Booster seats and airplane

[lilrooster]

We are flying to MCO for the first time in 5 years. Last time we checked his car seat because he was a lap baby. He is now in a booster seat, it's just the "base" part, not the kind with a back. Does he sit on this on the plane? We are renting a car, so we need the booster for him. Or are we going to have to check it as luggage?

Also, has anyone checked a jogging stroller before? Was it within the size requirements for "normal" baggage?

 

[jamesmommy]

We are flying to MCO for the first time in 5 years. Last time we checked his car seat because he was a lap baby. He is now in a booster seat, it's just the "base" part, not the kind with a back. Does he sit on this on the plane? We are renting a car, so we need the booster for him. Or are we going to have to check it as luggage?

Also, has anyone checked a jogging stroller before? Was it within the size requirements for "normal" baggage?

Your child can not sit in the booster on the plane, they are not FAA approved. If he is only using a base as a booster, you could pack it in your luggage, or possibly put it in your carry-on. I have never flown with my a stroller (or my son for that matter), so I don't have any experience with that. I know many people gate check them, but not sure exactly how that would work as far as an older child.

Have fun on your trip.

 

[tzolkin]

As pp said, booster seats cannot be used on the plane. We carried ours on a few years ago (we didn't know she couldn't use it) and had to put it in the overhead compartment with the carry on luggage.

 

[lindsmom]

FWIW, technically Florida allows a 5 year old to ride without a car seat. Personally, the idea is to me, but depending on how much you'll actually use it, you COULD leave it home.

BTW, my daughter is 7 1/2 and we just got back from FL where we used her booster. Carried on and stowed overhead as pp mentioned.

 

[Jennygt]

We are flying to MCO for the first time in 5 years. Last time we checked his car seat because he was a lap baby. He is now in a booster seat, it's just the "base" part, not the kind with a back. Does he sit on this on the plane? We are renting a car, so we need the booster for him. Or are we going to have to check it as luggage?

Also, has anyone checked a jogging stroller before? Was it within the size requirements for "normal" baggage?

As others have said no booster seat on the plane. There is a FAA seatbelt type thing called CARES that is ok to use on the plane, I am thinking about that myself right now. You can gate check a smaller stroller but I don't think a jogger would be allowed for that. You can check it as a "checked bag," continential allowes one stroller or one car seat in addtion to your baggage allowance so see if this is the case with your airline. Also there are a few places in Fla that you can rent strollers etc that will deliver to your hotel if you don't want to lug the jogger around. Last trip I used my umbrella type stroller for the airport etc and gate checked it, I then had the bigger one delivered to my room at the hotel. We used A babys best friend if you are interested. Hope this helps, have a wonderful trip!

 

[tiggger1]

As others have said no booster seat on the plane. There is a FAA seatbelt type thing called CARES that is ok to use on the plane, I am thinking about that myself right now. You can gate check a smaller stroller but I don't think a jogger would be allowed for that. You can check it as a "checked bag," continential allowes one stroller or one car seat in addtion to your baggage allowance so see if this is the case with your airline. Also there are a few places in Fla that you can rent strollers etc that will deliver to your hotel if you don't want to lug the jogger around. Last trip I used my umbrella type stroller for the airport etc and gate checked it, I then had the bigger one delivered to my room at the hotel. We used A babys best friend if you are interested. Hope this helps, have a wonderful trip!

cares only goes to 44 lbs.. My 5 year old is a skinny Minnie and she weights 43

 

[chorsak]

"one stroller or one car seat in addtion to your baggage allowance"

does this mean per family or per person? We have 4 tickets and are taking 2 car seats and one stroller, can we check all 3 for free?

 

[Jennygt]

"one stroller or one car seat in addtion to your baggage allowance"

does this mean per family or per person? We have 4 tickets and are taking 2 car seats and one stroller, can we check all 3 for free?

I am not sure, this is the link to Continential where I read it, You might have to call and ask them.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/infant.aspx

 

[NotUrsula]

You can gate check a smaller stroller but I don't think a jogger would be allowed for that. You can check it as a "checked bag,"

Normal cloth-seat jogging strollers are absolutely allowed as gate-checked baggage, on any US-based airline. The only restriction would normally be that *if* the stroller has to have the front wheel removed in order to fold it, then you would normally have to carry the wheel onto the plane with you as part of your carryon allowance; they don't want the wheel just tossed in where it might be separated from the rest of the stroller.

The only strollers I know of that cannot be gate-checked are the kind that have to have all of the seats removed in order to fold them, such as a Peg Triplette, or a Gozo. Those have to have their parts packed into a carton and checked as baggage. (Or cargo -- they can easily exceed the allowed baggage size limits.)

 

[Jennygt]

Normal cloth-seat jogging strollers are absolutely allowed as gate-checked baggage, on any US-based airline. The only restriction would normally be that *if* the stroller has to have the front wheel removed in order to fold it, then you would normally have to carry the wheel onto the plane with you as part of your carryon allowance; they don't want the wheel just tossed in where it might be separated from the rest of the stroller.

The only strollers I know of that cannot be gate-checked are the kind that have to have all of the seats removed in order to fold them, such as a Peg Triplette, or a Gozo. Those have to have their parts packed into a carton and checked as baggage. (Or cargo -- they can easily exceed the allowed baggage size limits.)

Good to know, I was not sure about that!

 

[brymolmom]

FYI - booster seats are not designed to be used with ANY seatbelt that does not have a shoulder strap. That would include airplane seats.

 

[luvwdwfla2]

I am so glad you asked this. I am in the same predicament and was wondering what to do? My Ds6 uses the booster base and we are renting a car at mco. The rental cost for booster is crazy, can buy new one cheaper. I was thinking about seeing if we could carry it on or fit it in luggage. My other thought was go to wmart to get one but was not sure about driving from mco to there without booster.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We have 2 DD - 1 is almost 10 and the other is almost 7. We check the booster bottom seat for the 7 yr old. The last time we flew in Oct 08, we used USAirways.. they do NOT charge for a booster bottom, but you must ask for help at the check in kiosk so as not to get charged as it doesn't count as a piece of luggage/baggage. Not sure about other airlines and their policies.
I would suggest you contact your airline and ask.

Mary

 

[SandJ77449]

We rented a CARES harness for our little one last year for a plain ride. It worked perfect! It was about 1/3 of the price to buy it. Because we were not sure if it would work, we were afraid to spend the $70+ to purchase. I would do it again in a heart beat, but because the economy is so bad... we will be driving to Disney this year.

Check out Ebay. I was going to post a link to the girl who we rented from, but she is no longer in the business.

Good luck!
Jenny

 

[kimmylaj]

we carried our bottom only booster on continental and put it under the seat in front of us it fit just fine, and no charges either