Stay at Home Moms

Two car seats one row on airplane?

Has anyone put two car seats in one row on an airplane?

 I wasn't sure how to pick my seats for our up coming flight. I paid for seats for both my kids (2yr and 7 months) so they can be in their carseats. My husband will also be there. I put myself and two babies in one row and husband behind us. Can't decide if this was a mistake and I should call back and switch the seating to one kid with each of us middle and window seat? 

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Re: Two car seats one row on airplane?

  • I would call the airline. Some airlines on smaller planes won't let more than 1 child in each row because of the amount of pediatric oxygen masks.
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  • I thought the oxygen was only a problem if they were traveling on my lap not their own seat?
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  • The airline rep I spoke to with Air Canada was clueless. Guess if there is an issue they will have to move us. 

    When I booked they kept telling me I didn't need a seat for the baby but it just makes me feel better.  She will be safer ( I hope) and her car seat won't be damaged by luggage handling.
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  • If the kids have their own seats, it is fine. You can't have more than one lap child in a row.
  • Car seats have to be in the window seat.  You cannot have two in the same row.  The carseat cannot block access to the aisle which is why they have to be in the window seat.  I'm pretty sure this is the same across all US airlines (not sure about international). 
  • I think I'd be more worried about having to take care of both kids by myself with DH unable to assist much from a different row. I'd rather us both be 1 on 1 with a kid.
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  • scorpio72 said:
    Car seats have to be in the window seat.  You cannot have two in the same row.  The carseat cannot block access to the aisle which is why they have to be in the window seat.  I'm pretty sure this is the same across all US airlines (not sure about international). 
    This is what I was told as well. Car seats can only go in the window seat therefore you would need two rows. 
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  • lolonyo said:
    scorpio72 said:
    Car seats have to be in the window seat.  You cannot have two in the same row.  The carseat cannot block access to the aisle which is why they have to be in the window seat.  I'm pretty sure this is the same across all US airlines (not sure about international). 
    This is what I was told as well. Car seats can only go in the window seat therefore you would need two rows. 
    I have never heard of this nor been subjected to it. We've flown domestic on Southwest Airlines with an infant seat in the middle seat and aisle seat AND just recently we flew on two International airlines: Virgin and Jet Blue with Nolan's car seat in the middle seat on one leg of the flight and in the aisle seat on the returning leg.

    Just MY opinion, I would gate-check the 2yr car seat because it's big, bulky and heavy, will allow him/her to kick the seat in front of him/her, AND gives very little access to you and the baby to get in/out of your row. They take up SO MUCH ROOM! My 2yr didn't sit in his seat for more than take-off & landing on the first leg of our flight and we all HATED it. Without it, he was so enamoured with the seatbelt, TV remote control, and being able to stand, facing his seat, to play toys and eat. Gate-checking means you will have it with you all the way to the door of the plane and Staff will put it below with cargo themselves. It doesn't get banged up or thrown around on luggage carts. We've done this with car seats and strollers for 8 years now and never had any issues. :)

    And, if you can, have your husband's seat across the aisle from you, not behind. He'll be able to see you and pass things to you or just talk to the kids.

    Just my $0.02.  Good luck!!

    eclaire 9.10.06  diggy 6.2.11

  • I am sure you are able to put one carseat in the middle and one in the window seat. I've seen car seat techs on the FB group Carseats for the Littles, post pics of their kids this way.
    If you were traveling by yourself, they wouldn't make you put one kid in the row behind you and one next to you in the window seats.

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  • I would put one with each of you, no matter what the rules are. 
  • I have flown Virgin Air and US air and they won't allow it. The car seat has to be in the window seat. You are better off splitting up and each of you can sit with a child by the window (window and middle seats).
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  • Maybe the window seat rule was because we were using an infant seat at the time, so it blocked access to get in and out of the aisle if it were in a different seat.
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  • If you were traveling by yourself, they wouldn't make you put one kid in the row behind you and one next to you in the window seats.

     This is what I was thinking. 
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  • It won't Let me edit my comment above. I want to add that I had a convertible seat, not an infant seat.
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  • I'm curious about limiting it to one carseat per row. Does that mean parents with 3 carseat-aged kids would have to leave one of the three unattended? Or a parent traveling alone would be separated from children? 

    I'm wondering if it only applies to RF seats. I can't imagine a FF seat would make a huge different in terms of getting out in an accident. And I know a lot of carseat techs who are comfortable letting a kid ride FF on a plane long before they are allowed to in a car, although most prefer to keep them RF on the plane since then they can't kick the seat in front of them!
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  • When we flew with Reese to Florida last month it had to be by the window seat as well---she was in a convertible car seat. The airline was Spirit.

    I am wondering how much the general public flies with car seats on the plane though. When we boarded there were a lot of second glances our way---and comments such as "What a wonderful idea!"
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  • I flew with my kids in the last year and both were able to sit in their Britax Boulevards next to me in one row- one by the window, one in the middle. As far as it know you just can't trap an adult in the window seat so they can't get out. It was a bit tight getting them tightly seared to the seat, but I managed alone and we all made it to our destination. Worse case you can check one car seat when you get to the plane...you just risk it getting damaged beneath the plane.
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  • MrsK&Baby said:
    I flew with my kids in the last year and both were able to sit in their Britax Boulevards next to me in one row- one by the window, one in the middle. As far as it know you just can't trap an adult in the window seat so they can't get out. It was a bit tight getting them tightly seared to the seat, but I managed alone and we all made it to our destination. Worse case you can check one car seat when you get to the plane...you just risk it getting damaged beneath the plane.
    What were the logistics bringing two kids and two car seats on the plane alone? It might come to this if my husband's leave is cancelled.
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    I would also skip the 2 year old's car seat.  I flew with DD in 1st class when she was a little under 2 & she just wanted to constantly kick the seat in front of her.  Again, this was 1st class where she had way more leg room than if we were in coach.  It's for that reason from that point forward we checked the car seat.  She was much happier like PP said, loved messing with the seat belts, getting on her knees looking out the window and being able to use the tray table for coloring, DVD player or iPad which can not be used with a car seat.  When DH travels with us DD & I sit in one row & DH sits in the aisle across from us & it's worked out well.  I don't think him behind us would have been very helpful at all.
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  • OP, I would suggest joining the FB group carseats for the littles. They are so awesome with giving tips and advice on traveling with more than one child and why you should use the carseats on the plane and how to carry the seats through the airport and have pictures and everything. :) I'm glad I found the group before we flew cross country.
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  • Lamb29 said:
    OP, I would suggest joining the FB group carseats for the littles. They are so awesome with giving tips and advice on traveling with more than one child and why you should use the carseats on the plane and how to carry the seats through the airport and have pictures and everything. :) I'm glad I found the group before we flew cross country.
    You are the second person this week to suggest that group!  I looked it up and it says it's closed?  I'm not good with FB groups, does that mean you can't join, or you just have to request to join?

    You have to Request to join it. May take a day or two for them to approve it.  They just keep it closed so that your friends who aren't in the group can't see what you post. :)

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  • We flew delta with a 2 and 4 year old (4 yrs ago) and took car seats. We put them in the window and aisle seat. DH sat between them.

    It was WONDERFUL!!! They were strapped in, so we didn't have to worry about them trying to get out and run around, or jump on the seats, etc. They watched a movie then took a nap. We flew from Minnesota to Florida.
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  • jllmb79 said:

    MrsK&Baby said:
    I flew with my kids in the last year and both were able to sit in their Britax Boulevards next to me in one row- one by the window, one in the middle. As far as it know you just can't trap an adult in the window seat so they can't get out. It was a bit tight getting them tightly seared to the seat, but I managed alone and we all made it to our destination. Worse case you can check one car seat when you get to the plane...you just risk it getting damaged beneath the plane.
    What were the logistics bringing two kids and two car seats on the plane alone? It might come to this if my husband's leave is cancelled.

    I got this little fold up rolling cart from SAMs club,..like a miniature dolly or a cart you might get to put luggage in that doesn't have wheels. I bungee corded both seats to the cart. I carried a back pack and then had a stroller. I checked the stroller at the gate and then asked for help from the flight attendants getting the car seats on the plane and both boys walked onto the plane, was it difficult? Yes. But having the kids safely strapped into their car seats during the flight where they could easily nap made it worth while. Next time I probably won't put my older in a car seat since he is almost 5.
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  • When we took 2 car seats we put them on the stroller. One upside down over the seat area and one above that. DH pushed the stroller and I held the boys hands. The carryons went under the stroller.
    On the way back I carried the car seats using the straps on the back. 2 year old was in the stroller and 4yo held the side of the stroller.
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  • Just thought I would give an update...we flew with 2 car seats in one row on the plane this week. I put DD#2 at the window rear facing and DD#1 in the middle FF and I sat in the isle seat. One flight attendant questioned it when all she could see was DD#1's seat. She told me to move it to the widow. I told her that DD#2 was rear facing in the window seat and according to the FAA this was ok. She never bothered me again.  
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  • Regarding your husband's seat...I would move his seat to the isle seat across from you.  He will be of no help to you if he is in front or behind you.
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