- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Random Car Seat & Airplane ?: RF or FF?
I just thought about this the other day. We're flying for the first time with DS in a few weeks (to FL = 3.5 hr flight). We bought a seat for him so we intend to have him in his car seat during the flight. He's still RF in our car and will remain so until he's at least 2 yrs old.
When the car seat is on the plane, do you have the option of RF or is it only FF? This might be a dumb question, but I thought I'd ask it anyways. TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Random Car Seat & Airplane ?: RF or FF?
m/c August 2007 - Blighted Ovum
Sean - Our IUI/Injectable miracle born Oct. 5, 2008.
Liam - Our second miracle born July 16, 2010
Actually, this is NOT true. We flew to Florida in December and my son was RF'ing in his Chicco Keyfit. We had absolutely no issues, but when I was researching beforehand, I read that sometimes it can be difficult depending on the flight attendants and how familiar they are with carseat installation. The best recommendation is to try and get a bulkhead seat, but that obviously isn't always possible. There's tons of great info on car-seat.org. My sister is a flight attendant and she says it's sad that even the coffee pot gets locked down, but lap babies aren't. Personally, I won't travel w/o my LO in a car seat--yes it won't do any good in a severe crash, but in turbulence or a bad landing, it can be a lifesaver.
Here is a link w/some more info:
https://www.travelwithyourkids.com/on-the-plane/should-you-use-a-car-seat-on-the-plane
BTW, good for you for putting the safety of your LO first!
Sorry I was just assuming that it was convertible carseat or a booster since we are on 12-24 months... Yes you can put an infant seat RF.
Also most airlines won't LET you RF with a booster or convertible carseat, which is why I said what I said.
m/c August 2007 - Blighted Ovum
Sean - Our IUI/Injectable miracle born Oct. 5, 2008.
Liam - Our second miracle born July 16, 2010
Yes, because the rest of slackers clearly don't care about the safety of our children.
I flew Southwest during Christmas time. The plane was packed. There was no way that I could install a car seat rear facing in the tiny space that we had. I rear face her otherwise, but really? I think this is a stupid thing to judge.
On some planes, it's do-able. On others, it's not.
I haven't had that experience, either. DS sits RF on the plane in his car seat. Nobody has ever blinked an eye at it.
I prefer RF not for the safety aspect (because if we crash, let's face it, that's not going to be much help) but because it keeps DS from kicking the hell out of the seat in front of him and he sleeps better when he can't be looking all over. It does make it hard for the person in front of you to recline, but I'd prefer limited recline to being kicked in the back for 3 hours.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
Sorry if this is beating a dead horse but here is the official FAA excerpt:
18. PLACEMENT OF CRS ON THE AIRCRAFT. CRSs must be installed in forward-facing aircraft seats, in accordance with instructions on the label. This includes placing the CRS in the appropriate forward or aft-facing direction as indicated on the label for the size of the child. A window seat is the preferred location; however, other locations may be acceptable, provided the CRS does not block the egress of any passenger, including the child?s parent or guardian, to the aisle used to evacuate the aircraft. The regulations contained in ?? 91.107, 121.311, 125.211, and 135.128 allow aircraft operators to determine the most appropriate passenger seat location for CRSs based on safe operating practices.
Here is the link to the rest of the document. I've heard of others who have carried a printout of this so if the flight attendant hassles them, they can prove they have the right to RF their carseat (I did!).
https://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/60d70126cf679d5a8625723b007841e7/$FILE/AC 120-87A.pdf
Insecure much? I wasn't judging, I was just pointing out that a car seat is safer than carrying you child on your lap. Which, by the way, is backed by the AAP. And if you feel that you couldn't do it--it's your decision. To each his own.
I've never flown with a carseat or been seated near someone who had one. Is there a seat placement they prefer for them? Like window or aisle? Because I think it would be a real b1tch to try to crawl past a RF seat on the aisle.
All carseats (RF or FF) have to be in the window seat.
You most certainly can use a convertible carseat rear facing on an airplane, as the pp pointed out it is just an incredibly tight fit (the person in front of you won't be able to recline at all). It is definitely safer to be rear facing on a plane, but the added safety of RF on a plane is not nearly as high as it is to be RF in a car. The majority of injuries on a plane happen from turbulence and for that it really won't make a difference if they are RF or FF.