Will Two Carseats Fit Side by Side on an Airplane?

I had 3 booster seats sit side by side by side. the boosters are almost as wide as a regular car seat. Good luck.

Last May I traveled with my then 18 month old daughter in a Britax Roundabout and it fit in the seat perfectly...so 2 should fit as well. We flew USAirways and they allowed me to put my daughter in the middle seat between us-for more comfort/room, we raised her arm rests but didn't have any problem with them fitting in the seat itself. Good luck.

You may want to check this, but I am pretty sure all carseats need to be next to the window seat because of needing to have a clear path during an emergency. I traveled a lot with my two kids and usually only brought one seat because of this problem. Things may be a little different now though. My son is 5 and my daughter is 2 1/2.

Do you have 3 seats together? Once I had a plane change and it didn't have 3 seats across, so we were split up. The airlines usually tell you you can't put a carseat on the aisle, but I did when I traveled w/ my two girls -- even if I had to sign a waiver -- they don't want the carseat to block your exit in case of emergency. Good luck.

I have travelled on United (economy class) with two Cosco Alpha Omega Elite carseats side by side and they fit fine; I sat in the third seat next to them. I think we had to put up the armrest, but that's not a problem. The challenge will just be keeping your little ones contained while you get the carseats strapped in! Hope you enjoy your trip!

I am assuming that you purchased seats for your children too. If not, you might have a problem bring two lap children on the flight because you are only allowed one per adult (they are a LAP CHILD). If you purchased three seats you are good. Just call the airline ASAP for seat assignment to have a row and confirm with the airline that you will be having two car seats in the same row.

I am not familiar with your car seats but as a former Flight Attendant. When someone brings on two car seats, we suggest for them to place the two car seats on the seats closer to the window, and you occupied the aisle seat for safety issues.

Be prepared and locate the sticker that shows FAA approved so you can show the Flight Attendant upon request. I just googled the type of car seats that you have they are FAA approved.

Some advise for a less stressful trip...
1) give yourself enough time at the airport and change their diapers before boarding the plane to avoid the bathroom trip on the plane and for their comfort.
2) bring something to entertain them during the flight, dvd, books and don't forget the snacks.
3) on take off and landing be sure to give them something to suck on, either their bottles or pacifiers.

My seven year old knows to read the safety information card everytime she boards a plane and locate the emergency exits. I used to entertained her with it when she was a baby... :)

Good luck and have a nice flight!

You will need to call the airline. They will probably fit ... but ... carseats must go by the window to not block the tiny walkway from the window to the isle. Maybe because both seats would have carseats it would be okay, but I would call the airline to see what they say and get your options.

I have two Marathons so your Roundabouts should fit side by side no problem. However, they won't be able to sit side by side. You will need to sit between them with one on the window and one on the aisle. Be sure to ask for the seat belt extenders from the attendant, it makes it MUCH easier to remove the seat belts from behind the carseat upon landing... trust me on this. For my sons carseat we needed one of the airplanes technicians to come on board and remove the carseat because I didn't use the extender and both myself and the flight attendant could not get the buckle to move so we could fully unltach the seat belt buckle.

I would recommend for the air flight only that you place both kids in the forward facing position. The Marathon will not fit in the rear facing position, especially if the person in front of you wants to lower their seat back.

I would also ask for the bulkhead seats if possible. That way you have more space to move around and can put the kids in the rear facing position without problems.

And don't forget to bring all the comfort items for your babes for take off and landing...pacis, bottles, blankies, etc.

And since you are travelling alone with the two kids and the carseats, when you check in ask for them to call for an attendant to help you get the kids and all the gear to the gate and see if they can help you carry the carseats onto the plane.

I travelled with my then 16 month old twins and we used our Britax Marathon car seats on the plane. We were on Jet Blue and you can only put one car seat in a row, and it must be by the window so that it doesn't block anyone from exiting the row. If they let you do it I am sure you will have to sit on the aisle with the carseats next to you.

Good luck. The car seats made travel much easier once we were on the plane.

P.

I haven't done this myself, I've only used one at a time, but I would think if it is too crowded, or you can't comfortably fit in the middle, you would be able to take the aisle seat, and have one next to you, and one just across the aisle...just a thought! Good luck!
E.

N.,

I'm not sure that they will fit...also, they are sticklers about putting a car seat on the aisle...I was thinking that worse case scenario, you can sit between, but I don't think they'll let you do that either. Are the kids small? Can you lapsit one and trade off? I know that sounds like a nightmare too. UGH! I feel for you and wish I had more to suggest!

Good luck!

I never tried it, but if it doesn't you could sit in the middle and two car seats each on your side. More importantly, make sure they are FDA approved for use on an airplane. On the bottom or on the side of the car seats, where all the warnings are it should tell you.
I recently traveled with my twins and our car seats were not FDA approved, so after carrying it trough the airport I had to put it in the overhead compartment. I wasn't happy.
Good luck N. !

Hi N.
I have traveled overseas alone with my daughter numerous times from the age 0f 12 months and on...I didn't have any extra seats. She was buckled up in the regular seat like everyone else. At certain flights the gave her a buckle that was fastened to my buckle during take off and landing. Then she had her own seat.It worked out just fine. Obviously kids that age wont sit still for long so she would walk around the plane. I brought some new little things for her to play with and some good snack to keep her occupied.
You will be in the same row as your kids. They have to put tiny babies together with the parent/s.
Good luck to you

N.,
First of all congratulations on your twins and being a stay at home mom!I have worked with several airlines and unless things have changed you can put a seat by the window and/or by the aisle. As long as the car seats are FAA certified you should be fine. Worst that can happen is that you gate check one of them. You can get seat dimensions from the airline also. Have a great trip!

N.,
I wouldn't bring car seats if I was you. They seem to be more hassle than they are worth. Especially if you are traveling alone you will have enough to deal with just with the kids. The car seats also have to be approved for the airplane so you should make sure or you will get all set to put it in and they will make you check it anyhow. To be honest, the car seats won't be effective in case of a crash anyhow, although they might help to restrain during the flight. Have fun.
M. T.

put a carseat on each side of you if they don't fit side by side. also, ask for emergency exit isle seats so they don't kick the chairs in front of you. i've flown with both of my kids (5.5 yrs and 14 months) by myself a few times. my husband won't fly, he refuses, so the kids and go. but its worth the extra money for a more comfortable ride. bring lots of tiny toys, snacks, bottles if they still use them, and pacifiers if they will use them for take off and landing, it will help their ears pop without pain. have fun, the first time is always trial and error :)

Hi N.,
We just traveled back East with 2 Britax Marathons last year & it wasn't fun. Our 1st plane fit them, but we were squished. The 2nd transfer plane (which we didn't know about) did not fit them so we had to check them in when we got to the plane.

We had the carseat carry case (with rollers) & it still wasn't convenient to get through the airport with. I'm not trying to discourage you, but my husband & I had a very difficult time traveling with them. The only reason we brought them was because we would be traveling by car for 2 weeks once we got there. I just felt better about having my own carseats, rather than renting them from a car rental place. If you're not in need of them for majority of the time, I don't recommend taking them.

Hope it all works out!

We traveled with a Britax Marathon, and it's a pretty tight fit. We had to put our daughter by the window, and the top part of the car seat spread out into the middle seat, but I was still able to fit there. I doubt you'd be able to fit both side by side, but maybe if you lifted the arm rest, you could move the second one a little onto your seat. Just a thought...

Call the airline back and ask how wide the seats are and compare it to the width of your Roundabouts...I have traveled with 2 children (2 years apart) with one carseat (also a Roundabout, which is considerably narrower than a Marathon, by the way, but a bit wider than your average car seat), without my husband, and believe me, you will want to set yourself up for success, girl! If they won't fit, find out now. Then perhaps you could find a suitable (cheaper and narrower) replacement for at least one of your Roundabouts so that you can all fit in the same row! Or perhaps if you place one seat in the rear-facing position, they will fit together a little better? Either way, you will need to be able to put the armrest up - I'd ask about that, too. Good luck, N..

Hi

I haven't travelled with two Britax carseats but have travelled with one Britax carseat and an infant carrier. I put them side by side and they fit fine. In fact, the carrier takes up more space then the car seat.