Flying with a car seat: The guide to a smooth flight
Traveling with a baby can be stressful as you are making travel plans and can seem overwhelming if you are planning a trip. We got you covered! Keeping your young one protected and safe is always a top priority, and that includes using an airplane-approved baby car seat to ensure that safety is at the top of the list. Let us guide you through the details and hoopla of all that specific information on airline policies, which car seat to pick and how to properly position your child. With this step-by-step guide, we will make your trip as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Here’s all you need to know about how to fly with an infant car seat!
Contact the airline ahead of time
Luck favors the prepared! In other words, preparation will ensure that when its go time, you will be stress-free knowing you confirmed everything in advance. What does that look like? Call the airline before leaving on your trip to make sure car seats are permitted as well as confirming your seat assignment. Pro Tip: keep documentation of your conversation just in case you need to reference it at a later date.
Double-check ticket requirement
Keep in mind that two is the age to know for traveling with your young one. Why? Well, in general, if they’re under two years old they fly free, but if they are older than two, you will have to purchase their own ticket. Each airline has their own regulations when it comes to tickets for children and infants, so make sure to check the rules for the one you’ll be flying with. When in doubt, it’s best practice to spend the extra money so you’ll be guaranteed a space for your child and their car seat. In the end, having more space will be more comfortable for everyone.
Know where to sit
We all know that car seats are bulky and with limited space on an airplane – the only place that will ensure the safety of your little one in case of an emergency is the window seat. From this position, it won’t block the aisle, and won’t act as a barrier for you to exit and enter freely. Not only is the most ideal seat, but it is also pretty much the only place allowed to have a car seat. So, please remember to keep that in mind when planning to travel.
Look into check-in options
Now, what do you when you are on the plane! Do you have to keep them in the seat the whole flight? Well, short answer is no, but the safest place is in the car seat. Every parent has their own preference, and some use the car seat only at their final destination and hold the baby on the flight. If you don’t plan to keep the baby in the seat, then reach out to the airline for checking it in. The last thing you want is to have your car seat stored at the last minute by the airline at the gate, so to avoid possible damage, check it in well before the gate. Pro Tip: consider purchasing the Doona Travel Bag and store the car seat in this well-padded secure storage bag. Trust us, it will make traveling smoother, to and from the airport, as well as though the airport.
Have documentation on hand
Prep, Prep, and more Preparation. Even after taking every precaution for your trip by doing all the research ahead of time and calling and making arrangements, mistakes can still happen. Not every airline is the same, and for this reason, flight attendants may forget their training, or the line of communication among the airline may not be efficient.
On the off-chance an attendant is not informed on the rules, or tries to take away your car seat, make sure you’re ready by having the associated FAA rules for bringing a car seat on an airplane, along with proof of your car seat’s aircraft approval. Additionally, you may want to bring a copy of that particular airline’s car seat policies and have any proof of conversation along with you.
Choose the right car seat
How do you choose the best car seat to bring with you while traveling? Our advice, is the smaller the better, going for lightweight will make carrying it easier, traveling easier, and your final destination will be better. With that being said, we recommend a dual-purpose travel system, like the Doona Car Seat & Stroller. This product is the best option as it serves as both a car seat and a stroller, making it a seamless transition with just one click. Pro Tip: utilize the stroller feature to move through the airport and transform it into a car seat at the gate.
Additionally, Doona Car Seat & Stroller is stock full of safety features like the 5-point harness system and crash testing – which ensure your baby is safely secured for the duration of the flight. Plus, this product is airplane approved and can fit in most overhead compartments with no check in required.
So now that you have all the tools needed to fly, purchase your Doona Car Seat & Stroller, get your tickets, documents, and baby and head on out to your next destination.