US airways question(carseat related)

[Dawn]

I am flying with Abigail who is 5 1/2 and about 45 pounds. I would like to bring her marathon and use it, but according to the customer service person they only allow a child up to 40 pounds to use there safety seat on the plane. Because of her age they would make me gate check her seat. I checked there website and it says the same thing. Do you think they will fight me on it?

[cryswilkins]

I wold lie and say that she is not yet 40 lbs. I doubt that they would weigh her at the gate.

[CandCfam]

Don't the airlines have to follow FAA policy?

If so, then you can use the seat on the plane.

Keep Your Little One Safe When You're in the Air

Be sure the shoulder straps are properly adjusted and fasten the airplane seat belt around the CRS or device.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a CRS. The FAA recommends that a child weighing:

* Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS
* From 20 to 40 pounds use a forward-facing CRS
* More than 40 pounds use an airplane seat belt
* A child may also use an alternative device, such as a a harness-type device, if it is approved by FAA. The FAA has approved one device appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. This type of device is not safe for use in motor vehiclessource (http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/)

[azgirl71]

I think you will be fine. Just don't tell them her weight unless they ask and then say 39 lbs.

[MomToEliEm]

I doubt anyone would have any issues with an older child using a carseat on a plane. If the flight attendents give you any issues, tell them that the seat is approved for airplane use up to 65 pounds and as long as you use the seat in accordance with FAA regulations (which state follow manufacturer's instructions on weight limits), then you should be fine.

I think the 40 pound limit is just in existance because when the policies were made for US Airways, there were not seats that allowed harnessing above 40 pounds.

Here is something the FAA regulations that you may want to print out prior to your trip.
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/60d70126cf679d5a8625723b007841e7/$FILE/AC%20120-87A.pdf

[Defrost]

My dd is 7 and we just flew (Delta and Alaska Airlines) last month with her in her Radian. She is very small for her age, but she definitely doesn't look 4. She's right at 40lbs.

This was my argument, had someone tried to say something: "Look, we have to bring the seat so she has something to ride in when we get there. I'm not having it checked so it can get beat to death in the cargo area, so it's either going under her, or taking up precious space in your overhead storage bins."

But no one said anything. What were they going to do, weigh her? I had one guy check for the FAA label because he'd never seen a Radian before, and two others who wanted to see it because they'd heard of them but never seen one. That was it.

[papooses]

They're not going to ask for a birth certificate or anything -- just bring a printed copy of the FAA recommendation and/or company policy ... hand it to them to show that you have researched the issue & aren't going to be easily swayed ... saying that she meets the guidelines for her seat & you are simply following directions (you are: the manual)

[dd9736]

If they put up a fight, I'd also probably say something along the lines of her being likely to end up trying to run up and down the aisle, or screaming because I wouldn't let her, if she wasn't in the harnessed seat. Or have her look up at whoever said anything, saying, "I won't be safe without my seat."

[Dawn]

Any tips on easy ways to install the Marathon?

[UlrikeDG]

Recline the plane seat before installing, then set it back upright for the tightest fit. Also, don't forget to flip the buckle half a turn before buckling. Otherwise, the tab you lift to unbuckle will be pinned against the back of the Marathon.

[Dawn]

Not to sound dumb but I haven't flown with a carseat since she was in her snugride.
Do you mean I should lay the buckle horizontal to the airplane seat?

[MomToEliEm]

Not to sound dumb but I haven't flown with a carseat since she was in her snugride.
Do you mean I should lay the buckle horizontal to the airplane seat?

When the marathon is installed with a lapbelt on the plane, the buckle almost always falls right in the middle of the carseat. When tightened, it pulls up towards the top of the marathon shell. If the buckle is facing up (away from the seat), you cannot get to that little metal buckle release thing to unbuckle the seat. When you flip the buckle down so the release thingy is facing down towards the seat, it is easy to access when you need to unbuckle the plane.

I made the mistake of not turning the buckle once with my roundabout and it was a real pain getting that seat unbuckled. I did get it with a lot of pushing and reclining the seat, but it would have been much easier to just flip the buckle.

[Dawn]

ok, thank you for explaining.
I have another question if you all can stand it,lol. :o
Do you go under the LATCH bar since it is lap belt only? :whistle:

[UlrikeDG]

It's hard to envision, but it will be very clear once you start to buckle the seat. It's only an issue FF.

[UlrikeDG]

Yes.

[thepeach80]

I just took AJ in his seat in Sept and he was 41# then and no one said a word. Just walk on confidently w/ your seat, install it, and put her in it. Who's going to question that?

[Dawn]

It's hard to envision, but it will be very clear once you start to buckle the seat. It's only an issue FF.

Thank you! I went out and looked at her seat in the car and got a better idea of what you all mean. I really appreciate it. Now to pull it out and vacume it,lol. It's kinda rough looking after 4 years of use. :ROTFLMAO:
My family in PA where very surprised she wasn't in just a booster already like my cousins kids where at 5. :rolleyes:

[lovemyfamily]

My Dh is a pilot for US Airways, I am a former flight attendant for them, well the America West side. I had my DH look in a flight attendants manual not too long ago, when there was some issues with carseats on the plane and FAs buckling down on what the airlines were telling them were the rules. Per their manual, the seats are to be installed according to the manufacturers instructions, which means if the seat is FAA approved and can be used to 65 lbs. in a car, the it can be used to 65 lbs. on a plane. I wish I could get my DH to make a copy of the FAs manual, but he doesn't have a copy machine on the plane, so that would be really hard. I have emailed my uncle's ex-girlfriend, who is a current US Airways FA about this, getting manual page copies, and haven't heard back from her.
If they pitch a fit, and you feel like arguing, ask them to get out their manual and show you where it says that the seat cannot be used after 40 lbs., on the plane.

[wendytthomas]

You might want to ask for a seatbelt extender as well, so that way the buckle isn't directly behind her back in the first place.

Wendy