Air Travel and Carseat Procedure

used the car seat in the plane, worked great, it was also a kind that snapped on a stroller, that was wonderful!
S.

Typically, the airlines allow pre-boarding for those traveling with small children and I can see the benefit of flying with the carseat but... we have rented cars on trips before and carseats. Call your rental company and confirm they have a car seat for your child and you can reserve for roughly $10 a day. Traveling with kids requires a lot of gear and we found it easier to leave the car seat at home - one less large thing to carry.

Just a thought from another angle.

HI, enjoy your trip. We just returned from Florida and had an excellent time. You might want to check on your actual car seat to be sure it is "approved for airline use". Ours is not. We got to the gate once and were told it was not approved, so we gate checked it there. They are not required to have one, but I agree with you that they are more content to sit if they are in their car seat. FYI you can gate check a stroller. This makes it easier to get through the airports...especially if you have a layover anywhere. If you are going to Disney at all, I would recommend taking your own stroller. It is quite expensive to rent one of theirs, and they just made them smaller. Hope that helps.
G.

I have flown twice with my 17 month old child. The first time we took her infant carrier and checked it at the belly of the plane because we did not purchase a seat for her. The stewardess was nice and showed us how to hold her during take off and landing, but I didn't feel we needed a carseat to put her in at all.

The second time I flew w/ her we didn't bring a car seat at all. Too big of a hassle--the rental car we recieved had a nice seat, and it was only $6.00 per day! I thought that was a deal, and completely worth leaving ours at home!

Personally, I wouldn't do it unless you REALLY have too. You are already carrying and worrying about enough stuff, the car seat is a lot to handle w/ kids in tow. Good Luck and safe travels!

It's a little more hassle to bring a carseat on the plane, but it was totally worth it in my opinion. We just flew earlier in the month for the first time since my son turned 2 (and had his own seat). On the recommendation of a friend we took the carseat on the plane and it worked beautifully. My son is always great in the car and never complains about being strapped in, and likewise accepted sitting in his seat on the plane. I know if we didn't have the seat he would have been up and down and out of the seatbelt because he's not good about sitting down/still in restaurants, church, etc. Was especially glad since one flight had a fair bit of turbulence.
Anyway, I purchased the Go Go Babyz wheels that strap onto the carseat. This might be a good option for you since you have 2 little ones to take through the airport. I thought it was helpful because he was able to sit in it while we checked in and we used it as a stroller through the airports. The only downside was that with it on our carseat it wouldn't fit through the xray and had to be wanded (not that big of a deal, really) and that you have to take it off before you get on the plane (or at least before you put the seat into the plane seat). Apparently some carseats are too wide to go down the aisle of certain planes, because one attendant was surprised that ours fit. I actually thought it was a bit easier to take the wheels off while waiting to board (we only boarded early once and decided it didn't make a big difference, especially since we had the row of 3 seats together) and carry the carseat on. When the flight was over we would generally try to attach the wheels to the seat while we were waiting to get off, which made for a speedy exit. My son even stayed asleep through the end of a particularly late flight all the way from the flight through baggage claim until we got to our car.
One more tip: if you have two carseats, leave one in the car that you're taking to the airport and take the other one on the plane. That way you don't have to mess around with putting a seat back in your car (in the cold) when you get home at the end of your trip!

we have flown twice with our kids (youngest was 18 months the first time), we did not use a seat on the plane...they sat very well in the seat during takeoff and landing. and we rented a car seat at the rental car company...worked very well for us. we did however bring a double stroller once and a sit and stand with us to help keep track of them at the airport. (our oldest was 5 this spring and we still used the sit and stand...it is a lot of walking at the airport and i would rather push her around then listed to complaining after about 10 mintues!) also felt safe with them both kind of contained. this you can check right at the gate so you can use at both airports.

We traveled to Florida last winter had two carseats as well. We did not use any on the plane as you cannot use a booster on the plane and our little one was just over one and sat on our lap. In milwaukee we did not get special treatment, but you do get to board the plane first. In Florida young families had a special place to go through security and check it which made it a lot easier. We just checked the carseats on the plane with regular luggage. I just put them in huge garabage bags and used duc tape to put our name and cell phone number on them and on the way home they actually called us in the airport, because someone forgot to actually adhere the luggage tag to them and they noticed while loading them onto the plane!!! Something simple saved us $500.00 on new carseats and the saftey issues once we got home!!! Have a great trip!

Yes, take your carseat- it makes the trip soooo much easier. Check with your airline to make sure your seat will work with theirs. Some airlines let you get on first and some don't- still worth taking the seat. I'd recommend getting a car seat strap (you attach it to the seat so you can carry it like a backpack through the airport) if you are going to have to do any walking through the airport.

Whenever we fly we bring our car seats. I even flew a couple of weeks ago with 2 kids and 2 car seats all by myself! It wasn't pretty- but we needed the car seats because we were in a friend's car. Anyway, the thing to get is a "Go Go Baby"- you attach the car seat to it and the child can ride in it through the airport. Since our son has a seat of his own, it is nice to have the car seat for him to sleep in. Northwest let us board early. Good luck!

Hi,
We traveled with my son when he was just over 2 and we used his car seat on the plane. They gave an opportunity for families with small children to board ahead of the rest of the passengers. My husband boarded during that time and got the car seat strapped in to the seat and then I came with my son a few minutes later. The only issue we ran into was the car seat put him forward enough in the seat that he kicked the seat in front of him, though those passengers never seemed to notice! It was great, he sat wonderfully for the plane ride and even napped on the plane! It was cumbersome to carry in the airport, but we managed that as well. Overall, we had great success with the carseat on the plane. Good luck!

We have a 5 yr old and 1 yr old. We have traveled twice with the 2 kiddos. The first time we rented one carseat for our then 4 yr old and brought the infant carrier when my son was 2 months. We traveled with my parents - so, the extra hands were nice for all the lugging around. The second time, we rented the convertible carseat for my son who was 10 months at the time and brought along my daughter's booster seat. It was easier to do it this way b/c we had to lug our stroller too which was quite a bit bigger - the sit and stand stroller. We definitely needed the stroller for the airport and checked it right before we went on the plane. When we brought the booster - we checked it with the rest of our bags. It was just easier that way - we bought a cover for it. I believe we checked the infant seat at the door before going on the plane too. Again, I would just make sure you have a cover - like everything else - it can get pretty germy/dirty. Call the rental car company for their rates on carseats.

Hi, I have always used a carseat on the airplanes with my daughter until this year. It makes them know they have to stay seated until time to get off except for bathroom breaks. Some airlines will let you go first w/ kids (you may want to call them) and if not you will just have to wait w/ everyone else to get carseat in - there's just the airline seatbelt.It will have to be the windowseat for airline safety so you can be in your row.

We've flown three times this year with our son (now 10 months) and have not yet taken the car seat with us. He's a big boy (already the size of an 18 month old) so I suspect next year we'll need to bring one along.

We have just gotten a car seat with our rental thus far and that's worked out fine.

If you're traveling and won't be renting a car, most states do not require car seats for young children in public transportation (taxis, buses, limos), and we have also gone this route - no car, no car seat.

Good luck!

We flew to Mexico last April with our 20 month old son. Our car seat was a life saver on the plane. He did want to get out a few times, we let him once or twice, but for the most part he took a good nap, had some snacks, and watched DVD's. I think that I had borded the plane 1st and installed the seat and my husband got on a bit later. I hope that you have a great trip!

We have flown with our children at that age and definitely recommend using the car seat. They will be more comfortable and can see out the window. FAA regulations require that the car seat go in the window seat because it is hard to climb around it if there was an emergency. You don't have to go ahead of others and install the seat, but I do think it makes it easier. Good luck!

We've flown with car seats and yes you can get on early and install them. I think it's worth it but they are not easy to get into those seats. Check with the airline ahead of time to make sure it fits. I recommend a back pack like carrier that allows you to carry the carseat through the airport handsfree.

we've traveled to florida regularly with our kids (family there - lucky us!), and we just took a carseat for our baby this last time... we'll never do it again. it is a *hassle* to travel with a carseat! they aren't required on airplanes - i think i've seen someone use one once, now that i think about it, and most car rental agencies will rent excellent car seats along with their cars. i know we used national car rental last time we traveled & they rent new graco seats.

i know there's comfort in having your own seat, but with two kids, two adults & a boatload of luggage... it's not worth it for us!

good luck, and have a fantastic vacation!

Absolutely you need tobring the carseat on the airplane for your 2yr old. Bring it on, hook it in, and strap her in just like you would in the car. Trust me it'll make your flight a whole lot quieter and easier. Plus checking a carseat will damage it, they don't care if its a carseat, they throw bags aroudn on top if it, and it gets jostled during flight that could cause damage just like an accident.

So bring the carseat, ON THE PLANE, use it on the plane.

ALso, your 5yr old needs a booster, she's not old enough (height, weight, maturity) (yes, I know MN law, but it sucks) and she needs a booster seat.

When we flew and thought we would use the car seats on the plane, we could not because they were not FAA certified. But everything went fine. This was last year and my daughters were 4 and almost 2. They did fine. We did bring our carseats however because we did not want to rent carseats when we got to FL. We just checked them with our luggage and things went pretty smoothly.
Also, here is something to think about. If you bored the plane too early, then they get bored faster because they are sitting there while everyone else is coming onto the plane.

Hope this helps.

Hi, My daughter is 22 months and we travel almost every month. I always take her car seat on the plane and use it in her seat. In the car she knows she can not get "down". On the plane she also knows she can not get down. You have to take the car seat with you at the security check point but most airports now have fmaily lanes. Some airlines are not helpful at all and others will take the seat and put it on the plane for you. I wait as long as possible before boarding. I also give tylenol before the flight. Just regular infant tylenol. Children this age can nto regulate the pressure as quickly as we can. Other things that work for me. Food and new food that is different. No juice before or while on the plane because of the sugar. Small dvd player. Books, toys and I always buy something new that she has not seen.

We fly a lot with our son who is now 5. We used his carseat on the plane until he was 4yo. It was the safest way for him to travel and it made it much easier to keep him where he belonged. This year when we travel to FL we will be checking his carseat so that we have it available on the other end. I recommend putting the 2 year old in a carseat on a plane (but be sure your carseat has an FAA approval on the label or they may refuse to let you use it). Depending on how long you will be renting a car it may or may not be worth renting a seat for the older one. The rentals often add up to a lot of $$ if you will be there more than a couple days.

We traveled with our 14 month old by plane and brought along his car seat. We were told that if they are under the age of 2 they can just sit in an adult's lap most of the time but we did not go that route. So glad we brought his seat. We just boarded ahead of time so we could get settled. That's what I'd recommend.

This last year we took our 3 year old (then two) to Disney for the first time and had to lug the car seat throught the air port. What a pain in the rear this was! So this year I rented a FAA approved CARES restraint off of ebay for the plane. (We are going on the Disney Cruise in March) They cost around $80.00 to buy normally but I am renting it for around $20.00. You get to go ahead for first boarding on Midwest Airlines and install your car seat. I would check with your rental car company and see if you can rent a car seat from them when you are there. Oterwise make use of the rental luggage carts at the airport it helps ease the burden of the car seat. My daughter did get a bit fidgity around a hour in so be sure to bring your childs favorite toy and some snacks!

We've always flown with our carseat for exactly the reasons you mention - and it's been absolutely the way to go. The only thing I'll add is that technically your car seat must be approved for airline use - there should either be a sticker somewhere on the car seat (wherever the serial # is) and/or there should be some mention in your manual (in which case, bring the manual with you.) From the experiences others have related, it sounds like the airlines aren't necessarily checking this, but it would suck to be all prepared to have the kids in the car seat and then have them tell you that you have to check it . . . Perhaps that's the "not fitting down the aisle" issue the other poster mentioned. We got a car-seat backpack (straps that allow you to carry seat on your back) - definitely do that or the wheeled carrier others have mentioned. Good luck!