With the summer holidays on the horizon, you might be wondering whether bringing your child’s car seat will make the flight more comfortable and ensure their safety if you’ve got plans to hire a vehicle on holiday.
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As a brief aside, if you are planning to hire a car to make exploring easier, make sure that you take out a comprehensive car hire excess insurance policy, like those seen at https://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/insurance/vehicle-hire/car-hire/excess-insurance/. This type of policy will reimburse you for any excess charges you might incur if your rental car should sustain damage.
Now, planning a holiday with kids can be complicated. So to take some of the stress out of the experience, we’ve looked into whether airlines permit the use of car seats on planes and some of the considerations you should take into account when deciding whether or not to bring your child’s car seat.
Do airlines accept car seats?
Some car seats have secured TUV approval, which means they have been officially certified for use on planes. Your car seat doesn’t need to have this certification, however, there are some requirements that airlines have put in place that you will need to follow.
To use your child’s car seat on a plane, it will need to:
-Have a three-point restraining harness.
-Be secured in place with a lap seatbelt.
-Fit within the dimensions of the seat.
-Be secured in place throughout the duration of the flight.
Some airlines hire out car seats. However, they must be booked in advance and will incur extra costs.
Should you take your child’s car seat on a plane?
Research has indicated that there is a link between travelling for too long in car seats and breathing difficulties. NHS guidance states that young babies should not be left in a car seat for any longer than two hours.
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However, providing your child has the opportunity to stretch and move around often, taking your car seat has a variety of advantages, including providing your child with a place to sleep and ensuring they are safe and secure should turbulence occur.