https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:39:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-car-seat-and-air-travel-info#post-1137495 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 05:46:27 +0000 lamariniere 1137495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As someone who travels often, it's just not always practical to bring a car seat. Half of the destinations we go to, we don't need a car when we arrive, so we aren't going to take the car seat just for the plane. In addition, we almost always check our seat when we fly unless it is for an overnight flight. Also, our son flew as a lap infant on many many flights before he turned 2. Honestly, if the choice is to let the child fly for free on your lap, or pay $1000+ for an international ticket...well, we are the family that is going to cheap out and take the free ride. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-car-seat-and-air-travel-info#post-1137023 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:52:16 +0000 runsyellowlites 1137023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yea, I know paying for a whole other seat is pretty *inconvenient*. I do know that Southwest provides a discount for getting a seat for a small child, but you have to specifically ask for it and heard that some other airlines do as well (they just don't freely offer it). And often times you can call the day before or morning of to see if the flight is full &amp; if not they can sometimes accommodate your seat. </p> <p>Like I said we almost always drive so it's not a cost that we generally have to be concerned about. It would have to be a trip that I could not prevent or fully accommodate like a family death or dire illness, even then we'd probably drive given we aren't crossing any large bodies of water.... In the CSFTL air travel info they also suggest ways to offset this. One by flying into a neighboring, less expensive airport and then driving in to your destination, they cut their cost almost in half that way! I just don't think I could forgive myself for something that could've been prevented like these incidences where the lap kids were the only killed or seriously injured in the accidents just to save the money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-car-seat-and-air-travel-info#post-1137010 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:45:47 +0000 looch 1137010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, the reason most parents do all these things is because they don't want to but a seat for the child under age 2 because airlines say they can be lap children. Considering that rule was made when cars didn't have seatbelts, well, you do the math.</p> <p>I think you have to balance safety and practicality, sure. I've flown with a lap child, I've checked my car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-car-seat-and-air-travel-info#post-1136939 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:03:43 +0000 runsyellowlites 1136939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: Thankfully most of it came from the same post so it was easy to put all together! After reading some of the articles my stomach was just in knots so I just knew it was important info to share even though I know it goes against the convenience and common travel practices! We all wants our littles safe! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-car-seat-and-air-travel-info#post-1136578 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 15:22:06 +0000 twinmama 1136578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for compiling all of this info in one place! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/great-car-seat-and-air-travel-info#post-1136478 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 14:54:55 +0000 runsyellowlites 1136478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There was quite a bit of talk about air travel in the CSFTL group over the weekend (one ended well one did not) and this video along with some great articles were shared so I thought I'd pass the info off here. :)</p> <p>First, seeing this video showing why techs don't recommend checking seat was pretty unbelievable. I'm sure this isn't how all car seats are treated by airlines but my gosh I couldn't believe how this guy was throwing the seats around and found it really concerning that when your seat is out of sight, you really have no idea what is being done to it! </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzmJr1a-BHU" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzmJr1a-BHU</a></p> <p>Even worse, almost all car seat manufacturers require that a seat be replaced after *any* accident, even a very minor fender bender with the child not even in the seat or that side of the vehicle being directly hit. It makes me wonder how this would compare to taking a direct impact to the concrete. ;/<br /> <a href="http://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/tipsheets/reuseaftercrash/" rel="nofollow">http://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/tipsheets/reuseaftercrash/</a></p> <p>On this site you can see some seats that came out of a completely totaled car, but aside from being pretty dirty look structurally okay which just furthers the concerning thought on "visually inspecting" a seat upon arrival. eek!<br /> <a href="http://carseatnanny.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-i-do-what-i-do.html" rel="nofollow">http://carseatnanny.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-i-do-what-i-do.html</a></p> <p>There was also some great info shared about why you should use your seat *on* the plane including a current petition to mandate child safety seat use. The petition is currently frozen due to the shutdown but you can be directed to it from here and sign when the shutdown ends:<br /> <a href="http://childseats.weebly.com/" rel="nofollow">http://childseats.weebly.com/</a></p> <p>You can also check out the NTSB video "Airline - Child Passenger Safety - Autopilot" on YouTube and read multiple articles about the tragedies some parents have faced b/c their kids weren't properly restrained: (warning: they are really hard reads, just to be prepared)<br /> <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-12/news/9902120412_1_brown-lohr-child-safety-seats-parents-laps" rel="nofollow">http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-12/news/9902120412_1_brown-lohr-child-safety-seats-parents-laps</a><br /> <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/mcgee/2008-07-29-lap-children_N.htm" rel="nofollow">http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/mcgee/2008-07-29-lap-children_N.htm</a><br /> <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/mcgee/2008-07-29-lap-children_N.htm" rel="nofollow">http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/mcgee/2008-07-29-lap-children_N.htm</a></p> <p>And the car seat lady has a whole series on info &amp; tips to make travel easier! <a href="http://www.thecarseatlady.com/airplanes/airplanes.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thecarseatlady.com/airplanes/airplanes.html</a></p> <p>I know that alot of us bees travel by air quite regularly (well not really us specifically b/c we usually drive everywhere) so I knew it'd be beneficial info to share! :) </p>