If traveling with little kids do you need to take your own carseats?

Question

Or do they provide special seats for them?

Answer 1

It depends. If they are less than 24 months old, they can travel as a lap child not requiring a seat. If you bought seats for them already for the flight, they can sit in the seat like any other person. Remember, you are only allowed two carry on items on the plane. If you bring car seats on the plane, you won't be able to carry on any luggage. If you are renting a car, you can purchase car seats through the rental car company but it will cost about $10 extra per day per seat. It's better if you bring your own car seats and check them in at the ticketing counter of the airport.

Answer 2

I'm a former Flight Attendant and yes, you can bring car seats on the airplane. They are never provided by the airline. Okay, I've only heard of one, British Airways and only if you're booked in certain seats, on certain flights, etc.



The good news is that if your children have a seat and you bring a car seat that is FAA approved, it's your *right* to use it onboard. It doesn't have to be an infant bucket seat either. This is actually the only safe way to fly with a child. Babies on laps are not protected if anything goes wrong and children under age 4 don't fit the adult seatbelts on airplanes very well. Not only are they safer, but more comfortable in their familar seat.



Most car seats in the U.S. are FAA approved. Check out this site and look on the side of your seat;



http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/



Please note that I'm talking only about U.S. carriers. If you are flying an airline of another nationality, check their site and/or their country's authority (ex. the CAA in the U.K.) to find out what their policies are.



Children over age 2 have to have their own seat (true on most airlines) but a car seat is never required. I do really suggest it, not just for their safety but also it guarentees that your car seat will make it to your destination undamaged. Checking car seats is risky and it's never a good idea to rent a car seat from a rental company. They are often old, dirty and/or don't fit the child correctly. I had a bad experience once and I'm not alone!



If you go to one of the travel with children websites, they'll sell you all sorts of gizmos to get your carseat through the airport. Some attach to your carseat, others simply cover it. Please be careful that the product actually will fit your specific seat. For example, the Gogokidz only fits certain brands.

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html



A good tip I got off the net and used with success is to simply attach the carseat to a metal luggage cart (a relic of my first airline) and attach it with an extra bungee. It worked great and I've done this while flying alone with three kids.



Since I fly a lot with my own children now, between Europe and California, plus shorter hops inbetween, and worked in the industry for 10 years before having my own kids, I get a lot of questions on the subject. I finally put together a totally non-commercial article for a local newsletter, that I later expanded and posted on a blog to share with other parents. I go more into detail on packing tips, etc.



Please feel free to visit;

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com



Have a great trip!

Answer 3

The airline does not have special seats for children on the plane. They are gate checked and not brought on board the plane. The only exception would be an infant carrier. Children will be seated in their own seats and will use the same seat belts.



You can rent car seats if you are renting a car at your destination.

Answer 4

If you need the car seats at your detination they will be checked in with the rest of your baggage. Clearly air carriers cannot allow people to "bring their own" car seats for children, for safety and legal reasons. Think of the legal implications of allowing people to provide their own seating on flights.



Children will sit in a seat just like everyone else does. Airlines do not provide infant or child seats.



If you are traveling with an infant please give them a bottle to suck on when taking off and landing, this reduces the pressure on little ears. Which is why you hear all the poor babies start to cry during take off and landing. It hurts their ears.



Give infants something that will keep them swallowing when taking off and landing, gum if they are old enough to chew it safely, or a soother.