Travel with Children - Car Seats Intra European Flights

I know that I am allowed to gate check a car seat on a US airline. We are going to be doing some intra-European air travel and wanted to know if anyone had experience with being able to gate check a car seat.

Not definitive plans have been made with any airlines, as still gathering research. Right now, looks like flights could be with Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, TAP, British Airways or Austrian Airlines.

I would welcome some feedback on experiences. I have a three year old and 1 year old. We would like the three year to sit in his car seat (paid seat)...other child is infant in arms.

Costs and experiences are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

It depends on the airline. If it's a scheduled airline, you can usually look that up on their website. Usually there's an age 3 limit to using car seats, if you can use it at all.

I've been refused many times to either use it on board or gate-check it. I finally gave up and just make arrangements to either not use a car seat on my trip or have one waiting at my destination (like with friends). We were either going to resorts or big cities with public transportation.

Some airlines wont even state their policies and we have even flown charters whose names weren't released to us until we got the tickets. It can be very weird.

Remember that in Europe, they use those dangerous "belly belts" for lap babies (which are banned in the U.S. and Canada for safety reasons). You do have to take it and use it by law.