Which seat for plane tomorrow?

[Dillipop]

I was going to take my radian, figuring ds could use the tray table and I'd just jerry-rig a traveling toddler to attach the seat to my roller bag.

Then I had the idea to bring the uptown, since it is so much lighter. He still has a little less than an inch for torso growth and about 4 pounds until he hits the weight limit.

Then I remembered that I wanted him to be able to use the tray table.

So- can you use the tray table with a ffing uptown? Would you take the lighter seat and forego the tray table use?

Also- I know the radian works in my IL's Buick, but does anyone know how it works in a Subaru Outback, probably 2007 or 2008?

 

[ketchupqueen]

It may WORK (no guarantees) but I think the Uptown might be EASIER in the Outback-- I've heard they don't play so nicely with Radians sometimes? Of course, then you'd have to bring a towel or pool noodle triangle to get a good angle with.

I'd probably base my choice more on car considerations than plane considerations, personally.

 

[DahliaRW]

rfing or ffing in the outback? Rfing with latch in my '01 it worked, but left very little room for a passenger. Ffing it was fine.

 

[ketchupqueen]

(Yeah, I was assuming RF.)

 

[Dillipop]

Sorry- I should update my siggy. He is 35 pounds now and ffing in all vehicles. We only have a 33 limit radian and 35 pound uptown. So, he'll be ffing in all vehicles.

I'd use seatbelt to install the uptown, but latch for the radian, in the subaru. (Probably the same in the Buick as well. My other ds will be in a RSTV. Either seat should be fine with seat, RSTV, adult if we need to in either vehicle. At least that's what I'd assume.

 

[Athena]

You know the 60 pound Subaru latch limit includes the weight of the seat, right? We had to use the belt for our DD before 35 pounds because her Nautilus weighs 26 pounds so that left only 34 pounds for herself and her clothes and shoes. I don't know the exact weight of your radian, but I just thought I should mention it in case. Happy Travels!

 

[ketchupqueen]

Well, if you're FFing, then you should be fine with the Radian. So I'd bring that. I find that because it folds, it's less awkward to carry, so it's actually not worse than carrying the Uptown around even though it's heavier.

 

[Murphy's Law]

I say RN. I flew across the country 2 weeks ago and decided on the comfortsport over the radian because it was lighter and I didn't have help. But due to the length of the buckle stalks (not really stalks, but the length of the non-adjustable male end) I couldn't buckle the seat belt because the big hard buckle ended up directly behind ds's back. He couldn't have used it that way and no amount of adjusting was going to fix it. Like you, he's outgrown the RF limits on that seat. I wished I had listened to the people here and just sucked it up and taken the RN but because there was no other option, I ended up with no seat on the plane for my 2 year old. For what it's worth, he was fantastic and kept his belt on whenever possible for the 6+ hour flight both there and back, but anyway, I know better for next time. I know that with the design and low profile of the RN I wouldn't have had that problem. I know it's heavy, but save yourself the aggravation I experienced and take the RN anyway! Have a safe trip!

 

[Dillipop]

But due to the length of the buckle stalks (not really stalks, but the length of the non-adjustable male end) I couldn't buckle the seat belt because the big hard buckle ended up directly behind ds's back. He couldn't have used it that way and no amount of adjusting was going to fix it. Like you, he's outgrown the RF limits on that seat. I wished I had listened to the people here and just sucked it up and taken the RN but because there was no other option, I ended up with no seat on the plane for my 2 year old.

I know that with the design and low profile of the RN I wouldn't have had that problem. I know it's heavy, but save yourself the aggravation I experienced and take the RN anyway! Have a safe trip!

Actually, you still would have had the problem of the buckle being behind his back. However, the radian cover has a hardish plastic piece sewn into it right at the beltpath which makes it much more comfortable than other seats with the open belt path. FWIW- my kids have never had an issue with the belt going through the back of the seat like that, but esp. in the radian.

I think I'm going to take the radian. I still have to pack our carry on, but once it's done, I'm going to play around with the radian and the ring sling ring I had lying around and see if I can get a secure fit around the luggage, a la traveling toddler. I don't need it to be able to carry anyone, just lug the RN through the airport. If it doesn't work, I'll just bring our luggage cart as well and use that instead.

 

[Patriot201]

THe Radian works beautifully in my sister's 2006 (or 2007?) Outback. It shoudl work well.

 

[Dillipop]

THe Radian works beautifully in my sister's 2006 (or 2007?) Outback. It shoudl work well.

That's great to know! We'll definitely be taking the radian then.