[Wisdom]

We're traveling by plane in a couple of weeks and purchased a seat for our 18 month old. I've heard that the airplane seat fits carseats up to 17" wide. I measured our Triumph Advance car seat and it's 20" wide. I looked on the airline website and it doesn't mention measurements. Does anyone have experience flying with a Triumph Advance seat? If so, does it fit on the plane seat with no problems? I emailed the airline but haven't heard back yet so thought I'd check here to see if anyone knows. Thanks!

[sbaglio]

We have a Triumph Advance for our car, and I agree - it's huge. We ended up buying a Cosco Scenera for our recent trip out of state, and will use it on a trip later this summer. It cost $50, and is really light. We also used it in our rental car.

[DPline]

There should be a sticker on the side of the seat saying if it is FAA approved for use on planes.

I did a quick Google search and it does seem to be (do double check the sticker as there may be different models) but someone on Car-seat.org did mention using a belt extender to install it. Though others said they didn't need to.

If you want to read more, I Googled 'triumph advance airplane' and got quite a few hits.

Happy travels!

[SomethingSerene]

17 inches seems pretty narrow, I think a lot of carseats would be wider than that. You can always raise the arm rest between seats if you need to. I've flown with a couple different carseats, but not an ETA. Like a PP said youmight be better off picking up a scenera for a spare, it would be lighter and easier to carry, and then you could leave the ETA installed in your car so you wouldn't have to worry about reinstallation when you got back.

[Wisdom]

Thanks, everyone for your input. We actually have a Scenera sitting in the garage, never used. For some reason DH had problems installing it in his car so we haven't used it. It is much lighter than the Triumph so would be easier to carry through an airport. We'll need a seat for the rental car too which is why I wanted to take the Triumph...we'll be driving a ten hour trip and I wanted DS to be comfortable. Did your little ones seem comfortable in the Scenera? The Scenera seat is a bit hard compared to the Triumph. Since the Triumph is FAA approved I'd think it would fit in the plane seat. I do like the idea of not having to re-install the car seat into my car when we get home so maybe the Scenera will be the way to go. I'll check out carseat.org before deciding. Thanks again!

[sbaglio]

My daughter didn't seem to mind the Scenera at all. It is a little less luxurious than the Triumph, but we were only away for 3 days, and as you say, we didn't have to take the Triumph out of our car and lug it around on our trip. She was as comfortable as she always is; at least she didn't complain about anything, so that's what I'm assuming. Worked for us!

[Cjmeck]

The Scenera is our backup seat; main seat is a Britax Marathon. I agree that the Scenera does have less padding and seems less comfortable. But I traveled with the Scenera with my daughter, including the plane ride, for 3.5 weeks and she had no problem with it at all. Btw, buying a seat for my daughter was the best thing I've ever done. She did wonderful strapped in her carseat for the majority of the 3hr flight; I was shocked. Hope you have the same fortune! I used to have a Triumph when my son was younger, and they are very heavy. I think taking the Scenera is your best option.

[Wisdom]

Cjmeck: How old was your daughter when you traveled with her on the plane? We figured getting DS a seat of his own would be best so I'm glad to hear you had a good experience with that. I'm wondering how things worked out with changing her diaper on the plane (especially a smelly one)? That's something I've been thinking about because I doubt with those small bathrooms there are no changing tables, and if so, they're probably for tiny babies.

[Cjmeck]

Originally Posted by Wisdom

Cjmeck: How old was your daughter when you traveled with her on the plane? We figured getting DS a seat of his own would be best so I'm glad to hear you had a good experience with that. I'm wondering how things worked out with changing her diaper on the plane (especially a smelly one)? That's something I've been thinking about because I doubt with those small bathrooms there are no changing tables, and if so, they're probably for tiny babies.

I just flew with my daughter 2 weeks ago when we moved from Ohio to Colorado; so she was 18 months old. She is a VERY VERY VERY active girl and I was certain she'd be horrible on the plane. But thankfully, I brought a portable DVD player and that kept her happy for the majority of the flight. The carseat will have to go in the window seat, which is actually good as it kept my daughter from throwing things into the aisle, at people, lol. Oh, and I brought lots of snacks too. About changing the diaper; I did have the fortune of changing a dirty one at 38,000 feet... The airline we flew was Frontier and they did have changing tables in the restroom. It was not big, or comfortable, but was doable; and my daughter is off the charts in height at 35 in. The flight attendants were absolutely horrible with kids and were downright disgusted that I had to deal with a poopy diaper on their plane. I didn't lock the door behind me so as I'm changing the diaper, one of them opens the door, reaches her arm in, and angrily hands me a trash bag and tells me "Wrap it in this...and throw it away". Um, thanks, I was going to take it back with me to share with my cabin mates... Morons... Anyway, Frontier sucks, but their planes do have changing tables.Goodluck!!

[mommieof2cuties]

We fly all the time with the kids. Started when DS was six weeks old. We have always gotten a seat for them and always taken the carseats. It can be a pain, but I believe in a plane crash that at least if we go down my kids will be strapped in a carseat, booster seat in the assigned seat on the plane. We have britax Marathons and other britax's and those are big, so yes I would think the one you have will work

Have fun on the trip!

[Wisdom]

Originally Posted by Cjmeck

I just flew with my daughter 2 weeks ago when we moved from Ohio to Colorado; so she was 18 months old. She is a VERY VERY VERY active girl and I was certain she'd be horrible on the plane. But thankfully, I brought a portable DVD player and that kept her happy for the majority of the flight. About changing the diaper; I did have the fortune of changing a dirty one at 38,000 feet... The airline we flew was Frontier and they did have changing tables in the restroom. It was not big, or comfortable, but was doable; and my daughter is off the charts in height at 35 in. The flight attendants were absolutely horrible with kids and were downright disgusted that I had to deal with a poopy diaper on their plane.

Thanks for the info! Our son is really active too so we were planning to bring the laptop (but thinking about buying a portable DVD player which would be easier to deal with than the laptop). Your daughter is tall so if you managed to change her on the changing table I should be able to. Hopefully the flight attendants will be pleasant about it.

[Wisdom]

Originally Posted by mommieof2cuties

We fly all the time with the kids. Started when DS was six weeks old. We have always gotten a seat for them and always taken the carseats. It can be a pain, but I believe in a plane crash that at least if we go down my kids will be strapped in a carseat, booster seat in the assigned seat on the plane. We have britax Marathons and other britax's and those are big, so yes I would think the one you have will work

Have fun on the trip!

Yes, Britax Marathon's are big! If they fit in the plane seats the Triumph should. So are your kids both young enough that they both have to have car seats on the plane? If so, how did/do you manage lugging the seats around the airport and manage to transport the kids as well?

[Wisdom]

Originally Posted by Cjmeck

But thankfully, I brought a portable DVD player and that kept her happy for the majority of the flight.

Oh, one more thing. Did you have to use earphones with the DVD player or is it okay to just have the sound low enough not to disturb others? I've never used earphones with DS so don't know if he'll like having those in his ears. How did your daughter do with them? BTW, we're flying to OH (I looked at your profile)...what's the weather like lately?

[Cjmeck]

Originally Posted by Wisdom

Oh, one more thing. Did you have to use earphones with the DVD player or is it okay to just have the sound low enough not to disturb others? I've never used earphones with DS so don't know if he'll like having those in his ears. How did your daughter do with them? BTW, we're flying to OH (I looked at your profile)...what's the weather like lately?

I don't think you HAVE to use the earphones. I had the big earphones that go over the ears, and Savannah did okay with those for a little while. Then when she got tired of them, I just wrapped the earphones around her carseat, near her head and that worked perfectly. Actually, we just moved from Ohio to Colorado. Its been a pretty mild summer from what my family tells me. Where in Ohio are you going? After living in Colorado for a few weeks I just have to wonder WHY in the world anyone would visit Ohio, lol!

[Wisdom]

Originally Posted by Cjmeck

I don't think you HAVE to use the earphones. I had the big earphones that go over the ears, and Savannah did okay with those for a little while. Then when she got tired of them, I just wrapped the earphones around her carseat, near her head and that worked perfectly. Actually, we just moved from Ohio to Colorado. Its been a pretty mild summer from what my family tells me. Where in Ohio are you going? After living in Colorado for a few weeks I just have to wonder WHY in the world anyone would visit Ohio, lol!

We're going to Centerville, OH. My brother and his family live there and all the siblings are getting together. It'll be the first time they meet our DS in person. I've been to OH years ago when a kid and I can't recall what it's like. I remember driving through the Colorado Rockies when I moved to CA and it was the most beautiful sight ever! Colorado is really nice, except the winters...yikes! Unless of course if you love snow (I don't). It sounds like you don't miss OH at all. Enjoy your new home!