Is baby car seat allowed in Airplanes cabin?

Question

What are the dimensions of the allowed one?

Answer 1

This question is tricky.... it depends:

If you are using an approved infant seat or child restraint device, please note that it...

May face toward the front or rear of the plane in accordance with instructions on child seat label

May NOT occupy an exit seat or the row in front of or behind an exit seat

May NOT occupy the space between a customer and an aisle

======================================...

FAA Non-Approved Infant Seat or Child Restraint Devices

The following may NOT be used when an infant seat or child restraint device is required:

*Any device without an approval label

*Booster seats with no approval label or shoulder harness

*Vest and/or harness-type devices except Aviation Child Safety Devices (ACSD) bearing FAA aircraft approval labels

*Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint

*Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult

  

If your babyseat matches these guidelines then there's no LEGAL reason why you can't bring it....

But make sure the seat next to you is available.... Or the agent at the gate will have your seat "checked" and transported as cargo.

Good luck

Answer 2

Eclipsepearl has GREAT advice! In case you needed backup, here you go:

You aren't required to, but its a really good idea to take one. Kids do better when they have their seat on the plane, same as in the car. They are less likely to want to run around and such since they are used to being put in a car seat whenever traveling.  And believe it are not, they are safer. Should turbulence happen, they are less likely to be injured or scared.

Another thing to consider: will you be doing any traveling by car once you get to your destination? Then you will need the car seat anyway, or you will have to purchase one when you get there. Do not rely on a car seat from a rental company! Its dangerous. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, and are not safe if not taken care of properly. It must never have been in a wreck, never dropped, include all the original pieces and manual, and be installed correctly, something the rental staff will not help you with. On that note, remember too, that it is better NOT to check car seats as luggage. Think of how your luggage gets banged around - well, if your car seat gets banged around, it is no longer safe to use. A car seat is only made to withstand being dropped/in an accident once! And if it gets dropped and you don't know about it, you unwittingly put your child in danger. Better all around to take the seat on the plane.

And the airline is very unlikely to replace the seat if they do damage it. Just check to make sure that your car seat is FAA approved for aircraft use, should say so somewhere on a label on the seat.

Also - if you are planning on having your baby as a lap baby, you should know the truth of what can really happen, check the links below. Flight attendants refer to lap babies as MISSILES!!!! That's right, b/c missiles is what they become when there is heavy turbulence or other problems or rough flights. They give the count as "127 pax (passengers) and 3 missiles". Is a missile what you want your baby to be?

Answer 3

US regulations is going in the direction to allow baby seat in airplanes, but if you want your baby seating in his "baby seat", you have to pay for the airplane seat. However babies that most be carried in arms fly for free.... Also check the airline regulations and if they don't fit you, I'm very sure you will fine one that accommodates you the way you want...

Answer 4

I'm a former Flight Attendant. Usually airlines allow car seats but it depends on the airline and the nationality of the company. They are not universally allowed. Many airlines don't allow foreign car seats, or only car seats from specific countries. Some airlines, such as Ryan Air (a low-cost Irish company) even ban them entirely.

Since my experience is with U.S. companies, I'll talk about their rules. Seats which are FAA approved are allowed. Here is the page from the FAA site which explains how to check if your car seat is approved.

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_childr...

Most car seats sold in the U.S. are FAA approved. Boosters are never and are provide no safety in an airplane anyway.

If you purchase a seat for your child, no matter what age, and bring a FAA approved seat, IT CANNOT BE REFUSED. If you run into a Flight Attendant who is not informed, ask to speak with the purser. This is your *right* by U.S. law.

Here is a long document which can validate the above;

http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/ac/AC120-...

If you have a baby under 2, you are allowed to fly with him or her in your lap. This is not safe but airline travel IS very safe so there's little chance of anything going wrong. If it does, these babies are not protected.

Some parents book flights which are not very full (i.e. the first one of the day and/or off season) and ask at check-in to "block" the seat next to them. Then the place is only taken if apsolutely needed. The parents then bring the seat on board, free of charge, and use it.

This is allowed although there's no guarentee of a free place. The airlines will not move people around either, to accomodate this. If you opt to do this, then be sure to take the seat all the way to the gate so you can keep trying up to the last minute. If you don't get your seat on board, they'll "gate-check" it, which is gentlier than checking it in at the desk.

Try not to ever check in a seat as luggage. The airline will not cover you for loss and damage ("delicate"). You risk it being broken and being stuck at your destination without it, which probably would be a dilemma leaving the airport.

There are restriction as to where a car seat can be placed;

-Not in an exit row (although no children under age 15 are allowed anyway)

-Not in an aisle

-It doesn't have to go by a window but it cannot block another passengers' access to the aisle. So you could place it in the middle of a middle row if the aircraft is a "wide body" with two aisles.

There are no diamention restrictions that I know of (if there are, it has to do with getting FAA approval in the first place). I have seen some massive thrones brought on board and they fit. You *can* call the airline and ask but that is not reliable. If you have an oversized seat, chances are, ít will still fit. Slide it in by the front, horizontially (experience speaking here!). The "spill over" will probably be into your seat, so you wont complain ;)

Usually the problem is not fitting the seat in but getting it through the airport. Here are some examples of products that they sell to meet this need;

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_k...

http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-...

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/...

I put my 25lbs. seat on a small metal luggage cart and secure it with an extra bungee cord. Works great. Some parents manage to bungee cord it to their stroller. Experiment at home before paying for a product and be careful that it fits your specific seat.

If you are still hesitant, think about swapping with a friend for your trip. I'm sure someone wouldn't mide a big Marathon (which do fit on board I can assure you) for their child with some dinky Scenera while you're away.  

Here are some seats which work great;

http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Scenera-Conv...

Light, cheap, easy to carry

http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Kids-Radi...

skinny, fits down the aisle, useful to age 5 or 6

http://www.lillygold.com/

expensive, cool design, only gets to age 2 or 3 (40lbs), a luxury baby product if you fly a lot (and plan on more kids)

This is a car seat alternative, the only one allowed, if your baby is over a year. It's expensive, restrictive and I don't recommend it unless you have a car seat arranged at your destination (although never rent one with a car-nortoriously dirty, old, expired, etc.)

Like I mentioned, foreign airlines can be tricky. For example, some don't allow car seats for those under 6 months (why small babies have to be unsafe is beyond my logic) and some require the seat face forward. Some foreign airlines also use those dangerous "belly belts" which attach to the adults' seatbelt and offer no protection for a baby.

I'll stop there.

About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed. I later put it on a blog so that parents had access to non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web.

Feel free to visit;

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

My contact information is at the end if you have further questions.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I usually fly Delta and they do let infant carriers on board. Check their website for specifics.

Answer 6

so far us law prohibits car seats to be allowed in airplane cabins.

Answer 7

Are you going to bring the car seat just to take it wherever you are going or you'll use it on-board?

For your convenience, I suggest you try to reach the airline company and make arrangements for the infant seat. They will definitely accommodate you with your request and could put you in the better seat as well.

Hope this helps.