Air Travel/Car Seat Questions

MuseumMaven · September 2013

So I'm bravely (stupidly?) taking my 2 year olds by myself on a plane trip. It's a short, non-stop flight, so I only really need to worry about getting through the airport with two toddlers, two car seats, and carry-on luggage (just the necessities for the plane; we'll be checking the big bag).

Tips? Should I invest in a couple of Go Go Babyz? Or the straps that attach the car seats to a suit case? Any BTDT advice appreciated! Thanks!

LucyRicardo3 · September 2013

following this! good luck!!

Paradisemoon · September 2013

Are you checking the car seats? Although I didn't fly with twins I have flown with my other children when two of them were that age and younger. I wasn't able to use the Go Go Babyz as it didn't fit down the isle. After getting the car seats unhooked We got to our seats and my children's seats DID NOT fit in the plane seat. I ended up having to let the flight attendant take both seats and check them at the gate for me. Huge hassle.

LucyRicardo3 · September 2013

I *will* add that a few years ago when I flew with my oldest daughter at this age, the returning flight we ended up in a row with the bulkhead in front of us. It was actually a better seat since there was no one in front of us for her to kick, and when she threw something, it didn't land in someone's hair or lap, lol...

MuseumMaven · September 2013

The kids will be in car seats on the plane and I will not trust a car seat after checked as luggage. Those are safety non-negotiables. My guys are really too little for the CARES harness to be effective.

We've flown with the boys before, so I kind of know what I am in for. I wouldn't consider it if we had to change planes.

It will definitely be an adventure! At least grandma and grandpa will be there to meet us on the other end.

bumpuser924057 · September 2013

The last time I flew with my singleton he was only 18m, but I did strap his car seat to the rolling carryon and used it as a stroller through the airport and it worked great. I'm not sure how easy it would be to do that with two of them, but if bringing the car seats is non-negotiable, then that's probably the best way to go about it.

I didn't buy the strap that they sell - it's way overpriced for what it is. I bought a couple of rings at Joann's - one larger one and two smaller ones - and used some of my husband's paracord to tie them together. You will have to undo them to get through security and then put the whole thing back together again, and to get it on the plane I kind of carried the seat on my head like a helmet so it could fit down the aisle (and nearly smashed off an exit sign in the process, oops) while DH carried DS.

One big concern, though: the car seat needs to be installed in the window seat of the plane so it's not blocking anyone's path to exit the plane. I don't know if they'll let you put two of them in a row together, and I don't even know if you could fit them both next to each other in narrow airplane seats.

caden · September 2013

Since it's a short flight (so you don't have to worry about their night sleep) I would say check the car seats right away; don't even take them to the gate. When the car seats are on plane seats it's practically guaranteed they can kick the row in front of them. You can't use the trays with them either. Plus installing 2 by yourself while your kids are there? No thanks. Someone mentioned the Cares harness. That's a better option, esp if you're nervous about them escaping. I didn't even use that and my kids were fine. I didn't leave my seat so they figured out they weren't going anywhere either. I put Mickey episodes and toddler games on an iPad and that was all they needed (plus snacks) on a short flight. Just bring your double stroller and carry on. Gate check the stroller. GL!

JordynLeighx3 · September 2013

PPs, the laws of physics don't change when you get on an airplane. You wouldn't drive to the airport without putting your 2 year old in just a seatbelt would you?
Just because the CARES has a minimum limit of 22lbs doesn't mean that the OP wants the bare minimum protection.
She has clearly stated that she is using her carseats which is the BEST possible option. Inconvenient, yes. But a child's safety should never be put beneath convenience.

Do NOT check your carseats, OP. Use them. Maybe try to talk to the attendant boarding and say that you're alone with two little ones and wish if it all possible you can board early to ensure you have enough time to get a good install. Being that you've flown with these seats before, you know that they fit so that shouldn't be an issue.

IMHO, I think the carts would make you life a whole lot easier, and those you could gate check.

somewhereincali · September 2013

Well the laws of physics don't change but the dangers you are trying to protect against do, it's less about surviving the high speed crash like in a car and more about being attached in turbulence so they don't go flying around. So if the cares harness fits it could be a good option.
We used the gogos once and while it was a good idea in theory I found it difficult to put on and off and have no idea how I could have gotten myself plus my kids and car seats on the plane alone.
We ended up buying a pair of cheap car seats to use/store in the city where we travel most often. Are you going to visit grandma/grandpa? Or someone else who could store the seats for you? I would seriously consider ordering some cosco seats to pick up at the other end vs carrying them on or checking them.

LucyRicardo3 · September 2013

somewhereincali said:

I would seriously consider ordering some cosco seats to pick up at the other end vs carrying them on or checking them.

Now that you mention it, seems like I recall a similar thread posted a long time ago on here and someone also mentioned the inexpensive Cosco FF seats from Walmart were great for this.
they are a little more narrow and definitely not as heavy, but still are effective.. and they come with basic covers. Supposedly you can stack them on top of each other easily to help you manage two seats at once through the aisle.

This might be the option I consider if I end up traveling soon with my tribe. I know my two wild girls will NOT be manageable without carseats. and there's no way I'm lugging 2 heavy Radians through the airport. But I will also have my 13yr old son to help me, so I don't know how I would get the babies and carseats boarded without help from an attendant if it was just me and the little ones.

babywillmake3 · September 2013

I traveled alone with one go-go baby and my singleton and I LOVED IT. It was awesome. Super easy for me to handle but the problem wasn't trucking through the airport, it was getting on the plane with two car seats (I chose to strap him into his car seat on the plane) and I'm going to say that I would never be able to do that with 2 - 2 years olds and 2 car seats. You would have to gate check the car seats (which I was able to get the car seat and the go go baby in a gate check bag together so I didn't have to seperate them) and then get those little Child Airplane Travel Harness things off amazon. But they're $70 a pop.

caden · September 2013

PP, there's a reason airlines don't require car seats over age 2. If they're big enough to use the regular seat belt then they will be protected for the usual turbulence and emergencies. And in a serious plane crash there is no car seat on earth that will save a child. Surely you can distinguish between the physics of a rear-ender at 35mph and a 45degree nose dive at 500mph. The safety goal is to keep them belted and seated during the flight and at 2 yrs that should be possible with a lap belt and some entertainment to distract them.

caden · September 2013

Ditto the pp about just having someone at your destination buy cheap car seats, if that's possible. Then you don't have to worry about the airline jacking up your own car seats

JordynLeighx3 · September 2013

I'm more so talking about the take off and landing accidents that occur more frequently than nose dives that have been proven to save a child's life because of the restraint they're in.
Should the plane experience an accident during take off or landing, her 2 year olds are still at risk for internal decapitation and even more so if they're not properly restrained.

The airlines don't require a carseat period, so that must mean my babies are safe to be lap babies on the flight.
Right? WRONG!

caden · September 2013

We're taking about kids over 2, not an infant who needs to rear-face. A forward facing car seat isn't going to do jack to prevent internal decapitation. The problem with lap babies is also that they are not secured by any seat belt so they could become projectiles if the parent let them go. That's not the case with a toddler properly seated with a lap belt.

JordynLeighx3 · September 2013

My only concerns would be checking the seat. My apologies, I though she said her almost 2 year olds.

If she's bringing the carseats regardless, I would not take my chances EVER gate checking or checking them as baggage. If you're bringing them period, I'd say you might as well use them.

caden · September 2013

Yeah I think a better option would be for the grandparents to buy or borrow ones so she wouldn't have to worry about bringing them at all, or checking them. I don't trust the airlines with that either, although I know plenty of people who had no problem.

somewhereincali · September 2013

My over two year olds rearface in the car but there is no way their seats would fit rear facing once they were out of the buckets.

MuseumMaven · September 2013

Just an FYI for those who think it's safe not to use a car seat on a plane, this is copied directly from the FAA website:

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. It's the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination."

(CRS = Child Restraint System)

I realize that it's going to be a giant pain, like I said, I've traveled with two before with DH. Thank you to those who gave advice.

caden · September 2013

That above quote is in the context of dissuading people from having lap babies.

https://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

"The FAA strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device based on the child's weight. See the table below."

Less than 20 pounds	Rear-facing CRS
20 to 40 pounds	Forward-facing CRS
22 to 44 pounds	CARES child safety device
More than 40 pounds	Airplane seat belt

Your children are perfectly safe in a Cares harness if they are over 22lbs, which I'm assuming they are since they're over 2.

somewhereincali · September 2013

Honestly, if a crash is what you are worried about I wouldn't fly alone with two year olds. Forget the car seats, I would worry that I couldn't safely evacuate or otherwise manage my two kids in an emergency in a plane. (For the record I would fly with them because I'm comfortable with the small risk of an accident, I'm just saying I wouldn't place more emphasis on the carseats than is reasonable)

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