Travelling to Canada
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cambridge, England
Programs: BA, VS, Le Club Accor Gold
Posts: 1,201
Travelling to Canada
All being well will be going to Canada in July with my youngest who'll be 11 months by then, have noted with interest that only Canadian car seats can be used over there, my little one is under the weight limit for a forward facer seat as it is and at this rate unlikely to be over it by July so as the plan is to fly BA (we're flying from LHR) now have to weigh up whether to have him as a lap infant or debate whether he'll be ok to sit in own seat, seeing as I don't own a car seat he could use on a plane that he's within the weight limit for nor would I be able to use it in Canada if I did! I notice also that the weight limit for CARES is likely also to be out of our reach, any similar challenges experienced?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Bonvoy PLAT, Priority Pass, Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,299
buy one
Personally, I would be more concerned with getting a passport and an eTA for everyone in your party.
As for a car seat, why not just buy one when you arrive? Problem solved!
As for a car seat, why not just buy one when you arrive? Problem solved!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cambridge, England
Programs: BA, VS, Le Club Accor Gold
Posts: 1,201
Passport and ETA already sorted
Sorry it's a bit jumbled, likely will buy a car seat of needed but real question is whether I buy own seat bearing in mind that he's under the weight limit for Cares and I won't be travelling with a car seat for reasons already explained or do I have him as a lap infant
Sorry it's a bit jumbled, likely will buy a car seat of needed but real question is whether I buy own seat bearing in mind that he's under the weight limit for Cares and I won't be travelling with a car seat for reasons already explained or do I have him as a lap infant
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,086
Passport and ETA already sorted
Sorry it's a bit jumbled, likely will buy a car seat of needed but real question is whether I buy own seat bearing in mind that he's under the weight limit for Cares and I won't be travelling with a car seat for reasons already explained or do I have him as a lap infant
Sorry it's a bit jumbled, likely will buy a car seat of needed but real question is whether I buy own seat bearing in mind that he's under the weight limit for Cares and I won't be travelling with a car seat for reasons already explained or do I have him as a lap infant
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YWG
Programs: Aeroplan, MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,132
Have you flown with him as a lap infant before? How did he do? My daughter wouldn't have tolerated it at 11 months, but everyone's kids are different. It's definitely nice to have the extra seat, since coach seats can be really cramped with an infant and all of the related stuff you have to bring on board.
Even after he turned 2 he wanted to be held (which could be quite something on overseas flights). It was really only after he turned 3 that he was happy to sit on his own.
For the OP, if he/she is flying solo with child, then the extra seat makes a bit more sense. But if two adults are going, I'd take baby as a lap child unless they know for a fact that the child won't be happy to be held for that long.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cambridge, England
Programs: BA, VS, Le Club Accor Gold
Posts: 1,201
Have you flown with him as a lap infant before? How did he do? My daughter wouldn't have tolerated it at 11 months, but everyone's kids are different. It's definitely nice to have the extra seat, since coach seats can be really cramped with an infant and all of the related stuff you have to bring on board.
I haven't flown him with him as a lap infant on longhaul but he's been fine on the two short haul trips we've done, we've found out from BA that we'd need a travel restraint if I booked him his own seat, between Canada's rules (canadian manufacture only and that he'd need to rearface in the car by age and weight) vs BA's rules (forward facing) and the UK's lack of market for airline suitable car seats its looking like lap infant is our only option, we're debating now whether we fly premium economy with BA over economy for that bit of extra space
My daughter travelled well as a lap infant at the same age so I guess i'm hoping for fingers crossed!
#7
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Austin TX
Programs: Mr Swise: AAdvantage LifetimePlt/3MM, HH Dmnd, SPG Plt
Posts: 1,445
Why not just use a convertible seat that can rear-face and forward-face? If BA requires him to forward-face in the seat on the flight, it would still be a better option than lapchild or cares. He can sit in the convertible seat oriented forward-facing just for the flight. Then, when you get to Canada, rear-face him in the seat like you would at home. If you can find an equivalent to the Cosco Scenera over there, this would be an excellent choice while traveling. It's extremely lightweight and converts easily. If you have the Combi Coccoro over there, that's another good option. Very comfortable, too.
#8
Original Poster
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Location: Cambridge, England
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Posts: 1,201
Why not just use a convertible seat that can rear-face and forward-face? If BA requires him to forward-face in the seat on the flight, it would still be a better option than lapchild or cares. He can sit in the convertible seat oriented forward-facing just for the flight. Then, when you get to Canada, rear-face him in the seat like you would at home. If you can find an equivalent to the Cosco Scenera over there, this would be an excellent choice while traveling. It's extremely lightweight and converts easily. If you have the Combi Coccoro over there, that's another good option. Very comfortable, too.
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,216
It's been a few years since I bought a car seat, but the ones we had all were labeled for US and international use as well as FAA approved. You may be able to find one in your area that is manufactured to meet standards in multiple areas.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Austin TX
Programs: Mr Swise: AAdvantage LifetimePlt/3MM, HH Dmnd, SPG Plt
Posts: 1,445
https://uk.diono.com/product/radian-5/
Dionos are great seats. They are extremely heavy, but they do fold and have backpack straps for transport. This seat would last a long time for your child -- and it would allow him to rear-face for a long time, too.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cambridge, England
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The Diono Radian 5 rear-and forward-faces and works on a plane:
https://uk.diono.com/product/radian-5/
Dionos are great seats. They are extremely heavy, but they do fold and have backpack straps for transport. This seat would last a long time for your child -- and it would allow him to rear-face for a long time, too.
https://uk.diono.com/product/radian-5/
Dionos are great seats. They are extremely heavy, but they do fold and have backpack straps for transport. This seat would last a long time for your child -- and it would allow him to rear-face for a long time, too.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Austin TX
Programs: Mr Swise: AAdvantage LifetimePlt/3MM, HH Dmnd, SPG Plt
Posts: 1,445
US airlines allow you to rear-face in this scenario, but I'm not sure the same is the case for BA.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cambridge, England
Programs: BA, VS, Le Club Accor Gold
Posts: 1,201
No rear facing seats on BA currently unfortunately, he's currently only 6.9kg with of course the forward facing position weight at 9kg, I'm also now not sure I'll need one over there