Best Carseat for Plane?

[Jennia]

We need to find a carseat that isn't super heavy and is easy to put in, etc for our plane trip to DLR in two months. On previous trips, she used her Graco Safe Seat (now outgrown) and then her Britax Marathon (but that's too heavy for my mom and I to carry along with dd, our stuff, etc). We also tried one that is supposed to be made for travel and is a combination stroller/carseat but I think ours is defective (plus dd hated it). Any suggestions?

 

[stephie1012]

how old is she and how much does she weigh?
Is she rear facing or forward facing. Are you renting a car at your destination?
sorry for all the questions lol

 

[strmtroopr96]

We also have a Britax Marathon for regular daily use but bought a Cosco Scenera for a spare car seat. It is the one that we bring whenever flying. It isn't as plush and comfy as the Marathon but is lighter and much easier to travel with. Plus, I don't have to worry about something happening to the Marathon or having it get dirty. And they are only around $50 or less and the ones I have seen even come in a clear plastic travel bag as well. HTH

 

[clc053103]

I second the Cosco Scenera. Much, much lighter than Britax, was easy to install on plane and fit plane seat well. FAA approved. ALso makes a great spare seat for grandma's car.

 

[Erica09M]

I definitely suggest the Cosco Scenera. You can pick it up at WalMart or Target for about $50, and sometimes Target has them on sale for $40... or you can find them on sale online. It's a very light weight basic seat, rear faces to 35 pounds and harnesses to 40 pounds. It comes in a plastic bag, which is good for traveling too! This is our travel seat

 

[laughinplace199]

We also have a Cosco Scenera for our travel seat. The only thing I don't like about it is that I find it hard to install RFing in the rental car. If I still have problems with it next year, I might try DS FFing in the rental car.

 

[Jennia]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll definitely look into the Cosco Scenera then! My dd just turned 2, is 26 pounds, and still rear facing (though she's been forward facing on plane trips since 18 months).

 

[traveljunkie2]

I just wanted to mention that we have had problems flying with the Cosco Scenera. When we install it in the plane, the seatbelt buckle hits right in the middle of the seat. Since the seatbelt runs right behind the fabric of the carseat, the buckle part hits him in the back. We had to shove a pillow in between so my son could stand the ride. Since then, we travel with his Britax Roundabout, which has a plastic support in between the seatbelt and the fabric. It weighs a few pounds more, but is so much more comfortable.

If anyone has a way to avoid this, please let me know! BTW, we usually fly Alasak Air, if that makes a difference in how the seatbelts work!

If you don't want to purchase a new seat, you could buy a folding luggage dolly (under $10) and attach the Marathon to it using the LATCH anchors, then strap your carryon luggage to the car seat. We have done this in the past. Then just push/pull it along like a rolling suitcase.

 

[stephie1012]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll definitely look into the Cosco Scenera then! My dd just turned 2, is 26 pounds, and still rear facing (though she's been forward facing on plane trips since 18 months).

im happy shes still RFing....the only reason i asked was bc the cosco scenera does have a tough install RFing in alot of cars, usually you need a rolled towel or pool noodle btwn the bit of the seat and carseat. but other than that its a great seat for travel. if you are confident in your installs or arent renting a car i would def go with the scenera.

 

[princess pooh]

If you're going to install the Scenera RFing try to practice at home. DH wasn't able to install it properly and we had to take the ginormous True Fit carseat instead.

 

[laughinplace199]

If you're going to install the Scenera RFing try to practice at home. DH wasn't able to install it properly and we had to take the ginormous True Fit carseat instead.

That's a really good suggestion. We had a really hard time installing it RFing in our rental car, even with a rolled towel. DS might have to go FFing on our next trip if we still have a hard time installing it RFing.

 

[clc053103]

I dont know if this is true, but once on a flight to orlando I was told that I wasn't allowed to install RF. In a car, of course RF to the limits of the seat- but on a plane, I really don't think it's going to matter. Also you would need to put the seat at the window or else no one else would be able to exit the row.

 

[Jennia]

They've never let us install her carseat RF on a plane, either. We usually bring a blanket with us for when she naps, do you think that would work rolled up between the carseat? For our trip to/from Orlando, she'll only be using it for the plane since we're taking ME, but she will need a seat for our trip to/from Anaheim since we're getting a cab at the airport.

 

[laughinplace199]

DS has flown 4 times and he's been RFing on 3 of those trips with no problems. Once the flight attendant asked how old he was, and I was wondering if she was going to tell me he had to FF (since he was 18 mos and not a very young infant), but she didn't say anything beyond asking his age.

I would think a rolled blanket could work for installing the carseat in the taxi, just practice at home as a PP mentioned.

 

[Jennia]

Heh I was wrong, DH said they did let us RF her when we went to San Jose (different airline than our other trips, though, maybe that makes a difference?).

 

[Bren's Mom]

FYI for the op and all those traveling with car seats...

The FAA issued an informational memo to all US carriers in February of this year. Here it is in PDF format:

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...afety/info/all_infos/media/2009/info09002.pdf

I strongly advice anyone planning to bring a car seat onboard to print this out and put it in your carry-on.

"No operator may prohibit a child (an individual who has not reached his or her 18th birthday) from using an approved CRS when the parent or guardian purchases a seat for the child, the child is accompanied by a parent or guardian and the child is within the weight limits for the CRS."

If you paid for a seat on the plane, and have a car seat, and your child falls within the weight limits they MUST allow you to use it.

"If an approved CRS, for which a ticket has been purchased, does not fit in a particular seat on the aircraft, it is the responsibility of the aircraft operator to accommodate the CRS in another seat. The regulations also permit an operator to use its discretion in identifying the most appropriate forward-facing passenger seat location, considering safe operating practices."

The second part of that paragraph is important. They must accomodate your car seat, they do NOT have to give you a specific seat (like a bulkhead seat for example) that you want, IF they have another location that your car seat also fits in (like the last row for example).

And also, in their examples:

"An aft (REAR) -facing CRS that cannot be installed properly because of minimal pitch (distance between seats) between rows can be moved to a bulkhead seat or a seat in a row with additional pitch."

So if you have a 30lb child in a Radian, for example, and you want it rf'ing (allowed per the first paragraph above, most Radians have a stickered 35lb rf'ing limit, brand new ones will be stickered with a 40lbs rf'ing weight limit) then they must move you to a seat in the plane that will accommodate the seat.

And for those having difficulties with installing seats ff'ing and the buckle interfering, ask for a seat belt extender. That will help.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

I dont know if this is true, but once on a flight to orlando I was told that I wasn't allowed to install RF. In a car, of course RF to the limits of the seat- but on a plane, I really don't think it's going to matter. Also you would need to put the seat at the window or else no one else would be able to exit the row.

Not true. Whoever told you were not "allowed" was wrong. If your seat is rated to rear-face at the size of the child riding in it at that time, you can rear face it on the plane. They cannot deny you proper usage of your seat, and if they do, you need to request to speak with someone else.

That being said, rearfacing on a plane isn't as important as rear-facing in a car. My 3yo DD (29 lbs) and 2yo DS (26 lbs) both rearface in marathons in the car. We have taken the marathons on the plane and have saw no reason to use them rear-facing.

When in a car, rear-facing the seat helps spread impact between top of the head and bottom of the butt. That is assuming you are in a frontal crash. In the air, your main threat is turbulence and rough landings. It isn't crashing that is the concern for needing the carseat. Most airplane accidents occur during take off (sliding off the runway, etc) and landing, and turbulence in the air. You want your child secured, but rear-facing isn't going to make much difference.

Of course, it's up to you and if you really want your little one rear-facing, do not let them tell you that you can't. As long as they are not in an exit row and are up against the window, they cannot prevent you from properly installing the seat rear-facing, as long as DD/DS falls into the height/weight limits of rear-facing in that particular seat

 

[stephie1012]

That being said, rearfacing on a plane isn't as important as rear-facing in a car. My 3yo DD (29 lbs) and 2yo DS (26 lbs) both rearface in marathons in the car. We have taken the marathons on the plane and have saw no reason to use them rear-facing.

the reason DS will RF in the plane is bc it will be easier on me. He will be facing me instead of trying to find me. If he drops stuff like he always does it wont be falling everywhere and he wont be kicking the seat infron of him, even tho its his sister lol she will get mad.

 

[NotUrsula]

The verbiage in that circular essentially repeats what has been in the US carseat-use-on-aircraft law since 1985, (which FTR is 14 CFR 121.311). Personally, I take a copy of the most recent version of the law. (I keep it in an envelope taped to the back of the carseat shell.) Note that this law applies ONLY to US-based carriers. If a foreign-flagged carrier says no (and most of them will), this law will not help you.

You would think that since US law on this topic hasn't changed since 1985 (except to permit use of the CAReS harness), that FA's would know what it says, but IME at least 3 out of 10 of them do not. You have to be scrupulously polite when dealing with this issue, and there really is no way to do that and still win the argument unless you produce documentation. IME, some FA's will tell you darn near anything to talk you out of installing a RF toddler carseat in coach. They do it specifically because they do not want to deal with complaints from the passenger in front who will not be able to recline.

FYI, the US government certification label does NOT mention the FAA. The wording is mandated by US law, and it is: "THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT" The lettering on the sticker will always be RED.

As to installation, this is my method, and I've done it many, many times with my Cosco and gotten a nice firm fit:

The easiest way to get the carseat on to the plane is to carry it upside-down and sideways -- think of the shape of the number 7. It that position you'll whack fewer people with it as you walk down the aisle.

As a general rule, it will be easier for a man to carry the seat onboard, but easier for a woman to install it. Being shorter with smaller hands makes installation in tight quarters easier.

To install it, first lift the armrest, then recline the aircraft seat fully back. Next, extend the aircraft seat belt out almost as far as it will go, leaving only a couple of inches of grab space for the tab end. Position the carseat in the proper direction and thread the seatbelt where it needs to go, then turn the seatbelt's buckle one-half twist before latching it. Set the carseat fully into position and pull up on the seatbelt until it is snug. Lastly, push the recline button and pull the aircraft seatback back to full upright position. (Installing with the seat reclined and then pulling it upright pulls out about 3 inches of "cushion-squish-slack" in the seatbelt; this is a substitute for kneeling in the carseat as you would in an automobile.)

Flipping the buckle is important because the seatbelt buckle on an aircraft is a gate-latch design. It is next to impossible to easily open the latch if the top of the buckle is flush against the shell of the carseat; you want it to end up facing away from the shell.

If in the end with your particular seat the buckle ends up under the upholstery, making a lump against the child's back, then you should ring the call bell and ask the FA for a seatbelt extender. Then you can shorten the main seatbelt and use the extension to "bridge" the middle of the carseat between the two seatbelt buckles.

Lastly, if you discover you have a seat-kicker, I suggest using hobble-pants to solve the problem. That's my name for a prevention method I discovered a decade ago with my eldest son. I take along a VERY oversized pair of drawstring PJ pants; they should be about 22 inches too long. If the child will not stop kicking when warned, you can put the child into the pants, then tuck the ends of the pant legs under his/her tush. While they will still be able to swing their legs side-to-side, they won't be able to kick forward. This is a safe method of restraint, as the pants are not tied to anything, and you would still be able to get the child out of his seat in a hurry if there were an evacuation. (You can do the same trick by strategically tucking a blanket, but it's more difficult to keep it in place.) I found that after only a few uses, DS got the message about seat-kicking.

PS: ONE LAST NOTE ABOUT SEAT LOCATION: There are an additional two areas of the plane where carseats are NOT allowed to be placed on most aircraft. In addition to the exit rows themselves, they are normally also not allowed in the rows immediately in front of or behind the exit rows. The reason involves the evacuation procedures. In the event of emergency evacuation, the seatbacks in the row in front of the exit row are supposed to be collapsed forward to provide more room to access the door. It is also procedure on some aircraft that persons clearing the exit are told to put the door itself (and anything else that is blocking the exit) into the row behind.

 

[Jennia]

After reading through this, I think I understand why she was able to RF with no issues going to San Jose vs our other trips. On THOSE flights we were not in coach, so now I'm guessing that was the reason instead of it being due to which airline we were flying. Good idea about taping to the carseat shell, we'll definitely be doing that from now on!