Airlines ever damage your carseat?

[HenDuck]

When we travel to DL in December, I am considering "checking" DS' carseat instead of having him sit in it in the plane. I'm a little concerned about the luggage handlers throwing it around and damaging it. I know I could make a claim and get reimbursement, but I need to use it when we get off the plane.

Has anyone had their carseat damaged by the airlines? If so, what airlines and did you get reimbursed?

Thanks!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I personally would not check our $$$$ car seat for that reason.

I take our second less expensive one---it's not as comfy, but we also aren't in the car much at WDW.

I've even heard of people buying cheap ones (I would NEVER buy a used one though) and then leaving at WDW so to avoid the hassle of lugging it back.

HTH!!!

 

[memymomonica]

I had to check DD's and after talking with some friends, I decided to buy a carseat travel bag. I was able to put the carseat in the bag plus had room for leftover stuff. After arriving, the bag had some stains and small holes. The carseat was fine though. Well worth the money.

 

[BevS97]

i have checked a carseat probably 20 times (it is not common on British airlines to use the carseat on board), and I have never had any problems or concerns about the carseats condition at the other end

if you have a foam seat then I could maybe see it getting damaged, but our seats are very sturdy solid heavy plastic and metal seats - yes they are to be replaced after an accident, but the kinds of forces involved in an accident are much more significant than a baggage handler dropping it.

I will be checking one in about 10 days time - can't wait!

 

[mrskay9]

You didn't say your reasons for not wanting to use the car seat on the plane. I am assuming that your child is between 2-maybe 4 or 5, right? Does your child fit properly in the seat using the lapbelt?

I'm a car seat tech so I don't understand why your sons safety isn't as important on a plane as it is in a car.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, I just truly do not understand the logic. NOthing involving kids I've found is easy so is it just he extra hassle of the seat on the plane?

I just would encourage you to use it on the plane. For safety reasons, then you don't even have to worry about damage from it being checked.

 

[Brian Noble]

Do it all the time, never had a problem. YMMV.

 

[NotUrsula]

Carseats can always be gate-checked. This will eliminate contact with the bag room machinery, and also ensure that the seat ends up on TOP of the baggage hold, rather than underneath a lot of heavy baggage.

If your child is under 40 lbs and the carseat is an approved model with an integral shoulder harness, then it is best to have the child sit in the carseat in the aircraft.

 

[Kae]

I bought a Car Seat Carrier from ebags.com. we love it people stop me & ask me where I got it. I can not remember what I paid but I know it has paid for it self by not having to rent a carseat. And like the above poster said it is great for throwing dirty laudry or anything you almost forget into.

Kae

 

[tarmand]

Originally posted by HenDuck
When we travel to DL in December, I am considering "checking" DS' carseat instead of having him sit in it in the plane. I'm a little concerned about the luggage handlers throwing it around and damaging it. I know I could make a claim and get reimbursement, but I need to use it when we get off the plane.

Has anyone had their carseat damaged by the airlines? If so, what airlines and did you get reimbursed?

Thanks!

I am flying AirTrans and I called them to see if I could check it at the plane. That way it isn't thrown around so much. They said it would be no problem. You might want to call your airline to double check with them.

 

[HenDuck]

mrskay9,

You are not being argumentative in my opinion. My DS' safety is more important to me than anything.

He is 4. He is getting close to that 40 pound mark, so we will be switching him to a booster seat soon. Don't know if it will be before or after the trip.

Some booster seats are FAA approved for airplane use (like the Britax Marathon) and others are not. I am not sure if we will be buying one that can be used on the plane. I also don't know if he will fit in his regular car seat when we go on our trip. If he still fits, we'll just take the regular car seat on the plane.

If I have to "check" a booster seat, I just wanted to know if I am risking major damage to it. If that's the case, I'll rent one or figure something else out.

Sorry, long explanation.

thanks for everyone's responses!

 

[KJMAX1]

We have taken a carseat with us everytime we have flown. Yes, we get the stares when we have two carseats on the flights, but people comment are children are well behaved. For my mind, they are safe. If something were to happen like turbulence, or some idiot acting crazy I would have a hard time controlling my children. They also provide, clean, safe resting places, and something familiar.

However, when we have had to take a train or bus to hotels, we use a carseat bag with shoulder straps. It keeps it clean, and free from scratches. If your carseat is not FAA approved, I would plan on using a rental car companies carseat.

 

[safetymom]

You would be better off to use your own car seat. Many many people use their car seats incorrectly. If you are renting one you run the risk of not using the seat correctly.

I would gate check the car seat and then you won't have any problems using it. Just stop at the counter at the gate and get the tag for it to be gate checked. It will be waiting for you when you get off the plane or a short wait.

Many boosters aren't allowed on airlines and some airlines won't let you use them at all. Don't be in a rush to get him out of his full size car seat that offers better protection than a booster seat would.

 

[mrsschlep]

Just wanted to throw this out as well: Florida car seat laws state that after 3 years old kids don't need a car seat. I know that here in Pa kids need to be in a car seat until they are 8 but we will be going in Jan when my son will be 5 and I will not be bringing him a seat. I will however be gate checking my 16 month old's seat (she will be sitting on my lap) and hope that all will be well with it when I get off on the other side.

 

[delilah]

Originally posted by mrskay9
You didn't say your reasons for not wanting to use the car seat on the plane. I am assuming that your child is between 2-maybe 4 or 5, right? Does your child fit properly in the seat using the lapbelt?

Have you ever tried getting to the last row of a plane carrying a child, car seat and diaper bag along with your own purse? I feel sorry for anybody sitting in the aisle seats along the way. Thump, thump, thump. Then, the car seat goes in the window seat, and mom sits in the middle, next to a stranger. Car seats are not compressible and are wider than the airplane seat. Sitting in the center seat on the plane is not comfortable at best, but is nearly unbearable next to a car seat.

 

[mrskay9]

Have you ever tried getting to the last row of a plane carrying a child, car seat and diaper bag along with your own purse? I feel sorry for anybody sitting in the aisle seats along the way. Thump, thump, thump. Then, the car seat goes in the window seat, and mom sits in the middle, next to a stranger. Car seats are not compressible and are wider than the airplane seat. Sitting in the center seat on the plane is not comfortable at best, but is nearly unbearable next to a car seat.

Yes, not exactly the last row, but close to it. Many times. I've flown with my 2.5 dd MANY times. I'm not saying anything having to do w/ car seats is easy/comfortable. But the are SAFER.

Just wanted to throw this out as well: Florida car seat laws state that after 3 years old kids don't need a car seat. I know that here in Pa kids need to be in a car seat until they are 8 but we will be going in Jan when my son will be 5 and I will not be bringing him a seat.

Your child is not any safer in FLA than in PA. Fla has a pretty lax car seat law. The laws of physics don't change once you hit the FLA border. The kids are still at a high risk of injury should you have a wreck. I'd rethink your plan if I was you.

Best of luck to all.

 

[HenDuck]

I can tell there are a lot of moms posting here.

It is a whole different ball game traveling with little ones, isn't it?

As for us, we already know we will be flying on Hawaiian airlines, like we did in April. We have the whole middle section (3 seats), so DS and his carseat go in the middle seat, my DH and I sit on either side of him. Grandparents usually sit across the aisle at the window.

Yes it is a pain to lug baby gear through the airport, but we have done it now on 2 prior trips and will do it again in December.

I will probably buy the Britax Marathon "booster" seat. It is similar to their regular carseats and has a 5-point harness for up to 65 pounds. It fits on the plane and is FAA approved. If DS is 41 pounds by December, that's the car (booster) seat we will take. (Just thought I'd pass on the info.)

Thanks again for all your kind and caring responses!

 

[mrskay9]

sorry, didn't mean to hi-jack your thread.

Yeah, kids and car seats add an extra dimension to traveling.

I hope you have a great trip!

 

[bubba's mom]

When DS was younger, I kept him in 5 pt. harness car seat (on plane) as long as I could. I felt he was safer than us in that thing... I remember the flight attendants (when we boarded) checking to see if it was FAA approved and they told us the car seat needed to be next to the window. Why? I don't know, but, he likes looking out the window anyway, and DH likes the aisle, so, you can pretty much guess where that leaves me! Anyway, when DS was old and heavy enough to not need car seat on the plane anymore, we started checking his seat. When he was old enough for the backless boosters, we went to Walmart and purchased a spare for $14.....one of the best purchases we ever made. It has come in handy so many times (playdates, taking kids home after school, mom uses in her car when she has him.....) Given the lightness and convenience of this backless booster seat, we take it when we fly to Florida (we don't fly anywhere else..lol.. ) I have checked this seat twice and have had one problem: the cushy armrest cover did not make it. It is lost in "luggage world" somewhere. So, I caution to remove those. Also, (before the booster we checked regular car seat once) remove cup holders that attach via a slot in the armrest. We remembered to remove the cup holder just in time....the lady at the counter was tagging it and DH had an eerie feeling the cup holder might not last. We took it off and put it in a suitcase we were checking. Those are the only things I can think of....anything loose, not screwed on, or slotted on (cupholder) can come off very easily.....check your seat out before you go to the airport...anything loose, take it off! I agree with the previous poster who said just because you are in a different state, doesn't mean your child is safer. Each year we fly to Florida and visit with family. It is always strange to see our nieces and nephew (who live in Florida--ages: just turned 9 and 7) in just a seatbelt...no booster. They always ask why our son is in a car seat and we tell them where we live you need to be in a seat until you're 8...they just can't believe it! DS will actually get upset if the car starts moving and he's not buckled!! Got him trained well....