Also, this may sound like a silly question but do I just haul it on the plane and install it like I would a car? It doesn't count as a carry on, does it (Just making sure I don't take too many other bags)? I am a little concerned that my DS will be uncomfortable in it for 5 hours. Luckily our flight leaves at 5:00 am so he may fall right to sleep for a while.
And, we are in a plane with three seats together in the row (aisle, middle, window) so it will be me, my DH and DS. Which seat should I put DS in??? Also, my parents will be behind us in two seats.
Would it be better to take the MyRide to so we can put him RF on the plane? Or get a Scenera (he would have 2 lbs remaining RFing, so he would be close within the next 5 weeks until we go)
It doesn't sound like a silly question! It absolutely doesn't count as a carry on (and no one has ever batted an eye, but you can use the phrase "safety seat" or "safety item" if you get any guff). A 2.5 year old takes a while to gain 2 lbs, so you could gamble on the Scenera. I, however, did almost exactly that when one was on sale (but with longer than 5 weeks to go) and ended up giving away the Scenera. No big loss for me, but having done that once, and having lugged a MyRide successfully, I would just lug the MyRide.
The MyRide manual has a note about airplane installation, but it's just like using a lap only belt in a car (also in the manual). Bring the manual on the plane if at all possible. Put buckle through belt path, buckle, tighten, check for tightness. I'd ask for and use the seat belt extender.
You can install it RF or FF, but for a 2.5 year old I do FF on a plane and RF in the car, just for ease--I'm willing to fight with the person in front of me for a little kid, but planes aren't in collisions like cars, so FF is an acceptably safe option for me with an older baby or toddler on the plane. I've been known to tuck a cloth diaper behind a FF kid on the plane to cushion against the buckle, since it tends to hit in the back (can't remember if this is a particular issue with the MyRide). I'd never do that in a car (might make the harness too loose), but I'm OK with it on the plane.
If you're installing FF, you most likely need to move the harness up: I do this while I'm waiting to board, after going through security. If you have extra adults and one kid, my favorite trick is split parent boarding: one parent gets on with all the stuff and stows it and installs the seat and the other parent stays out of the plane with only the kid and the ticket. I stay off that thing as long as humanly possible (my son and I always board dead last). I do the same thing backwards deplaning, get off last, and then stop at the gate and adjust the harness back down for RF in the car so I don't have to do it at the curb.
I always put the car seat next to the window. My kid likes to look out and in many situations that's the only place it's allowed. If you want to do RF (for sleeping that has value on a 5 hour flight), you could put the kiddo in the window behind one of your relatives. Then the person not reclining would not complain.
Now, there have been some reported problems with Hawaiian Air and RF. Not sure if those got resolved?