Minniemouse
Senior Community Member
A friend of mine in my mom's group posted this in reply to a thread we had going about using car seats on airplanes...
and a follow-up comment..
I told her I thought it was the FA that was misinformed and that I didn't know of any FAA directive about not being able to gate check car seats.
Has anyone heard anything about this elsewhere?
I just wanted to add that we have been informed by airline staff that FAA regulations do NOT allow gate-checking of carseats. Some airports have let us do it, but others have been strict and refused. I have also heard from other people that they have not been allowed to gate-check a carseat.
This generally comes up because people encourage you to see if there is an open seat for your lap child, and if so, put their carseat in the plane and let them sit there. That's what we tried to do, but all our flights were filled, and then we ran into trouble gate-checking. It was a real pain.
and a follow-up comment..
We were flying United, if that's any help, but the gate attendant said it was FAA not United that had the regulation. We gate-checked in Chicago on United with no trouble, but in Spokane, we were not allowed to. Same airline. Maybe the gate attendant was nuts, or a control freak, but I've heard it from other people too.
I told her I thought it was the FA that was misinformed and that I didn't know of any FAA directive about not being able to gate check car seats.
Has anyone heard anything about this elsewhere?