Special thanks for this article go to Sharon, an American expat mother in France and a former flight attendant for two carriers in five countries over thirteen years.


6. Car Seat Policies

Before deciding whether you want to spend the money on the seat for your child, find out what your airline policies are, which can vary widely. Some of the same airlines which brag that they are "child-friendly" because of their amenities, actually fall short on actually keeping your child safe. They may hand out a lot of toys but when it comes to securing your child, they just do not come up to the bar. When booking, this could also be a deciding factor in which airline to choose. It is for me...

If you are flying a U.S. registered company and your child has his or her own seat with a FAA certified car seat, it is your right to use it on board and be protected by law.

Do not be intimidated by stories of Flight Attendants not allowing car seats on board in the U.S.  Know that the rules are in your favor and stand your ground... politely. Print up some of the links in this article and bring your owner's manual. Ask nicely to speak to the purser before things get heated and you can also ask that they show you in writing where your seat is not allowed. Every Flight Attendant with any U.S. company has to have their manual on every flight. They do not have to memorize all the information but they are required to be able to use the manual and know where to find certain information at will.

If you are not flying a U.S. or Canadian company, your rights are not guaranteed and the requirements can be very inconsistent. Check directly with the airline, not necessarily that country's air authority. Individual airlines in the U.S. are not allowed to override FAA regulations (although they can add to them) but elsewhere, an airline can simply decide to change the rules set by their national air authorities. For example, in some places, car seats are allowed, and regulations set accordingly, but specific airlines have decided to ban car seats entirely and none are allowed in the cabin. Be especially careful of "low-cost" companies outside of North America. They justify it by citing that this safety compromise saves time.

Some airlines, by contrast, are actually very flexible and allow car seats with approval from multiple nationalities. For example, if you have an FAA approved seat, you can still use it on some non-U.S. airlines, especially in the Far and Middle East. It will be stated on their website.

A common rule found many places around the world, but specifically in the U.K., is that the car seat is required to face forward. This rule has no safety logic and means that most infant seats, which are designed only to face backwards, cannot be used at all.

In addition, some airlines do not allow car seat use on take-off and landing for babies under six months old. Some even then require the use of the dangerous "belly belts" which put them at risk if there is great forward impact. This goes against all my Flight Attendant training and I have no idea as to why a smaller baby does not have the right to be kept secure in his or her own seat, and face the correct direction according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Also, there can be age limits. Children are often prevented from using a car seat on his or her third birthday, regardless of weight. If you have an approved car seat and plan to take it on board to use at your destination, too bad. You have to risk damage and/or loss by checking it. If your child is of small stature, that's also your problem. This could affect children with certain disabilities so check if there are local laws which override this nonsensical rule.

By the way, I have to say that these rules will continue if parents do not speak up. If you think that changes need to be made by your local air authority, please let them know. Why should children in the U.S. be allowed to fly more safely than elsewhere?

I have used the "wrong" nationality car seat for my child on many occasions. I simply board, install the seat and see if anyone notices. This has worked more times than it hasn't. The seats were approved for airline use but not by the "right" countries but when they were removed, I simply handed it over and they stowed it on board somewhere. There was no penalty or punishment. I did have the purser brought over once and discussed it. He actually admitted that he was, indeed, forcing my child to travel less safely but his hands were tied by the rules. Another time, on another airline and nationality, they took it, told me they'd give it back to us and then simply didn't.

Some airlines are not inspected as often as others. I used to not check seats for the FAA sticker on purpose. I felt strongly that if the parents were conscientious enough to cart the seat on board and use it, I was not going to split hairs and give them any problems. Once I had a FAA inspector and actually told him my sentiments. This same inspector actually was on several of my flights and contributed a lot of the information included in this article.

Remember that no matter how illogical and nonsensical a rule may be, but worldwide, cooperating with the crew is required. Crew members cannot change rules set by their airline and/or national air authority. Overall, commercial air travel is very safe and statistically, your child is still safer on board the aircraft, no matter how he or she is carried or held, than they were in the car on the way to the airport. If things are not resolved to your satisfaction, you must follow their instructions, no matter how counter-logical, do what they say and register a complaint directly with the airline later.

For future updates to Sharon's information, or to contact Sharon directly, please visit her Blog: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Sharon's Disclaimer: This article is not a legal document and cannot be used as proof of any of the laws or rules that I refer to throughout. Check the FAA websites, or other relevant agencies to confirm any statements that are made. I try to provide links where I can. Be aware, also, that airlines often have their own policies which might be stricter than their own government's laws. Most of the employees that you encounter do not have the power to change or make exceptions to any rule. They simply must follow them, even in cases where logic or safety is questionable.