Carseats - take or rent from Budget?

[AngieWin]

**I thought I posted this here to start with, but I put it on DIsney World Tips, so this is a X-post now!**
We are flying non-stop from Kansas City to Orlando in July and staying for 2 weeks. We are renting a mini-wan from Budget and picking up onsite. DS4 will have a seat on the plane, but DS1 (23 months at that time) will not have one, unless the plane is not full (but cant count on that). DS4 has been on a airplane without his carseat and I have a Baby B'Air for DS1 http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...tegoryId=86218

We are traveling down with my 12 year olds baseball team and will have baseball equipment in addition to luggage for 6 people and a double stroller. I am very tempted to leave the car seats at home (well in the car at the airport) so we have 2 less things to carry. How can I make sure the seats at the car rental site are safe enough? I am positive that they would have to be up-to-date with LATCH, but it took me a month of researching to choose our carseats we use at home. Would they think I was crazy if I called Budget with 20 questions about their car seats??

When we booked they said the rental for the car seats for 15 days would be $60 (I am assuming a piece, so $120 for both).

Opinions?

 

[emh1129]

I think you would feel much better bringing your own, although I know what a pain it is.
When we rented a car and needed a car seat, they let us pick the one we wanted- they threw open the closet door and they were just piled everywhere. None of them looked up-to-date to me and I'm sure some were past their expiration date. Quite a few had that bar that you pull over the child's head. I don't think they even make those anymore, although I could be wrong.
This was at a car rental agency in LAX, though, when we went to Disneyland.
It was one of the major ones, though.
Bottomline is I will always bring ours from now on. We spent so much time picking ours out and it will just ease my mind to have them.

 

[waltskids]

As the PP said, the carseats are sometimes not up to date. We rented a car when we went in February and the carseat was only a 3 point harness, not 5 like ours at home (this was an infant seat).

 

[Colinsmom]

They won't even guarantee that they have the seats that you need! Or any seats at all! I'd bring from home - at least you know that you have seats, and you know how to install and use them properly.

 

[Rose123]

I have to agree with everyone, bring you own because you will be more comfortable and familiar with it. It is so easy to check it with you luggage. We did this the last time we flew. I bought a car seat travel bag from babies r us and it was big enough that I was able to pack extra stuff with it.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would bring your seats - for a couple reasons.

1- Just in case you can use the babies seat in the aircraft. As I am sure you know the baby b air can not be used for takeoff or landing and as such many FA's make you stow it because some parents choose not to follow that rule.

2- Cost, most rental agencies charge $8 - $10 per day for a carseat and won't even guarantee they will have the type of seat you need.

3- Care of the seat - we rented once and used the seat just long enough to get to wallmart and buy a suitable seat. It was torn, dirty and too small for my dd.

If you do decide to bring your carseats you can gate check them if there isn't an empty seat available for your baby.

I would bring your own, you know you will be able to install them correctly instead of fumbling with an unfamiliar seat and the kids will be in the proper seats. Most rentals will have the latch, if the first car your offered doesn't ask for one that does.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

Just wanted to also mention esp since your child is 23 months be sure and bring his birth certificate. We recently few on AA and SWA and both times parents had to show the BC in order to fly with a lap baby. The alternative was to pay full fare for a seat for the child.

Also - here is the info on the Baby B Air:

"FAA Non-Approved Infant Seat or Child Restraint Devices
The following may not be used:
Any device without an approval label
Booster seats without an approval label or shoulder harness
Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint
Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult "

TJ

 

[tanyaandallie]

I would not rent a carseat. For $120 they will give you 2 seats that you know nothing about. You don't know how to install them. You don't know if they have been in an accident, you don't know how old they are. I have heard countless horror stories about renting a carseat. Traveling with your seats is not that bad. OK, well, it is 2 extra pieces of luggage but it's not too bad. We have car seat bags for ours which makes travel much easier.

 

[tammy1210]

Well, we were planning on taking ds' booster, but renting one for dd - after reading this thread I think I've changed my mind! So, from what I gathered I can get a car seat carrying bag, and maybe fit both of their seats in it and then check it with our luggage? I guess it won't be that much trouble - and I certainly don't want an out of date carseat - especially for the prices they charge - good grief, I had already told dh we could have bought one by the end of the week from what they rent for!

 

[DawnM]

Yes, we have done this!

I also vote for "take your own."

I once took my own but the airline lost them. Since we were renting a car, the airline paid for our first day rental with the car company until they could locate ours. The ones they gave me were very old and dirty. They finally brought mine at 3am. They had to knock and wake us up so they could get their carseats back! GRRRR!!!!

Dawn

Well, we were planning on taking ds' booster, but renting one for dd - after reading this thread I think I've changed my mind! So, from what I gathered I can get a car seat carrying bag, and maybe fit both of their seats in it and then check it with our luggage? I guess it won't be that much trouble - and I certainly don't want an out of date carseat - especially for the prices they charge - good grief, I had already told dh we could have bought one by the end of the week from what they rent for!