Anybody ever check a carseat? Please advise!

[las3888]

We are thinking of checking DS's car seat instead of using it on the plane. If you check your car seat, do they require you to put it in a bag? I do have a generic graco bag that is very loose. I wonder if the seat would get damaged. If I don't have a bag, do they wrap it up in plastic or something or do anything? Just trying to cover all of my options. Thanks for your advice.

 

[Captjackson]

We've checked our kids' car seat/boosters several times. The airline always bagged it (plastic) for us at the counter. And no, it's never been damaged.

 

[design_mom]

I've checked mine several times. I've always wrapped it myself. (Once in the original car seat box and twice in one of those nylon bags you can buy for the purpose.) It's always made it without any problems.

The nice thing about bagging it yourself is that you can throw some other stuff into the bag with it -- like a package of diapers or the beach towels. Saves room in your other suitcase(s).

Good luck.

---
Kim
mom to two (DS6 and DD2)
heading to WDW in Dec, 2007 (POR)

 

[Perditamarie]

You also may be able to gate check it, so you have it directly after the flight and don't have to worry about it tumbling around w/baggage and on the baggage carousel. Have a great trip.

 

[TiggerStac]

I have always bagged mine. I had one of the graco ones, but now use my xl llbean bag...it's great for the carseat, fits perfectly. Fit my son's booster and the base for infant seat on my last trip.

I have seen carseats w/covers and without coming out w/the luggage.

 

[Kies99]

We bag ours as well. We usually just use big, black garbage bags. Have not had an issue. We do tape an address label on the side of the seat as well as put one of the generic, free airline tags you get at the counter. We've never had any issue and the bags never been torn or punctured either.

 

[CleveRocks]

We are thinking of checking DS's car seat instead of using it on the plane. If you check your car seat, do they require you to put it in a bag? I do have a generic graco bag that is very loose. I wonder if the seat would get damaged. If I don't have a bag, do they wrap it up in plastic or something or do anything? Just trying to cover all of my options. Thanks for your advice.

I just want to make sure you're renting a car when you get there. Because carseats can't be used on buses.

 

[las3888]

Thanks Cleverocks, we will have a car when we are down there. Good point though. We are contemplating checking the seat--up until now we have always used it on the plane. Now that DS is over 2, we don't have to use it anymore, and while I realize it's safer we are thinking of checking it. It sounds like those who have used the bags for checking have had good success so we will probably go that route. I love the idea of sticking extra diapers in there...we tend to buy a big pack down there, but really, why not stick one in there instead! Maybe we'll strap it into the seat like a baby !!!

Thanks for all the tips!

 

[bear_mom]

Personally, I wouldn't check mine. Have you seen how they handle luggage? They get tossed around and heavy luggage can get thrown on top.

While there may be no visable damage to the seat, the structural integrety could be compromised. I would either gate check it or use it.

Emily

 

[dfarner]

We've checked our kids' car seat/boosters several times. The airline always bagged it (plastic) for us at the counter. And no, it's never been damaged.

Ditto. Never have had a problem.

 

[bumbershoot]

Before DS was two, we checked it, bagged in a heavy-duty Eddie Bauer brand bag we got at Target.

Later, I realized that the worst damage to carseats (and bike helmets) isn't necessarily visible, so I decided I wouldn't do that again!

On our last flight, DS was over 2, and we absolutely brought it on the plane with us. Did I have to? I guess not. But was it WORTH IT to have him in his seat, 5 point harness all buckled in, vs a 2 year old, excited, boy with only a lapbelt to reign him in? OH YES!!!

Depending on your kiddo's personality, I'd rethink the lapbelt-only vs 3 or 5 point harness.


And I'd gate-check, if I didn't feel like using the seat. I wouldn't put it through the luggage route.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I have no idea if we can gate check the 2 car seats we are planning on taking. Our local AA office can't tell us for sure either way - they say we'll have to check with the agents at the airport when we get there! They said that as far as they knew, if the child is over 2, the seats would count as part of the baggage allowance, rather than be considered "personal items". GRRR. So, I have no choice but to assume I will have to check them as baggage, not at the gate, and wrap them up to suit. I think I will find some bubble wrap and wrap them in that first, then put them in a big garbage bag (we can't get the special car seat carrier bags here). It also means that we might have to carry the backless boosters instead of the 5 point harnesses (our girls are borderline weight, and can use both safely enough), so that we can fit them into 1 bag and have them count as just 1 piece of luggage. It will depend on how many other suitcases we have to carry - I'm shooting for just 3 between the 5 of us, which would mean that we could possibly wrap each harness seat up separately and count them as 2 pieces.

I guess what you can and can't do depends on the airport?

 

[las3888]

Well I admit I am torn. We really struggle with all the luggage, stroller, and of course DS in tow. The screening process can be brutal as you know. That's why we thought we would make it a little easier on ourselves this time. I am concerned about damaging the seat, but I will admit it is a spare seat that we bought for only $40 or so from Walmart. We only use it when we travel. I am trying to imagine what he will be like on the plane, having just flown about 5 months ago, it seemed he resisted getting in the seat and was really unhappy when he was in it, unless when he was watching a video. I am thinking he might be happier with a nice big seat this time, but who knows. Every day is different! At this point, DS is not a real squirmy kid. Still weighing my options I guess. Thanks again for the useful suggestions.

 

[nelljay1973]

I think it depends on personal preference. When we last travelled to Australia we only took one seat on the plane and checked the other.....if only we knew. Yes it's a pain lugging them around, but DS wouldn't sleep on the plane just sitting in the normal seat..he sat in his sister's seat while she was awake and he slept like a baby, or I had to hold him to sleep...now we know why the agent asked us if we wanted to gate check it..they know better!

Also...gate checking is a good thing, because they lost our luggage and we were with one carseat to get to our hotel..the airline offered a loaner carseat, but who would feel comfortable using someone elses seat?..so from this point on, this family is gate checking everything we possibly can!

 

[SummersMom]

I'm all for checking car seats. We've always wrapped ours in a plastic bag, like a trash bag, and at our airport they always put them with oversized and specialty items like skiis or strollers. That way they don't get put in until all the other luggage is in and they are handled a little better.

Also, most airlines let you check at least 2 bags for each person, therefore for the 5 of you, you are allowed 10 checked bags. So 2 carseats probably wouldn't be that big of a deal, especially since you said you hoped to be in 3 bags.

 

[ehrn]

We have checked ours several times and used the seat to pack some extra things--mostly winter coats since that is usually when we have traveled. It seems to have held up w/o a problem. I can tell you that I have had the foam handles damaged TWICE when gate checking strollers. I think my carseat is better protected and handled than anything they "toss" in at the last min. Always a gamble but there are so many moving parts trying to get us all through security--no way I could handle a car seat in addition.

 

[pbharris4]

We checked ours and had it in an Eddie Bauer Car Seat Bag. There's extra room in there so if you want to throw in a blanket or two and a few stuffed animals to cushion it. The bag also has a nice carry strap on it that you can just throw it over your shoulder. I'm glad we used it because we had bought soo much that we had to get a backpack and stuff the car seat w/ animals and clothes. They put ours with the oversized items and for the 4 of us we had 5 bags so we were good on the luggage count.

Here's a link to the bag (should you choose to use it)..I bought mine from Target.com: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...2/601-2424376-9103361?ie=UTF8&asin=B00005YXVW

 

[bumbershoot]

.... was really unhappy when he was in it, unless when he was watching a video.

Have you considered renting a DVD player for the flight, if your airport has those kiosks? I'm lucky in that my MIL gave DS her old one, so our next flight is going to be soooooo much nicer.

I have no idea if we can gate check the 2 car seats we are planning on taking. Our local AA office can't tell us for sure either way - they say we'll have to check with the agents at the airport when we get there! They said that as far as they knew, if the child is over 2, the seats would count as part of the baggage allowance, rather than be considered "personal items". GRRR. So, I have no choice but to assume I will have to check them as baggage, not at the gate, and wrap them up to suit. I think I will find some bubble wrap and wrap them in that first, then put them in a big garbage bag (we can't get the special car seat carrier bags here). It also means that we might have to carry the backless boosters instead of the 5 point harnesses (our girls are borderline weight, and can use both safely enough), so that we can fit them into 1 bag and have them count as just 1 piece of luggage. It will depend on how many other suitcases we have to carry - I'm shooting for just 3 between the 5 of us, which would mean that we could possibly wrap each harness seat up separately and count them as 2 pieces.

I guess what you can and can't do depends on the airport?

AA means American Airlines?

If an airline will gate check a monster jogging stroller (as I was told repeatedly airlines will do), I'm fairly sure they'd gatecheck a carseat, even if it wasn't one that was going to be used ON the plane.

Here's more to my reasoning. "If a seat was not purchased for an infant, that infant does not have a carry-on or checked baggage allowance. However, the following items are allowed over and above the carry-on allowance for the adult traveling with an infant" and they go on to mention a safety seat, stroller (though AA doesn't mention monster jogging strollers, ha ha), and diaper bag. And that's WITHOUT a ticket for the baby!

Looking more at AA's website.

In their section about children 5 and under.... "For the safety of your child, American recommends purchasing a seat and using an approved child safety seat."


Eh, what do I know? Have you called their 800 number, rather than the local office?

 

[momamy]

car seats dont usually count as checked baggage!

i always put mine in a car seat bag! when she was little it had enough room for me to throw in a bag of extra toys/clothes and or diapers!

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I will be carrying three carseats on our flight (SW) in May. I was planning on taking the convertable seat on-board for my two year old to ride in. My other two children are in boosters and I thought that taking two backless booster seats would be the easiest/less bulky thing to do.

Does anyone know if the Eddie Bauer (or any other brand)bags hold two backless booster seats?

I think I remember someone saying SW has plastic bags available to use when checking in car seats. Does anyone know if this is true?

Thanks!!