Travel with Children - Germany to US-- car seat quandry

I will be travelling with my 20 m.o. (alone) from Berlin to CVG in July. I had planned to buy a seat for her an use her car seat, but from my web research it sounds like on a flight originating in Germany I won't be able to use her (EU approved Maxi Cosi) carseat, at least for takeoff and landing (which would be the biggest reason for taking it!). Does any one have any experience of this? We will be flying either Continental or Delta / Air France

At this point my options are: buy and seat and not use car seat; have my mother, who is coming to visit this week run out and buy an FAA approved car seat and bring it with her.
(but no point if I wouldn't be able to use it anyway); not buy a seat (since I can't actually improve her safety by shelling out 600 €).

Any advice appreciated!

Thanks,

Kaye

Definitely get as eat for her. Safety aside, you will be much more comfortable for the long flight. Just have your mother run to Target or Babies R Us and pick up an inexpensive FAA apprived seat. If you are shelling out 600euros anyways, the extra $50 or so will greatly improve your trip.

Hi there,
What sort of baby chair do you have?

If it is a rear facing baby chair then you definately can't use it. If it is a forward facing baby seat with a five point harness (2 shoulder straps, 2 side straps and 1 between the legs) that can be secured by a lap belt then you should be OK.

From my own experince, I would buy the seat and take the baby chair. Even if you have to hold the child on landing and takeoff, it's *really* good to put them in a familiar chair so that they sleep during the flight. It gives you some space and you can put them in the chair and then stand up without worrying too much about them.
You say you're flying from Berlin to CVG. That's a long way to hold a 20 month baby!

Have a good trip,
Jason

Hi there,
If it is a forward facing baby seat with a five point harness (2 shoulder straps, 2 side straps and 1 between the legs) that can be secured by a lap belt then you should be OK...
I don't know what Air France's requirements are but US carriers require it to be "FAA Approved" and have the littel sticker that says so. Just because it is a 5-point harness does not automatically mean that a US carrier will accept it. OTOH, if it is FAA approved then you can definitely use it for takeoff and landing, as well as during the flight.

I don't know what Air France's requirements are but US carriers require it to be "FAA Approved" and have the littel sticker that says so. Just because it is a 5-point harness does not automatically mean that a US carrier will accept it. OTOH, if it is FAA approved then you can definitely use it for takeoff and landing, as well as during the flight.
I thought there was some level of reciprocity for seats approved by other countries' FAA equivalent? Don't have my bookmarks handy, but if you do a search on FT you may find links to the actual FAA rules.

Why not call your airline and ask what their rules are?

I thought there was some level of reciprocity for seats approved by other countries' FAA equivalent? Don't have my bookmarks handy, but if you do a search on FT you may find links to the actual FAA rules.

Why not call your airline and ask what their rules are?

I've since found out that the problem is most German seats really aren't approved for airlplane use, blah. (And each AIRLINE has to have each model of car seat tested before they allow it to be used in thier planes-- bizarre or what?) Guess I'll have to scare up an FAA approved one.

DL, which we'd be flying, does allow FAA approved (and foriegn government approved, for that matter) seats-- my fear is being face with a FA or ground staff member who doesn't know this.... Particularly if we fly via Paris-- another set of national laws... If I had to check it at the last minute I'd be a. quite peeved, as I could have left it at home and saved the trouble and b. worried that it would get damaged.

Thanks for your comments. I am leaning towards buying the seat in any case-- especially as I worked out that the price difference is 300 not 600 €.

Kaye