Child car seats - Alamo

[N5girl]

Hi

I have been having a discussion in the UK forum about car seats. I would like some advice from regular users of Alamo.

I am flying Virgin Atlantic from LGW. I have been told by Virgin that we cannot take our car seat on the plane (we have a separate seat for our son).

I see my choices as

1. Check our seat into the hold
2. Hire a seat from Alamo at MCO.

I have read quite a few reports that car rental seats are pretty terrible. Does anyone have any recent experience of hiring a seat from Alamo at MCO in the last year?

Thanks

 

[darnheather]

If he has his own ticket you can take your seat on. If he's a lap child I'd check it in the hold. I just wouldn't trust an unknown car seat. :2cents:

 

[N5girl]

Thanks

The website is a bit ambiguous about bringing car seats - it says

Your little ones are welcome onboard and will love our child seats – no matter how wriggly they are.

While your children enjoy their dedicated inflight entertainment, they’ll be comfy and safe in our seats designed just for them.

The seats are available on every international flight and can be used in any cabin and are suitable for new-born babies up to children weighing 20kg (44lb) or measuring 100cm (40”) tall. To ensure you get a child seat, just buy a flight at the child fare - though you should note we'll need at least 12 hours' notice to ensure a child seat is available.

Children too large to fit a child seat will still pay the child fare.

You won’t be able to bring your own booster seat onboard
I called customer services - they were adamant that we would not be allowed to take it onboard and it would need to be checked into the hold.

I would be surprised if we could bring the seat onboard as it is huge (it is second stage one) - it is also probably wider than an economy seat!

I am leaning towards taking our seat and just getting a lot of bubble wrap and some tape.

 

[darnheather]

Ok, I wasn't aware they had special child seats. I always took huge car seats on board with my two often (oops sorry!) knocking people in the knees. However, if you can check it for free or at a low cost I absolutely would.

 

[N5girl]

Thanks. It is a free ride in the hold.

The consensus from UK people is to take your own and buy a bag and wrap up the seat inside to help prevent damage.

 

[ain0004]

Make sure that whatever kind of bag you have to can repel water. I can't tell you how many car seats I have seem wet!