Bringing Carseat on Plane

[cwasil]

I've never flown with any of our babies before but we are flying out on May 18th and I had a question if we can do this. I've seen people drop off their strollers just before getting on a plane but have you ever seen anyone drop off a carseat before they board. Kind of weighing my options and this seems like the best one to do if it's possible. It costs $50, both ways, to check it in when we get our boarding passes and that seems foolish and it's obviously far to bulky to bring aboard the plane and stow. To rent one from the car rental place for the 14 days we will be there is some ridiculous number like $180 yet I can't buy one down there because how would I get from the airport to Walmart (legally at least).

My son will be 18 months at trip time so the carseat isn't one of those little ones that clip into the stroller...this is one of those bulky, forward facing ones that weigh, around, 10lbs.

What would you, have you done? Thanks.

 

[maurene]

People often check car seats at the gate to ensure that it is right there when they get off.

Many airlines will check a car seat (with other checked baggage) for free. Check your airline's luggage policy.

 

[nedac]

We did it last month on Delta. Got a carseat bag on Amazon. No troubles at all. Gate checked it twice.

 

[cwasil]

Thank you. I've flown quite a bit but I get you just don't notice this kind of stuff.

Thanks for the idea about the carseat bag. That'll give my wife piece of mind about cleanliness and bedbug type issues.

 

[Ima Disnewby]

we are also flying in May with carseats (boosters, though) and i contacted our airline (airtran) about their policy. they told me that i can check them for free and they also have bags for them, so there is no need for me to provide them.

perhaps contact your airline and see what they can offer you?

 

[Greysword]

A couple questions:

1) Did you buy a seat for your baby? If yes...

2) Is your car seat FAA rated (will have a sticker on it saying it is)?

If both are Yes, then use the seat on the aircraft. If either are No, then you can easily gate check it. We did this with DD when she was small enough for the car seat but big enough for her own airplane seat. When she was a baby, we used an FAA rated car seat and she flew in that (it pulled double vehicle duty... yes, I just said doodie ).

At present, we take DD7's booster seat and toss it in the overhead bin as her "personal item" (her suitcase goes under the seat). Just to have something to look forward to.

 

[iambrink]

I've never flown with any of our babies before but we are flying out on May 18th and I had a question if we can do this. I've seen people drop off their strollers just before getting on a plane but have you ever seen anyone drop off a carseat before they board. Kind of weighing my options and this seems like the best one to do if it's possible. It costs $50, both ways, to check it in when we get our boarding passes and that seems foolish and it's obviously far to bulky to bring aboard the plane and stow. To rent one from the car rental place for the 14 days we will be there is some ridiculous number like $180 yet I can't buy one down there because how would I get from the airport to Walmart (legally at least).

My son will be 18 months at trip time so the carseat isn't one of those little ones that clip into the stroller...this is one of those bulky, forward facing ones that weigh, around, 10lbs.

What would you, have you done? Thanks.

We always checked our car seats/booster seats at the gate. I was too afraid of the seats not joining us at our destination. It was quite a hassle for a couple of years travelling with two small kids and their seats, but it was the price i was willing to pay for not losing the seats. Now i don't need seats and i'm loving it!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I've seen people drop off their strollers just before getting on a plane but have you ever seen anyone drop off a carseat before they board. Kind of weighing my options and this seems like the best one to do if it's possible. It costs $50, both ways, to check it in when we get our boarding passes and that seems foolish and it's obviously far to bulky to bring aboard the plane and stow.

I don't know of any airline which charges anything (let alone $50; where are you getting this number?) to check a car seat. You can check for free at the ticket counter or at the gate, your choice.

 

[Greysword]

I just realized something else. If you are flying on a regional jet (which is likely in the midwest, then weight and balance come into play on the aircraft. Also if it is a smaller CRJ, then even carry-on luggage will be "gate checked" by dropping it off on a cart outside the aircraft (if you do not use a jetway).

Just noting this, as a car seat may need to be gate checked regardless if the plane is small.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Just noting this, as a car seat may need to be gate checked regardless if the plane is small.

Yes, if you didn't pay for a seat, you will need to check the baby's car seat. They are too big/heavy to store in an overhead bin.