duration of the flight. where possible child seats should be secured into a passenger adjacent to a window, but not in the same row as or the for forward or aft of an emergency exit

the car seat harness must secure the lap torso and crutch ( the harness does not have to be five individual straps.

the adult lap strap buckle must not lie directly over any part of the frame or under the stucture of the car seat after tightening, the frame may be either metal or plastic, seats must not be secured with the lap strap over the infant.

if the car saet is capable od adjusting in recline it must be set upright for take off, landing and in emergency situation tables designed to be used with the seat must be removed at such times

non approved car seats may be only used during the cruise when the seat belt sign is off at other times the seat must be stowed in an approved stowage

lgw29

you could look into this for infants 12months to 4 years http://www.amsafe.com/products-services/commercial-aviation/airbags-restraints/child-aviation-restraint-system-cares/

Caz3121

but all this depends if the OP has purchased a seat to be able to use a car seat, otherwise baby will be on lap (or bassinet)

IamJen

Thanks for ideas. We haven't purchased a seat, and have reserved a bassinet. We're having some doubts though about whether or not we'll be allowed to use it, because of weight/height restrictions. She's just 7 months, 8 on the day of the flight, but is already now about 24lbs. and 30+ inches. We're hearing mixed things about the weight limits and how strict UA is, so I'm just checking to see what other option are.

If the flight is not full, there's a really good chance that we will have an empty seat (we've got a 2-3-2 seating arrangement), and you can check a car seat for free at the gate if you can't use it. Hoping for the best with bassinet, but mmyeah.

Lord, I must be out of my mind.

ETA: Also not sure I'd want to use a car seat after it's been bounced around in the hold. (?)

Murphy_The_Cat

IamJen wrote: »

Thanks for ideas. We haven't purchased a seat, and have reserved a bassinet. We're having some doubts though about whether or not we'll be allowed to use it, because of weight/height restrictions. She's just 7 months, 8 on the day of the flight, but is already now about 24lbs. and 30+ inches. We're hearing mixed things about the weight limits and how strict UA is, so I'm just checking to see what other option are.

If the flight is not full, there's a really good chance that we will have an empty seat (we've got a 2-3-2 seating arrangement), and you can check a car seat for free at the gate if you can't use it. Hoping for the best with bassinet, but mmyeah.

Lord, I must be out of my mind.

ETA: Also not sure I'd want to use a car seat after it's been bounced around in the hold. (?)

I used to take a car seat with me for the kittens when they flew and it worked a treat for us - the differenece being that we paid for a seat for the car seat to be placed in. We never had any problems with the seat, but if the airline that you're travelling with has narrow seats, it may be impossible to physically get your car seat in there (some travel systems are rather on the bulky side), plus, the upper section of the seat is likely to intrude into 'your' space quite a bit. Not a problem for you, but another passenger on the other side may not be to impressed.

As for putting it into the hold, I wouldn't give that a second thought.

This link may / may not help you