Car Seat on plane??

[have2getaway]

I need some advice. My son will be nearly 4 in Jan. when we make our first trip (with him) to Disney. He is rather larger (41 inches, 43 lbs.) and he uses a booster seat now in the car. We plan to use magical express, but I am thinking we might want to rent a car while we are there. My question is, should we bother bringing a booster seat on the plane? I was also wondering if anyone knows what the car seat law is in Florida? I'm guessing a rental car company would have car seats available to rent, but I just thought if I knew we were going to need one then maybe we should bring one. What should we do?

 

[wfloyd]

I would recommend bringing your own. The rental car companies usually have them for a fee but you can never guarantee the quality of them. With your own, you know its history and how it works so you won't be fighting with it. You aren't allowed to use the booster seat on the plane but it can be checked with the rest of your luggage without a problem.

 

[ptslp]

You can't use the booster seat for him to sit in on the plane- only seats with a harness, but if you will have a car, I personally would bring my seat. If it is law that your son be in a seat in your state, then he should be in a seat whereever you go. It is for safety!! I also wouldn't trust a rental car seat- first I dont' think they are guaranteed to have one and second, you may not be happy with the quality of it.

 

[champagne27]

Do you have to package the booster seat? I will be bringing 2 of them (the ones with the seat and the high back) on a plane next year and have not traveled with kids before by plane. Can I count each one as one of the kids luggage pieces?

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[Shelebeen]

I would throw it in plastic. They have the big bags at the airport, or you can use a garbage bag or whatever...

You could call your airline, but yes, you could count it as checked luggage...also many of the airlines make exceptions for baby/toddler items.. ie they don't count strollers as part of your checked luggage, etc. They often say you could bring 2 pieces of luggage plus a car seat/booster or stroller and or playpen or whatever. I know when we travelled to Hawaii for a month when our daughter was 16 months and didn't have her own seat, we def had more then 2 pieces each...

 

[Blue&Gold]

Have2getaway -- It was already said that you can't use a booster for a car seat on the air plane. If the booster is a "no back" one, it should fit in the overhead bin (depending on the size of the plane). We put our booster in a large duffel bag and checked it. We then had extra room to bring home all the goodies we bought while we were there. I have rented car seats from the car rental place and I wasn't thrilled with the condition, etc. Plus, you never can guarantee that it'll be the right kind (a car seat with straps wouldn't be safe for your child). There is also an extra charge (sometimes as much as $10 per day).

 

[have2getaway]

I like your idea of using a duffle for the seat and then using the bag to bring back souveniers, purchases, etc. Thanks, we'll try that.

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

Babies R Us has car seat bags...I have 2, you zip them up and they have shoulder straps. I always put my seats in them and then thru baggage. I always put soft extras in with it (beach towels, diapers) and then twisty tie the 2 zippers together so they don't slip apart.

They have never counted my car seats as one of my bags.