Booster Car Seats and Gate checking ?

[Connorsmom0]

When we travel to Florida in August we will be staying off property for a few days. I would like to bring our own booster seats for our kids who are 8 and 5. I was just wondering if we will be allowed to gate check them like a regular car seat? We will be traveling Air Tran if that matters. Thanks!!

** they are backless boosters if that matters as well...

 

[MI_firefighter]

I just asked Airtran this the other day. They will either gate check or regular check all car seats and strollers at no cost. My specific question was will the do it for free if both are in a protective bag. They replied that as long as the bag only contained the stroller and booster seat, then it would be free. If I added anything else to it, then it would count as checked luggage and be subject to fees.

 

[spel]

We fly continental several times per year with carseats & booster seats packed in a black travel bag from BRU & we pack that bag up with toiletries as well. We have never been charged. It's always a great way to lighten up our regular luggage. I would recommend checking them with the rest of your luggage so you don't have to lug them around the airport. Have a great trip!

 

[deegack]

We fly continental several times per year with carseats & booster seats packed in a black travel bag from BRU & we pack that bag up with toiletries as well. We have never been charged. It's always a great way to lighten up our regular luggage. I would recommend checking them with the rest of your luggage so you don't have to lug them around the airport. Have a great trip!

I would not recommend this. When I flew continenta I was asked if the gate check bag with our stroller only contained the stroller (yes). I haven't personally seen anyone charged for adding stuff to a gate check stroller bag but if you add items to a bag with medical equipment you will be charged an extra bag fee. I can see airlines doing the same for stroller and carseat bags.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I just asked Airtran this the other day. They will either gate check or regular check all car seats and strollers at no cost.

All US airlines allow these items to be gate checked or counter checked for free. Keep in mind that some airlines have restrictions on gate checking strollers, depending on their size (ie American Airlines).

 

[Pembo]

We carried on our backless booster on our Continental flight last fall. It fit in the overhead and it was a small plane (2 seats/aisle/1seat). The biggest nuisance was carrying it all over the airport.

In the past I put the booster in a duffel bag and checked it. It was nice to have the extra bag but we flew SW and it was free those times.

 

[mousemamma]

You can check car seats/booster seats for free. We have car seat bags that we throw the seats into. We have been asked before if we have packed anything else in the car seat bag and were told that we would be charged for a regular bag if we had.

We do ask at check-in if we can throw our winter coats in the car seat bags when we are going to FL and they say no problem. But that is probably because they can see us actually putting the items in there.

I think it depends on the agent if you can get away with stuffing things in the bag.

 

[spel]

That's interesting. In almost ten RT flights with car seat bags stuffed with other things (toiletries, toys, coats) we have never once been asked about it. I didn't even know that was a policy until I just read it here. We always counter check the 2 carseats bags. Guess we've gotten lucky! However, we do buy 4 seats and only bring 2 suitcases plus the 2 carseats bags. Could that be why? You should see DH wheeling around the two big suitcases and two huge carseats bags- one over each shoulder- walking through the airport! He looks like a pack mule! That's why we counter check- its hard enough lugging those things from the curb to the counter!