Chicco Keyfit on an Airplane. Bring the base or not?

[dot1]

I'm flying with my 5 yr old and 5 month old infant (4.5 hour flight) next week...and I decided to purchase a seat for the infant so I can bring her carseat on the plane (plus I have a bad back and my arms need a break from the Ergo, etc.)

I'm grappling with whether or not to bring the base.  I know the base is super easy to install in any vehicle with latch, and it's narrow so I know it will fit the airplane seat....and the base will be great to have at our destination.  I also don't want to check it and risk loss or damage.

I thought about leaving the base behind...but I'm not so sure about the seatbelt installation without the base.  I'm worried about not getting the proper recline angle, and when we install it we'll be in a rush, tired, impatient, etc. after a long flight.  I'd just as soon have the base so it's easy and there's no new learning curve!  I had trouble installing the base with a seatbelt (on side kept flipping up)...and am concerned I'd run into the same issue trying to install with a seatbelt withOUT the base.  I won't be able to try it out in the vehicle - so it's a bit of a crapshoot at best.  A successful base install with latch IS a sure thing though in my mind.

As far as I can tell, the only disadvantage to bringing the base is that you have to carry it through the airport (which shouldn't be a problem for me as I have a stroller that will have room to tuck the base underneath.  The airline I'm travelling with (Westjet)  has no size restrictions on strollers.

Is there any other reason I shouldn't bring the base?

Anyone flown with the Keyfit 22 (or 30 - assuming the seats are similar).  Did you use the base on the airplane and if so, how'd it go?

Thanks!!! :)

[Maedze]

Firstly, you made the right decision.  Flying without a seat is a safety hazard both to the child and everyone around the child.  Well done!

There is no LATCH on an airplane, if that helps.  There really isn't any need to bring the base.  

The reason you experienced 1 side flipping up when you tried a baseless install is that you were likely using a lap shoulder belt with a sensitive retractor (it kept 'clicking' back one more click and slowly pulling one side of the seat up).  

Planes have lap belts only with a locking latch plate, so no retractor to 'click'.  The seat can't tip at all.  

It's actually incredibly easy to use an infant seat without a base, ( a lot less involved than using a base) you just need to get comfortable with it.   Will you be in a car at your destination?   Is there some sort of booster for your 5 year old?

[Bazile]

Full Disclaimer, I'm not a car seat safety tech so this is completely just my opinion.

I flew with my daughter when she was about the same age as your daughter. I didn't (I know I should of from a safety standpoint, but it really wasn't in the budget)  buy her a seat, but I did ask at the gate about extra seats so I was able to use her car seat (Graco Snugride 22) on two of the four flights. I gate checked her seat for the other two which made me a little less worried about it being checked. I'd say you're doing the right thing buying her a seat since I found the flights where she was in her seat were easier since she was used to riding in the car seat and it gave me a small break since I was traveling by myself. I'm not sure how the Keyfit relates to the Snugride, but I found installing the seat by itself with the lap belt to not be much harder than buckling myself in. The Snugride has notches on the top that you thread the belt through and across the top of the seat. If I remember right (DD is in a MyRide now, so her old seat is in our storage closet awaiting future babies) there's a level indicator on the seat itself so I was able to make sure it was at the right angle before I buckled her in. We used it that way in other people's cars a few times, and while I liked the fit better with the base, it did seem secure.

If I were you, I'd use the seat by itself on the plane. Assuming that the Keyfit attaches without the base the same as the Snugride, it's easier than it might appear and as Maedze pointed out you won't have to deal with any funky locking belts since airplane belts are about as basic as you can get. Since you're more comfortable using the base, I'd take the base with you as a carry-on. That would keep it safe from the baggage handlers, and then allow it to be installed in the vehicle you'll be using on your trip. I know the idea of taking it as a carry-on sounds a little weird, but it's no weirder than the Christmas my carry-on was the picnic hamper my aunt thought was a great present for people who were flying cross-country.

Hope this helps, and that you have a great time on your trip!

[DahliaRW]

I wouldn't bring the base.  It's just one more thing to hassle with.  Also, I find that installs with bases tend to take up more front to back room, and front to back room is very limited on airplanes as it is.

For the car at your destination, I would install the seat and leave it in.  Thats' what we did, just use it like you would a convertible.  It's not as convenient as far as pop in and out, but way easier that continually installing.

[dot1]

Thanks!  I'm leaning towards bringing the base as the vehicles we will travel in do have latch for sure....but they might have that funky seatbelt.  Our flight arrives late at night and the base will be so super easy to install (so I don't have to fiddle with a seatbet I've never used before).  I'll be gate checking a stroller so transporting a base to plane won't be an issue.  It's a short/small base and seat (though it has 1" more height than most 22 lb seats), but if I have any issues with how the seat fits on the plane, I guess I can just stow the base with carryon.

I love the chicco seat and base - it's so easy to install with latch.

My 5 yr old will borrow her cousin's extra harnessed seat at our destination...so the infant seat will be the only one I bring with us

Thx for sharing your ideas and being my sounding board.

[Maedze]

Ok, just to clarify, you don't want to check the base.  If you're bringing it, use it on the plane :-)

[MacKinnon]

I would bring it for sure, because for most people it's really hard to install the seat without the base. The base is so easy to install, you're right, it would be a much, much easier install in the dark, in a car you aren't familiar with.

[dot1]

Thanks all for your advice!  

I brought the base and am so glad I did.  I was able to insert it in my chariot stroller and then snap in the seat and I had a travel system!  I gate checked my stroller with no problem....and it was waiting for me when we got off the plane. Once on the plane the flight attendants helped me load/unload my stuff, and I just put the base in the overhead compartment.  Turns out the chicco base cannot be used on the plane...but it was really great to have at our destination.  I tried to install the infant seat in my own car without the base, and I was not comfortable at all with how the seat tipped up and down (and I lost the 45 degree angle quite easily).

The chicco seat fit well on the plane too.  The person in front of me couldn't recline their seat (but I find it rude when people recline their seats and reduce my sitting space anyway...).  Fortunately the chicco seat can be used with the handle locked in the up position...which makes it probably the best infant seat as far as front-to-back space limitations (without compromising on the infant height limits)....and ideal for the plane!

The flight attendant congratulated me for purchasing a seat - so glad I did for lots of reasons.

thanks again!

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

Thanks for this thread, we will have to think about this issue when we fly with our 3 month old and 31 month old in November.

[Eclipsepearl]

I'm seeing this late but normally the manual on infant buckets says to NOT use the base on the plane. You install it with the lap belt. 

[dot1]

Originally Posted by Eclipsepearl 

I'm seeing this late but normally the manual on infant buckets says to NOT use the base on the plane. You install it with the lap belt. 

Yep, you're absolutely correct - found this written right on the seat, after I wrote the post!  I just stowed the base in the overhead bin on the plane, since there was NO WAY I would trust it going into checked baggage.  It was a little annoying trying to get dd in and out of the seat while it was buckled in, and the airplane seatbelt didn't fit too well over her (it pushed on her legs when I snugged up the airplane seatbelt, but it was still better than holding her in my lap!