Flying with toddler/carseat ?

[breakingd_awn]

The last time we flew DD wasn't 2 yet so I didn't buy her a ticket I thought she could just sit on my lap, but there was enough room on the plane and she got her own seat . she did very well and sat there like a good little girl with belt buckled. As we were flying though I thought I would have been more comfortable if she were in a carseat in case we crashed. On the other hand we had such a hard time with the luggage /stoller from van to terminal and pretty much everywhere I couldn't imagine lugging around her carseat also, so next time we go she will be over 2 and we have to buy a ticket. My question is how many of you have brought a car seat for your toddler or do you let them just fly without? I only noticed a couple people bringing carseats for there baby/toddler, of course they only had 1or 2 kids in tow. We have a family of 5 going . Dh said she'll be fine without one , of course he was our pack mule so I can understand why he would say that.lol I was wondering about other peoples experiences with or without carseats

 

[ksucats]

The last time we flew DD wasn't 2 yet so I didn't buy her a ticket I thought she could just sit on my lap, but there was enough room on the plane and she got her own seat . she did very well and sat there like a good little girl with belt buckled. As we were flying though I thought I would have been more comfortable if she were in a carseat in case we crashed. On the other hand we had such a hard time with the luggage /stoller from van to terminal and pretty much everywhere I couldn't imagine lugging around her carseat also, so next time we go she will be over 2 and we have to buy a ticket. My question is how many of you have brought a car seat for your toddler or do you let them just fly without? I only noticed a couple people bringing carseats for there baby/toddler, of course they only had 1or 2 kids in tow. We have a family of 5 going . Dh said she'll be fine without one , of course he was our pack mule so I can understand why he would say that.lol I was wondering about other peoples experiences with or without carseats

When our kids were that age, we always just checked the carseat so that we had it for the rental car & then had them fly without. If you plan on bringing the carseat on the plane, make sure that it has the FAA approved sticker (or whatever it is). If it isn't approved, they won't let you use it.

 

[breakingd_awn]

That would save us $36.00 on our rentals cause we would have to pay for one for 2 seperate rentals. Did you get a cover for it or just check it as is? Wow I'd have to power wash it first

 

[ksucats]

That would save us $36.00 on our rentals cause we would have to pay for one for 2 seperate rentals. Did you get a cover for it or just check it as is? Wow I'd have to power wash it first

I know we have checked it as is a couple times & I think once we just covered it in a heavy duty trash bag. We have never had a problem either way.

My kids no longer require car seats. I am very glad we don't have that extra hassle anymore. You might want to double check with the airline you are on to make sure that they don't charge you for checking the carseat. I am elite with multiple airlines, so each member of my family gets 2 free checked pieces. I also think that some (maybe all) airlines exempt carseats from the charge.

 

[breakingd_awn]

Yeah we are flying southwest and each ticket holder get 2 checked bags free.So we should be ok. I'll have to check if its FAA approved though

 

[tinkmom2]

I just rent CARES off ebay from a seller named cohibaked. It's a airline approved harness and means you don't have to lug the car seat. We carried our own car seat the first trip but my DD had her own seat. Some airlines don't let famlies with children go first anymore and I hate holding up other passengers.

 

[aanderson5]

We took the car seat for DS on the plane up until our last trip when he was four. Even then we gate checked the car seat, I was afraid it wouldn't make it or would get damaged.

We actually had it down to a science. We had his stroller and on it we put DH's napsack, DS's little napsack (in the seat) and our computer (resting on the napsacks and the front bar of the stroller) and the we put the car seat upside down, balanced on top. It fit perfectly and was surprisingly steady. I was able to push it with one hand and hold DS with the other while DH had our rolling carry on and helped our friends with their stuff. I wish I had a picture. The only tough part was having to disasemble everything to go through security at the airport.

I always felt safer with DS in the car seat on the plane. He was comfortable and safe from turbulance. We only decided to stop using it after he turned four because his legs would have been in the seat in front of him and the tray would no longer go down because he was too tall.

 

[breakingd_awn]

Wow that sounds like an episode of amazing race

 

[Tarabra]

We just got back and did not take the carseat. My son is 2 1/2.

 

[HallsofVA]

I believe carseats are excluded from most airline's checked baggage fees, but check with your carrier. I know United tags car seats separately, will put them in a clear plastic bag for you if you need a bag, and they receive special handling designed to make sure they get to your destination since they are considered essential safety gear or something like that.

We used a carseat on the plane when my DD had just turned 2, and haven't used it since. The carseat actually raised her up to the point that her legs were against the tray table when it was lowered. So everytime she swung her legs even a little bit, she moved the table which ended up annoying the person in front of her.

Now just check her travel car seat and my son's backless booster in the same car seat bag so we have them to use in the rental.

If you are renting a car before and after the cruise, the rental company may allow you to store your carseat at the rental office while you're on the ship. I've heard that Budget will do this but I haven't used it personally, and don't know about the others. But would save some room in your cabin while you sail!

 

[breakingd_awn]

I believe carseats are excluded from most airline's checked baggage fees, but check with your carrier. I know United tags car seats separately, will put them in a clear plastic bag for you if you need a bag, and they receive special handling designed to make sure they get to your destination since they are considered essential safety gear or something like that.

We used a carseat on the plane when my DD had just turned 2, and haven't used it since. The carseat actually raised her up to the point that her legs were against the tray table when it was lowered. So everytime she swung her legs even a little bit, she moved the table which ended up annoying the person in front of her.

Now just check her travel car seat and my son's backless booster in the same car seat bag so we have them to use in the rental.

If you are renting a car before and after the cruise, the rental company may allow you to store your carseat at the rental office while you're on the ship. I've heard that Budget will do this but I haven't used it personally, and don't know about the others. But would save some room in your cabin while you sail!

Good point about the car seat fit on the plane, Evie's very tall for her age and will of course be even taller when we go . She did kick the tray in front of her alot, I forgot about that

 

[pixidustmom]

I used the cares thing from Ebay, but he was just over a year and he is smaller than most kids his age. It didn't fit him very well so we ended up not using it. The chest strap was too high on him. But now we are going to travel next year and he will be 2 1/2 and I am sure it will be perfect. We are going on the cruise and don't want to take the full car seat on the cruise and take up space in the cabin.

 

[sbell111]

We are taking the car seat and stroller to the gate. The stroller gets gate checked. If there is a seat available, we use the car seat on the plane. Otherwise, it is also gate checked. We have gate check bags for both items. The gate check bags are also good places to stow extra diapers and wipies.

 

[breakingd_awn]

I used the cares thing from Ebay, but he was just over a year and he is smaller than most kids his age. It didn't fit him very well so we ended up not using it. The chest strap was too high on him. But now we are going to travel next year and he will be 2 1/2 and I am sure it will be perfect. We are going on the cruise and don't want to take the full car seat on the cruise and take up space in the cabin.

I hadn't thought about storing it in our stateroom, on our upcoming cruise we have an 11a which is smaller than our last SPH room on the wonder and I thought that room was small I think we will go without and just pay extra for the car seat on our van rental. I know that AAA offers free car seats on hertz rentals what about budget?

 

[HallsofVA]

I hadn't thought about storing it in our stateroom, on our upcoming cruise we have an 11a which is smaller than our last SPH room on the wonder and I thought that room was small I think we will go without and just pay extra for the car seat on our van rental. I know that AAA offers free car seats on hertz rentals what about budget?

Car seat rentals on Budget are not free. I think they are $12/day per seat. But Buget will store your car seat at their office at the port while you cruise.

 

[mrssmee]

Another big fan of the CARES harness here...I highly recommend it!!

 

[Anj]

We haven't used a carseat on a plane. I have checked carseats and I would suggest that you make sure any loose straps are well tied up and then place the carseat in a clear bag (most every airline we've been on offered us a bag at the check-in).

 

[breakingd_awn]

Thanks I think I'll check out the Cares harness , I know Budget charges $12 for seat rental , that's what we did last cruise,but if you have a AAA card you get a free carseat with every rental at hertz does that also apply to a budget rental?

 

[princessnpirate]

I used to put the car seat on the plane. I flew with DS a lot as a toddler. He sat nicely most of the time but the few instances he had a meltdown, being "strapped into the seat" was helpful.

I do believe most airlines let you check the carseat and it does not count as a piece of your luggage.

 

[nemofans]

We use the CARES harness! We love it! I bought it when 1st DS was a toddler & he used it for awhile. Now our 2nd DS is using it. It's so small & easy to carry around. It's easy to get on seat & I know our little one is harnessed in. We don't go places where we need a rental car, so we don't need to worry about having a car seat.