Are airlines charging to check car seats?

[HollyEpcot]

We are bringing our car seats with us but will be using the CARES Kids Fly Safe on the plane. Will the airlines charge us to check the car seats? Any idea how much? (The Brittax is pretty huge & quite heavy!) Wish we didn't have to bring the car seats, but much safer for the ride to & from the airport!

 

[DebbieB]

We are bringing our car seats with us but will be using the CARES Kids Fly Safe on the plane. Will the airlines charge us to check the car seats? Any idea how much? (The Brittax is pretty huge & quite heavy!) Wish we didn't have to bring the car seats, but much safer for the ride to & from the airport!

Which airline?

 

[ancestry]

We are bringing our car seats with us but will be using the CARES Kids Fly Safe on the plane. Will the airlines charge us to check the car seats? Any idea how much? (The Brittax is pretty huge & quite heavy!) Wish we didn't have to bring the car seats, but much safer for the ride to & from the airport!

Just want to make sure that you plan on renting a car as car seats are not used/permitted on DME. If you aren't renting a car and are using DME then you do not need to bring the car seats as you can't use them on the bus.

 

[goofy4tink]

Car seats, to the best of my knowledge, are considered 'checked' luggage if you aren't going to use them on the plane and send them through with the rest of your checked luggage. So, yes, if an airline charges for checked luggage, you would be liable for the cost of checking car seats.

 

[superwy]

Jet Blue and Southwest have never charged us to check the car seats or strollers, but that may have changed. I would call the airline. We used the bring the Britax on the plane because my daughter understood that she had to stay strapped in her car seat. Otherwise, we'd be chasing her around the plane!

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't yet flown an airline that charges for a carseat to be checked. Look at your airline's info pages, and if they aren't clear, just call to ask.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

So, yes, if an airline charges for checked luggage, you would be liable for the cost of checking car seats.

Actually, this isn't true. Car seats and strollers are free to check in and are not counted against your baggage allowance, at least on US legacy carriers.

 

[maciec]

Airtran does not charge a fee to check your car seat or booster seat

 

[buzzmom3]

Even Spirit doesn't charge to check a carseat.

 

[HollyEpcot]

Thanks! About Magical Express- would we be able to put the car seats with the luggage? We will be taking a taxi to the airport so we will have the car seats with us

 

[goofy4tink]

See what happens when you assume something??? Sorry, wrong again yesterday. Okay....two mistakes is my limit. You shouldn't be expecting any mistaken posts from me for at least 6 months!! Sorry everyone.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks! About Magical Express- would we be able to put the car seats with the luggage? We will be taking a taxi to the airport so we will have the car seats with us

Why don't you try to find a taxi (or car service) that will supply a car seat? Why lug a car seat when you're only going to be using it on your trip from you house to your airport?

DME will have no issue with anything an airline is willing to check. Call DME and get some extra tags.

People need to check with their airlines. I remember one poster asking how much stuff they could stick in the bag with the car seat. Too many people abuse the system and the airlines will change their policy.

I thought at least one airline would gate check a stroller for free, mobility aid to get to the gate, but counted it against your checked baggage allowance if you checked it at the counter.

 

[2binak]

With JetBlue, we were able to check our carseat, free of charge, with our other checked luggage and gate check our stroller, also free of charge. Like pp's have suggested. Check your airline's info page or call them directly. With the way airlines change policies, you want to be sure to get the correct information directly from them.