WOW! You guys weren't kidding!

LuvMyCharlie

New member

• Nov 4, 2009

• #1

I will never, ever, ever fly without a Radian again. That thing really IS made for planes, isn't it?!?! Way easier than my previous combinations of MA/Scenera/UT/CS on a luggage cart. WAY easier. And I just can't say enough good things about the install. I just put the RF boot in my luggage and hoped for the best that my luggage would make it here with us. I had enough to carry on since it was just me and DS(between the Radian, stroller, and bag).

One question, though. I've seen several people say their DC was able to use the seat tray with the Radian. DS was unable too as his legs were sitting too high. The Radian was not in the reclined FF position, so I'm not sure what was up with that. His legs aren't THAT big. Is this just one of those things that varies from airline to airline?

 

Murphy's Law

New member

• Nov 4, 2009

• #2

It must vary airline to airline. We flew Airtran when my dd was 4 years old, about 34 pounds. She was able to use the tray in her RN without issue.

Glad you enjoyed your trip with the RN! It is a great seat to travel with!

 

D

DahliaRW

New member

• Nov 4, 2009

• #3

Yup, varies airplane to airplane I would guess. Though it's always worked for us.

 

T

True Blue

New member

• Nov 7, 2009

• #4

Hmmmm I flew with mine recently and while it's nicer to walk around with...we couldn't even use it on one flight because the airline seatbelt buckle wound up right in the middle of her back. It was behind the cover, but I can't imagine sitting for 3 hours with that wedged into my back!

 

Dillipop

Well-known member

• Nov 7, 2009

• #5

pp- the seatbelt does end up right in the middle of the back, but the radian cover has a piece of plastic right there and covers it pretty well. My kids have never been uncomfortable with it and we take long, cross country flights.

op- we always fly southwest and have always been able to use the tray. Last time we flew, ds was 5 and had no problem fitting under it. Must be the plane.

 

M

mykidsmom

New member

• Nov 16, 2009

• #6

We used the radian for my almost 2 year old at the time on AirTran.

I worked well from carrying through the airport (bungeed onto the back of my stroller.

We couldn't get very good installs on the plane however. It just didn't seem to fit into the seats correctly. Lots of movement no matter what I did. We were able to use the tray table with no problems (other than she kept kicking it and knocking her stuff off it!)

I can't wait until we can travel without it. I've flown two time on international trips with my older dd when she was younger and it was a god send not to have to transport a car seat or a stroller. We could walk anywhere, use escalators without searching for elevators, hop on an off buses without assistance, etc. Heck the second strip I was 7 months pregnant and she was 3. The first trip she was 2. She did absolutely fine in the lap belt. I did have to check position numerous times and re-tighten it to make sure it stayed low and off her belly. But other than that she did fine.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Nov 17, 2009

• #7

How did it not fit in the seats? I've found that a Radian takes up about the same space as a thin-ish adult, so they almost always fit perfectly. Were they very contoured or something?

Did you pull the seatbelt tight by accessing it through the front of the cover? My Radians took longer to thread through than they did to tighten, when we flew with them last week! I had to get the thing threaded in and buckled, but then I just put the seatbelt end through the access slits, put a knee in, pulled, and they were instantly tight.

Oh, and the trays fit perfectly over their laps, too, great for eating, coloring, and watching movies. We flew Southwest, as well. They fly 737s.

 

myliljunebugs

New member

• Nov 17, 2009

• #8

Okay, for curiosity sake, if you had a 5 year old, approx 45lbs (I'm guessing here) would you use a radian or a booster if you were flying somewhere and getting a rental car?

 

Genevieve

CPST Instructor

• Nov 17, 2009

• #9

myliljunebugs said:

Okay, for curiosity sake, if you had a 5 year old, approx 45lbs (I'm guessing here) would you use a radian or a booster if you were flying somewhere and getting a rental car?

Click to expand...

I would use a booster, but my 5 year old is booster trained and sits well in one. If my child had never been in a booster, or wasn't ready for one, I would still use the radian.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Nov 17, 2009

• #10

Yep. Would depend on the child's ability to booster-ride properly.

 

Kat_Momof3

New member

• Nov 18, 2009

• #11

myliljunebugs said:

Okay, for curiosity sake, if you had a 5 year old, approx 45lbs (I'm guessing here) would you use a radian or a booster if you were flying somewhere and getting a rental car?

Click to expand...

also would depend on sleep comfort... if they would sleep and how comfortable they would be in just the airplane seat.

My thought is that if the 5yr old would want to sleep, she'd be more comfy in a Radian... but otherwise, packing a booster would be fine.

I'd also factor in booster training, but I can see and I already knew your daughter is booster-trained, so that's not a factor for you.

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Nov 18, 2009

• #12

5 years and 45 pounds I'd get a RSTV.

Oh wait, I did. Though she was 6 and 38 pounds.

Wendy