Can you take car seats on planes?

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CPG

You should contact the airline you are flying with regarding this issue as each airline operates a different policy on such matters.

Edit: There is no need to get touchy because of the one idiot.

No-one on here can give you the correct answer as we do not know which airline you are flying with.

What restrictions and policies one airlines operates under does not alway apply to another airline and this much I stated in my original answer.

Just keep trying to get through to the airline.

Charlie

Yes you can take it and it is recommemded that you do get him his own seat and use the car seat.

desertbloom2003

I went with a relative one time, and although she bought a ticket for a seat for the baby, they are still required to be belted in during turbulance. The air hostess without my relative asking, brought a carrier cot for the baby not just for when needed but for sleeping times. I think they carry a few of these for when needed on board as the pilot always is interested in his passengers' saftety. You can also before hand ask about this at the travel agency. They will also store a few bottles of your baby's milk in the fridge and warm the bottle when you want it. Ask for a front seat where there is more space feet space.

no name

I believe as long as the seat is FAA approved, then you most certainly can take your son's car seat. It's a much better idea to use a seat on the plane rather than gate checking it.

tipping the velvet

Depends on the airline, and it has to be an airline approved seat..i.e. be able to be fitted correctly using only a lap belt. Check the car seat to see if the fittings can be lap belt and/or 3 point seat belt first, will save you time & effort.

Eclipsepearl

Depends on the nationality of the airline you're taking. Each country has its own rules and many might answer with information only relevent to U.S. airlines.

In the States, if you've paid for a seat, and your carseat is FAA approved, it can't be refused. It's your *right* to use it. I'm not sure of Canada but I think their it's similar. Airlines elsewhere have all sorts of different rules and since you're going to Cyprus, I doubt you're flying an American company.

I'm not going to list countries but some airlines are allowed to refuse them. I recently flew on Ryan Air, an Irish carrier and they wouldn't let me use my daughter's carseat (I wasn't flying in or out of Ireland so destinations and originating points don't matter). Lufthansa once didn't let me use my American carseat onboard but I fly them a lot and have "gotten away" with this a lot. Air France insists that they be French carseats and makes parents remove their children for take-off and landing, instead handing them a dangerous "belly belt" (banned by many countries).

With all the code-sharing going on, do they really expect us to take a carseat for each airline of a different nationality we fly on one trip??

Sorry about the vent but it's going to boil down to the nationality of your carseat and your carrier. If you're flying charter, it's even worse because often they don't deal with customers directly (only through agents) so try yours' if you booked that way.

I'm an ex-F/A and think it's terrible that carseat use is not more widely encourged. It's much safer and children are much calmer in their familiar seat. Lap belts, designed for adults, are not adequate in an emergency and would not hold a 14 month old (and not many 3 year olds for that matter). Belly belts offer no protection whatsoever and are no replacement for a carseat.

In the U.S., there is now a device allowed onboard called a "CARES" harness;
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/
Your child is old enough but again, I believe it's only FAA approved and no where else (at least, not yet). It's expensive at $75 and can only be used inflight. I'm just mentioning it in case anyone points it out to you online or in Real Life.

I suggest you bring the seat, and simply try to use it. I sometimes march onboard like I know what I'm doing and simply install it. Works, doesn't work, depends...It's worth a try! Use as one of your arguements that you want it onboard because you'll need the seat right away at your destination. Carseats can be crushed/broken/lost in transit and having it with you guarentees that it arrives in good shape.

The truth is that carseats are more necessary in cars where more accidents occur. Rental carseats are often nasty and dangerous. Don't risk it. But flying is safe and even without the seat, statistically speaking...

Be really nice to *everyone* and be prepared to argue your case...nicely! Ask to see a supervisor or the purser onboard. Make it clear that you're going to cooperate with whatever is required but explain your situation. Causing a scene or trouble could get you "off-loaded" so don't even go there!

I fly a lot with my three kids, about every six months between Europe and California. I was also an international Flight Attendant for 13 years, with two companies. I get a lot of questions on this subject so I wrote an article for a local expat newsletter. I've expanded it and put it on a blog to share with other parents. It's totally non-commercial;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

I go more into details on how to get the carseat through the terminal (basically, with a metal luggage cart and a few bungee cords-works great!)

Have a great time in Cyprus!

hitec

your child is 14 months old.and cosidered infant by any airline until he/she is 2 yrs of age then be cosidered as child. normally when you book and get a ticket for infants... the ticket is just to get he/ she onboard a plane... infants are only charge 10% of the normal fare this ticket does not have a seat in the plane. however infants who pay the corresponding child half fare will be assigned a seat

you can purchase a ticket for your 14months old infant. he/ she will not have a seat. because infants don't have seat. but if you tell the ticket office/airline buying your infant not just a ticket for infant but a ticket with a seat. so that you will be allow to bring in your carseat with you onboard the plane. put the carseat on you infant assigned seat and you can make him/her comfortable in the carseat and not on the plane seat.

limitations on carseat on board a plane.

An infant/child seat manufacture under the U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards(FMVSS) no.213, between jan.01, 1981 and feb.25,1985 which must bear the label.

"this infant/child restraint system conforms to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

An infant/child seat manufactured under FMVSS no. 213 and approved for use in the aircraft on or after feb. 26,1985, which must bear two labels ;

A) "this infant/child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" ; and
B) "THIS RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT " red lettering.

so make sure that your infant carseat has a RED lettering that states "THIS RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT ' so that it will be allowed to be use onboard the plane

lauren s

go to the wesite of the airline you're using.....

Destinee

Most planes do not allow car seats. I have been on many, and children have to be seated in the regular seats that you and I would be sitting in. Often there is a specific place on a plane to seat your children.

I hope this helps you out. (:

Slartibartfast

Hello,

I know this sounds crazy - but how about picking up a telephone and asking an airline?

Or is that silly?
If you think it is, how about asking a travel agents then?

That's probably silly as well, but not half as daft as asking a whole bunch of people with IQs of around 10

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