Checking Kids Gear on Airplane?

[mapstangelo]

This will be my first time flying with our kids ages 4 and 14 months.

We plan on bringing the following gear (double stroller sit and stand type -check at gate), DD's high back booster seat (checked somewhere?), DS car seat in which he will ride on the plane. How would I go about packaging the checked items (double stroller and DD's booster seat) so they don't get ruined or damaged? Do they make bags for these things?

We are bring DD's booster seat because she needs in for the car rides two and from the airport and to eliminate having to rent one from the car rental company in FL.

Thanks!


Michelle

 

[tlbwriter]

This will be my first time flying with our kids ages 4 and 14 months.

We plan on bringing the following gear (double stroller sit and stand type -check at gate), DD's high back booster seat (checked somewhere?), DS car seat in which he will ride on the plane. How would I go about packaging the checked items (double stroller and DD's booster seat) so they don't get ruined or damaged? Do they make bags for these things?

We are bring DD's booster seat because she needs in for the car rides two and from the airport and to eliminate having to rent one from the car rental company in FL.

Yes, they do make carrying bags - check One Step Ahead. And you're smart to bring the booster - I've heard horror stories about rental companies providing seats that are broken and filthy, or not providing them at all!

 

[deezeealum]

WE have a bag from Buy Buy Baby for our car seat. It works great and even has wheels so that it doesn't need to be carried. Although the wheels don't keep it exactly straight.

 

[thepeach80]

I would gate check the booster as well as the stroller. This almost ensures it will not get lost and you will have it when you get there and lessens the amount it's handled. Just get a large plastic bag for it, take it apart if it comes apart, and just put it in the pastic bag and gate check it. I never put my stroller in anything. It got a little dirty, but nothing major.

 

[las3888]

We have a bag for our car seat. They have 2 different models at our local BRU store. We put the car seat in and check it with the luggage. I also use it as luggage by putting extra bulky items (blankets, sippy cups, diapers, etc.) in a large plastic bag and tying it up. I then put it in the seat of hte carseat and zip up the carseat bag. When we get our rental car, I take the bag out and throw it in the trunk then install the carseat. It has worked very nicely for us.

Good luck!

 

[dhardawa]

Definitely gate check them to minimize the risk of damage. The bags will keep them cleaner (maybe) but will do nothing to stop them from being damaged since most damage occurs when they are dropped or heavy things are stacked or thrown on top of them.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I would definitely gate check the stroller, but maybe think about picking up an inexpensive low back booster for your trip? That way you can bring it on the plane as a carry on and there isn't any chance that it will be lost.

You can generally pick up a low back booster for ~$15-$20.

Another idea is if you have one of Graco's Turboboosters, the back is removable and the bottom becomes a low back booster. You can remove the back and pack it in your luggage, and take the bottom portion on the plane as a carry on. If your luggage is delayed you can still use the bottom as a low back booster, if it isn't...pop it out of your luggage, reattach and use as a high back booster.

 

[mapstangelo]

Thanks for all your replies. I did go ahead and purchase a stroller bag and car seat bag on Ebay yesterday (buy it now) we do plan on checking the stroller at the gate, i didn't know I could check DD's booster at the gate as well. It's the Graco brand that comes apart high back one piece and low back the other piece. That would be most helpful it AirTran will allow us to do that.

Thanks Again!

Michelle

 

[tlbwriter]

I would definitely gate check the stroller, but maybe think about picking up an inexpensive low back booster for your trip? That way you can bring it on the plane as a carry on and there isn't any chance that it will be lost.

Many (most?) 4-year-olds would be too small to use a backless booster.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Many (most?) 4-year-olds would be too small to use a backless booster.

According to the low back boosters listed on the Babies R Us website the following are the requirements for a few of the seats (not all seats by a specific manufacturer will always have the same requirements):

Graco Seat - 40lb minimum weight, 40" minimum height
Cosco Seat - 30lb minimum weight
Combi Seat - 33lb minimum weight

As a car seat technician, I understand ... and almost always recommend... using high back boosters for "younger" children. However... I usually recommend a parent use a low back booster on vacation (using airplanes) and not have to check a high back booster seat. Checking the seat exposes it to being damaged, or even worse delayed or totally lost.

Since the OP has a Turbobooster, she can separate the bottom and top portions of the seat and carry the bottom on the plane, checking the top portion in her checked luggage. This gives her the best of both worlds, if the luggage is delayed or lost...she still has a seat for her child and if not she can retreive the top portion, reattach them and use it as a high backed booster.