flying, which seat do we take?

aunt83me02 · 10-20-2007, 07:16 PM

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Ok, so we (my sister, 7mo niece, and me) are flying from Des Moines to Phoenix Nov. 15th. My sister wanted to buy a seat for the baby but her husband didn't think they could justify the price... Anyway, we won't be using the seat on the plane but will need it for the rental car, we have several choices: Cosco Touriva, Graco Comfortport, SK Radian 60. I have a giant wheeled duffle that I was thinking we could put the Cosco or the Graco in to gate check but then I got to thinking... If I bought the Radian bag could I take it as a carry-on so we wouldn't have to worry about it getting wrecked? As long as the Graco or Cosco were in good condition for the rental car down there I wouldn't care if we had to throw either one away when we got back as they are reaching their expiration date (in about a year). Has anyone ever taken a a Radian as a carry-on? I know it would be heavy as all get out...

Any ideas?

Marie
CPS Tech
aunt flying with a baby for the first time!

skipspin · 10-20-2007, 07:28 PM

I've taken mine on the plane several times, but I always used it on the plane. In fact, most recently I took the RN for my 4 yr old AND an infnat seat for my 7 month old while flying alone. It was wonderful to have a seat for the baby so he could sleep and I could actually have a drink without him spilling it. I had the RN on a $14 luggage cart from Wal-mart and it rolled down the aisle on the plane that way.

I don't think that they will let you carry on a Radian if you're not using it, since it's larger than a normal carry on bag. You could find out when you check in if the flight is full. If there are extra seats they may let you take the seat for the baby. If not you can throw it in the bag and check it.

All that said, I'd prolly take a lighter seat than the RN unless there is a specific reason that you want to take it. I don't think a RN would work well (if at all) RFing on the plane anyway since it has a closed beltpath and takes up a lot of room.

MagnificentMama · 10-20-2007, 07:41 PM

What airline are you flying? When I flew with DD and she was under 2, Southwest let me actually use an empty seat and install her car seat. Obviously you'd have to catch a "off peak" flight and hope for the best, but the times i've flown with them and didn't purchase a seat for DD- she was able to get a seat of her own without me paying.

Maybe you could check into if your airline has some type of policy like that?

anywhoo- i'd bring the Touriva. You're most likely to get a good install with that seat. From everything I heard about a RN, it's pretty much hit or miss with the type of vehicle it installs in. I don't think you'd like to be thousand miles away with a car seat that doesn't install right into a car, KWIM?

aunt83me02 · 10-20-2007, 09:12 PM

We're flying Delta, I know that some airlines (like SW) let you use empty seats for carseats, does anyone know about Delta? Looks like we'll be taking the Touriva (which was what I'd been planning all along. Do you think I'll have any problems gate checking it in a giant wheeled duffle bag?

mburks26 · 10-20-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aunt83me02

We're flying Delta, I know that some airlines (like SW) let you use empty seats for carseats, does anyone know about Delta? Looks like we'll be taking the Touriva (which was what I'd been planning all along. Do you think I'll have any problems gate checking it in a giant wheeled duffle bag?

Im not sure bout gate checking seats alot of people say they have been damaged. The way people load stuff on and off the plane maybe get som bubble wrap and wrap it then put in the duffle bag and maybe some packing peanuts things? They make large bubble wrap. I dont see bubble wrap and peanut things those white foam things making the bag heavier? could protect the seat

UlrikeDG · 10-21-2007, 01:08 AM

I don't think they'll let you take a giant wheeled duffle past the security check. I could be wrong, and DSM's a small airport, so I guess if you got to the security check early and it was a problem, you could just run the bag back out to your car. OTOH, if you do get to use the seat on the plane, you'll still have the giant wheeled duffle to deal with.

Is it a non-stop flight? If so, the airline is US Air, even if your ticket is through Delta.

Defrost · 10-21-2007, 11:15 AM

From what I understand the Radian install problems are mostly FF with the seatbelt. When using it with LATCH or RF with the seatbelt, it shouldn't be as much of a concern.

CDNTech · 10-21-2007, 11:35 AM

We've taken our Radian as carry-on before. It does fit the requirements of carry-on luggage and goes in the overhead bin with no problems. We did not have a carry-on bag for it though... just the seat itself.

An Aurora · 10-21-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aidensmom02

We've taken our Radian as carry-on before. It does fit the requirements of carry-on luggage and goes in the overhead bin with no problems. We did not have a carry-on bag for it though... just the seat itself.

I was going to say the same thing. I would do this

. I've put our Radian in the overhead bin no problem.

10-20-2007, 07:28 PM	#2
skipspin Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: FL Posts: 2,091 Blog Entries: 3	Re: flying, which seat do we take? I've taken mine on the plane several times, but I always used it on the plane. In fact, most recently I took the RN for my 4 yr old AND an infnat seat for my 7 month old while flying alone. It was wonderful to have a seat for the baby so he could sleep and I could actually have a drink without him spilling it. I had the RN on a $14 luggage cart from Wal-mart and it rolled down the aisle on the plane that way. I don't think that they will let you carry on a Radian if you're not using it, since it's larger than a normal carry on bag. You could find out when you check in if the flight is full. If there are extra seats they may let you take the seat for the baby. If not you can throw it in the bag and check it. All that said, I'd prolly take a lighter seat than the RN unless there is a specific reason that you want to take it. I don't think a RN would work well (if at all) RFing on the plane anyway since it has a closed beltpath and takes up a lot of room. __________________ 9 yr old in a pink zebra NBB and 5-stepping 6 yr DS1 old in a Harmony 4 yr old DS2 in a Nautilus and Radian 18 mo DS3 rfing in a MyRide65

10-20-2007, 07:41 PM	#3
MagnificentMama Senior Community Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Margaritaville Posts: 442	Re: flying, which seat do we take? What airline are you flying? When I flew with DD and she was under 2, Southwest let me actually use an empty seat and install her car seat. Obviously you'd have to catch a "off peak" flight and hope for the best, but the times i've flown with them and didn't purchase a seat for DD- she was able to get a seat of her own without me paying. Maybe you could check into if your airline has some type of policy like that? anywhoo- i'd bring the Touriva. You're most likely to get a good install with that seat. From everything I heard about a RN, it's pretty much hit or miss with the type of vehicle it installs in. I don't think you'd like to be thousand miles away with a car seat that doesn't install right into a car, KWIM? __________________ Miss Goofball 6yo\|Regent

10-20-2007, 09:12 PM	#4
aunt83me02 CPS Technician Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: midwest USA Posts: 165	Re: flying, which seat do we take? We're flying Delta, I know that some airlines (like SW) let you use empty seats for carseats, does anyone know about Delta? Looks like we'll be taking the Touriva (which was what I'd been planning all along. Do you think I'll have any problems gate checking it in a giant wheeled duffle bag?

10-21-2007, 01:08 AM	#6
UlrikeDG Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 7,994	Re: flying, which seat do we take? I don't think they'll let you take a giant wheeled duffle past the security check. I could be wrong, and DSM's a small airport, so I guess if you got to the security check early and it was a problem, you could just run the bag back out to your car. OTOH, if you do get to use the seat on the plane, you'll still have the giant wheeled duffle to deal with. Is it a non-stop flight? If so, the airline is US Air, even if your ticket is through Delta. __________________ Ulrike, mom to: Roman (3/98), Evalina (3/00), Nadia (3/03), and Kira (11/07) *See an inappropriate post? Don't reply to it; report* it!** Just click the symbol in the lower left-hand corner of the post. Thanks for your help in keeping this a safe, SPAM-free zone!

10-21-2007, 11:15 AM	#7
Defrost Moderator - CPST Instructor Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,316 Blog Entries: 16	Re: flying, which seat do we take? From what I understand the Radian install problems are mostly FF with the seatbelt. When using it with LATCH or RF with the seatbelt, it shouldn't be as much of a concern. __________________ Debbie, CPST-I In an '07 Mazda5 with Thomas (18, seat belt) * Sam (17, seat belt) Patrick (15, seat belt) * Macha (12, GracoAir/Harmony) Life is good.

10-21-2007, 11:35 AM	#8
CDNTech CPS Technician Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 4,590	Re: flying, which seat do we take? We've taken our Radian as carry-on before. It does fit the requirements of carry-on luggage and goes in the overhead bin with no problems. We did not have a carry-on bag for it though... just the seat itself. __________________ Jen, Former CDN CRS Tech DS1 /02, Oto and passing the 5 Step Test in some vehicles! DS2 /05, ParkwaySG Newbie /12, Britax B-Safe... riding the roller coaster & waiting to see if we get to keep him

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flying, which seat do we take?

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