Car seats and airplanes

Where are you going on the other end? If you're visiting family/friends, is there someone who has an extra seat that you can borrow while you're there?

I would really encourage you to join the group on Facebook called Carseats for the Littles. They are so incredibly knowledgeable, and many are highly trained in carseat safety and always chatting about airline safety too.

The Guide 65 is a great and reasonable seat for flying and one they highly encourage - but the Britax seats can also be used. The Guide is sold at Walmart and $65 - incredibly lightweight.

I know firsthand it can be hard on a budget, but it really is necessary to buy a seat for every person flying. Without that seat, and a child riding in a carseat in it, they are essentially an airbag for you if you were to hit turbulence, and a projectile danger for every person on the flight as well.

I don't mean this in any negative way, it is just safest for your child, you and everyone else flying.

It is also highly recommended that you never check a carseat even gate side. The carseats then have what is considered an unknown history as you have no idea if it went flying through the belly of the plane, if a 100lb piece of luggage was placed on/in it and your seat has a 65lb weight limit ect. and this forever compromises the safety of your seat as well. If you buy a seat for your child you know where the seat is at all times.

If you were to check the seat, and something did happen to it - for example our Britax seats have the headings that are foam that could easily be damaged - the airlines take zero responsibility for this. You are then left at the airport without a carseat and need to find someone to go to a store to buy your child a seat to get them from the airport to your hotel. This recently happened to someone on that forum and you could likely search (on a computer it doesn't work on the iphone/ipad ect) "airline damage". The ladies over there are great but essentially told this woman she was out of luck given she did exactly what they recommended she not do.

It is also recommended that you not rent a carseat with a rental car. Again, that would have an unknown history. Someone had mentioned on that forum that their family member recently used a rental carseat from the airport, and was in an accident with their friend/family member's car but did not tell the rental agency. They did not want to be burdened with the cost of replacing the seat!

We personally like flying on Spirit Airlines lately. I believe they go into Orlando. It is incredibly cost friendly and we are able to easily afford a seat for our infant/toddler and use a carseat. The Guide 65 is what we will be buying to fly - prior flights we have used our infant seat as you stated you have as well.

Enjoy your vacation.

Jamielynn said everything I wanted to say but a million times better. On our last trip (which was DD's first time flying), we bought a seat similar to the one suggested above. It's relatively lightweight, very portable, reasonably priced, and best of all, safe. DD had her own seat and sat in the car seat during the flight.

Just as an FYI, if you do buy a separate seat for your DD and plan on having her ride in her car seat, she will need to be by the window so as not to block anyone's exit in case of an emergency. We were unaware of this FAA policy and despite the flight attendants passing our area and checking on us several times (we were smack dab in the middle of the plane), it wasn't until takeoff that we were very rudely informed that we'd need to move DD right away because OH MY GOD, she can't ride in the middle seat, what were you thinking?!? (I say that with a little sarcasm.)

Safe travels! Have fun at Disney!

I used to travel very often with 2 small kids in tow as dh works for an airline. I would take the Britax on the plane and gate check the stroller. Only once did I gate check the carseat and it came back in very rough shape, even with a clear plastic bag on it. I traveled alone with the 2 kids so in the airport I would use the stroller as a carry all. I put the Britax upside down on the stroller along with my carry on luggage under the stroller. I would carry my littlest in a sling or backpack type carrier and my toddler would hold my hand. Wasn't the easiest way to travel but I was grateful to have my stroller and carseat at my destination. I hope you have a great time in Florida!

I'd personally buy her a seat on the plane and sit her in the car seat. If the seat is too cumbersome to lug, I'd get a lighter seat like the Guide 65 mentioned above. ALL car seats pass the same safety tests, so yeah, your Britax has more bells and whistles than a less expensive seat, but they both passed the same tests. So you aren't compromising her safety by buying a different seat just to use for this trip. She'll actually be safer since she's secured on the plane! Yay! Plus then you can use it as a backup seat if you need to pick up another kid in an emergency situation or for grandma's car, etc. down the road.

We have the Guide 65 to use on planes and in DH's car as a backup and it's lightweight.

The Car Seats for the Littles page is great!

My Dil travels with our grandson quite frequently. She always takes the car seat with her. She uses the Go Go Kidz travelmate. Works wonderful! Just put car seat on it and pulls him. Much easier for her and he's happy. She checks car seat and all when getting on plane. When gets off plane its right there waiting. Best invention ever! So much easier for her to manage and has car seat for rental car. Amazon has these.

Most airlines will gate check a stroller and car seat. You usually drop them off right at the plane door before you enter the plane.

I am an OCD mom that insisted that we take the car seat on the plane. DD was 3 almost 4 but very petite for her age. Seems like she might have weighed almost 30 lbs. My DH thought I was a lunatic but he carried it on and secured it in the window seat like I asked. It may have been a little more work but I was happy to have her in it. Luckily her car seat was on the FAA list of approved seats.