child car seats

[Allisonjane]

We are from the UK and will be hiring a car for 2 weeks from alamo at the airport, there child car seats are $10 a day rental so for 2 weeks thats quite expensive, i could buy one cheaper. Has anyone, especially from the UK taken a car seat with them, can you just put it in a big bag and check it in with your luggage? and will it definately fit in the car that they give us, we are having an 8 seater minivan.

 

[toesmom]

If your child is over 2 and you are paying for plane seat, then bring your own car seat on the plane, makes the trip a lot easier.

If your child is under 2 and doesn't have own seat, check your car seat in (airlines will usually supply a bag for the car seat).

 

[all4fun]

Yes, there are bags specifically made for car seats. Here in the U.S. many airlines will also provide big clear plastic bags to put them in for the trip (provided at the airline check in counter). If possible, you might want to consider checking your seat at the gate instead of with your luggage though. It is much less likely to get lost this way and hopefully less likely to be damaged. OR if the seat is allowed to be used on the airplane, that is really the safest way to go (both for the child, and the car seat). Check with your airline to see if car seats count against your baggage/carry on total.

hth

 

[Allisonjane]

My daughter will be nearly a year when we travel so will not have a seat on the plane, i guess i will need to speak to my airline to see what options i have, i will be taking a stroller to the gate so it makes sense to hand the car seat over at that point too, but there are very strict rules on baggage in the UK so i think i will call them first to check if i can do this.
Thanks for your help

 

[QueenGoblin]

I know some US airlines offer really cheap "infant" fares so that little ones can have a seat for their carseat. If you are calling your airline anyway you might ask about it.

 

[NotUrsula]

There have been some reports that rearfacing UK seats are difficult to fit in US vehicles because of the length of the seatbelts (sometimes too short). If your carseat has ISOFIX attachments it should be all right, as it should work with the US LATCH anchors. In US vehicles, you are most likely to find those anchors in the center seating position.

Even if you had purchased a seat for your child, most UK carriers will not allow personal carseats to be used on board, so you probably will have to check it as baggage, especially as she is a lap-child. I've never successfully managed to gate-check a carseat in the UK when flying a UK carrier; they always refuse to allow it past security unless my ticket is for a US carrier.

Your other possibility is to rent the carseat for one day just to get to your lodging, and then buy a US carseat specifically for the trip. (You can return the rental carseat at a hotel rental station other than the airport; just ask about that when you pick it up.) A basic model from WalMart/Target will cost less than $50.

 

[casper_jj11]

Check again with the car rental company. Many say $10 per day but there's a $40 max that they charge.

Joanne

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would buy my own carseats. The rental ones are usually yucky and you don't know how old they are (they do expire) or if they've been in an accident.

 

[casper_jj11]

I actually agree about renting from the car agency. I've seen some in pretty sad shape. Try one of the baby equipment rental places in Orlando. I know of A baby's best friend. I think there are a few others. We own one here in Canada and all our stock is brand new, sterilyzed after every rental and extremely well maintained. I'd check them out... depending on the length of the trip, probably cheaper than buying.

Joanne

 

[Allisonjane]

Thanks for all your help, i remember renting one from the car hire company a few years ago when my son was 3 and it was really old and dirty, so that is another reason thats putting me off aswell as the cost. She should be out of her rear-facing seat by the time we go, so hopefully a forward-facing seat will be easier to fit, but im am definately going to look into the options of renting one from a baby store or just having the car rental one for one day and then buying one from walmart.