Wont let me take car seat onto the plane!

[mummy2Luca]

Garuda is a stupid airline!! Why is it there policy that we cant take our car seat onto the plane! We have payed for a seat for our 18 month old i dont see why it cant be used. Has anyone ever heard of an airline not allowing it? Is there any way around it? AHHHH why is everything so hard with this holiday.

So iv called again and this person says i can take it on but are the melbourne office and different airports have different policies. This is rediculous! So i have to call the sydney office again.

[LeeJ]

I'd assume it would be because of the awkwardness of it? getting it on and off, and I suppose, they are car seats, not plane seats.
also it may be a security risk?
Have they told you WHY it is, or just it's their policy?

[mummy2Luca]

I'd assume it would be because of the awkwardness of it? getting it on and off, and I suppose, they are car seats, not plane seats.
also it may be a security risk?
Have they told you WHY it is, or just it's their policy?

Just that its there policy. If I have a child i board first so there wouldnt be that many people to dodge. Seems a cop out to me

[poppie]

Do you mean they are not allowing you to check it in as baggage or that they won't allow it in the cabin?

[c38]

I wish the airlines would get together and regulate for the safety of children.

It's my understanding that in some countries you actually HAVE to pay for aseat and provide a carseat as this is the safeest eway for a child to travel. Ive read that those silly lap sashes they insist you put around babes on laps are actually quite dangerous.

Google airline safety and infants and I'm sure you'll find some research to back up your arguement.

[Ana Gram]

I've travelled a lot when DD was an infant and never saw or heard of anyone taking a car seat into the cabin of the airplane. I don't even think the seats are large enough to accommodate it.

Who are you flying with? I've also never seen people with children board first :confused:

[HugsBunny]

I've travelled a lot when DD was an infant and never saw or heard of anyone taking a car seat into the cabin of the airplane. I don't even think the seats are large enough to accommodate it.

Who are you flying with? I've also never seen people with children board first :confused:

Me too :confused:

[poppie]

I too have never seen a car seat on a plane and I think they are quite unsafe as the child is not able to be held in the brace position. You have to remember that a plane is so different from a car. I have however flown to many places around the world with various airlines and people with small children , elderly or disabled always board first.

[Jax Tellers Old Lady]

On every airline I have flown with they have always announced that people with children may board first.

[Uniquey]

Like Sodor said above, nearly every airline I have flown with also, has announced people with children can board first. I have taken a car seat with me on flights, but always as checked in luggage, never onboard a plane.

[Ana Gram]

How strange. Obviously they only announce it sometimes because it has never happened when I have flown.

[mummy2Luca]

Yes they usually let familys with children, elderly and disabled people board first. But thats not what we were discussing. Alot of airlines do let you take them on and have the required connections. The car seats actually do fit the plane seat and if anyone is to get sqaushed it will be me because ill be beside him. Qantas allows it, Singapore airlines does, and there the only ones iv been on.
Most of the time you dont see it because people dont want to lug a car seat around with them through the airport.

Im getting lots of mixed opinions on it from the airline. Most dont even know the policy! GRR

[Ana Gram]

Here is a link to Qantas policies regarding children.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travelling-with-children-infants/global/en

The child seat is about halfway down. Point this out to them and it might go easier. But it does seem to be up to your local Qantas office.

Of course that only works if you are travelling with Qantas, which you didn't tell us.

[mummy2Luca]

Im Flying with Garuda indonesia. i did briefly mention that on the first thing i said. Thanks for that link i emailed it to Garuda Indonesia and hopefully that will make them change there stupid policy. My husband tryed called and got alot further than I did but than in the end got told that we cant have it on board. I guess ill just keep trying and hope for the best. Stupid airline!

[Lastcenturymum]

I travelled on a lot of international and local flights and have never ever seen anyone with a carseat in the plane. I also have no idea what the point is as it could only be held in by the lap belt, so while a child is strapped in the carseat it would still fly forward, which sounds dangerous to me - for the child and other passengers. Also I can't imagine a child sitting for a long time in it anyway on a plane, it's different to a car. They have a special child belt and as you can put the arm up they can be cuddled up to you when they sleep, yet still strapped in.

Yes injured, elderly and children always board first, but never seen it with car seats. Some flights have such small seats I doubt they would fit.

What would you do if you got on the plane and it didn't fit on the seat? Be up the creek then.

[Pixilocks]

I was going to ask the same thing - why is there such an urgency to take the car seat on the plane?? It's not like it can be anchored in anyway???

I don't see why its better if the car seat can fly forward taking others out with it and potentially causing more harm to the child than if the child was seated in his/her own seat and harnessed in, or harnessed on your lap???

I'm not having a go... just wondering??

Also, maybe you could fly with a different airline?

[my_lot]

You can take in and use a maxi cosi carseat capsule, even on domestic flights within australia.

I wouldnt use a safe-n-sound seat in an upright position in the plane with the plane seat belt. :no:

[meggs]

I know there are airlines where you can use it but ive never seen it and personally wouldnt use one, my DD wouldnt sit in it for long anyway and i would be a huge PITA to lug around airports etc when you already have heaps...

Can I ask why you are desperate to take it on? Where are you flying to?

I would just put your child in the seat then they can use the tv and tray much easier...

[pinkishbunny]

How long is the flight??

[Ana Gram]

Ahh, Garuda. Well, they are probably not going to respond well to anything that could be taken as aggressive. Not saying you have been, that's just the way they are. Good luck with it.

[ThomasMum]

Ive never heard that you could take carseat to be used inflight in any airlines. Not even Garuda lol who likes to break rules lol sorry.

Most airlines (usually) let children and old/fragile passengers to board in first.

Not that Ive experienced it be4, bc we're Qantas Club/One World members they always let us in first whether flying in economy or business class.

[mummy2Luca]

The airline told me the chair measurements and my car seat is under those measurements so it does fit. And im very keen to have it unboard because unlike your children, my son will not sit on my lap for more than a few minutes before wanting to go. On a 6 hour flight this is going to cause a major issue at having to hold him against his will. And my son loves his car seat and sits happily in it for hours. Im just trying to avoid my son getting very upset over something that could easily be avoided. My son easily works himself up to the point of throwing up and i see this as cruel when the seat would prevent all of this.

My car seat wouldnt pose more luggage, it connects to my carry on suitcase so id already be wheeling that with me.

Qantas, jetstar and singapore air allow carseats onbaord and there the only airlines iv checked. So many do infact allow them.

[ThomasMum]

Hiya mummy2Luca, thats good news for you right? Unfortunately at the end of the day all depends on each airlines policy.

It is something new to us abt the carseat, eventho we're regular traveller on international and domectic flights, (DS 1st flight when he was only couple months old). Weve flown on international flights only last week (with QF).

All the best and happy travel.

[SassyMummy]

It's perhaps a safety issue.

They won't have the anchor points, the seatbelt on the plane is probably too small to fit around the carseat to secure the carseat to the planes' seat... so your son would basically be tossed around if there was any problems.

It would just be him strapped to his seat, which would be just sitting on the planes' seat.

Why not just strap him to the plane seat? Sit him there, and put the seatbelt on him?

[SnowBunny]

Hi,

Just a thought in case you don't want to lug a car seat around (unless of course you need it at the other end anyway). Have you looked at the CARES harness? We used one for DD when she was about 20 months old - it's an additional harness that you just strap around the seat so he would be in a seat of his own nice and safe but no car seat to carry. It's really small to carry and easy to install yourself too.

Good luck with your trip.

[mummy2Luca]

snowbunny - funny you say that i just found that today! Im getting it, airline said it should be fine to use that. I just want him secured well to the seat and the lap belt alone wont work well for that but this CARES harness looks great. Just bought it, $120, alot but well worth it. Thank you :)

[SnowBunny]

snowbunny - funny you say that i just found that today! Im getting it, airline said it should be fine to use that. I just want him secured well to the seat and the lap belt alone wont work well for that but this CARES harness looks great. Just bought it, $120, alot but well worth it. Thank you :)

That's great! It does work well. DD did end up sleeping across my lap a bit when we went so just in case, grab a lap belt as well. I guess little ones find it hard to sleep upright just like us. Definitely worth it too.

[sueb31]

Just for future reader's information: there have been a couple of papers about this in Australia by CASA and the ATSB.
The govt recommendation is 2006 was that use of car restraints is to be encouraged:
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2006/crs_final.aspx

There is this more recent study about whether tether straps are necessary (says they don't actually do much in a plane - so would be OK to instal without)
www.casa.gov.au/airworth/papers/Infant_Restraint.pdf

and a lot in teh US and UK.

Children in lap belts are very unsafe (some people in teh trade call them UFO's - unrestrained flying objects!) - and signifcantly safer in a car seat up to age 4. The exception is a foam half booster which is actually worse. The seat belt holds the car seat in and the recent study above suggests that the top tether is not really necessary.

There have been crashes in the USA particularly where kids in lap belts were killed and all the adults around them survived. There is another CASA paper that has pictures of the crash tests that i am having trouble finding on google. i have posted in old threads here before.

So please do not think that lap belts are safer!

The other aspect of taking a car seat on board is of course comfort, I always do for long haul flights with my children, its a dream. Well worth the hassle of carrying it on and strapping it in. It also means they are safely restrained if you fall asleep.

As far as Australian airlines, Qantas and Jetstar have provisions for taking a car seat on board. Virgin do not. They investigated the issue and their paper concluded that they should carry car seats for children, but they haven't acted on that.

Most international carriers take car seats, especially thost that travel via the USA as some airlines there it is mandatory to take a car seat for your child.
British Airways have some car seats on board for children that fit into the bassinette positions.

I think Garuda is unsafe and behind the times but admit I am not surprised given their reputation.

Hope that makes it a bit clearer!

Sue

[Mel5989]

I've done some research and to my knowledge QANTAS will allow the Safe n Sound Compaq carseats onto their planes.

I spoke to Britax (Safe n Sound parent company) regarding it on behalf of a customer. I run and equipment hire company and had a customer enquiring about it.

Perhaps if you get some details from Qantas. It may be that the Compaq is that much smaller that other carseats.

I suspect if you tell them Qantas is doing it then they are more likely to review their policy.

Good Luck!:)

[LittleGulliver]

Hi,

Here is the latest Qantas policy on use of Car seats and the CARES restraint. It was updated at the start of March 2010

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travelling-with-children-infants/global/en

V Australia's policy is very similar.

Also, see here for the latest Travelling with Children Seating recommendations from the Australian Aviation Authority (CASA):

http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_91467

happy flying!

[Ffrenchknickers]

On every airline I have flown with they have always announced that people with children may board first.

Same....:yes:

[Ffrenchknickers]

On every airline I have flown with they have always announced that people with children may board first.

Same....:yes:

I have not once seen anyone use a carseat though.