USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

We are flying PHX to LHR in September i have seats booked for my kids but i'm not too keen on lugging a car seat on the trip for my youngest son. Its not just the flight but also the airport parking transfer bus etc.
According to BA customer service if they have a seat booked and they are under 2 they need a car seat. So my problem is on the outward flight my youngest son will just 3 days short of his 2nd birthday and he will be 2 years by the time we fly back to PHX. According to BA customer service we need a car seat on the outward flight and can check it in on the return flight:curse:
What i dont understand is that he could have been taken as a lap passenger (as an under 2 year old) so why do i have to have the car seat:confused: Can't we just bung him on the lap for takeoff and landing then dump him in his seat for the rest of the time?

I wonder if anyone else has run into this problem? I am tempted to take a gamble and not take the car seat and hope they dont chuck us all off the flight:unsure:

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Are you using a car in the UK...if so you'll need a car seat.

Your little one will be safer and probably more comfortable in the car seat...therefore making the flight easier for mum and dad. Why don't you drop your wife, kids, luggage and car seat at the terminal and go park the car and meet them at check-in? There should be a sky-cap to assist. That's what we usually do.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

BMI had us do that one time... I have flown several times now with kids and to be honest it is much better for them to be in a car seat... to me it is worth the hassle of dragging it around.

if you do decide to take it, get yourself some rolling hand luggage and a couple of those small bungy cords from the dollar tree and fasten your car seat to your hand luggage, works a treat.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

I recently flew with my daughter from NYC to LON when she was that age. I didn't pay for a seat, but was given one anyway. I did bring her car seat, and she was much more comfortable in the car seat than sitting on the actual plane seat. I doubt you HAVE to bring one, but I would strongly suggest it. Especially if it is a night flight, they will be way more comfortable (and safe) asleep in a car seat.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

At 2 I would definitely recommend taking the car seat, it's way easier to contain them in the airplane seat using a car seat, and they will be more comfortable and sleep better. A good way to get the seat through the airport is to buy one of those cheap folding luggage carts (I got ours at Target). You can then attach the seat to that and push it through the airport.
Naomi.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

I agree with all the other posters that advise you to take the car seat. Myself and my daughter flew to Dublin from JFK last year and I took her car seat. I'm glad I did because she was no trouble at all and enjoyed the whole flight and I got to relax a little too.


"A good way to get the seat through the airport is to buy one of those cheap folding luggage carts (I got ours at Target). You can then attach the seat to that and push it through the airport. "
I did exactly this and it made things so much easier, especially as I was travelling on my own. I got many nice compliments from other passengers telling me that it was such a good idea.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Thanks for the replies. We decided to travel with the car seat, 3 cases. I should be able to manage that with an airport trolley.
Only other option was to purchase the new FAA approved safety harness for toddlers from CARES at http://www.kidsflysafe.com/ but they are asking $75 a piece for these:eek:

I still doubt that the brittax car seat will even fit in the seat on the plane, my 2 year old is fairly tall, hes always been 90th percentile etc. I think if the person sat in front reclines his/her seat its just going to get nasty.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

ive travelled a lot with my two and never been told to bring a carseat. In fact - for some flights a carseat would have been a nightmare as it would have had to be on our lap which would have been VERY uncomfortable. If we have taken a carseat it has gone in the hold.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Airlines will not allow you to hold a child in a car seat on your lap.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Might wanna check the width too... the car seats my kids use every day will not fit in an airline seat as they have arm rests and cup holders. Your car seat should be no wider than 17 inches. I ended up buying a cheap Cosco from Walmart for $40.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

interesting about the 17 inches. I have used it on flights within the USA before so it should be ok shouldn't it?

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

We flew with a Britax Roundabout and it fitted the seat just fine. I've seen even larger Britax seats on B.A. too. Hopefully they will give you the bulkheads seats so nobody is in front of you. We always managed to score those.
Naomi.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Yeap :)

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

I too had a Britax Roundabout and it fitted with no problems.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

dont BA have the kids booster seats? Virgin have a special moulded seat they use for kiddies between skycot age and 3 I think. We've never had to take the car seat onboard and always used the booster seats they provided.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Hi there

our daughter was 7 months when we flew to Florida in January, there was no requirement for a car seat. She was still using size 0 then, so it would have fitted but her current carseat would definitely not fit, especially as it has ISOFIX and a little pole going down to the floor, would be a nightmare to lug that around.
I agree it would be safer for the child to be in the carseat, however I am not sure those seats are designed for that.

Kind regards

Diana

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

I've travelled with a Britax Marathon / Boulevard. Check, your seat should say if it is FAA approved. The above seats are.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

I think he is a US resident flying US-UK and would therefore have a LATCH car seat not the ISOFIX. A LATCH car seat (17 inches wide) would fit no problem.

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

ok, something else to keep in mind, different car seat systems. I guess that won't be a problem then.

Nice photo, by the way.

Kind regards

Diana

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

LOL yeap, just one more thing to confuse the situation :p

Welcome to BE!

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Thank you! Though it will be another few months before I actually become and expat... Hope sooner rather than later, fed up with the British summer that isn't :thumbdown:. A complete washout, like last year.

Have a lovely weekend

Diana

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

We just bought a travel system for our impending arrival. The car seat is FAA approved - so we'll be taking it with us when we go over to the UK in April next year. If there is problems with the seat in-front reclining, thats not our problem.

Didnt relise that there was a different system between UK and US car seats. My car (GTI) has a LATCH system, but as its made in Germany I would have thought that this would have been an international standard. Oh well, I'll just have to remember to not bother taking the base of the seat with us and to just take the seat only.

Just out of interest... Anyone had any experience in the hour + queue at US immigration with a grouchy, smelly, screaming kid? Any chance we'll be sent to the front of the queue? ;)

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Where in the US are moving too?

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

if ur payin for a seat... take the car seat.!!! booster seats are NOT FAA approved so wont be allowed if traveling on an american airline dont know about the brit side of things.

kids on laps can get bloody annoying for such a long flight. as for help, contact the ailine and tell them ur a special needs passenger. Travelling with young infant and someone will help u to the gate. I agree a pain in the ass from car to check in.. but welcome to the world of travelling with kids.. i am glad i dont need to bother anymore!

Re: USA to UK with young kids on British Airways
 

Hi Ash

we will be moving to the Brit's favourite, Florida. Because of the weather, because it's closer to Europe and because of the flight connections. Also, my parents are golf players, so they will definitely like the choice of golf courses - not that that would influence our decision, but at least they have something to do when they visit :)