Originally Posted by
willoL
HfromIL Welcome to FlyerTalk!
I traveled with car seats at least a couple of times per year for about a decade, sometimes with two seats (as a mom alone with two kids), so I fretted about this stuff quite a bit several years ago.
This page is very useful, from the FAA:
In the USA, you do have the right to use an approved, correctly sized child restraint for your child under aged 18, but I would carry a printout and have the link handy in case of push back from airline staff. On the other hand, I do not know what rights you have if you fly an international airline or connect in Europe. Hopefully someone else can chime in.
First question:
Is that particular seat important due to some personal needs of your child?
One thing I personally did is switch to a more airline seat friendly car seat just for travel on planes. I had a huge Britax seat installed in my car at home, but I bought an extra, slimmer seat that fit more easily in a plane seat. For me, the extra money was less important than making my life easier when I traveled. Also, uninstalling and reinstalling the car seat was hard, so I spent money to do that less often.
Second question:
Is your child using the ClickTight as a harnessed seat?
Just want to be sure you are aware, booster seats aren't safe or approved to be used on a plane, only harnessed seats. Also, make sure the label is still affixed to your kid's seat stating that it is "Certifed for use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft." I had that sticker peel off on at least one older car seat, and the airline doesn't have to allow any seat without that label attached.
Third question:
Does your child require the seat in flight, or are you just wanting to be sure you have one in Rome?
For me, as my kids got older, I switched to a lightweight Ride Safer Travel Vest (link below) for flights where I wanted to know I had a safe car seat/restraint for use upon arrival, but after they were comfortable and willing to stay buckled en route. I preferred a hard-shelled, high backed booster at home, but this product made travel much easier with booster-eligible children.
My kids inherited my short stature (and short torso), so one was in a booster up all through middle school until he finally hit his growth spurt. If the booster is just for your child's height, not for special needs, it is helpful to know that the skeleton of an older child (>8 years or so) is typically much more developed, so the risks from using normal seat belts can go down just due to normal growth and development.
Finally, when my kids were in child safety seats, this web site was my go to resource for specialist information. Many posters are technicians who install seats professionally. Maybe they can help if I missed your point entirely.
Thanks very much for the help.
Answer to first question: Yes. Her seat is the only one that she will safely fit into. It has higher weight and height limits than any other seat. It would be great to be able to find a more aircraft-friendly seat for her, but the Frontier is the only choice. Forgive me for not being sure of what you mean by personal needs, but this is the only seat she can fit into safely.
Answer to second question: Yes. She will be harnessed for the flight. I'm aware it can't be used for flying when in booster mode, but she hasn't yet switched from the harnessed mode to the booster mode when she's in it normally in our cars so it will be the same for her on the flight as in our cars. Fortunately, the FAA-Approval sticker is still in perfect condition on both her Frontier's (we have one for each of our cars) so no problem there.
Answer to third question: Yes. The seat is required for the flight. It's also needed for the long drive to the airport and back from the airport. I know US-approved car seats can't be used in Europe but in Rome we'll be using public transport or walking anyway and won't be renting a car.
Thanks for the info about how size, height, weight, age, growth, etc. all factor in to car seat use. I'm totally aware of that and have spoken to CPSTs about her seat (I actually got a CPST to show me how to install it when we first got it). Thanks for the links to the message board. I'll post there as well if I need to, but I figured here was better because I don't have questions about choosing a child seat or how to use one a in a vehicle - I'm only concerned about flying with one.
And thanks for the info on the FAA page. I've checked the FAA page before and I think having a copy on my phone and a paper copy is a great idea. I've been told some airlines refuse older children being in car seats even though FAA laws say they can't. That's what I'm worried about more than anything. I don't want to be confrontational at all, but I would like to have everything to hand in case they make some sort challenge to her being in her seat. I'm wondering if I could get a letter from her doctor stating her height and weight so any airline staff can see she fits safely in the limits of the seat? If I had that as well as the paperwork to say it's the law that I can take her seat onboard for her to use, would that be a good plan?
Thanks.