Checking Car Seat/Booster

[southjerseymom]

Hi! I need to check my car seat and booster for use with my rental car. NO more lugging them through the airport (woohoo!) ...but I still want them for the rental. Any ideas/suggestions on how to pack them? Do you just put them in a garbage bag??? I don't want to shell out the money for a "carrying case" because this is the last trip we will need them. Any replies greatly appreciated!

 

[texasthree]

I used 2 black force flex garbage bags. They worked well. Those car seat covers are too expensive! I use good ole Hefty!

 

[mamacatnv]

SWA put our booster and a stroller in a heavy duty clear plastic bag for us.

 

[Tara]

SWA put our booster and a stroller in a heavy duty clear plastic bag for us.

Just a word of warning -- do not count on the airline counter to have a bag. I learned this the hard way this year when my husband forgot to put our son's booster in its carry bag in the car before we left for the airport. So we got there with no traveling seat and had to take his regular seat with no bag. Our airport had one which they taped around the middle and the top part above the tape totally tore off in transit. On the return flight home (from CAE), the USAir counter did not have any bags at all and said the airline had stopped resupplying them for their station.

 

[minniebeth]

Just a word of warning -- do not count on the airline counter to have a bag. I learned this the hard way this year when my husband forgot to put our son's booster in its carry bag in the car before we left for the airport. So we got there with no traveling seat and had to take his regular seat with no bag. Our airport had one which they taped around the middle and the top part above the tape totally tore off in transit. On the return flight home (from CAE), the USAir counter did not have any bags at all and said the airline had stopped resupplying them for their station.

I agree to not completely count on this, but I love the clear plastic bags that the airlines supply. They are more durable and you can see the car seat through it. We know someone who once needed a a clear plastic bag for their booster seat, and when the airline checking them in did not have one, one of the agents actually went to another airline's counter and got one for them!
Also, usually curbside check in has them as well. We've never had a problem using them, but guess I should think about that possibility for the future...

 

[cybrkitn]

I will also be bringing a booster seat (backless) for my DS4. Called Southwest and was told it needed to be checked in since he is not using it on the flight down. Do they need to be in a plastic bag though and how to I attach the DME luggage tag if it does? You can tell I don't fly much

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You do not need to put car seats in a bag, but I would suggest that you do. I have seen some really torn up ones coming down the baggage carousel. They can get pretty damaged without protection.

 

[n2mm]

I used 2 black force flex garbage bags. They worked well. Those car seat covers are too expensive! I use good ole Hefty!

Not really that expensive. I just bought the Eddie Bauer bag from TRU for $19 plus shipping. My daughter w/kids travels to WDW with us several times a year, and will be needing to tote the car seat for a long time, so I'm sure we'll get our money's worth. We did buy the bag with wheels, but the wheels came off after the first use and we returned it. We always rent a car, so a car seat is a necessity for us.

 

[cybrkitn]

You do not need to put car seats in a bag, but I would suggest that you do. I have seen some really torn up ones coming down the baggage carousel. They can get pretty damaged without protection.

Thanks for the reply and I love your user name

If the seat is in a bag, how does that protect them from damage? I can see it protecting the seat from the elements (rain, snow, etc). But if the bag rips usually the seat will end up damaged as well.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Our backless booster seat fits great in the suitcase, so we pack it there, on the bottom, then put the clothes on top.

 

[cybrkitn]

Our backless booster seat fits great in the suitcase, so we pack it there, on the bottom, then put the clothes on top.

I was thinking of doing that. Just don't know if I will have enough room to put my clothes plus the rest of my DH's insdie (he's going down before our son and me). We usually fill up one big suitcase for the two of us. But this time he is taking some down with him for his business trip.

 

[Along4theRide]

My kids will be 4 and 6 when we go to WDW next June. Here they have to be in a booster until they are 4'9" and 80lbs, but I read (per FL DOT) that they are not required in FL, but are recommended. Is this true?

We're only going to renting a car for about 1 1/2 days and didn't want to drag down two boosters if they weren't needed!

 

[cybrkitn]

My kids will be 4 and 6 when we go to WDW next June. Here they have to be in a booster until they are 4'9" and 80lbs, but I read (per FL DOT) that they are not required in FL, but are recommended. Is this true?

Don't know about FL, but NY has about the same height requirement. My mom is only 4'10" so my husband and I find a little humor with it

We are bringing one with us anyway, just to make sure he is safe. Our son is pretty skinny and the shoulder belt will cut across his neck if we don't use it.

We are renting a car from 10/27-10/29 so that we can take him to Medieval Times on 10/27 (took him for the first time for his B-Day back in June and he loved it). We're going to Sea World on 10/28. The last time my DH and I went to Sea World (DH's bus. trip in San Diego), I was 9 weeks pregnant with my DS. Can't wait to see his face when he sees Shamu