Convertible car seats on airplane?

[scribellesam]

We're flying with DS tomorrow. It's our first flight taking the convertible car seat with us, and I was hoping to have him sit in his seat on the flight. We have a Britax Marathon.

Of course I waited until the last minute to read up on this subject on the airline's website, and they warned that any car seat wider than 16" may not fit safely. My seat is between 18-19" wide.

Has anyone taken a seat this big on a plane? DS will be FF. Maybe if we put him in the middle with both armrests up? I'm feeling anxious. Any anecdotal reassurances would be great!

[arch01]

We were required to put our car seat in the window seat on Southwest. He has a Cosco Scenera, which I believe is about 18" wide... it fit just fine.

[kittycatlove]

We took our Marathon on a plane back in October. On the flight out we put it in the middle and had no issues. It was a little wide, but not uncomfortable. On the flight back the flight attendants told us it could only go in the window seat per regulations. If it's in the middle then the person in the window seat can't get out quickly/safely in case of an emergency.

Have a great trip.

[hocus2]

Car seats are always installed in the window in my understanding. I'd call the airline and see what they say. I'd also bring a travel bag so you can gate check your seat if it won't fit.

[frlcb]

You are not allowed to put it in the middle. What airline? We have flown with our Marathon on Delta and BA and it fit, but on a smaller delta commuter plane it didn't.

[scribellesam]

Apr 10, 2014 15:32:05 GMT -5 frlcb said:

You are not allowed to put it in the middle. What airline? We have flown with our Marathon on Delta and BA and it fit, but on a smaller delta commuter plane it didn't.

We're flying Southwest. I forgot about the window seat, but maybe it will still be okay. We have a gate check bag I'll bring along just in case. I suspect it will fit fine but I hate to cause a scene/hold up the flight to wrestle my giant car seat on and off the plane. DH would rather rent one but the one we got last fall with our rental car was so old and awful, I'd much rather bring ours.

It's only a 90 minute flight but I'm using it as a practice for our 5 hour flight to Orlando in June.

[frlcb]

If it is a 90 minute flight I would just check it

[kittycatlove]

Apr 10, 2014 15:32:05 GMT -5 frlcb said:

You are not allowed to put it in the middle. What airline? We have flown with our Marathon on Delta and BA and it fit, but on a smaller delta commuter plane it didn't.

We flew United. They never even blinked when we put it in the middle on our outbound flight. But the coming home they were pretty adamant that it go by the window. Maybe it depends on the flight crew on who enforces and who doesn't?

[scribellesam]

Apr 10, 2014 15:43:42 GMT -5 frlcb said:

If it is a 90 minute flight I would just check it

We may end up doing that but DS is so wiggly I was hoping to have somewhere he might feel secure. He also threw a giant tantrum on our last flight and being strapped into his car seat can help calm him down.

[undecidedowl]

Apr 10, 2014 15:28:21 GMT -5 arch01 said:

We were required to put our car seat in the window seat on Southwest. He has a Cosco Scenera, which I believe is about 18" wide... it fit just fine.

So glad to hear this! We are planning to take out Cosco Scenera on Southwest in a couple weeks and I hadn't researched it at all. 

[UnderProtest]

We flew with our britax seats in February and they fit, but it was an international flight, so I'm not sure about the seat size.

www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/britax-car-seat-travel-cart/1018444887?Keyword=Britax

I HIGHLY recommend getting the cart above. It made getting the seat and the kid through the airport much easier. You can lock the seat into the car and the kid into the seat. My buy buy baby had them in stock.

[frlcb]

Apr 10, 2014 15:51:23 GMT -5 kittycatlove said:

Apr 10, 2014 15:32:05 GMT -5 frlcb said:

You are not allowed to put it in the middle. What airline? We have flown with our Marathon on Delta and BA and it fit, but on a smaller delta commuter plane it didn't.

We flew United. They never even blinked when we put it in the middle on our outbound flight. But the coming home they were pretty adamant that it go by the window. Maybe it depends on the flight crew on who enforces and who doesn't?

According to the FAA it can't go anywhere that blocks the exit for other passengers, which a middle seat would do. I agree that your flight crew just didn't enforce it!

www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

[frlcb]

Apr 10, 2014 17:47:04 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Apr 10, 2014 16:49:17 GMT -5 frlcb said:

According to the FAA it can't go anywhere that blocks the exit for other passengers, which a middle seat would do. I agree that your flight crew just didn't enforce it!

www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

Technically you can put it in the middle of a middle section (like on a widebody plane with two aisles) because you can exit either side.  But most of the time, it's window only.  

scribellesam - we fly all the time with a Scenera and a Snugride (which I think is wider than 18 at the hinge).  You may have to put the armrest up (we do because it is just easier during installation), but that is fine to do.  If the armrest doesn't move and you can't fit your seat, they have to reseat you somewhere where the armrest does move.  It's in the doc below that I would print and take with you if you can (or pull it up on your phone) - www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20120-87B.pdf

You can also search site:car-seat.org plus britax marathon plane and I'm sure you will find either reports or pictures of someone using theirs.  I am sure I have read about people using theirs with no issues.  I like having my kids contained too (our flights are about 90 minutes too).  

I didn't clarify that since generally speaking that would only apply on an international flight, domestic planes typically don't have the middle section. That is why I said it can't block someone's exit.

We have used ours on numerous flights and if has fit fine

[mrsnole]

We flew Southwest with our Britax Boulevard and it fit just fine!

[scribellesam]

Apr 10, 2014 17:47:04 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Apr 10, 2014 16:49:17 GMT -5 frlcb said:

According to the FAA it can't go anywhere that blocks the exit for other passengers, which a middle seat would do. I agree that your flight crew just didn't enforce it!

www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

Technically you can put it in the middle of a middle section (like on a widebody plane with two aisles) because you can exit either side.  But most of the time, it's window only.  

scribellesam - we fly all the time with a Scenera and a Snugride (which I think is wider than 18 at the hinge).  You may have to put the armrest up (we do because it is just easier during installation), but that is fine to do.  If the armrest doesn't move and you can't fit your seat, they have to reseat you somewhere where the armrest does move.  It's in the doc below that I would print and take with you if you can (or pull it up on your phone) - www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20120-87B.pdf

You can also search site:car-seat.org plus britax marathon plane and I'm sure you will find either reports or pictures of someone using theirs.  I am sure I have read about people using theirs with no issues.  I like having my kids contained too (our flights are about 90 minutes too).  

This is super helpful! I've flown Southwest with our Snugride no problem so this makes me feel much better.

[Deleted]

We took our scenera with no issues. Southwest was very accommodating in terms of making sure we had it strapped in, helping to carry it on board, etc.

[karinothing]

We take our boulevard no issue. We do have to raise the arm rest.