We are planning a flight from Australia to US later in the year when DD will be about 2.5 yo. I keep hearing how much safer it is to fly with a carseat, but honestly I've never seen a kid in a carseat on such a long flight and I can't imagine her sleeping in that position for so long?
Here's some thoughts on sleeping in carseats on long haul flight. If you recline the seat & the airplane seat, legs are actually higher up than you think. You also don't need the harness tight, just restraining in case of turbulence & child shifting around.
DD & I flew long haul from Seattle-Korea-Seattle last fall. The toddlers were screaming in misery all over the place. Loads of flailing and trying to soothe because they were just not happy with airline seats. DD's problem was all the tv screens on the headrests were causing a huge distraction. Poor tyke finally fell asleep on my lap & then I was able to transfer her to the airline seat. Yes, her legs were dangling, but I wrapped them in her comfy throw, so not so much.
I flew with dd when she was 2 1/2 on Germany-US flight 9 hours. Carseat was checked under since it had a 3pt belt requirement. Overnight flight. She would have been more comfortable sleeping in a good Car Seat than laying as she did propped on pillows & blankets across 2 seats. It was cold, unfamilliar, and a pain whenever I needed to move. I can't imagine what it would have been like if DH hadn't had an open seat across the aisle to sit in.
I"m looking at a return flight with her now 3 years older. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do. She's large enough to not use her Radian, but when she wants to stretch out & sleep, it's going to be tight with dh & I on each side of her. Wheels up at 9pm & land at 10am, so she needs to sleep, as do dh & I.
If she uses the radian, she'll prop her feet up on the seat in front, & go to sleep, but then dh & I are crammed next to one another. He's 6'3 and radiates heat like crazy. I"m always hot on flights -- part of fighting off the claustrophobia.
It's going to be a grit & bear it experience, just like the last time we flew over to Germany. (sigh)
Anyway, try out the seat you have in a hypothetical sleep situation with your child. Practice & arranging & thinking & considering. My best suggestion.
I have no clue what the 'right' answer would be for you. It's up to you to figure out the 'best fit' for you & your child's situation.
Good luck
-Book a bulk head seat. Like sitting in business class
Don't bulkhead seats have immovable/fixed armrests? :scratcheshead: They're also narrower seats because of those armrests, IIRC?
I've sat in them long ago and never thought they were like business class. Uncomfortable!