Car Seats -- Bringing ours??

[Dana30]

Hi There

we are going to Disney in Sept with our 10 month old twins. I have a question. I want to buy and bring 2 car seats for use in the rental car. We will not use them on the plane, as we will be holding the babies. Can I check in Car seats as luggage? Renting them from the rental car agency is like $10 a day each, so about 200 for a 10 day trip.

What do you all do?

Dana

 

[CleveRocks]

Car seats, if not used inside the airplane, count against your checked luggage total. Except for Southwest, most airlines allow 2 checked items per ticketed passenger. This means that if it's 2 adults going (2 ticketed passengers) and 2 "lap babies" you will only be entitled to 4 checked items. That means you need to make sure you're packed in 2 suitcases. Also keep in mind that most airlines allow only 50 pounds per suitcase, and charge for overweight bags.

GOOD LUCK! Sounds like you'll quite literally have your hands full.

 

[Princess Roo]

I'm a little bit confused...when you say "buy", does this mean that you don't currently own carseats?

I have had mixed results with asking the person checking our bags in (Airtran and Delta) if they would allow a carseat to be checked as an extra piece of luggage without charging for it. One other option is that you can bring the car seat to the gate with you. You *are* allowed to gate-check it there without being charged, regardless of how much you checked through already or how many strollers you are gate-checking, too. The other benefit is that if there are extra seats on the flight, you will be allowed to bring the carseats on for your children (even though you haven't paid for the seat).

You can purchase bags that can go over the carseat and you can wear it like a bookbag (Google "car seat cover"- they are ~$25). If you do own carseats already then this could be worth the extra money for the convenience (and to protect the carseat), but if you don't own carseats already then it may mean that it's just more cost-effective to rent from the car agency.

I hope this makes sense...I feel like I'm not being very clear.

 

[Dana30]

Perfectly clear.

Yes, we own carseats now. I was thinking of buying smaller, less expensive ones to travel with. I figure with two babies and travelling, I will use them more than enough times. My husband and only travel with 2 suitcases, so it can fit in our allotment. I just have a hard time justifying renting car seats from the rental car company for 10 each per day.

Dana

 

[Princess Roo]

Oh, OK! I figured even somewhere like NYC where you mostly ride the subway, you would still need carseats for occasional use!
Then I would definitely recommend the carry bags, rather than buying new car seats. We have the pretty large Britax Marathon, and it becomes manageable when it's in one of the backpack carriers. We don't have twins, but I've traveled without DH, even taking the subway down to the airport with the carseat on my back and pushing a stroller with a large duffle bag in the stroller basket and diaper bag over the handles.

 

[mommytomy3]

That is what I do... I have this bag http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2276637
and it holds my ds's Britax Decathalon, and I can even stack some toys, etc. in there with it, then I check it as luggage. This year, I need to buy another one, for my other ds, and will need to check both carseats!

 

[all4fun]

Car seats and strollers usually do not count against your baggage total. Check your airlines website. It should be addressed in the baggage/carry on section. We usually fly Delta and their website specifically states that car seats & strollers do not count against the checked baggage total. Keep in mind though that children traveling for free usually are not given a baggage allowance either (two seperate things).

Even though it's a hassle to carry a car seat thru the airport, personally I think it's a little safer to gate check both strollers and car seats. At least they have a better chance this way of being placed on top of heavy luggage and hopefully don't get tossed or kicked around as much.

This site has some helpful tips for flying with children: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Hth.