How tight was it? I'm really curious. I have flown a lot in my life and I have never seen a carseat on an airplane. I have seen seats for special needs children but never typical carseats. I honestly cannot imagine getting squeezed into an airplane seat next to a carseat. I am claustrophobic on airplanes to begin with so a carseat next to me would surely set some serious claustrophobia off.
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Carseats have to be on the window seat, so unless the child is flying by themselves (is that even allowed if at carseat age??) only parents would have to suffer through that claustrophobia.
I have sat next to my son and it wasn't too bad. His other option was a lap infant and that would be far more in my face
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I've flown more times than I can count and I have never seen a carseat on an airplane!
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I flew with a carseat with my DS when he was 17 months old - it was a cosco scenera and fit perfectly in the window seat - I sat next to him and no one was next to me so we had extra room
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@LBee: I didn't know that rule! Good to know and phew. LOL!
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Only when I was flying with my twins.
I have seen a car seat on the plane a few times before I flew with mine. We usually fly across the a country, so it's usually a 4+ hr flight, so I can see why some would opt to bring car seats instead of have them be lap infants.
I'm petite and not claustrophobic, so it didn't bother me. I usually don't mind sitting in the middle sit. My chicco keyfit didn't take up more room than it usually would. I actually liked it because I got the extra foot space and still got a 'semi' window seat (I like looking out the window).
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@mediagirl: DH and I had our son in one on a flight once. It really wasn't bad! But it was a united flight, frontier or one of those with the narrower seats might have been worse.
And you know my DH is crazy claustrophobic and he actually said he preferred it because then our son was strapped in and not bouncing around and leaning on him/kicking him, etc.
I've never sat next to someone else's carseat (not in the same row)
Like @LBee: said, the seat has to be at the window (for emergency escape so no one has to crawl over it), so if you sit next to it, you still have the kid's parent to buffer you. -
I sit next to LO when we fly and we bring her car seat on the plane now. It's not bad - I have never felt like it stole any of my seat space.
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I have only sat next to my son's car seat.
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We bring a cosco scenera on the plane with us for LO. It really doesn't take up too much room. Honestly, I have more room next to my LO's carseat than I do when I sit next to some adults.
I think it's funny that some of you never see car seats. I don't even fly that often but I see them pretty much every time.
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dd2 was next to me in her chicco keyfit. it was totally fine!
dd1 had a cares harness and was between my parents in another row.
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We have only ever flown with carseats (DS is 3 and has been on about 30 flights). He's never sat next to a stranger, and anyway if the carseat fits between the armrests (which it would need to do), it's not going to spill into the other seat. The only problem is when he was rear facing, the seat in front couldn't recline, but people were always nice about it.
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@Beehive: I took my Chicco keyfit (infant seat) and it was rear facing and both times the person in front was able to recline their seats. Maybe this is different when they are in rear facing convertible car seats. I was all ready to pay for the person's drink on the plane but they were able to recline just fine so I didn't have to.
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It's so much more pleasant to fly with baby in a car seat than on lap. On SW if the flight isn't full they'll let you bring it on for free so we have. He slept the whole time in the seat! awesome! I actually got to read!
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@bluestriped bee: That's great! I think it must have just been the convertible seat, then (I miss the infant carseat days).
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@travellingbee: Our Christmas eve flight was full, but our flight back in mid January was not. We had a full row to ourselves and got to bring both car seats on the plane. It was glorious! My stress reduced so much. I wish I could win the lottery so I can buy a full row all the time.
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I don't think I ever have seen a car seat on a plane. We always tried to see if we could get an empty seat next to us but have never been lucky. But I don't think you ever could have a stranger sitting next to one since t had to be in the window and the parent would obviously take the middle. Or be a real jerk.
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Me too. I fly often but have never seen a car seat on the plane.
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I sit next to my LO everytime we fly (I'm in the middle seat). It's not bad at all.
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My son was in a rearfacing Chicco NextFit and it hit my shoulders a bit. My husband didn't like to sit next to the seat though
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I've never seen a car seat on a plane but was thinking about it just recently as I flew while pregnant for the first time on Friday. What's the purpose of bringing it on the plane? Something other than safety? To keep the kid controlled?
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I don't think they allow unaccompanied minors under age 5 so this scenario wouldn't be too likely since car seats have to go by the window. But, like others have said - I have more space next to me when my son is strapped into his car seat than when some adults try to use some of my seat space for themselves.
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@agold: If a child has a seat for themselves, they are required to be in a car seat or CARES harness. Otherwise, you have to be holding them at all times (which is challenging!)
ETA: According to the FAA website, car seats or CARES harnesses are "strongly encouraged" for a child under 40 pounds.
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@psw27: what? If a 2 year old has his own seat, he doesn't need to be in a special car seat or harness, I thought? We've never been lucky enough to get an extra seat and always held her in our lap under 2. We will be flying in a few weeks and it will be the first time she has a seat, but I was planning to bring a car seat through the airport.
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@agold: We brought it to allow him to take a nap during the flight. We flew right at nap time. He only sleeps in a crib by himself or his car seat. I didn't think he would sleep well on me. It was also nice for safety.
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@Foodnerd81: Sorry.... I should have added - a child under 40 pounds is "strongly encouraged" to have a car seat or CARES harness.
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I've flown with our Keyfit and our Foonf. It doesn't affect anyone else, and it didn't affect me either, tbh. The Foonf is so narrow, and I had it RF, so it wasn't even next to my shoulder. I don't see the big deal.
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@mediagirl: I have and it wasnt bad at all!
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@psw27: Our LO has flown in her own seat (over 2) without car seat or CARES and we were just told to use the seat belt, same as everyone else. Interesting!
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@yoursilverlining: Yeah I just noticed the FAA website says "strongly encouraged" but I've definitely had some flight attendants be stricter than others. I flew Icelandair this weekend and they actually had these belts they required me to loop through mine to restrain my 18 month old who was flying on my lap.
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the AAP and the FAA actually recommend you fly with your LO in a carseat.
There are a lot of people who go bonkers nuts about this (I joined car seats for the littles on FB. they will castigate you if you suggest flying with a lap infant. Its hilarous).
I am the "do whats best for your family" camp.
But technically the safest thing is a carseat for baby on the plane or a harness for kids under 40lbs.. They literally become projectiles that you cannot control if there is turbulence potentially injuring both your kid and other passengers.I've never bought her a seat but have gotten really lucky with crossing my fingers for an empty seat and bringing her infant carrier on.
The cosco scerena next is really highly recommended for travel and super lightweight and super easy on the budget ($44 from wally world)
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We have always flown with a carseat for our todder, and have bought him his own seat. It is much more comfortable for everyone! HOwever, I just flew recently with my infant and she was a lap infant and it was fine. I think probably around the age of 9/10 months is when I would want to get the baby her own seat, when I think having them strapped down is just better for everyone.
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@psw27: I never knew that it was strongly encouraged. For safety reasons, I think most "accidents" on planes would not be helped by a car seat. Maybe if there was some crazy turbulence that could throw a baby up to the ceiling of the plane?
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@agold: Yeah I totally agree.... I mean, not to be morbid but if the plane is going down, a piece of plastic strapped to a chair isn't going to do much.
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@agold: @psw27: I think the incidence of strong turbulence is MUCH more likely and common than a plane fully going down. I can easily think of 5 instances where if I wasn't wearing my seat belt I could have been tossed around while flying during turbulence or a sudden drop
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@agold: @psw27: It won't help in a plane crash, but I think it's for turbulence and for the time on the runway at takeoff/landing when you're driving a couple hundred mph and even bags and flight attendants are stored/strapped in for safety.
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@Littlebit7 @rattles oh I know, I totally agree turbulence is a big concern with a lap infant. I was happy when Icelandair had special seat belts for the little guy this weekend to attach him to me. I don't know why all US carriers don't have them.
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@psw27: I googled the seat belts. How great!!
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@psw27: @Littlebit7: Air New Zealand has the same. I thought it was so progressive. I'd never seen it before. Obviously a car seat is safer. But the attached infant belt is much better than unrestrained.
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Just ours, both her infant bucket and her convertible. We flew international and thought she would be more able to sleep.
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