Backless Boosters and Airplanes

Call the airline to ask about the carry-on issue. Different airlines do things differently so I would check with your specific airline; this is a question on which I wouldn't want a generic answer. I'm interested to hear that folks cram them under seats because I can't picture a backless booster fitting in the space under an aircraft seat -- We just got back from a couple of flights and though these were huge aircraft, a booster would have to have fit into the overhead as I know it wouldn't have fit under the seats. Since you don't know for sure what aircraft you'll get, check directly with the airline.

He might actually be more comfortable in the aircraft seat if he is actually sitting on the booster just as he does in the car. It will fit -- the airline seatbelts are plenty long enough. A booster will also enable him to better see the TV screen, if the aircraft is one with screens in the backs of the seats in front of you!

They will just check it at the gate for you. A child is allowed two carry on items just like adults...one carry on bag and one personal item (smaller bag). But we just carry it to the gate and then ask them to check it. There is no extra cost this way.

All major airlines allow you to check car seats for free. They are not subject to standard checked bag fees.

I haven't flown every single airline, but I know this is true for American, United, USAirways (now American), SouthWest, and JetBlue (on SW and Jetblue, you can check 2 bags for free plus a carseat for free). I've always checked it right at the check-in counter, before going through security, and it comes out at baggage claim at the destination.

You might double check the airline policy. The way I see it.... and we fly a lot.... each person gets 1 thing to put in the overhead bin (which is a pain in the rear when people start to get off the plane.... I despise this part...) and 1 small thing to go under the seat.

So, I think you would be ok with that set up as long as the seat goes fully under the seat in front of him or in the overhead bin.

I hate the overhead bins and we do not use them. Some people just go brain dead when getting on/off a plane.

Yes, in Virginia, your 5-yo will need a booster and has to be in the backseat. We just returned from Dallas with our 4-yo ... We used this .... http://www.amazon.com/BubbleBum-Inflatable-Booster-Black-... ...

It's amazing, small, lightweight, easy to use and worth every penny. 2-day prime shipping will have it there ASAP. I highly recommend. If we travel,out of state when our second child needs a booster (which is likely), we will buy a second booster.

Car seats ship for free as their own piece of checked luggage. My advice is to borrow a car seat bag from a friend, pop the seat in there and then use it for any "extra" luggage. I always place a bag of shoes in there to lessen the weight of my checked and carry-on baggage.

I would call to see if the airline considers the carried on car seat as their piece. Not sure which way they will go, but am assuming it is up to the cabin crew and how full the flight is.

You really need to call the airline and ask. Their rules seem to vary and they change all the time, the last thing you want is to have to check an item you weren't planning on checking (though if they do it at the gate they don't usually charge you.)

you get one small-ish thing to put in the overhead, so that would be your kid-sized suitcase, and one to shove under the seat, so that would be the booster. but then you'll have to have his entertainment-during-the-flight stuff in your purse carryon.
if he were to actually sit in the booster, then i guess he'd get another one to carry. might want to call the airline and make sure.
khairete
S.

I check mine at the ticket counter because I don't want to carry it around the airport. They make travel bags for backless boosters, but I don't even bother to buy the bag. When in Hawaii, they put it in a plastic bag because the airport was outside. When traveling to and from Tampa, they didn't package it in anything.

You should be able to gate check these items, I had always done it in the past. You carry them up to the point of actually getting on board and they store them in the bottom of the plane with the strollers. They bring them back up as you are getting off the plane so sometimes one of your party may have to wait a few minutes for the item (unless you are seated in the back of the plane).

I would remove any covers or they will get dirty. You could also store them by their feet or in the over head, but that would count as a carry on.

Most airlines will not permit them to sit on them during the flight. However, most will also allow you to check it for free (either in baggage check or gate check - ask them) because it's a safety device for a child. We were not permitted to use our car seat on an international flight, but we also didn't have much trouble with DD on the plane, or with checking her car seat. You should then also be able to give each child whatever their allotment is for carry on since over 2 you bought the seat. My DD carries her own small backpack (not preschool sized, but not gigantic) as her carry on/luggage). We have taken to using a bubble bum for travel, which folds up very small in its own bag. We clipped it to DD's carry on and were not given any trouble.

You can check car seats for free on any airline. I don't know if they would fit under the seat. On smaller planes even a backpack can be a tight fit. We flew three times this summer. On 4 of the planes we were on they were actually making people check anything bigger than a standard backpack at the gate because the planes were small and totally full. Why carry it through the airport when you can check it. We have bags for booster seats that I bought at either Babies r Us or at Target that we put our booster seats in. Sometimes we don't use the bags. They keep the seats a little cleaner, but they aren't necessary.