Car seat on plane?

We'll be flying to the US this spring when my little boy will be about 18 months old. I can't imagine that the regular seatbelt on the plane will be sufficient to keep him strapped in. I've heard that there are car seats that you can take  that fix to the airplane seat so you can strap the child in with the car seat harness. But I don't know if that's true or how it works. Certainly the car seat that we use in our car would be too big and hefty to lug around.
Thanks for any advice.
Lee

We have used car seats on planes before and it was great because the little one is already comfy to nap there and it helps with containment.   Each time we have flown on different airlines they each have different rules.  You need to contact your carrier, look at their web page for the special rules.   We did fly once with an airline that offered a extra belt instead of the seat and that did not work very well.

Most require it be an FAA approved seat.   We bought one in the US at that time because we flew so often.  However, I was able to rent one to use on Continental and it may have been possible that you had to use theirs if you wanted to use one.   Check with your airline.   

Somethings to consider if you are going to buy one, some of the FAA approved seats  convert into strollers for the airport which is handy but makes the seat heavier.  The other thing is that often the tray tables don't work with those carseats so you don't have that playspace in front of your little one that can keep them busy at 18 months.

Below is the link to the one we had, but you can find more on amazon just by searching FAA approved car seat. 


Every airline is different some were really strict and required that I show them were it said FAA and others could not care less - I think it depends on who you get at the gate.  Best of luck

This was the type of toddler seat belt offered when my daughter was about 15 months - it did not work for us as there was nothing to stop here from sliding down and out (no strap between her legs).  So I think before the plane even took off she knew how to get out.  But my kid is more of an escape artist than some, so maybe it would work for yours.

We have used our Britax carseat on the plane multiple times. I have also heard good things about the CARES harness.

Thanks all. I looked at the CARES harness but I think my wiggly little guy would slither right out without a strap between his legs. So I'm off to Mothercare tomorrow to see if I can find a car seat that'll work.
Lee

We're in the same boat.  Struan needs a seat as he will be 17 months.  I reckon the 4-year-old girl and 6-year-old girls will be allright, as my folks are buying age-appropriate booster seats for them to use in the car.

We're technically flying Delta, but it's KLM planes.

Should I go with KLM rules or Delta?

I would call but my guess is you have to follow KML rules as they are the gate agents that check you in and they are the one's who investigate the seat - if anyone takes an interest in it at all.

You can't buy FAA approved seats here but will need the European sticker on the seat. I flew with my baby in her infant seat last summer, we only got questioned on our connecting flight. She insisted on seeing the FAA label. I explained that it has the European label on it, she wanted to see it but couldn't find it right away. Turns out, it's on the very very bottom. In the end, she was happy with the seat. So make sure you know where your label is.

When we first moved here, I brought our son's car seat from the states, he was 18 months and since it reclines, he slept all the way over. The car seat was huge and it still fit fine. I happen to have a stroller that I could sit the seat on and then put my son in his car seat. It worked a treat.

I found on both trips, the airline staff is so helpful and they carried my seat or bags when needed.

Nobody at the gates even glanced at the seat. Certain airlines still book the eldery and parents with young children in first but if your airline doesn't, ask at the gate if you can get assistance if needed.

One thing that I have done on my flights is I took my children into the bathrooms just after getting off the plane to change nappies and freshen up. By the time we get to passport control, there are no lines. So much easier with wiggly ones when they don't have to wait in long lines.

WestHighlandWay, I would look at both airlines rules and would say that Delta would be the one to follow. Even though they are KLM planes, Delta is the company running them.