Can someone recommend a car seat travel bag my Marathon will fit in?

[rdevine10]

AKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!! Ive been trying to find a decent rated, not super expensive bag to pack my 5 year olds Marathon in! Can someone recommend one? It will be checked luggage so I need it to hold up at least for the 2 flights!

Gracos & the Eddie Bauer appear to be too small? Sunshine Kids gets not great reviews, and then the others are in the $40 price range! I was hoping to spend a little less!

Any suggestions??????

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh please don't fully check a carseat. Those things are crashbangboomed around so badly. I gatechecked my Scenera but had them put it through to the destination gate and watching the boosters and seats slam down the conveyor belts nearly made me ill.

I don't know about the Marathon, but our Eddie Bauer bag does have room to spare with the Roundabout, BUT it's tricky to get it in there properly. Looks like the bag is too small, then you get the angle right and voila, tons of room.

But if you're going to check it, put it back in the box with styrofoam etc.

 

[rdevine10]

I know... I dont have the original box anymore! I tried to tell DH we should have her sit in it on the plane, but to no avail he said NO! We will already be lugging around my 2 year olds car seat on the plane (as she NEEDS- do to behavoir to sit in it on a plane).

The eddie bauers dimesions seemed REALLY tight for the marathon, although some reviews said they fit (Im not sure how it could easily).

I hate this.... I feel like there are no good options. I dont want to rent one from the car rental, dont really want to check it, and dont want to lug it on the plane for her to sit in.

Ok... any more suggestions?

 

[DMickey28]

When I was looking to travel with the Marathon I couldn't believe the prices of the bags. The best one I could find was $70.

I ended up just buying a Scenera at Walmart for under $40 and bringing that seat. It's a very safe seat for a inexpensive price. We just keep it in the spare car and use it when we need to check a carseat.

Is that an option for you? How big is your 4 year old? What seat are you bringing on the plane for the 2 year old? The Scenera forward faces up to 40lbs and rearfaces to 35lbs. If your ODD is over 40lbs maybe she can either use the 2 year olds seat and the 2 year old can be in the Scenera. A plus if you are Extending rear facing as well. Or you can bring the Scenera for the 2 year old and the Marathon for the 4 year old, but put the Marathon on the plane and the 2 year old can use if for the flight. Did that make sense?

The Scenera comes in a plastic bag with a handle and I just used that. I was able to also put our winter coats in the seat itself. I did gate check it though so that might make a difference on how it was treated.

 

[DMickey28]

Just an FYI - The reviews on Eddie Bauer seat cover on Amazon have a bunch of people saying the Marathon fits.

http://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Bauer-Car-Seat-Travel/dp/B00005YXVW

Check out the reviews. I'd still buy the cheaper seat instead though. I did that because I could not stand the thought of something happening to a seat I paid over $200 for. I am a safety freak and I was comfortable with the Scenera. Especially at WDW if you aren't driving a ton.

 

[rdevine10]

thanks!

My 5 year old is 35 pounds, but tall. right now im thinking I am going to just try to convince DH we need to lug both on the plane But, I feel like it will be the safest way to know the seat isnt damaged, she is actually safter on the plane, and we dont have to rent one. And, that being said, we wont have to pay the extra cost on Air Tran for an additional bag as well. Uggh... I know hes going to complaing about it. But, Ill lug one, and hell lug the other. And we will have to deal I guess! Safest & cheapest option.... although I hope we can pre board as I have no clue how to install these, and dh will have to do both!

 

[all4fun]

I would suggest you install it, since the female is usually smaller, we typically have smaller hands...it is actually easier for us than the (oftentimes) bigger man. I always did it while dh entertained ds for a few extra minutes outside at the gate.

Best way to get the car seat down the airplane aisle is upside down - rest the seat on your forearm and the base will be on top. This keeps the widest part of the seat on top where you're less likely to bonk people in the head as you walk by.

When you install a fwd facing car seat, always recline the airplane seat first, extend the seat belt and thread through the fwd facing belt path (read the instruction manual for lap belt install - there may even be specific instructions for airplane use but it's essentially the same thing). Make sure you flip the latch plate over once so it's facing the airplane seat and NOT the back of the car seat. Once you tighten it, it will be hard to release/unlatch the airplane seat belt if you don't do this. Another thing you may do instead is ask for a seat belt extender from one of the FA's. Once you've tightened the airplane seat belt, put the airplane seat fully upright and this will snug it right up. Always worked like a charm for me. I hope this helps you as well.


If you must check it, then I know the MA will fit in the Safe Fit cover 'n carry I found at BRU. It is a tight fit, but it fits. Just don't pull it on it's wheels. I put holes in the bottom of mine that way . I have only checked my ds seat on one trip (in this bag) and the bag held up just fine (except for holes created by dragging it on it's wheels, which it's supposed to be designed to do! ). I only checked his seat on one trip because we were using DME to/from the airport, and needed a car seat for a few days when we rented a car on property. On the previous two trips, DS was also having comfort issues riding in a car seat on that long of a flight (6+hrs) so we felt he would be more comfortable at that point w/out the car seat on the plane. This was his "travel seat" a ffing only combo, so it's more upright and I think it was too hard for him to sleep in comfortably. He probably would have been fine in his Britax Blvd but I don't like traveling with it for the same reason you're worried about it - they are nice seats but they are pretty heavy. We needed a spare seat for MIL's car anyway, so we bought a cheaper lighter one and used that for travel as well. Something you might also consider if it's something you might need anyway.

hth!

 

[Minniemouse07]

thanks!

My 5 year old is 35 pounds, but tall. right now im thinking I am going to just try to convince DH we need to lug both on the plane But, I feel like it will be the safest way to know the seat isnt damaged, she is actually safter on the plane, and we dont have to rent one. And, that being said, we wont have to pay the extra cost on Air Tran for an additional bag as well. Uggh... I know hes going to complaing about it. But, Ill lug one, and hell lug the other. And we will have to deal I guess! Safest & cheapest option.... although I hope we can pre board as I have no clue how to install these, and dh will have to do both!

Check out the Traveling Toddler. We haven't used it (we've been using a collapsible luggage cart for the last 6yrs) but I've heard great things about it and it looks REALLY easy to use!