Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

We are leaving for Disney on Saturday and booked Emily her own seat on the flight. (We are flying southwest).

We were hoping to bring the carseat on the plane with us, as a lot of people have recommended, and also since we'll need it anyway for the rental car since I don't want to borrow one from them.

However on the southwest website they say that they don't recommend using a seat that is wider then 16" on the airplane because it won't fit in the seats. I measured both of our seats, and the Marathon is about 18.5" and the Evenflo is about 20" in width. The only seat we've ever had that was as small as 16" was the infant seat, which I certainly can't put an almost 2-year old in.

Does anyone have experience using either the Marathon or the Evenflo Triumph on an airplane? Did they fit? Will the airline refuse to let us bring it onboard and even try if it is too wide?

Any suggestions/experiences? My DH is worried about this. I think we should just try it, but he thinks we need to come up with a solution beforehand.

Melissa

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

We used our Boulevard on Jet Blue and it was fine. We've also checked the car seat and just had her sit in the seat (she won't stay in the car seat for us) too and that gives us the whole row to move around and spread out in.
Have fun in Disney! Can't wait to see pictures.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

We are also taking Southwest next Tuesday and I am planning on bringing the Britax Marathon too. We also bought Jacob his own seat...

I thought the website said as long as it was FAA approved...

Hillary

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

We flew Southwest and used our Marathon carseat, no problems! It was a little tight but definitely fit and it was great. We put it in the window seat. Good luck, have fun!!!


ETA: We just flew in June!

Message edited 8/15/2007 8:42:48 PM.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

Honestly, not only are those seat bulky but they are heavy. We invested in a cheaper lightweight seat just for travel...it converts into a booster so it was not a complete waste.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

i flew southwest and used the graco comfortsport which i think is about the same size. they dont measure and make you sit next to the window anyway. most time the plane is not packed and you can leave the middle seat empty.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

I just flew Southwest the other day (as well as last week). Last week we used our Roundabout, which fit, but we had to have the armrest up. I took the Graco (Comfortsport I think) this time, thinking that it was more narrow than the Britax, but it wasn't. It was really tight with the Graco. With the Britax, it was tight but doable. I will not take the Graco again. They will not measure your carseat. They will make you put it next to the window though so if you and DH are going, you won't be able to "double-team" DC. It is good that you book her own seat, because when I flew the other day the flight was full after our layover and she couldn't get a seat. She was NOT happy sitting on my lap for the flight.

p/s - Southwest seats are more narrow than Jetblue seats IMO.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

We brought the Marathon on the plane and it took my hubby a lot of time, effort and sweat to get that thing installed. But it did fit...it was just difficult.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

I've used my triumph on Continental, JEt Blue and American and never had a problem.

Re: Question about bringing a carseat on a flight...

We had two Boulevards on SW recently. The fit fine with the arms down, but it's easier if you put the airplane seat arms up first, then put the seat in. It's a bit tight, but then again, it's always a bit tight on airplanes....