Checking in carseats @ airport...

[3xthejoy]

We're renting a car when we go to WDW,but don't want to drag the carseats throughout the airport in addition to stroller and the kids. When checking in carseats along with your luggage at the airport,what do you put it in?
Thank you

 

[bumbershoot]

The one time we did this, we used our Eddie Bauer brand (bought at Target) carseat bag.

However, if you want to keep your mind OK with it, do NOT be at the luggage carousel when it comes down. You won't want to use the seat anymore, b/c of the forces acting on it as it slams down. I watched that once, and pretty much wanted to buy a new seat, that's how bad it was. I can't even think about what boosters do, they nearly turn somersaults.

We gatecheck ONLY now.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

We fly with Southwest and they have always put it in a big clear plastic bag for us.

 

[disneymomofmyca]

Hmmmm...we checked a booster in 2007 and they didn't bag it or anything. Then we couldn't find it at baggage and waited forever and here it was in an extra large baggage pick up thingy. Needless to say in 2008 we gate checked for both vacations...

 

[stephie1012]

the only way u should check your carseat is if its in the regular box and packaging materials that it came in, otherwise it will get so much damage (even if you cant see) i would never use it again...i guess you can gate check it, im not sure tho.

 

[MasterChief]

Hey, wait a minute...you already started this thread over here:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2118870

From the other thread is the answer...

yes,4 carseats

I'm not worried about the fee to check them,because the kids will not be lapchildren & they'll have their own seats(thus allowed to check 1 free bag each). I figure it would be cheaper than what the rental company is asking us.
Thanks for your replies everyone.

If they will have their own seats then you just put them in their car seat on the plane...problem solved!

 

[mommy2theAteam]

We flew to Houston, Tx last month (2/09) with our 2 1/2 yr old twin boys. We flew NWA and they would not allow me to check the car seats at the gate. Said I had to check them inside at the counter as luggage (no charge). I was told that if I was going to take them to the gate, I had to use them on the plane in the plane seats. I checked them as luggage and they did not bother to wrap them in plastic or anything. They were fine on the luggage carousel. The Houston airport did wrap them in clear plastic bags, which I liked better because it kept them from getting wet (and it was snowing in Detroit when we left so they did get a little damp).

Babies on Vacations
babiesonvacations.com

A Baby's Best Friend
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Kim
Mom to the A Team
Alex - 11
Aaron & Aidan - 2 1/2
Next DW Vacation-11/09

 

[michael's mom]

I would never put them through with the checked luggage. I have had my regular luggage so badly damaged and I would never take that chance with my son's carseat.

If I were you, I'd not only bring them through the security and lug them through the airport, I'd use them on the plane. We are bringing ours right on, strapping it into the seat, and putting DS in it. He's more likely to be the most comfortable in his seat anyway. I don't know how old your children are but all of the info I've read on traveling with carseat sized children is that while you don't have to use carseats, flight attendants strongly recommend them because the seatbelt on the plane is virtually useless with children under 40 pounds.

 

[brymolmom]

I bought a car seat carrier from Babies R Us for about $20 - $25 and it was a great purchase. Both booster seats fit into this one carrier (although a bigger 5 point harness seat would take up too much room to do this) and it has a great over-the-shoulder strap that makes it easier to carry to the checked-bag point. Tons easier than carrying two separate seats.

 

[all4fun]

If the car seats are airline approved (most seats with an internal 5pt harness are, check the labeling on the side of the seat), I would take those seats on board the plane and used them. The FAA strongly recommends using a CRS aboard planes until at least 40lbs. In addition, according to the research I've done, airlines consider car seats to be "fragile" and will not reimburse the owner for them if they are damaged in transit. We've also had bags misrouted more than once, and if one of those bags had been a car seat, then we would have been in a real bind when it came to leaving the airport (in both cases, we did not get the bags back for 2-4 days). The one time I did risk checking a car seat, we only needed it for a couple of days in the middle of our trip (we used DME to and from the resort) so if the car seat had been damaged or lost, one of us could have driven to a store to buy a replacement if we had to). It was sort of a calculated risk if you will.

What I would do in your shoes is buy two car seat bags and put two seats in each bag. Another option would be to use an inexpensive metal luggage cart...stack them on that and bungee them on. OR, if you'll have a stroller, you could stack the car seats on that, and let your kids walk, if they are big enough to walk through the airport. If one of your kids is a baby or toddler, you can use a sling or carrier instead of the stroller. If one or more of the seats are just belt positioning boosters, those will have to be checked and I would definitely suggest gate checking over baggage check. This way, you know they made it on the same plane as you, and they will be loaded last, with the strollers and wheelchairs. Backless boosters can fit in the overhead bin, and sometimes folding HBB's (like the Compass/First Years brand makes) will fit in the overhead bin too, but that will count as a carry on item).

hth