We traveled this past trip with 3 kids under age 3, so we consequently had 3 carseats. We tried to pre-board, but the airline wouldn't accommodate us. So what we have found out is that even though it seems to make sense and get your seats at the front of the plane, I would go to the back. We had seats in the front. We had to fight with getting the carseats down the aisle with people sitting in the seats already. Unfortunately some people got bopped accidently while trying to get to our seats. We also held up the plane trying to get the seats hooked in. If you are in the back of the plane you are able to take more time to hook in the seats and not feel like you are holding up the whole plane. Just a tip that we will use the next time.
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Advice for flying while using carseats
- Thread starter peemagg
- Start date
WickedQueen22
New Member
Is it neccessary to bring a carseat on the plane? I know that sounds bad. I just wonder what other parents find they do. My daughter is on the small side and will be about 3 months shy of 4.
THANKS
THANKS
happymom52003
Active Member
It is not neccessary, but can be very helpful, especially in the case of the op who has 3 children under three. You are allowed to have a child be a "lap child" up until a certain age (not sure of the age, my guess would be under 3:shrug
....they will not have a seat reserved for them, so they would have to be in your lap. My 34 month old is so squirmry, I could not imagine not taking her car seat. It would be a nightmare for us without her being strapped in her car seat on the plane. So I think alot of it depends on the personality of the child. My first born was so mellow he probably would have done fine on a plane without his carseat. But if your child is almost four, she does not need one, even if she is small. It is a pain in the you know what to bring a carseat on the plane, so do not take one unless you feel it would be helpful. I can't wait until the day we do not have to take one!
WickedQueen22
New Member
It is not neccessary, but can be very helpful, especially in the case of the op who has 3 children under three. You are allowed to have a child be a "lap child" up until a certain age (not sure of the age, my guess would be under 3:shrug
Thanks for the advice, we will be using a car service because I do not want her in the ME bus without a carseat. However I didn't want to be the bad parent because I really don't want to lug a car seat in addition to the luggage.
happymom52003
Active Member
They will probably either check it, or get one from the car rental company. We used to check our older child's booster seat, but this past trip we just rented one from the car rental company.
elizs77
Active Member
Children under the age of 2 can sit on your lap. However, I started booking my son his own seat when he was 17 mo old for safety reasons, and also because we needed it for the rental car. If you get caught in turbulence or worse, then it's best to be able to strap them in. When we flew last, my son was 3, and we did not use a car seat on the plane.
I agree that it is very annoying trying to get the seat buckled in! I recommend getting a seat belt extender from the flight attendant. You don't really need it for length, but it can be convenient when trying to properly install a car seat.
All this being said, we're going to WDW in May with our 5 yr old and our daughter who will be 11 mo old, and we're not getting her an extra seat. However, we may purchase one of the flight harnesses that are FAA approved (they fit around the child, then around the parental seat belt. Again, it's a turbulence thing).
I agree that it is very annoying trying to get the seat buckled in! I recommend getting a seat belt extender from the flight attendant. You don't really need it for length, but it can be convenient when trying to properly install a car seat.
All this being said, we're going to WDW in May with our 5 yr old and our daughter who will be 11 mo old, and we're not getting her an extra seat. However, we may purchase one of the flight harnesses that are FAA approved (they fit around the child, then around the parental seat belt. Again, it's a turbulence thing).
WickedQueen22
New Member
We used a company that provided free carseats if you mentioned a that you got their # from allears.net. I plan on possibly using them again we really enjoy the stop at the grocery store.
Car seats have to be installed in window seats, so I'm not sure how the OP worked that out. We have 4 kids (3 are very close in age) and that was always tough when they were babies/toddlers.
Children under 2 have to have their own seat. I think that once they are around 4, a snug seatbelt is fine. If they are real squirmers (whatever the age) a car seat is best.
Children under 2 have to have their own seat. I think that once they are around 4, a snug seatbelt is fine. If they are real squirmers (whatever the age) a car seat is best.
SAV
Well-Known Member
This is the first I have heard of that "rule". Every time we have flown the car seats were either in the Aisle or in the middle seat. Never had to put on by the window.
And for us, it serves multiple purposes. It keeps them "locked" in so they dont' think that they will be held the entire trip, it provides a comfort level for them since it is their own seat and most of all it is the safest for them.
I honestly don't care if someone has to wait for me to strap the seat in. It's for my kids safety...and that is really all that matters to me. (Selfish...yes, but it's the truth).
happymom52003
Active Member
erstwo
Well-Known Member
We take our 2 kiddos on about 6 plane flights a year, mostly American and Delta flights, and we've always been asked to put our kids by the windows.
Our DS is now 4 and we check his car seat/booster and put him on the plane with only the lap belt. He's old enought to stay in his seat. Unless you have a really, really good baby, I recommend a car seat for any infant who is mobile (crawling, walking, etc.) If your baby won't sit still on your lap on your couch for 2 hours, they probably won't sit still on your lap on a plane! The car seat is familiar and they know they can't get down.
I don't know about the back of the plane thing - people are just plain rude about letting those with kids go first. They think they should get on first so they don't have to wait for us to get set up. BUT we like getting on last - less time we have to keep our kids entertained! If we were at the back, that would mean we would just have to hit More people in the head on our way back!:hammer:
Our DS is now 4 and we check his car seat/booster and put him on the plane with only the lap belt. He's old enought to stay in his seat. Unless you have a really, really good baby, I recommend a car seat for any infant who is mobile (crawling, walking, etc.) If your baby won't sit still on your lap on your couch for 2 hours, they probably won't sit still on your lap on a plane! The car seat is familiar and they know they can't get down.
I don't know about the back of the plane thing - people are just plain rude about letting those with kids go first. They think they should get on first so they don't have to wait for us to get set up. BUT we like getting on last - less time we have to keep our kids entertained! If we were at the back, that would mean we would just have to hit More people in the head on our way back!:hammer:
First of all let me tell you about our traveling party. There was 4 adults plus the 3 babies. We sent two of the adults on first with the carseats to hook them in. The other two brought the babies on towards the last of the boarding. Our problem was not with the other passengers, in fact most of them agreed with us that we should have been allowed to pre-board. Ours was with the fact that the airline we flew on boarded from the back to the front. We chose seats as close to the front as possible. This is what caused our problems, and the reason we held up the plane on the way down. We couldn't get the seats fastened in and we got no help from the airline. If you get seats in the back, then you are one of the first to board. If one or more people can go on and set up things, then someone come with the kids a bit later it seems to work better. As far as where the seats were placed, all the kids were either in the middle seat or next to the window. I belive that is a rule by the FAA.
coltow
Well-Known Member
Car seats are supposed to be placed in the window seat. It's for safety reasons. A car seat should not get the the way of someone exiting the plane. This is how it was explained to me by US Airways and Jet Blue.
I always book my seats towards the back of the plane. Airlines are doing away (if not already) with pre-boarding with children. They are letting thier frequent fliers board and anyone needing physical assistance, this doesn't include children.
I always book my seats towards the back of the plane. Airlines are doing away (if not already) with pre-boarding with children. They are letting thier frequent fliers board and anyone needing physical assistance, this doesn't include children.
figment3258
New Member
I know for us car seats would be more of a problem than a help. We have traveled with a 11 month old who is now 5. We have never used them. She either sat on our lap or we bought a seat. Even when you board a bus on any type of taxi service from the airport the kids do not need then.
shoppingnut
Active Member
The majority of airlines flying out of orlando don't allow families with kids to preboard which makes perfect sense since they'd end up having everyone trying to board at one time since most people on flights from MCO have kids. We took my nephew from age 2 flying he had his own seat, but we had no need for a car seat, it would have been just another thing to carry and we used ME where you can't use the seat and we were fine.
KC82271
Active Member
Regarding the comments on what airlines allow you to pre-board with kids - I have only flown Continental my 4 trips to Disney with my baby/toddler. Never has it been the same. Sometimes they let us pre-board, and sometimes not. I guess it depends on the "hostess" at the ticket counter that calls the rows.
I flow twice in one week down to Orlando from Newark earlier this year. Tuesday I flew down and we weren't pre-boarded. Flew home on Saturday, to fly back on Monday on business for the day. Guess what - same flight as the 7 days prior and they pre-boarded the kids. Go figure!
I flow twice in one week down to Orlando from Newark earlier this year. Tuesday I flew down and we weren't pre-boarded. Flew home on Saturday, to fly back on Monday on business for the day. Guess what - same flight as the 7 days prior and they pre-boarded the kids. Go figure!
We've been told the same on both American and United- window only. I get why. Our car seat is so bulky, there's no way anyone would be able to slide past that monster!