Check or carry-on booster seat?

[KimWDW]

We're flying JetBlue to Orlando in October. We're bringing a booster seat for my 6 year old because we're renting a car in Orlando. Should we check the booster seat or count it as my son's carry-on and stow it?

This is the size of it:

 

[dmked]

Airlines do not count a carseat or stroller as a carry-on whether you take it on the plane or gate check it. I would say bring it on board with you! I have always taken my kids' carseats on board, unless they are lap infants, in which case I gate check it.

 

[brymolmom]

For our last trip I FINALLY broke down and bought a car-seat check bag. I got the 'cheap' version from Babies R Us for about $20 I think. It is AWESOME! I wish I had done it 2 years sooner. It is big enough that we were able to put 2 boosters in it - with back for dd4 and without back for ds5, AND on the way home to save on weight in our other cases, we threw in there a bag full of laundry. It has a detachable strap that easily goes over the shoulder to carry it on your back until the check-in point. Way easier than how we've done it in the past - trying to carry it, our carry-ons, bags-to-be-checked, and the kids' hands. And, IMO, the fewer things you have when you go thru the security line the easier it is.

Anyway, it is an idea if you want to go for it.

 

[LoveKermit]

I agree with the bag.

However, my BIL/SIL when they only had one kid, they just jammed the booster (bottom only) into their own duffle which I think they carried on. I don't know what they did when DS came along because they had the car seat/stroller combo thing. But I know it's small enough, I think they just jammed it into their own bag when they got to the airport.

The only thing about checking it is if luggage is lost. When we were in the "bucket" and did lap baby, I checked the car seat for the same reason as PP--too much stuff, especially when DD was tiny and floppy. However, we had a couple times where we had delays and airline nonsense, then I kept it--just in case--and gate checked it once and checked it later once. That last part is two long stories condensed into one sentence, but you get the idea.

Some of that you have to play by ear.

Personally, for how small it is, I'd put it under one of your kid's seats or in the overhead. The bags, while holding other stuff--we put our leftover diapers and toys in it, are huge!!!! So unless you're going to use it for full size car seats, skip it for now.

 

[kimmylaj]

we packed it in a duffle on the way to fl, used the duffle for souveneirs on the way back. ds5 carried it himself and we put it on the floor under the seat in front of us, fit perfect. so light and not a problem to carry. the flight attendant might remind you that your child cant sit on it on theplane. 2 or 3 flight attendants reminded us of that.

 

[all4fun]

We have experienced a flight being cancelled after our luggage was checked, and we didn't receive our bags back until four days later. That was an eye opener. Because of that, I will never check a car seat or booster if I don't have to. I would recommend carrying it to the gate with you and bringing it on board if you can. If you can't bring it on board, then gate check it in a duffle bag. That way if there are any last minute snafu's to your travel plans, you will be more likely to have it with you in case you need to travel to a hotel overnight and come back for another flight the next day. Chances are, nothing like that will happen to you, but with the way the airlines are canceling flights because of fuel costs, you just never know. jmho