car seats and airplanes???

[ChattyCat]

Hi. I'm not sure where to post this, so I hope this is okay.

I want to fly home to Texas next week and take ds. We have a Britax marathon that we use for him rear-facing in our minivan. I know this will not fit into an airplane seat. I won't fly with him unless he is strapped in rear-facing. Because, for one he would want to run up and down the aisles and I would have to restrain him and he would kick me and pull my hair. And, two I don't think it's safe without him restrained.

He's about 20 lbs (maybe only 19 and 1/2??) and about 28" tall? I haven't had a good height measurement on him since he was 4 months. He's 13 months now. I tried out a Peg Perego Primo Viaggo at BRU earlier today (because I have a Venezia stroller and I thought it might be nice to have it match). I was thinking about buying a infant car seat just to fly with him, but he *barely* fits into it, and it doesn't look too comfy.

Any suggestions on a particular model that has worked well for you? I'll be flying on a 50 seat Embraer jet. They have kind of small seats.

Thanks so much!

[Penelope]

I think that since the possible impact situation is different in cars and planes, the standard is to have every child forward-facing. I could be wrong about this, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am! But that's my understanding.

We use our Britax Roundabout in planes, forward-facing. It fits.

Maybe the Britax website has this information?

[alegna]

Unless you're on a super-small (puddle-hopper... ) plane, my understanding is that carseats approved for use on an airplane (which yours is) should fit. And rearfacing should work. You might need to raise the arm-rest, but other than that it should work.

lurking for more info as we plan to fly in May with our Wizard rear-facing.

-Angela

[Trishy]

The seat width of the Embraer 50 seat jet is 18.25" and the width of the base of the Marathon is 19.5". The seat should fit fine on the plane but it will encroch onto your seat a bit and you will most likely have to put the armrest up.

Penelope a child should ride rear facing on a plan if s/he rides rear facing in the car and is within the rear facing guidelines of the seat. Matter of fact when ds1 was 2 and we flew I put him rear facing in the plane, even though he rode forward facing in the car, so we could face each other and to keep him from kicking the seat in front of him.

[Viola]

I have used a Britax Roundabout on planes several times (forward facing, but I assume it would work rearward facing as long as the person in front didn't put the seat down) and it has worked out well. I think it depends on your comfort level and if you want room for your shoulders, but the rearward facing position will probably make shoulder room not such a big deal.

[MinnieMouse]

A Marathon fits just fine on commercial airlines. I know many moms that have installed it both forward facing and rear facing on trips with their little ones.

Good Luck! :-)

Christine

[wasabi]

I don't have a Britax but I do have an Alpha and Omega by Cosco and its base is still pretty darn wide. I've taken it on various flights including puddle jumpers and it was still fine though yes I did have to put the armrest up. I definitely put her rearfacing until she was forward facing in the car. Sometimes that meant the person in front couldn't put their seat back (this was when she was still in an infant seat) but you know I paid for her seat and by golly she was going to be positioned properly.

[velochic]

We have a Marathon and I've had a few situations where either 1.) the flight attendants did not allow armrests up for take-off and landing or 2.) the armrests did not go up at all. Make sure you call your airline before taking it. You might be in a situation like us where you bring it, then have to gate check it.