Checking the car seat on the plane

[Sunset Cliffs]

We are taking our car seat with us but will not be using it on the plane. I am a little confused what we do with it....do we check it with our other luggage? Is there a baggage fee if we do this? I have also heard of people "gate checking" the car seat. Does this mean carrying it through Security and leaving it with your stroller once you are boarding the plane?

I called the airline today and they were not really able to answer my questions. I also asked if I need to wrap it up in something (like a bag, etc). Again, she had no answer. What have you done that has worked for you? Is there some sort of a bag that I can buy to wrap it up in? Does the airline provide something to use so that I don't have to spend money on something?

Sorry for the jumble of questions and thanks for your input!

 

[bumbershoot]

"I have also heard of people "gate checking" the car seat. Does this mean carrying it through Security and leaving it with your stroller once you are boarding the plane?"

Yes.

What airline are you flying with?

 

[Avonlady1001]

My advice is to gate check your car seat. Buy a travel bag in Target or babies R Us for it. Carry it with you through the airport up to the gate, and tell the rep at the counter there you have an item to gate check. She/He will give you a special tag. Put it on and right before you board, you give it to the person at the door to the plane. They put it on the plane, and it will be waiting for you in the same spot (at the door of the plane) when you get off. This way, the car seat won't be banged around the airport with the luggage (you know how carefully luggage is handled, right?) You can do this with a stroller as well. I would never check a car seat with my luggage. Too much can happen.

 

[smurfie]

Either get a carseat bag at the store or (if your airport has this service) get it shrink wrapped to prevent it from getting dirty. Then , as the previous poster stated, bring it with you through security and before boarding leave it with the stroller.

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

We are flying on United. Do all airlines offer this?

I was hoping that is what it meant to gate check it. I have seen people waiting at the luggage claim for their car seats and I assumed that's what we would have to do. I was getting worried about the airline losing it. I can picture us at the airport at 11:00 at night (when we land) and realizing that the car seat is no where to be found. That would be a magical start to the trip!