Can you gate check BOTH stroller and carseat?

[Mrs. Charming]

I am taking a booster seat so what kind of bag or where do I get it?? If I ask at main baggage cking area won't they ask for the booster seat and tell me that I can't have it as "boarding" item--with the stroller...my neighbor flew SW and they lost his booster seat on the way home--found it a few days later but still - I know that we are renting a car down there I will flip (or they can give me $35,and point me in the direction of babies r us

Haha about the $35/BRU comment!

I found this http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3761754 if it's a backless booster, but I'm sure you can use any of the other car seat bags on the BRU website, just search "car seat bag" and you'll get a bunch of options. I'm heading there on the 19th so I can make sure to use my 15% off coupon on the bag, lol.

You're probably flying out of PHL too... so be prepared for some comments, but hopefully they'll be good about it. I mean c'mon, we can't be the only ones flying out of there with car seats, right?

 

[Cedarmom]

The last time I flew with a booster, I just took it onboard with us and put it in the overhead bin. Broken down (back seperate from the seat), it fit just fine and I knew it wasn't being thrown down any ramps, being crushed under other luggage, or being lost.

While gate checking seats is preferable to checking it w/ the rest of the luggage, the seat is still going to be treated roughly. I gate checked my infant carrier once, settled into my seat, and then watched in horror as they *threw* my baby's seat down onto the pavement and then threw it again up into the plane. Car seats are 'one time use' type devices. One crash and they are supposed to be replaced. I guarantee it sustained damage from the treatment I saw. Never again.

 

[DominicaAnne]

Hmmm.. you all are making me rethink my strategy. I bought a J.R. Childress padded backpack bag for my daughter's infant seat, and I was thinking that I would just check it as luggage with the seat attached to the base. Now I'm wondering if that will be safe? I wonder if the rough handling might detach the seat from the base?

 

[mommy*RN]

On our last trip to WDW in 2006 we flew Midwest airlines. I gate checked our stroller and a backless booster...then took our regular carseat on the plan with us. I didn't bag the booster or carseat (didn't think of it) and both were fine and waiting for us when we exited the plane. It wasn't very fun lugging the car seat and booster around the airport...but it was doable. To be honest I think I took DD out of the stroller and just wheeled the carseats around in the stroller with our carry-on bags.

In 2004 I just gate checked a stroller and when I got it back I had a tough time opening it. I guess it must of gotten jammed under other things and actually inverted a bit so here I am alone wih my 18 mo old son trying to wrestle the darn thing open. Thankfully a kind flight attendant finally took pity on me and helped me out.

 

[CLR4321]

Yes, you can gate check both. Another option would be to check the carseat as checked baggage. On SW you get 2 checked bags per paid passenger for free. Gate checking is not a problem. If they question it, just tell them that you thought you'd be able to take it on the plane with you. I have gate checked 2 things (a stroller and a bag) at the same time. They actually prefer to gate check it because it's one less thing the flight attendants will have to deal with. If your child will have his or her own seat...you can always just bring it on the plane and have them sit in it, assuming it is FAA approved.

 

[phins_jazy]

We will have 3 kids with us. One doesn't need a carseat, one needs a booster, and one needs a 5 pt harness. We'll be gatechecking a double stroller, the booster and bringing onboard the other carseat. Ah yes, what the site we will be. 3 kids, 2 adults, 5 backpacks, one camera bag, a carseat, a booster and a stroller.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

We will have 3 kids with us. One doesn't need a carseat, one needs a booster, and one needs a 5 pt harness. We'll be gatechecking a double stroller, the booster and bringing onboard the other carseat. Ah yes, what the site we will be. 3 kids, 2 adults, 5 backpacks, one camera bag, a carseat, a booster and a stroller.

Oh my! Be sure to take some Tylenol Migraine beforehand!!

 

[wmharley]

Yes, you can gate check both. Another option would be to check the carseat as checked baggage. On SW you get 2 checked bags per paid passenger for free. Gate checking is not a problem. If they question it, just tell them that you thought you'd be able to take it on the plane with you. I have gate checked 2 things (a stroller and a bag) at the same time. They actually prefer to gate check it because it's one less thing the flight attendants will have to deal with. If your child will have his or her own seat...you can always just bring it on the plane and have them sit in it, assuming it is FAA approved.

slightly incorrect... as I posted earlier, SW's carraige contract states 2 itesm can SUBSTITUTE for one of the allowed baggage spots.. so normally you have 2 bags for free.. you give up one spot, to gain 2 child items (stroller, carseat, playpen, etc).

We will have 3 kids with us. One doesn't need a carseat, one needs a booster, and one needs a 5 pt harness. We'll be gatechecking a double stroller, the booster and bringing onboard the other carseat. Ah yes, what the site we will be. 3 kids, 2 adults, 5 backpacks, one camera bag, a carseat, a booster and a stroller.

We did this... We put the carseats on teh double stroller on top of each other and on the stand of the sit and stand, tied another carryone.. hard to push, but worked...