Booster Seat on plane

[byrd328]

Hi

We will be in disney for 9 days flying via Air Tran. We are renting a car and I was wondering about traveling with a booster seat. Alamo wants 10/day, 50max for rental of a booster; however for that price I can buy one(current one is kinda heavy) or bring the one I have from home. My concern is travelling with it and if I rent what quality is it. How does that work? Can she sit in it on the plane or do I have to check it? If I check it, is it a gate check?

 

[brymolmom]

Booster seats are made for seat belts with shouder straps only...So don't use them just with a lap belt.

My sister has carried them on and just put them up in the overhead compartment. That way she knows she has them when they get to the rental car on the other end. I don't think that most airlines count that toward your carry-on allottment either.

 

[Miaka]

Seeing as you can get a basic booster seat from Walmart for 15 to 20 dollars, I would skip the rental from Alamo. Best bet would be to call the airline about if it's considered carry on or not, but I definitely wouldn't rent one because that's crazy insane priced. Plus the super basic one can probably fit under the chair in front of you, or over the top.

 

[champ.49er]

I'm traveling on AirTran next month also and I called them about this as well. They said we can gate check both the stroller and the booster seat. My concern is that the booster seat is so small, it may get lost during handling, so I'm planning on placing the booster seat under our airplane seat or overhead compartment if there's room and the flight attendants allow us.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

You can also check it at the counter and it is considered a free piece of luggage. We have a bigger car seat for DD and the booster for DS and they both fit in one car seat bag. I would assume you could put it even in a non-car seat bag and show the ticket counter agent to have it be free.

 

[champ.49er]

You can also check it at the counter and it is considered a free piece of luggage. We have a bigger car seat for DD and the booster for DS and they both fit in one car seat bag. I would assume you could put it even in a non-car seat bag and show the ticket counter agent to have it be free.

When you mentioned "car seat bag", are you referring to something that AirTran (or the airline) provides or is this something you already own? I was trying to figure out if I could find a plastic bag that was big enough, but sturdy to place the umbrella stroller and booster seat in, but if the AirTran provides a "car seat bag", that would be great.

 

[ParrotBill]

If you try to carry it on it will count as carry-on luggage.

They may insist you gate check it as the dimensions and unforgiving shape may make them nervous about it fitting inside the overhead bins.

Gate checked items go in last and off first. I once had a gate checked item go "missing" for about 5 minutes but it had been set to the side inside the cargo door and was found when I stood there waiting for it.

 

[maciec]

If you try to carry it on it will count as carry-on luggage.

They may insist you gate check it as the dimensions and unforgiving shape may make them nervous about it fitting inside the overhead bins.

Gate checked items go in last and off first. I once had a gate checked item go "missing" for about 5 minutes but it had been set to the side inside the cargo door and was found when I stood there waiting for it.

We have flown with Airtran several times with a booster seat and they never have counted it as carry on for us. I guess it's all in which airports you are coming in and out of. We put it in the overhead bin. I guess that I should also tell you that we have just the seat and not the full booster with the back so it fits just fine.

 

[Tara]

When you mentioned "car seat bag", are you referring to something that AirTran (or the airline) provides or is this something you already own? I was trying to figure out if I could find a plastic bag that was big enough, but sturdy to place the umbrella stroller and booster seat in, but if the AirTran provides a "car seat bag", that would be great.

The poster probably means a bag purchased for this use. AirTran *might* have bags but I wouldn't count on it. (Availability of such items seems to vary from station to station.)

If you are bringing an umbrella stroller, though, I'd recommend you gate check it. You will carry it with you through security and to the plane, then leave it at the end of the jetway before getting on the plane. This is much better for your stroller as it won't be subjected to the same luggage handling baggage goes through.

 

[maciec]

Also this is right from Airtran's website

You may bring a stroller to the gate for ease of travel through the airport. The stroller may be gate checked just before boarding the plane and will be returned to the aircraft jet way upon arrival at your destination. Car seats and strollers may be checked free of charge; any other items are subject to standard baggage fees (i.e., portable crib, high chair, etc.).