Car seats and airplanes

[mapg]

What is the rule on babies, carseats and airplanes? I just assumed that they had to have their own seat and be restrained. But someone asked to borrow my extra seat for a woman who was flying in with two kids for once they got here. So is the car seat optional for plane rides? Just curious.

[Joolsplus2]

Kids can be lap babies (no seat purchased at all) till they are 2, and after that they don't need a carseat at all (but do have to have a seat purchased)... basically, you never need to bring a car seat on. The link in my sig has an air-travel section to the left you can click on that has all the rules.

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[bensmom]

Agreeing with Julie, but ... because the FAA regulations bug me...

The FAA rules do not require carseats (or seats for children under 2 -although kids under 2 need a carseat if you buy a seat), but IMO, the laws of physics suggest that a carseat is a good idea until a child is old enough/big enough to sit in a lapbelt on the plane.

Ilana

CPS Tech and mom

[Joolsplus2]

I agree, just didn't have time to get into that this morning...thanks for mentioning it!
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[mizzum]

I booked some seats today for dh, myself and our 14 month old twins.

I was amazed to hear from the ticketing agent that *apparently* it is general aviation policy that when you take a car seat onboard for a child under 2, you are NOT allowed to use it during take-off, landing or turbulence. According to her, during these times you must remove the child from the car seat, place the car seat in the overhead bin and hold your child in your arms using a lapbelt extension. ?????? I was almost speechless. I cannot believe she was so mis-informed about her airline's policy or "general aviation policy". I would love to see a car seat fit in an overhead bin.

I tried once to correct her but she was adamant.The best part is that i had the airline's car seat policy page open on my screen at the time and that is definately NOT what is said. I didnt have the energy to argue so I said yes, i still want seats for the boys and yes my car seats meet your requirements.

I am going to call back tomorrow and direct her to her airline's car seat page....

Mizzum

[bensmom]

Wow! That is completely contrary to FAA policy for US carriers/flights governed by the FAA. (You're not on an international carrier, are you? I've heard of that for non-U.S. flights/airlines).

Hopefully you won't need them, but I generally take the FAA regs with me "just in case."

http://tinyurl.com/bbeys
http://tinyurl.com/92lmb

Ilana

CPS Tech and mom

[Joolsplus2]

I guess it's not a US airline?... seems like 'foreign' airlines are utterly stone age about seat policy...I've heard SO MANY people complain about going to Europe and not being allowed to use car seats on take off and landing (you know, the most dangerous parts of the flight, when *everything else* has to be properly restrained? sheesh).

Good luck fighting them on this!
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[mizzum]

It is a Canadian airline and their website says US and Canadian car seats with the stickers on are accepted as appropriate restraints. Which is what we will be flying with. So she is the one who is in cloud la la land. I think i will call their head office to let them know their staff in the UK are totally clueless!

[californiagirl]

To be fair, she's not clueless -- she's just citing UK policy. Which is exactly as she states. But a Canadian airline has to follow Canadian policy (it goes by the country of registry of the airplane -- note that a codeshare flight is regulated by the company that actually owns the plane). Canadian policy is the same as US and they MUST allow you to use a carseat if you purchase a seat and the carseat meets regulations.

[mizzum]

Thanks for that.

I just felt like having a rant, especially as she said it applied to every airline and car seat.

I called their Canadian reservations who comfirmed she is wrong and told me to print out their car seat policy page from the web and take it to the airport, just in case!