Radians- AA, Acura, & CRV

[Kabes]

Tomorrow my girls will be flying on American Airlines to California. While there they may be riding in a 2000 Acura TL or a 2006 Honda CRV. The girls are 8 yo, 46 lbs, and 6 yo, 41 lbs and will both be sent with Radians. Any advice you can offer on installation in the plane or either of the vehicles would be appreciated. TIA!:love:

[Maedze]

Are you going to be on the other end for the install, or at least someone who is familiar with installing them?

Unless your kids have special needs, Radians are way overkill for the plane.


If you are going with the girls, having them on the other end is fine, but I would NOT send that seat in particular when there's no guarantee the person at the other end will be able to safely install them.

I would send both with backless boosters, maybe a high back for the six year old, and be done with it.

[Kabes]

I will not be with them. The person on the other end isn´t familiar with them either. I don´t have bosters for the girls and becaue of their low weight I feel it is important for them to be harnessed. I feel confident that the relatives who will be taking care of my girls will be able to LATCH install the seats with my help on the cell phone. I was hoping to simplify the process by finding out which locations have latch/anchors since I won´t be able to inspect the vehicle for them myself.

I know the girls don´t *need* the seats on the plane but they are 110% use to being in seats for 6+ hours and I DO NOT want to check my car seats.

[Maedze]

Well, the car seats cannot be LATCHed in either vehicle. The Acura won't have LATCH and they are both over the weight limit for the LATCH system in the Honda. The Radians MUST be installed with the seatbelt. Seatbelt installs with Radians can be very tricky, and it is not something I'd like to spring on an adult who is not familiar with CRS installs OR this seat in particular.


I'm not trying to be argumentative, I promise :p

I know you mentioned their 'low weight', but I can promise you at their weight and age there isn't even a shred of scientific evidence showing that harnesses are any safer than boosters. There is nothing wrong with harnessing, of course, but any safety benefit over a good belt positioning booster is essentially statistically irrelevant.

And in this case in particular, the girls will be safer in a belt positioning booster than they will be with a poorly installed Radian.

[Maedze]

But if you do choose to go the route of the Radians, remember they MUST be installed with the seatbelt. The recline base should be opened on the bottom, and as the seats are tightened the person installing them should bring the base away from the bight of the vehicle seat (don't cram it in there) and push straight down.

The 2006 Honda has seatbelts that will lock at the retractor, meaning the adult should pull the belt all the way out and let it click back in to lock it.

I'm not sure if the Acura will lock at the retractor or if it has lightweight locking latchplates, I'll let someone else cover that.

[LISmama810]

The Acura will most likely lock at the retractor.

Will they let you go on the plane to install the seats? I flew alone a lot as a child, and my parents/whoever were allowed to go to the gate, but never on the plane with me.

I agree with the PP that boosters would be perfectly acceptable--and even preferable--in this case. The Radian is easily one of the most complicated seats to install, and I would not feel safe with an install done by anyone but myself.

[Kabes]

Jennie, my girls will be in Sierra Madre (Los Angeles County). Do you know of a similar program to the one in your sig where I could find a tech to check the install?

[ketchupqueen]

Jennie, my girls will be in Sierra Madre (Los Angeles County). Do you know of a similar program to the one in your sig where I could find a tech to check the install?

I'm very close to Sierra Madre.

The CHP has some clinics and techs. They're often by appointment only and only certain days to see their techs. They are a bit of a drive. Also, one member of the board (Marc) is not way far but not way close either.

And I'm not a tech but I'm local and have lots of experience with Radians, if they get in an absolute jam they can call me and I can try to talk them through it/they can come by and I can try to help/if absolutely necessary loan them different seats.

Are they flying into Burbank? Or LAX? Or somewhere else? What month? (My husband is a tax accountant, if it's a convenient time AFTER April 15 I could even probably manage to get to Burbank if that's where they're going and help them at the airport if necessary, with advance notice. We're a 15 min. drive from the Burbank airport.)

ETA: oh shoot, just read tomorrow.

Um, that's going to be hard.

But PM me if you want my number, I can try to help whatever way I can.

[LISmama810]

Sorry, I signed off early last night.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any companies in LA County that do private checks. (I know there's at least one, but I don't remember her name and haven't heard good things.)

Like ketchupqueen said, Marc (that's his screenname) is in LA, and the CHP might be able to help, but you often need an appointment far in advance.

It might be too late now, but I'd have the person picking them up buy a couple TurboBoosters (highback) before the girls arrive. Send a check with the girls to cover the cost (about $40 each). That would also give the person time to get them assembled (VERY easy) and in place before leaving for the airport.

I'm sorry I can't offer more help. If they were flying into Orange County I'd probably be able to get someone to help, but I just don't know anyone in that area.

[Misty-Bug]

I hope it went well for you. I can say that installing that seat on the plane was one of the EASIEST installs I have ever done.

However, they don't know how to install the seats on the other side. If you have confidence in them that is important and I am sure they can get it. How did it go? I would have made sure at least one manual was with the seat as well.

[Kabes]

No problems with the airline. A stewardess came off and spoke with me. I gave her the OK to decide if her install was good enough or if she wanted to put the seats in over head storage and have the girls sit in the plane seats. I trusted her since she was a mom and seemed to ¨get¨ how tight I wanted the seats. Someone reported back to me that the Radians installed easily and the girls would be riding in them. They made it to Ca. happily(extremely) and unharmed!

I trust my aunt and uncle explicitly. They are the most safely concious people I know. We discussed their car manuel and the seat manuels together. The Radians have manuels attached for them to refer to. I not sure how the install went last night but they are having them checked out today and if there is an incompatibility issue they will get HBBs or loaner seats. Both girls regularly fall asleep in the car and I did not have HBBs to send. They normally ride in Regents and their brothers ride in the Radians. We switched for the purpose of this trip.

I´ll update when I know more about the details of this afternoons check.

Thanks everyone!

[Kabes]

The Radians are installed correctly in the Acura. They are not planning on moving them but should they need to they know know how. YAY!!!!!

Huge thanks to my installation fairy! I don´t know how you feel about public praise so I won´t out you.