Hello all!

Would like to hear your experiences/advice on whether or not to bring our car seat on board for our 2 yrs old daughter to sit in.

On one side I am thinking it would be more comfortable for her, but then she must sit in it and cannot, for example, lie across the seat.

Also, wondering what happens once you have it onboard if something does not work out?

Flight is 12 hrs long.

Thanks for advice

K

Hi, to be honest I think you are better off without it. In know that at that age my daughter wanted to be able to move around a lot on long haul flights (we're Australian!) and when she was in her booked seat she was usually either asleep or eating. Also, there's just not that much room as it is, without a car seat taking up extra space. And if you are lucky enough to have any free seats next to you she'll be able to stretch out and sleep.

Also, if she is awake and sitting up she might want to do colouring or something like that, so would need to use the tray that comes down from the seat in front. Would that work if she was in a car seat?

Good luck with the journey. It's never easy travelling long haul with kids!

Kate

I've never had to ask myself this question because i've never had had to take a car seat with me. My daughter has always slept ok lying down on 2seats. if the flight is not full, you can move to a raw whre there will be one or even two free seats... most of the time, passengers don't like to seat near kids so I've aways had some extra place.. with certain compagnies, I could even lie her down on the ground but I know that it is forbiden on some . Good luck, i've always fly on 10/12 hours flight with kids and alone so I totally understand your concern..

You will not be allowed on board with the car seat - end of, so no need to consider it.

Car seat??

well, i've always seen car seats on plane. However, a car seat for a 6 months old is not the same as one used for a 2 year old so what the OP needs to do is contact the airline and check with them if her carseat will fit the size of the seats on the plane.

I've seen people take car seats on planes too, though most airlines can supply infant seats if you request in advance. Best to check with the airline you're flying with to make sure they will allow car seats and if your one meets their standards. Here's what British Airways have to say:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/child/public/en_gb

I think it's the booster seats that are not allowed on board. I took carseats for my two boys on board (Britax) until they were toddlers and then found it much easier to check the carseat as luggage. Usually the carseat does NOT count as your of your allowed checked bags.

Have a great trip - remember to bring lots of wee little surprises to pull out of your bag - it keeps things interesting. Even better if you wrap them up with a little piece of wrapping paper. My kids are 9 and 11 now and still occasionally ask me if I've slipped any surprises into their carry-on bags.

We are going to the US in December and I will not bring it for my 2 years old.

I don't want to bother having to carry that big thing around. And she will be moving, and maybe sleeping so I can't see what I will do with the car seat if she wants to lay down. Just to make sure to entertain her A LOT with tons of new things and make her run a lot before to board, hoping she'll sleep.

Good Trip!

A 6 month old baby normally doesn't have a reserved seat (airline baby bed or mother's arms). Taking a car seat requires you to have an available seat next to you which would mean a seat reservation (added cost).
BUT... don't walk up to check-in telling them they said in the English Forum it would be ok! Every airline is different, call first (well in advance).

Rob, that's not true. If you have an airline-approved car seat, you will be allowed to take it on!

Babies two years and above get their own seat (at discounted rates) on most airlines.

I probably wouldn't bring it on the flight unless they LOVE their car seat, instead checking it below. As I'm a nerd, I know that BA, Southwest and AA allow a car seat and a stroller in addition to bags for kids. Luftstansa/Swiss and United allow car seat or stroller in addition to their bag limit. EasyJet doesn't allow eitehr car seats or strollers unless you want to pay for "oversized baggage" and the kid doesn't get a carryon either, despite buying a seat for 2+ years old. Unsure of other airlines!

Good luck, and remember to pack tons of activities!

Thanks to all for replies, car seat will be with us anyway so question is more whether to bring it onboard or check it in.

For Swiss, you can bring it onboard as long as it measures less than 40 cm across (to fit it in the seat) but if you check it in, it counts as 1 luggage piece.

Cheers,
K

clarification about easy jet:

It is the accompanying person's responsibility to ensure that the minor is adequately secured into the aircraft seat. To this end easyJet will accept a car seat supplied by the accompanying person for any child over six months for whom an airline seat has been purchased, provided that the car seat has a rigid metal or plastic frame, is no wider than 42cm, includes lap, shoulder and crotch straps, and is upright and forward facing. The required restraint device for the age of the infant is detailed below:
http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/regulations.html

i mentioned it as every day i see people trying to take car seats on and 99% are refused

Funny you should ask about this as just this past week I was on a plane with about 3 of the passengers being 2 year olds. None of them had car seats and I can see why. ALL of them were very niggly and the one seated next to me was very unhappy being tied onto the seat with the safety belt. Her mother unclipped her as soon as the light went off and left it till the very last minute prior to landing to clip her back in again. For me personally, I wouldn't.. It's too clumsy taking this thing on the plane with you and it's enough stress having a 2 year old with you.

I take a printout of the airline's web page where it said that car seats could be taken on board as long as they were ECE approved. I have never been refused. From the Singapre Air web site: "Approved car-type child seats may be used for child under three years but not less than six months of age. The seat must be approved by a foreign airworthiness authority or government (E.g. UK CAA, FAA, or ECE) or manufactured under the standards of the United Nations. The seat must be forward facing and secured to the aircraft passenger seat by means of the aircraft safety belt."


http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/before/plan/specialneeds.jsp?v=114314133&#Header3

We traveled to Asia in Oct/Nov and for most of the flight the seatbelt sign was on. Having a smaller child, that means with them on your lap with the loop belt securing them. We had to keep on waking our kid up and moving him to our lap every time the seatbelt sign came on. The next time we took the car seat. He was safely strapped in, even during take off and landing in the seat. Since he immediately falls asleep in it in the car, that is exactly what he did on board.

I have flown both with and without. In my experience (albeit this was with an 18 month old) that its easier with. When the kid is strapped securely into their own familiar seat, they tend to be more comfortable and relaxed than sliding around in a chair. Although i imagine it would be completely different with a 2 year old. The only thing i would advise is if you decide to bring the carseat on board, make sure your have some sort of snap n go or wheels set to fit it on to. Otherwise it may not be worth the effort.

Definitely check the airline's policy; it really varies. If you do decide to take a car seat, take a copy of the policy (actually, I usually email and request they confirm whatever the policy is). Many flight attendants are not aware of if car seats can be used on board and how they should be installed. An invaluable source for this topic is http://www.car-seat.org/forumdisplay.php?f=36

I was googling this a while ago, and what I learnt was as others stated, to check the airline policy and ensure that your car seat meets the standards for use as an airline seat (not all car seats do apparently). On many forums parents raised the question of safety - a lot of parents felt it was safer for a child to be strapped into its own car seat than being held by the parent.

Hi !

we just took a flight from the US with an infant car seat.
On our way there we didn't have one and it was terrible - all he wanted was to crawl off under the seats etc. He is 20 months now. For him, being strapped in 'his' car seat meant: sit and relax. And he did - he wasn't trying to escape at all. I let him out a couple of times to move around the plane, then put him back in.
For us it worked really well..

Good luck! I didn't like flying so far with my little ones at all