Hi everyone,
I've looked through many posts here about BA, CARES, etc., but I haven't found any recent information on the topic, so I'm hoping someone might be able to help.
We need to fly to London in June with my daughter, who turns 3 in a couple of weeks. We've flown BA countless times (including several times with her), we have miles we can use, and it's the only airline that has a direct flight from our home. So I really want to avoid another airline. But according to their website, BA won't let a child 3 or above use a car-seat (why...??!!) and they recommend the CARES system. Problem is, my daughter is tiny -- she weighs 23.5lb, so even if she has a crazy growth spurt, there's no way she'll be more than 24 or 25 by June). Everything I've read about CARES makes me think it won't contain her safely, she'll just wriggle out the bottom, and/or get strangled by the thing. Also, it's a night-flight, and I can't see her being comfortable enough to sleep with a CARES. And she's much too small for a Ride Safer vest.
What to do? I will have a car-seat to use in London, so I don't have to take ours on the plane, but I don't feel she'll be safe in a CARES, and I'm obviously not going to just use the seatbelt.
Other than a different airline (which = layover, longer flight, more expensive), is there an option I haven't thought of? Has anyone successfully challenged BA's arbitrary age limit (which makes no sense because clearly weight/size is the only thing that should matter)?
Many thanks.
I've looked through many posts here about BA, CARES, etc., but I haven't found any recent information on the topic, so I'm hoping someone might be able to help.
We need to fly to London in June with my daughter, who turns 3 in a couple of weeks. We've flown BA countless times (including several times with her), we have miles we can use, and it's the only airline that has a direct flight from our home. So I really want to avoid another airline. But according to their website, BA won't let a child 3 or above use a car-seat (why...??!!) and they recommend the CARES system. Problem is, my daughter is tiny -- she weighs 23.5lb, so even if she has a crazy growth spurt, there's no way she'll be more than 24 or 25 by June). Everything I've read about CARES makes me think it won't contain her safely, she'll just wriggle out the bottom, and/or get strangled by the thing. Also, it's a night-flight, and I can't see her being comfortable enough to sleep with a CARES. And she's much too small for a Ride Safer vest.
What to do? I will have a car-seat to use in London, so I don't have to take ours on the plane, but I don't feel she'll be safe in a CARES, and I'm obviously not going to just use the seatbelt.
Other than a different airline (which = layover, longer flight, more expensive), is there an option I haven't thought of? Has anyone successfully challenged BA's arbitrary age limit (which makes no sense because clearly weight/size is the only thing that should matter)?
Many thanks.
flying BA. I don't recall them ever asking how old DS was but he was 2 at the time and still fit RF in his Coccoro. We FF'd on the plance since they don't allow rear facing. I don't think he would have been comfortable in a CARES and I don't think he would have slept well in one at all. I did have to show the FAA sticker both coming and going and they did have to double check with the pilot to make sure the FAA sticker was sufficient when we were coming back but the entire time I was dealing with the FA's they were extremely nice. I would just take the seat on board and be prepared to show them the FAA sticker and hopefully her age won't come up, especially if she's tiny.
