I have a CARES harness for my dd, since she and I fly a few times a year. Here's a review I wrote on it:
The CARES harness system, available through
www.kidsflysafe.com, is an FAA-approved flight restraint device for young children, meant to be a substitute for bringing a car seat on the plane. It consists of a strap that goes around the plane seat itself, and a harness that works with the plane seat's lap belt, and a chest clip, which creates a 4 point harness. CARES is not certified for use in automobiles.
PROS:
1. CARES is relatively user-friendly. It comes with a DVD to show proper installation and use, and labels are included on the harness itself. It took me about 3 minutes to get my 2.5 y/o dd into her CARES harness.
2. CARES is really lightweight. For a person who has trouble carrying a car seat through the airport, CARES is a good alternative (users should make sure to have a car seat on each end of the trip though, as checking a car seat on a plane is rarely a good idea). CARES comes with a 6" drawstring carry bag, and the whole thing weighs about a pound. I carried it in my carry-on bag.
CONS:
1. CARES has really limited use. It's only approved for kids 1 year and 22 lbs-app. 4 years and 44 lbs, and 40" tall.
2. CARES is really expensive. With shipping, expect to pay about $80.
3. CARES goes over the tray of the person behind you in some airplanes. If the trays are recessed, the person behind you cannot use their tray, or you have to remove the harness while in-flight.
4. CARES has no crotch strap. A child can easily slide down under it, pulling the lap belt up onto the belly. I had to keep reminding my dd to schooch her butt back on the seat.
5. Since CARES works with the airplane seat belt, the child has access to the belt. Airplane belts open really easily, and a less-mature child is likely to unbuckle him/herself many times during the flight.
6. Like all child restraints, CARES has plenty of opportunity for user misuse. About as many people read the CARES instructions as read their car seat manuals. Note the many instances of misuse in the photo gallery of the website selling CARES:
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/photo-gallery . Like all child restraints, CARES will not protect a child if it is not installed and used correctly.
CARES seems to be a "niche" product. I don't see it as a good product for someone who just doesn't want to be bothered bringing a car seat, or who won't take the time to use it properly. I have arthritis, and fly with my toddler several times per year, almost always with a layover, so it's been useful for me. It doesn't take the place of a car seat, and given the choice, I'd much rather have her car seat with us on the plane than CARES.