Anyone ever check a car seat w/ airline?

[camdensmom]

We are flying into Orlando and plan to rent a car. We are still on the fence between renting at the airport vs. taking Magical Express and renting on WDW property.

I would prefer to not have to take the car seat on the plane.

Has anyone ever checked a carseat with their luggage? I'm curious about your experiences. How about checked it with luggage and then taken the Magical Express to WDW?

Thanks so much!

 

[_queenie_]

We always rent, and have usually checked carseats. What I've done is put them in some type of cover (I'm not sure if they still let you), they can get destroyed if you don't (learned my lesson on that). If you have a tag on it I wouldn't see much of a problem, I'm not familiar with ME but I assume you tell them what your bags look like, if so just tell you have a carseat.

Have fun seeing Mickey & Manny next month!

 

[lesleyd75]

Last year we flew from Toronto to Orlando and we checked our seat. It was easy, we just put it on a cart with our luggage (we overpacked so we had a lot but we managed at Orlando without a cart), checked in, they told us to take it to oversize luggage when we got through security. At the oversized counter they eanted all the straps tied securely so nothing was dangling and our name on it in permanent marker. He we had a bit of trouble because they were not very helpful but all in all it took us 5 min to figure things out and drop it off. I would definitely recommend putting it in a bag to keep it clean, anything big enough would do but the red gate check bags aren't that expensive that you can buy online or at baby stores (maybe $20?). We got it back at the Orlando oversize counter that was beside the luggage carousel. We had the seat back before the bags! Orlando end was very good, probably used to seeing a lot go through. If you're seat is heavy (we have a Britax Marathon and my husband had no problems carrying it)they have car seat stroller/cart things that you can buy too, but just rent an airport cart for a $1 instead, its cheaper! At Orlando we had to put everything on the shuttle bus to the car rental place, but the man helped us load everything, it was just like having an extra suitcase to lug around. No big deal. Our son was WAAAAY more comfortable having his own seat in our rental car. Once we knew what to do it was even easier coming home!
That being said, a lot of rental places now have brand new car seats to rent, and with some discount clubs (like AAA) they will offer you a car seat for free.

 

[mommytomy3]

We always check our carseats with our luggage. I put them(2 in carseats) in carseat bags first- I use these: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2276637 . I havent used ME yet, so I dont know how it works with them

 

[katied]

No problem to check a carseat - first time we did it though, we didn't have a bag. Southwest wraps them for you, so we were spoiled. We then flew American, and they just sent it through as it. When we picked it up on the other end, it was broken. A key piece was missing, which prevented us from being able to install it right. Not fun. We now use a carseat bag.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I would never check a car seat. First off I prefer to use it on the plane for safety and convenience, but over and above that I would be extremely worried about the seat not only arriving at our destination with us, but also the damage it may incur being tossed around in the cargo hold.

Even now that dd is in a booster seat (can't use it on the plane), we take a low back booster on as a carry on because we don't want it lost or damaged if checked.

... and while a car seat bag may protect it from dirt and minor damage, it won't protect it from major impacts from being tossed and thrown around. Car seats are one use items that are considered unusable after a car crash...so I don't want to chance the impacts it may receive in the cargo hold. Also, I would never know if it received those impacts...and the seat may fail in a crash situtation because of it!

I'm not willing to take that chance. I would use the seat on the plane if it is harnessed, or take it on as a carry on if a booster.

 

[stacy6552]

How old is the carseat user? If this is for a lapbaby, carry it all the way to the plane. If there is an empty seat, you will be able to set it up and use it for the baby on the plane.

 

[Luvin*Livvy]

We just got back and checked the carseat, so we didn't have to spend the extra money to rent one...

We put it in a carseat bag...with some other stuff and checked it. We flew from Newark to Orlando, and NEwark took the bag regular.....BUT when it got to Orlando we had to pick it up with the oversized luggage. When we checked it to fly home, we had to take it to oversized, but in Newark it came through with the luggage....so i think all the airports are different in regards to it being "oversized" or not. It doesn't make a difference..they are FREE.....and count as one of your 2 bags....you might have to drop it off somewhere else!

We rented a car at the airport, so we didn't do ME!
Hope that helps!

 

[DodgerMessa]

My wife, son and I fly all the time. We always have a lot of luggage when we return home (Alaska). To get around using the car seat as luggage and missing out on precious luggage capacity, we carry the car seat to the airport gate and gate check it. Gate checks are the last items in the plane and the first off so they are not crammed in and smashed. The only draw back is that when you get off the plane you have to remember to pick it up at the gate, not the baggage claim.

 

[hammie59]

I would never check a car seat. First off I prefer to use it on the plane for safety and convenience, but over and above that I would be extremely worried about the seat not only arriving at our destination with us, but also the damage it may incur being tossed around in the cargo hold.

Even now that dd is in a booster seat (can't use it on the plane), we take a low back booster on as a carry on because we don't want it lost or damaged if checked.

... and while a car seat bag may protect it from dirt and minor damage, it won't protect it from major impacts from being tossed and thrown around. Car seats are one use items that are considered unusable after a car crash...so I don't want to chance the impacts it may receive in the cargo hold. Also, I would never know if it received those impacts...and the seat may fail in a crash situtation because of it!

I'm not willing to take that chance. I would use the seat on the plane if it is harnessed, or take it on as a carry on if a booster.

I totally agree

 

[Colinsmom]

One time my gate-checked stroller didn't arrive to Orlando until 2 days after we arrived.

And another time my gate-checked infant seat base didn't arrive to Chicago until the day after we did (I used the bucket on the plane).

Therefore, if I *need* something at my destination, like a car seat for a rental car, I go with the sure-fire option - carry it on the plane with me.

 

[hammie59]

One time my gate-checked stroller didn't arrive to Orlando until 2 days after we arrived.

And another time my gate-checked infant seat base didn't arrive to Chicago until the day after we did (I used the bucket on the plane).

Therefore, if I *need* something at my destination, like a car seat for a rental car, I go with the sure-fire option - carry it on the plane with me.

I'm confused by this post. I always assumed when gate checking, you're avoiding having it grouped with all the mass regular checked luggage and it's put right on the plane away from all that since you are literally leaving it at the gate when you board. I've gate checked carry ons before and they were always waiting outside the door right when I stepped off the plane. I don't understand how if you gate checked your stroller, it would be missing for 2 days. I'm no travel guru, but that sounds so odd to me. What airline was that?

 

[all4fun]

I'm confused by this post. I always assumed when gate checking, you're avoiding having it grouped with all the mass regular checked luggage and it's put right on the plane away from all that since you are literally leaving it at the gate when you board. I've gate checked carry ons before and they were always waiting outside the door right when I stepped off the plane. I don't understand how if you gate checked your stroller, it would be missing for 2 days. I'm no travel guru, but that sounds so odd to me. What airline was that?

It is possible for gate checked bags to be left off the plane, or if the pax as a layover, for the gate checked item to be misrouted (if they requested it be sent straight thru instead of collecting and rechecking it at the layover airport).

 

[all4fun]

sorry, duplicate

 

[hammie59]

It is possible for gate checked bags to be left off the plane, or if the pax as a layover, for the gate checked item to be misrouted (if they requested it be sent straight thru instead of collecting and rechecking it at the layover airport).

Ok, never knew that.

 

[brymolmom]

We have checked and I prefer it. I look at it this way - if the airline loses it - we just rent from the car rental place (VERY EXPENSIVE) and charge it to the airline. Even if they won't pay - we could rent for one day then go buy cheapies at Walmart if needed. We have been (knock on wood) lucky. I HATE lugging carseats through airports, very cumbersome.

On our most recent trip last month - we had one backless booster and one booster with back to bring. At Babies R Us they have a $20 car seat carrier that I purchased. I LOVE this bag and wish I had done it sooner. There was plenty of room for both seats in this one bag and it has a detachable shoulder strap which made it much easier for carrying than two separate seats- dh just threw it over his back to get up to the check bag counter. AND, since we were close to the weight limit in one of our suitcases on the way there - and were a little worried about it on the way back - we took a bag full of laundry and put it in the car seat bag in between the seats - plenty of room and freed up some weight in our suitcase!

I love it - I highly recommend checking BRU!