European Installation ?

[gwenvet]

I have a friend whose family will be traveling throughout Europe this summer. They will be renting cars in Italy and England. She is bringing her (pre enhancement) Regent for her soon to be 5 yr old who is hovering right around 40lbs. She doesn't remember seeing rear tether points in previous rentals (do they have them?), so would it be safer to install it with the seat belt short belt path or long?
Do european cars have tether points or locking seat-belts?

[crunchierthanthou]

IIRC, tethers are just becoming available in Europe. I'd strongly recommend taking a different seat. I would not want to be lugging a Regent across Europe. The Regent isn't airline approved, so it would have to be checked. The tether isn't required until 50 lbs, but Britax recommends using it at all times. It can be a tricky install.

There are other seats that I feel are better options without being prohibitively expensive. Nautilus can be kept with them on the plane and installs easily in most vehicles (~$150). The radian folds for travel, can be used on the plane and performs well without the tether. It has a bit of a learning curve for the install, but will work in most vehicles once you learn the tricks (~$200). If they don't want to use a seat on the plane, I would even consider a RSTV. It is portable and compact and you don't have to worry about compatability issues or finding a vehicle with tether anchors (~$100).

[gwenvet]

RSTV?
She's familiar with the Regent and DD loves it, so assuming that's what's she's taking WWYD?

[snowbird25ca]

RSTV = Ride Safer Travel Vest. :)

Most European cars don't have locking seatbelts and don't have top tether anchors. EU seats have to have lock-offs, and due to the way the seat is designed, the lock-offs largely serve to top tether the seat. (I saw a ff'ing EU seat made by Britax last summer, installed with just the seatbelt & using the lock-off the top of the seat really was as solid as if it had been top tethered.) EU seats don't come with top tethers for ff'ing either as far as I know.

(Moving this to International forum. ;))

eta: I wouldn't take the Regent because of the lack of locking seatbelts/top tethers, but also because it would have to be checked as luggage both directions. The Regent is an expensive seat to have to replace if it gets lost or damaged by the airline, and for all intents and purposes once a seat has been checked as luggage it becomes a seat with unknown history. So I would get a less expensive seat and plan to use it on the plane and in Europe. I'd probably get the Nautilus because it has taller harness height, and it might be easier to use a locking clip with. (I think the belt path isn't quite as low as the Radian, so putting on a locking clip should be easier.)

[Unregistered]

Hi,

I'm the friend...I just figured out how to post here! :-) I'd never heard of the RSTV but would be willing to consider it. I found the website...it looks intriguing. Is it really safe for a 5 year old? I've brought the Regent for the past 2 years and installed with the seatbelt long route method, no tether. I've tried the Radian (thanks Gwen! ;-) but it didn't fit my daughter very well.

I'll also have my almost 3 year old with us...was planning to just bring my Marathon and install without tether.

I'm planning to check the carseats and just use the airplane seatbelts.

Thanks so much!

Anne (in Indiana too)

[CRS]

Most vehicles in Europe have no tether anchors and their seat belts do not lock (besides ELR of course) (we have a lot of European vehicles imported in to New Zealand). Most european car seats do have lock offs, but certainly not all, a lot of them rely on the way the seatbelt is 'threaded' through the seat to hold it in solidly. Alot of them use the long belt path. Don't consider hiring or buying in Europe though cause the seats will only go to 40lbs.

[USmominOz]

Hi,

I'm the friend...I just figured out how to post here! :-) I'd never heard of the RSTV but would be willing to consider it. I found the website...it looks intriguing. Is it really safe for a 5 year old? I've brought the Regent for the past 2 years and installed with the seatbelt long route method, no tether. I've tried the Radian (thanks Gwen! ;-) but it didn't fit my daughter very well.

I'll also have my almost 3 year old with us...was planning to just bring my Marathon and install without tether.

I'm planning to check the carseats and just use the airplane seatbelts.

Thanks so much!

Anne (in Indiana too)

I would plan on bringing the seats on the plane, so many seats get damaged from the baggage handlers when they are checked.

Also are you flying into Hethro Airport? If so they have had a lot of problems w/ Terminal 5, a lot of the baggage has been going to Italy for sorting.

I also would not want to take the chance that your baggage will get lost, and you would not have your car seats.

The last time I traveled to the US I took my seats on the plane and they lost all our luggage and it was 2-4 days before we got all of it back. Also I even gate checked my stroller and it still was lost because it did not make my connection flight.:confused:

Like a pp said I would buy the vest for the older one and you the marathon for the younger one, or buy the older one a Nauitlis.

[Morganthe]

Hi,

I'm the friend...I just figured out how to post here! :-) I'd never heard of the RSTV but would be willing to consider it. I found the website...it looks intriguing.
.......
I'm planning to check the carseats and just use the airplane seatbelts.
Anne (in Indiana too)

Hi Friend :happy-wavehello:

So you've brought the Regent before to Europe via airplane? Wow. :sarcasitc-bow: I am very impressed... :D but it sounds as if you only had one child at the time and now you're maneuvering 2.

Airline travel is getting worse. I don't know when last you flew. But they're pinching pennies to save fuel. Very strict on baggage limits. If you're oversized or overweight, it's expensive and there's no choice because you're stuck.
If you're flying through Heathrow, baggage is a nightmare now that they've opened a new terminal.
Apparently, they're processing in France and then sending luggage back to Heathrow??? Wierd, but I've been reading that.

Bags everywhere are delayed and lost. DH just flew from Atlanta to Incheon, Korea. It took 5 days for his bags to catch up to him. They were on his flight from Dallas to Atlanta, but somehow they missed the international connection. Could you afford to completely replace your seats in a pinch? :( It's a risk.

Even though your daughter is petite, it might be easier and more practical with the 5 year old to go with a good high back booster seat. The new Monterey looks comfortable and safel.. it's due out really soon.

Even if she's not perfectly as comfy in the Radian like she is her Regent, telling her it's only temporary and its for travel -- she can understand that at 5. Travelling creates all sorts of compromises which is good for kids to learn to accomodate the changes. Creates resiliancy. Builds character... :blah blah blah::blah blah blah:
I had to do the same when I was travelling around Europe with my parents. Yuck, but that's all part of the learning experience. :love:

My dd was very unhappy 2 weeks ago, when I had to leave her posh regent in my broken down car and she had to use the Radian for a week in the tiny rental. She survived ;)

No, you cannot count on locking belts or top tethers in European cars. I had a European Maxi-cosi that had a lock-off. Worked like a charm in all those cars with slippery belts. I didn't know it was a law, but it was definitely handy & easy to install.

With 2 carseats to manage in a typical European car + luggage, there is no way I'd ever think of taking a Regent --- unless you're renting a full sized Mercedes Wagon. :shrug-shoulders:

[Unregistered]

Hi,

Anne here. Yes I've brought the Regent to Europe twice and had it "lost" twice. We also had an evenflo triumph with us for little brother. Losing a carseat in luggage is indeed awful...Lily rode from JFK to Grandma's house last summer sitting on a heavily stuffed diaper bag as a booster (so not good but I didn't know what else to do :-( ) We went out and bought the Britax Marathon the next morning and that became little Danny's seat since he was outgrowing the evenflo anyhow. Okay to cut the story short.

My thought now is to bring two RSTV's and the Marathon. Ideally I'll be able to bring the Marathon onto the plane and not have it lost, but I'd have the extra RSTV with me just in case. My little guy is 38 inches tall and about 33 lbs, and its still more than a month before he would potentially ride in the RSTV. The RSTV minimums are listed at 35 lbs. and 38 inches.

Now, you suggested high back booster for my 5 year old...two questions. Are boosters allowed onto airplanes? and is a high back booster safer than an RSTV?

I am flying into Stockholm, then Heathrow, then Milan, and then Oslo. We won't be using a car in Stockholm. I am very worried about seats getting lost in checked luggage and thank you for letting me know how bad conditions have gotten at Heathrow.

Since I'm now planning to bring the Marathon onto the plane, I was wondering if any of you have been able to get extra help bringing the seat onto the plane. That march down the aisle is challenging as it is!

Thank you for your advice and I'd love to know what you think of the revised plan.

Anne

[Unregistered]

Anne here again! About the Radian, I seem to remember it weighed as much or more than the regent, but I suppose it could go onto the plane. Is that why you thought that would be a good substitute?

Thanks,

Anne

[Morganthe]

The thing about the Radian if you don't actually use it on the airplane, the seat folds up and it can fit into an overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
Same with using the new Monterey booster seat -- It dissasembles for use as a backless booster -- so you have two flat pieces instead of one bulky one to take on board an airplane. It has lower anchor connectors, so if your rental has anchors, you have the seatbelt + the bottom hookups. :thumbsup:

Just a thought :shrug-shoulders::)

[hopster67]

Heathrow baggage is getting worse, not better, so whatever you do, be prepared for the probability that your luggage will become separated from you (change of clothes in the carryon, essentials with you, etc). It's the top of the international news here, and it's gotten so bad that the airport officials have banned the media from the airport!!

If you're not flying British Airways (BA - Bloody Awful), you may not go through Terminal 5 and therefore avoid the drama, but if you are going through T5, gird your loins for battle.

[Unregistered]

I fly SAS into London. and then BA to Milan. I see your point about the Radian. I have Gwen's Radian again and I'm going to try it. You guys have been so helpful. I think this is NOT the summer to check the carseats. I guess worst case scenario is they say "no you can't bring the carseat on board" and it gets gate checked. So now I'm planning to take two RSTV's and the Marathon and the Radian. Okay half my luggage will be carseats but we'll be driving alot...a solid month in Italy alone.

I'll keep you posted ;-)

Anne