Another? about checking your car seats.

[rainy~daze]

Is there a separate fee charged by the airline to check the car seats---specifically USAirways/America West? I have searched their site but don't see it???? We are going to Hawaii and are considering a rental car, but only if I can bring the seats with me without paying more.

 

[robinb]

Your car seats are usually considered a piece of baggage and part of your baggage allowance.

 

[thepeach80]

The one time we checked seats (before we knew better), it was not counted as part of our luggage. I personally would never check a seat now. My first choice would be to use them on the plane to keep them and my children safe. My next option would be to gate check them as they are generally handled better and are less likely to be lost.

 

[robinb]

The one time we checked seats (before we knew better), it was not counted as part of our luggage. I personally would never check a seat now. My first choice would be to use them on the plane to keep them and my children safe. My next option would be to gate check them as they are generally handled better and are less likely to be lost.

It all depends on your airline whether you will be charged under your baggage allowance for a car seat. We have 6 "bags" allowance, so it was never a problem. Once my DD "outgrew" her car seat on the plane at around 3 and could reach the seat in front of her with her legs, we started checking our car seat in a special car seat bag. The bag was eaten by Southwest, but the car seat was fine inside. I now back a backless booster into our regular luggage.

Personally, I wouldn't gate check a car seat. First of all, it's a pain to schlep the car seat through security and to/from the gate. Secondly, I would be asking the baggage handlers to do extra work for me carrying my car seat and up down the stairs to the hold. It was bad enough when we gate checked the stroller!

 

[thepeach80]

It all depends on your airline whether you will be charged under your baggage allowance for a car seat. We have 6 "bags" allowance, so it was never a problem. Once my DD "outgrew" her car seat on the plane at around 3 and could reach the seat in front of her with her legs, we started checking our car seat in a special car seat bag. The bag was eaten by Southwest, but the car seat was fine inside. I now back a backless booster into our regular luggage.

Personally, I wouldn't gate check a car seat. First of all, it's a pain to schlep the car seat through security and to/from the gate. Secondly, I would be asking the baggage handlers to do extra work for me carrying my car seat and up down the stairs to the hold. It was bad enough when we gate checked the stroller!

If your bag was in that bad of shape, imagine what kind of stress your carseat went through! Carseats are one time use items and are only designed to handle so much stress before they won't work for the next time. This is why you need to replace carseats after serious crashes. I would never trust the handlers to treat my carseat w/ the care it needed to ensure that my child could safely ride in it. Also, after having at least 2x when my luggage has been lost, I would not want to get to my destination w/ no carseat. All of our carseats come on the plane w/ us and will till AJ is old enough to safely use a booster and I can pack it in my suitcase or have one for him at my parent's house.

 

[robinb]

Well, Jennifer, you're gonna do what you're gonna do. I know that I will not change your mind on this. Your child's perceived safety trumps everyone and everything else.

If everyone followed your advise and gate checked their pre-schooler's car seat, I wonder how many trips the poor baggage handlers would need to make up and down the stairs for every single car seat and stroller for every single child on a plane to Orlando.

FWIW, my car seat was fine when I removed it from the car seat bag. I inspected it very carefully as my child's perceived safely is important to me too. The bag was ripped, but the car seat was undamaged. I made Southwest pay for the bag and I would have made them pay for the seat too. Oh, and her stroller was also fine tucked away in the hold protected by the stroller bag.

One more thing, AFAIK all the "gate checked" bags go in the same compartment along with all the rest of the luggage. It may be placed closer to the door or on top of other bags, but it is still in with everything else handled by the same people. Sometimes it is even treated the same as all the other luggage at your arrival airport. I have had my "gate checked" items sent to the turntable with the rest of the plane's luggage more than once.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If everyone followed your advise and gate checked their pre-schooler's car seat, I wonder how many trips the poor baggage handlers would need to make up and down the stairs for every single car seat and stroller for every single child on a plane to Orlando.

That is their job!

 

[robinb]

That is their job!

Maybe ... but I have always considered gate checking items to be a privilege and not a right. Airlines can deny the ability to gate-check items at any time. If their luggage handlers are spending too much time unloading special items out of the hold instead of unloading baggage for everyone else they just might change the rules for everyone. That would really suck for the families with babies.

 

[thepeach80]

If everyone followed your advise and gate checked their pre-schooler's car seat,

Gate checking is actually my 2nd choice, taking in on board and using it would be my first and of course the safest thing. You can say what you want, but I was simply telling the OP was is generally regarded as the safest 'prcedure' for carseats in the carseat technician world.

 

[ToyStory]

We check in our car seat since my son is big enough to use the seat belt, but needs a booster seat for the car. I just got a travel bag for it so it prevents it from getting dirty and scruff up. We just allot it to our luggage allowance.

However, I do gate check my stroller since it provides me with sanity going through the airport with him.