Flying w/ carseat

[dizzy daisy]

I've been down this road a few times

How much is the checked baggage fee for your airline? Would the seat be considered oversize? Personally I'd just send a new seat to my mom and facetime her to adjust the straps. I wouldn't mind installing the seat when we arrive, but the suggestion about having a seat tech do the install is a great idea. Maybe that person would have a contact where you could donate the seat after your visit, or perhaps your mom knows someone that may want to use it. I can see that same seat in a mostly brown giraffe print for somewhere around $30, so it would be cheap enough for me to feel okay about doing that.

If you decide you'll have him fly in it, make sure your booster is FAA approved. I've been on flights where parents are surprised to find out their seat was not approved. Then, of course, the seat has to go below and the parents were quite unhappy about that.

If you decide you want to gate check, ask your carrier before you go if you can gate check two items for your son. I think some airlines have limits on the number of items per child.

 

[DisMom456]

We've sent DD’s Britax as checked baggage a few times, never with any major mishaps. We always use the same brand bag. I think there are a lot of options for bags, now, including the kind that turns the car seat into a rolling seat? You could always send the stroller as checked baggage and roll the car seat to the gate check to cut back on some handling.

 

[scrapquitler]

What other route would you take then? My other thought it to buy the same cheap car seat again and have it shipped to my moms house. BUT she has no clue how to install it in her car, she is picking us up midnight at the airport and I would have to adjust the straps and install the car seat before we go anywhere. Then I would still have to bring that sucker back with me or have her keep it, which serves no purpose because we don't go to her house very often and when we do, we drive.

I would do this. You are going to have to install the car seat in her car regardless of if you buy/ship one to her ahead of time or if you bring it on the plane with you, so it's a wash as far as that goes. I'd buy an inexpensive car seat on Amazon and have it shipped to her house, then have her donate / give it away afterwards.