For those of you following the evolution of our travel plans, we've decided to have a car seat for the 11 hour + plane ride to Paris in Feb. It's a direct flight and going through it over, and over again, it's best and safest if we use the car seat. We're only going to use the car seat for the plane rides and we do not plan on driving in Paris - Thus the problem of the car seat...

Last night, we watched the Bourne Supremacy and Jason Bourne used very LARGE lockers at the airport. This got me thinking, Does anyone know if such LARGE storage lockers or services exist at CDG? We will need to store it for 9 days.

We could carry it to the apartment, but it's very big, bulky and awkward. I've thought about perhaps wearing it as a backpack! We're planning to take the RER since we now know that our destination station has elevators (Thanks again to all of you that helped me with that one!)! Yeah!


Thanks in advance for your ideas and comments!

Bev

Lockers and left luggage (consigne) have been closed for several years due to terrorism threats. In Spe when i was there i asked airport info and they said no place to store items at CDG - nor in RER- the nearest lockers are in the Gare du Nord - accessible by RER from CDG but these are for 72 hours and then the stuff, according to note on locker, are removed and charged at a daily rate, so probably can leave there at about $5-7/day. But ask first what happens after 72 hours. Or ask your airline what to do.

I don't know how you're going to accomplish this. As PalQ says, lockers and the "consigne" are closed.
I understand your concern - we took a car seat, too, when our kids were small, but then we were always planning on driving during the trip - but in this case (especially if you're planning to take the RER - yuck!) , I'd leave the carseat at home. You can hold the child during the flight, and the airline will provide a "bed" that he/she will probably sleep in for most of the ride over anyway.
For what it's worth, we always took both a lightweight stroller (which got sent through with the luggage) and a baby backpack (which we kept with us on the flight). If a kid got antsy mid-flight, we'd put him/her in the baby backpack and do laps around the cabin -when the seatbelt light was off, of course.

I had a feeling that lockers and storage facilities would be closed because of terriorism issues. Understandable. I suppose Jason Bourne didn't have such bad luck!

We've considered not taking the seat and I don't know if he will be able to sit still without strapping him in - other parents will relate...Even if he's strapped in, he will want to get out. He's at that age where he doesn't want to be restrained. I also liked the idea that maybe he could fall asleep in the seat so we could sleep too.

On our trip to Montreal he did fine without a car seat but that was 6 months ago and he was still being breastfed! The breastfeeding really pacifies!

Well, I suppose we'll think about it further and see how much stuff we'll be carrying. I know my husband is against carrying the car seat but we just have to get it to the apartment and back to the airport...Right? I just wanted to save $$ by taking the RER.

A lot of parents give their toddlers Benadryl to make them drowsy and go to sleep on long flights. You should talk to your pediatrician about the dose, and try it at home first because for a few people it has the opposite effect and revs them up -- very undesireable!
It probably makes the most sense to have someone drive you to and from the airport in the U.S., with a car seat involved, and then just forget about the car seat the rest of the trip.
If you really feel you must use the car seat in flight, there are car seat cases available with shoulder straps, so you can schlep it around the airport like a backpack. These cases also protect the car seat when it goes with the checked luggage. Also, not all airlines will allow you to use a car seat in flight -- definitely call ahead to confirm that it will be OK.

You will not need a carseat on the airplane, it is not necessary. Plus, it is an added worry to have to find a storage area at CDG, return later to collect it, etc. The airplane's seatbelts have always been more than adequate. I also pad the cushion seat all around with the blankets and pillows United Airlines gives us. It closes in the space more. The tray table comes down too and with a car seat, there will not be enough room at all.

However, if you MUST bring something, my sister bought these small, booster type seats that set down on the bottom of the seat cushion to help secure the child. I have never taken one overseas for my daughter and find it an extra thing to bring along. But at least if you want something, you could buy that since it is small and lightweight.

An aside, the RER station is not in the international arrivals terminal at CDG. In fact, you have to take a shuttle bus over from one terminal to another to then buy your ticket to board the RER into Paris. It can get downright awkward walking/lugging too many things, esp with child in tow, getting on bus, etc. When I was there in March (both incoming and outgoing) there were strikes going on and mass confusion. I missed my return flight home due to the increased security and blocked off areas, it was a zoo trying to get through to the United/Lufthansa desk. With all that hub-bub going on, I was relieved that I did not have luggage to check, but rather only my carry-on and umbrella stroller to worry about.

We'll have to really think hard about carrying the car seat (Britax Marathon). If we do, I think we need to get a bag. I'll have to start researching the bags on the internet. Another thing to pack! I'm not too sure about the Benedryl though. I have a feeling that he might try to fight the sleepy feeling and get super hyper. I'll have to read more about it and talk to the doctor is I attempt it.

For anyone who's put a child in a car seat on the plane - How was it? How did your child react to the long flight? How was carrying the car seat? Was installing it harder than cars? Have you used a carry bag? Which ones worked for you or which ones "DIDN'T"?

Huitres, just saw your post. So you don't think we need one? We never used it before but he was a real baby then, breastfeeding and crawling a bit. I'm not too sure how he's going to react to so many hours on a plane. I'm just starting to get nervous that the plane trip is has the potential to to be the worst part of the whole trip!

I am a little shocked to hear lots of you believe that you don't need a car seat. A car seat is the safest way to transport a child. If you hit turbulence it may not be possible to hold the child. Depedning on the age and size of the child the seat belt may not hold them securely and the suggestion of pillows (while increasing comfort) does nothing for safety. (Not to mention where do you get those pillows? There is normally one pillow per passenger so do you take other peoples pillows?)


Lots of booster seats are not FAA approved and cannot be used on the plane.

In order to use a car seat it must have the FAA sticker on it. You will also have to place the seat in the window seat.

Definitely take the car seat on the plane with you! The safety factor just cannot be ignored. We found our children did fine in their car seats for those long flights because they were used to their seats...the comfort of something they knew.

Since I never rent a car while in Europe, a car seat has not been needed. As in Bev's case, she will not have a car either. So the question will be: is it worth lugging a carseat for the 11 hour flight over? I don't think so. (Incidentally, my flights from LA over are usually 16 hours, with stops). I always get window seats and my little child sits there. She does not miss her car seat, small children will adjust to anything. As aforementioned, with the car seat in the seat, plus tray table down, there is not enough room for a car seat. I, for one, don't have enough hands to carry a big car seat, pull my suitcase, balance my stroller, and hold my child's hand all by myself!

CarolA: I ask the flight attendants for extra pillows and they usually provide me with 2-3 extra, which work fine for putting around the seat perimeters.

I think if you feel a car seat is a necessity, you should then bite the bullet and get a taxi or shuttle into Paris or I'm just about positive that the RER will become the worst part of your trip. I'm sure it will be very crowded once you get on and getting there will be a challange in itself with family, baggage & car seat.

Check with the airline to make sure you can bring it. If it is a US line you probably can but I recall a thread about Alitalia not allowing car seats. If you bring it, take a taxi to your apartment. The cost will be about 40€--if you would have been able to find a locker, the cost would be about the same probably. In this case, it is just the "cost of doing business". I assume, since you are talking about the car seat, that you have purchased an airline seat for the child.
And schlepping a child, luggage and yourselves on and off a shuttle, getting to the RER, onto the train, off the train, onto the Metro, etc. just does not make for a non-stressful beginning to a trip just to save 20-30€.

Bev, I am going to agree with you all taking a taxi into Paris. It's really not worth the savings to take the RER. You guys will be exhausted and like what others advise, schlepping all your luggage, the baby, and the car seat (if you bring it for sure), will be plenty hassle. The legit taxis (outside the exit doors) make for a quick, easy trip into the city.

Thanks all for the advice. I think the car seat might be the way to go. United Airlines says that I can have the car seat in the middle of us because we're in the middle of the plane. Yes, at first another representative was saying that we could only have a car seat by the window, but then I checked again and they just said as long it doesn't block passage to an aisle. The Britax is airline approved and UA has confirmed that we can take the car seat.

If we do take the car seat, we will probably take the taxi. I still haven't had time to look into the travel bags for the car seats but I think we could probably manage without one if we're taking a taxi.

Thanks again for all of your thoughts!

For domestic flights within the U.S., I would check on my car seat as luggage. I bring along a large, white heavy-duty trash bag and write my name on it with a permanent pen. Likewise, United Airlines bagged it for me a couple times and they used their large, clear UA bags and tagged it too.

Perhaps you can try to store your car seat with the United Airlines desk at CDG - you could inquire into that while still here. UA has the airport configurations of all airports internationally so should be able to help in that regard. I know in Milan, United/Lufthansa has a huge room of odds and ends that they keep strollers, car seats, lost luggage, etc. It is like a store in there! But it is behind lock and key so not open for people to just wander in. (I kept one of my umbrella strollers there 2 years ago - then retrieved it on my return trip back).

Huitres - good idea about storing stuff at UA at CDG. It seems strange that they might agree to that, as I'm sure they have terrorism concerns. I'm going to call and see if that is going to be possible. Also, the people at UA couldn't tell me if I would have access to electricity from the coach section. They knew that first class had access, but it didn't say for coach. I take that as probably no. I just wanted to know because we'll be bringing our portable DVD player for our toddler to play Baby Einstien videos, Sesame Street, etc. I'm sure this will keep him quiet.

On the return flight from Montreal I had to put him in a sling and swing/rock him to sleep in the kitchen area of the aircraft. Boy did I get a work out!

I am gearing up for the worst possible sceanerio where I might have to put our 28lb toddler in a sling and rock him on the plane until he goes to sleep or I collapse! As for giving the baby drugs, I've read a lot about it and most parents say that in retrospect, it was better without. I'll look into it fully and ask my ped. about it. I think that my son will most likely become more hyper as he would try to fight it. He's always been a good traveler and I hope that he will be okay on the upcoming trip.

We have used the RER-CDG service only once, during morning rush/commuting hours. It was very crowded. I think it will be a 'painful' experience for a couple with an infant/toddler, a stroller, and luggage. Once you arrive at Denfert-Rochereau, you will still need to lug everything down the road to your apartment. It might not be the best introduction to Paris...To mitigate expenses, you could consider the Paris Shuttle (18E per person, not sure about the little one). A taxi to south 14th will run about 50-60Euro, plus 1-2E per bag. It may be money well-spent, however.
By the way, there are 2 terminals at CDG and both handle arriving international flights. If your airline is at T-2, that is the same terminal that houses the RER station and you do not have to take a shuttle. (You can take a shuttle, it goes around the outside of the terminal, or you can walk inside the terminal) If you land at T-1, then you need to take a shuttle to the RER at T-2.

Are Paris taxis set up for American car seats? Do they have tether straps, etc.?

No, they are not, WillTravel. At least I've never encountered one that was. A lot of them don't even have well-functioning seatbelts in my experience.