Car seats and car rentals?

[jenseib]

I just reserved a car with Dollar. But it didn't have any spot about car seats. Do you need to call and tell them? And is there a charge for a car seat? Or would it be best to bring ours? I have been told by a stewerdist family member that a car seat doesn't make a child any safer on a plane, so we should just check it in if we take it, but it is such a pain to haul around at any rate.

 

[Geoff_M]

And is there a charge for a car seat?

Call and check first, some rental places charge through the nose for a car seat rental.

 

[safetymom]

The start of a vacation is not the time to be learning how to install and correctly use a car seat. I would bring yours from home.

 

[NotUrsula]

All of the rental companies charge for carseats. The rates average about $9-13 per day, depending on the company.

There is normally a spot to check off on the website, usually on the second to last screen before the end, where they ask about options that you want, insurance, ski racks, etc. You can also call to add it to the ressie after the fact. NEVER just show up and expect to get a carseat; the supply is limited.

 

[chrismom2005]

i would bring your own. you only have to carry it into the airport then to the car and then back again. for the cost of renting one plus god knows what has happened that car seat i'd want my own.

 

[beattyfamily]

We bring our own. My girls are old enough now that we bring our backless booster seats. We bought a carseat bag for $20 at Babies R Us and both booster seats fit in it just fine with room to spare.

Then we check it with our luggage.

Works GREAT for us.

 

[jenseib]

All of the rental companies charge for carseats. The rates average about $9-13 per day, depending on the company.

There is normally a spot to check off on the website, usually on the second to last screen before the end, where they ask about options that you want, insurance, ski racks, etc. You can also call to add it to the ressie after the fact. NEVER just show up and expect to get a carseat; the supply is limited.

There was no spot to check. I was looking, but maybe I missed it?

I think I will look for a light weight one. And take it. Ours is really bulky and heavy. If i can find one for under 40 bucks then it is worth it since we would be paying at least that anyways. I thin kshe is too light for a booster yet though.

 

[n2mm]

Bring your own and check it with your luggage. We only rented a car seat once and never again. I agree, it's not easy to install a foreign car seat. And they are dirty and creepy. National charges $10 a day, plus tax, so can get pretty expensive.

 

[jenseib]

OK, looks like we will bring one from home. Now checking it in, do you have to have in in a bag? or just check it in as is?

 

[beattyfamily]

OK, looks like we will bring one from home. Now checking it in, do you have to have in in a bag? or just check it in as is?

You do not have to have it in a bag but its better for the carseat if you put it in a bag of your choosing rather than relying on the airline employee to do it.

I've found that if you tip well (skycaps) they will wrap it up really good. That's just my experience.

 

[tjmw2727]

There was no spot to check. I was looking, but maybe I missed it?

I think I will look for a light weight one. And take it. Ours is really bulky and heavy. If i can find one for under 40 bucks then it is worth it since we would be paying at least that anyways. I thin kshe is too light for a booster yet though.

If she is "too light for a booster" you may want to consider using the carseat on the aircraft. Both the FAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend using a CRS on the aircraft until a child is 40 'lbs.

There are some recommendations for good lightweight seats on the family board. We used a lower end graco model for flying (also worked out well for the grandma's and aunties cars). There are also some great carseat bags that make taking the seat easier. My sil has one with wheels that she just loves, IIRC its from Babies R Us.

As far as renting from the rental agency, we did it once and used the seat just long enough to get to the nearest store and purchase one. It was old, cracked and dirty - bad enough that we never did it again. Most places charge between $8.00 and $10.00 per day so Yes, you could definately buy one for just about that depending on how long your trip is

HTH
TJ

 

[Kies99]

OK, looks like we will bring one from home. Now checking it in, do you have to have in in a bag? or just check it in as is?

Step 1: Put your name and address on the car seat. We tape our home info as well as a cell phone.

Step 2: Put the seat in a large garbage bag. Leaf bags work the best. Tie a knot in the top.

Step 3: Check as luggage. Counter person will put the tag on the bag.

Step 4: Don't worry about it the entire flight.

Step 5: pick it up in baggage claim. Might get put with the oversize luggage so keep your eye out for that (oversize or odd shapes are sometimes placed manual at the baggage claim and do not come down the belt).

Step 6: enjoy having your own car seat with you.

I would not recommend using a rental seat from the car rental. You don't know what's gone on with that seat and how much of a beating it's taken. I've heard horror stories about rentals having broken straps, etc...

Also, should your car seat get lost or end up missing a flight, the airlines will have a seat for you to use until they can deliver the car seat to you (At least that's what I've heard). I've never lost a car seat and we do the exact steps above for two seats every time we fly.

 

[jenseib]

Thanks everyone! I am going to keep my eyes open for a lightweight one. I need to weigh her too. I see some boosters take kids at 30 lbs and she was closeto that awhile ago, so I should check her now. We really don't need an extra one, but I will see if I can get a cheaper one for this trip. One with wheels would be nice too.
But I don't want to spend alot. If it is going to be jsut as bulky as mine, then I won't bother buying one either.
Like I said before though. I was told that she really doesn't need it on the plane.(by a sterwardist) But maybe she would fall alseep easier in one too if we broght it. I just don't see how we are going to have enough hands to carry 3 carry ons a stroller and a car seat.

 

[safetymom]

The stroller you can take down to the door of the plane. You leave it there. Be sure to get a gate check tag for the stroller. It will be waiting for you outside the plane when you get off.

By the way they call them flight attendants these days.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I wouldn't check the car seat if I were you. We did this last trip for the 1st time and Delta decided that they couldn't put all the bags on our plane and what did they leave off? You guessed it my carseats!!! All 3 of them. Now they only had 2 loaners available and they were NASTY. They got me another one from United after I insisted that was much better but the other 2 kids still had to ride home in the nasty ones from Delta. My kids did not want to get into those seats. My oldest actually said she'd rather wait until the next flight arrived at midnight for her seat. You live & learn convenience has a price.

 

[jenseib]

.

By the way they call them flight attendants these days.

She's my DH's aunt and she still calls herself a sterwardist. So I guess I never paid attention to it being anything else. She's kind of old now too! LOL But she did catch herself a pilot!

What to do! what to do! I'm still not sure. We're coming from a small airport, direct flight, so as long as the yget it to the plane, we should be OK. I'll have to do some pricing and see what looks the best.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm sure that what she calls herself is probably a stewardess, actually, but if that's her preferred term, I'm betting that she retired a long time ago. It's been 20 years at least since the terminology was changed to Flight Attendant.

I'm not going to say that you HAVE to use a carseat, because it isn't required by law, but I think you should make your decision on the basis of current information. The fact is that it *is* safer to use a flight-approved carseat, especially for a younger child who might otherwise be carried as a lap-baby. The FAA has tested it many times in turbulent conditions, and has recommended the use of carseats for kids under 40 lbs. since the mid-1980's. The safety margin is not as great as it would be in a private automobile, but there is a difference. Furthermore, it is a familiar place where the child knows that he/she must stay put, so it tends to help immensely with the squirmies, which your child is in the prime age range for. Seat-kicking can be a problem, but if you use a blanket to wrap down the child's legs, she won't be able to kick, and thanks to the higher position, she WILL be able to see out the window. (Where the seat will have to be; next to the window and not in the row directly in front of or behind the exit row.)

The Cosco Scenera (formerly called the Touriva) is a good lightweight seat that usually runs right around $40 at Walmart, Target, etc. It has a 5-pt harness and can convert to a high-back booster when the child is tall enough.
It also fits pretty well in most rental cars, as it has a small base. We bought them as "Grandma's car" seats and borrowed them back when we went on trips. (The plus factor to that is not having to remove the one in your own car.)

 

[jenseib]

Nope, she's not retired. She does international flights all the time. She's in her 60's!

 

[jenseib]

Why does it have to be in the window seat?
If that is the case, then for sure we won't be using it on the plane. We want her in between us.

 

[Minnie824]

I rented a car for May from Dollar and the car seat info was NOT online. I called and had one added. I tried to explain a booster seat, but the agent didn't know what I was talking about, so I figure we'd buy a small booster seat (we have a large one now) and carry it along. But, for my 3 yr old, I currently have a carseat reserved. I'm wondering though, if I should bring mine, based on what condition rentals may be in. I would not want it on the plane though. Has anyone checked a carseat? Would I just need a bag and check it in w/the rest of our luggage? Thanks!