Flying & need booster for the rental car. Help!

[julsmom]

We are flying to DL in 2 weeks. DH reserved a rental car, but adding a booster to the reservation is $60!!! The airline we are traveling (Allegiant) is allowing he and I both 2 bags each. Does a booster count as a bag? We don't need it while we are on the plane. So I have to 'check' it.

Anyone dealt with this? Any advice?

 

[ntink]

Did you buy a seat for your child? If so he or she would also be allowed to bring 2 bags. Alternatively, you are allowed to gate check a stroller, could you gate check a booster also?

 

[julsmom]

Did you buy a seat for your child? If so he or she would also be allowed to bring 2 bags. Alternatively, you are allowed to gate check a stroller, could you gate check a booster also?

I think this flight is one of those where you pay for your bags. Like a value flight or something. So he gets his bags and DD and I together get 2 bags. I didn't know if a booster counted. I don't really want to just have them toss the booster on the plane, I would rather it was in something to make it a little padded.

 

[tammy1210]

Do you by chance have a turbo booster? I don't know how big your bag is, but we're going to have this same problem next month - I was seriously thinking of packing it - it's not that big without the back - I thought about putting it on the bottom of the suitcase and packing on it and around it. Of course, you'd have to pull it out at the airport, but it beats that extra money - it's bad enough I have to pay for dd's carseat - no way are we paying for two!

 

[julsmom]

Do you by chance have a turbo booster? I don't know how big your bag is, but we're going to have this same problem next month - I was seriously thinking of packing it - it's not that big without the back - I thought about putting it on the bottom of the suitcase and packing on it and around it. Of course, you'd have to pull it out at the airport, but it beats that extra money - it's bad enough I have to pay for dd's carseat - no way are we paying for two!

Exactly!! Yes I have a turbo and DD is big enough so that she does not need the back. I mentioned to DH that I wished the armrests popped off or something to make it even easier. I am thinking I will just have to end up packing it.

 

[bumbershoot]

From Allegiant's site:

Can I take a stroller and car seat in at the gate?
Each paying passenger is allowed to take a stroller or a car seat to the boarding area. The stroller or car seat can also be checked at the time of check-in. If the stroller or car seat is taken to the gate, it will be "Gate Checked". This means that it will be put underneath the aircraft and will be available upon reaching the aircraft's final destination. The stroller or car seat can then be picked up at gate side.

 

[all4fun]

I was going to add, if you bring a booster like the Graco Turbobooster that comes apart, you might be able to fit the back in your luggage and then carry on the bottom part - it might be small enough to fit in the overhead bin. I've heard of people doing this to ensure that in case anything gets lost (God forbid!) at least you have the bottom part w/you. Just thought I'd mention it.

 

[julsmom]

Good point. Maybe I will just carry it on.

 

[tammy1210]

I was going to add, if you bring a booster like the Graco Turbobooster that comes apart, you might be able to fit the back in your luggage and then carry on the bottom part - it might be small enough to fit in the overhead bin. I've heard of people doing this to ensure that in case anything gets lost (God forbid!) at least you have the bottom part w/you. Just thought I'd mention it.

I'm glad you mentioned that - I really hadn't considered something happening to the luggage (don't want to think about it!), but that's really a good idea just to take it on instead of packing it just in case.

 

[dhardawa]

If he is big enough to use it backless (minimum of 40 lbs), I'd take it and put it in the overhead compartment. I know it will fit because I have done it. You do NOT want to rent any car seats. You never know what you'll get. It could be filthy, crashed, expired, recalled, or compromised in some other way. I have also heard of people being given seats that are not appropriate for the age/weight/height of their kids and the car rental people telling them that was all they had. You could end up in a nasty situation standing there at the car rental window.

Dana
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

 

[Hannathy]

Why couldn't she just gate check it?. If she carries it on won't that count as her carry-on? It should especially if she take up overhead room with it. I'd throw it in a plastic bag of some sort and gate check it. If you and the plane get there it will that way.

 

[JamesMom]

From Allegiant's site:

Can I take a stroller and car seat in at the gate?
Each paying passenger is allowed to take a stroller or a car seat to the boarding area. The stroller or car seat can also be checked at the time of check-in. If the stroller or car seat is taken to the gate, it will be "Gate Checked". This means that it will be put underneath the aircraft and will be available upon reaching the aircraft's final destination. The stroller or car seat can then be picked up at gate side.

Notice this says stroller or a car seat to the boarding area. I have 2 kids = 1 stroller + 2 car seats. What can I gate check?

 

[Colinsmom]

Why couldn't she just gate check it?. If she carries it on won't that count as her carry-on? It should especially if she take up overhead room with it. I'd throw it in a plastic bag of some sort and gate check it. If you and the plane get there it will that way.

Gate checked items don't arrive 100% of the time. American lost our gate-checked stroller once for 2 days; it was very frustrating, but I'm glad it was the stroller and not the car seat!

 

[Colinsmom]

Notice this says stroller or a car seat to the boarding area. I have 2 kids = 1 stroller + 2 car seats. What can I gate check?

This says each paying passenger, so presumably you can gate check one item for each ticket you've purchased (vs. each child boarding the plane). How many tickets have you purchased? Can you use the car seats on the plane? If not, why not just baggage check them?

 

[MinnieGi]

We always just pack DD's booster in our lugguage and just pull it out when we get into the rental car.

 

[cinjam]

We brought DS's backless booster on the plane (jet blue) as a carry-on & stored it in the overhead bin.

 

[quiltymom]

If he is big enough to use it backless (minimum of 40 lbs), I'd take it and put it in the overhead compartment. I know it will fit because I have done it. You do NOT want to rent any car seats. You never know what you'll get. It could be filthy, crashed, expired, recalled, or compromised in some other way. I have also heard of people being given seats that are not appropriate for the age/weight/height of their kids and the car rental people telling them that was all they had. You could end up in a nasty situation standing there at the car rental window.

Dana
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

Ditto this information!

I still fly with my kid's two full-sized booster seats. The airlines that we have flown do not consider them as luggage, because they aren't. You may have problems checking in on the internet or with those horrid touch-screen computers at check-in so you will not get charged for extra luggage. Because although it isn't luggage, you still need to get a luggage tag for them. I just call the airlines to get this straightened out before I arrive.

And about the questions about strollers or booster seats at gate-check: I've brought both seats AND a stroller to gate check - no questions asked. They most likely worded it that way for those who will check a booster but don't need strollers anymore. But by the time the kids were in boosters, we just checked them since we didn't want to mess with schelpping them around the airport anymore.

One tip: The airlines will provide a heavy-duty plastic bag for the carseats/boosters, IF they have them available. I always save one set of the used bags to bring along with me just in case they've run out by the time I get there.

Since we're using Disney transportation this trip, we won't have to bring the boosters with us for the first time! It's quite liberating, actually!

 

[moparop]

Notice this says stroller or a car seat to the boarding area. I have 2 kids = 1 stroller + 2 car seats. What can I gate check?

I've gate-checked all 3 and no one has ever batted an eye.