Flying w/ carseat

[my3sons77]

I am flying with our 2 youngest boys (9 & 4) in December to Ft. Lauderdale where I will scoop up my mom and we will drive to Disney World. Not flying into Orlando because I don't want my mom driving by herself for 3 hours alone and I didn't want her to have to book a flight up there either.

My question is, my 4 year old will need his car seat for the drive. He won't need it for the flight though. Do I check that with my luggage at the front? I don't want to gate check it and have to carry it. I'm only gate checking his umbrella stroller. Also, would you recommend purchasing one of those car seat bags to protect the seat while under the plane?

Thanks in advance for any and all info!! We normally drive everywhere and the last time we flew to Disney, we flew into Orlando and had ME to take us to our hotel.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

We've checked a car seat and booster seat on 6 flights in the past couple years. The first time we put them in bags and such, however we didn't bother with it since then. We had no issues on the first 5 with southwest. On number 6 (with USAir/America) they left both the car seat and booster behind in philly and we were without them for a day when we arrive in Florida. They gave us a loaner for the first day and then swapped it out the next morning.

Odds of them losing/messing up with your carseat...probably very VERY small. However I wanted to share our experience. Next time we fly we will still check the car seats BUT due to the luggage mishap and about a dozen other issues USAir/American will not have our business (but those are stories for another thread!)

 

[Mousemommy1]

Have you seen the way those guys throw around the luggage?

There is no way I'd want our car seat receiving that same treatment.

 

[my3sons77]

Have you seen the way those guys throw around the luggage?

There is no way I'd want our car seat receiving that same treatment.

That's what I'm a little concerned about. Although the car seat I'm bringing is a Cosco High Back Booster w/5 point harness. This thing is light and there's really nothing that they could break. If it was our expensive Graco Nautilis or Graco 65, that would be another story.

 

[Mousemommy1]

That's what I'm a little concerned about. Although the car seat I'm bringing is a Cosco High Back Booster w/5 point harness. This thing is light and there's really nothing that they could break. If it was our expensive Graco Nautilis or Graco 65, that would be another story.

Honestly, the plastic can get "stress fractures" in it, and there is likely a styrofoam absorber in there somewhere that could crack and affect the integrity of the seat. I wouldn't chance it.

 

[my3sons77]

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.

 

[Mousemommy1]

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.

Assuming the car seat is for your four year old? Would he sit in it?

 

[my3sons77]

Yes. He will sit in it. He's not picky about car seats, he absolutely MUST have a 5 point harness though, no exceptions. This is the exact one I would be bringing along, no Styrofoam, just a pretty basic car seat. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-High-Back-Booster-Car-Seat-Realtree/16932758

 

[Teacup53]

You said that your mom would have no idea how to install it correctly, you ask her to see if the local fire or police station will install it for her - I am not sure about FL but I know other states will train a fire or police officer to know how to do it properly. That would at least give you another alternative.

 

[my3sons77]

You said that your mom would have no idea how to install it correctly, you ask her to see if the local fire or police station will install it for her - I am not sure about FL but I know other states will train a fire or police officer to know how to do it properly. That would at least give you another alternative.

Completely forgot about that! That would be perfect that way I don't have to do it at midnight, outside the airport lol Thanks

 

[Betty Rohrer]

but that still doesn't do the belts which can be a pain if you have to get to the back of seat do adjust. and I do not see a way around that part at midnight

 

[Betty Rohrer]

even if she gets help with the install, you are still going to have to adjust the belts at midnight. could be tough if you have to get to the back of seat

 

[my3sons77]

I think I may be able to walk her through that over the phone and tell her which slots the straps need to be adjusted to. Facetime is a wonderful invention! lol

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the belts are my problem as I can install but have major problems getting the belts for my grandkids seats for my truck

 

[pooh4evr]

Just gate check it.

 

[Disneychica18]

I would honestly just use his seat on the plane. They will let you install it and he can sit in it during the flight. He may even be more comfortable during the flight. Once it is gate checked it has an unknown history and isn't really safe to use especially the way they throw them around. Check out this article
http://csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

 

[my3sons77]

I would honestly just use his seat on the plane. They will let you install it and he can sit in it during the flight. He may even be more comfortable during the flight. Once it is gate checked it has an unknown history and isn't really safe to use especially the way they throw them around. Check out this article
http://csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

Thank you for that link! I briefly scrolled through it and it's exactly what info I am looking for. I plan to read through it all later.

 

[Disneychica18]

Thank you for that link! I briefly scrolled through it and it's exactly what info I am looking for. I plan to read through it all later.

Welcome!

 

[Teacup53]

Completely forgot about that! That would be perfect that way I don't have to do it at midnight, outside the airport lol Thanks

You're welcome! hope it goes smoothly. If you end up taking yours on the plane, and have trouble installing it you can ask for a seatbelt extender, that has helped us in the past.

 

[BLAZEY]

We just had DD ride in her car seat on the plane when she was 3.5 on our trip to California. She was in a Nautilus as well. If Iremember corrected she HAD to be a Carseat on a plane as Air Canada required ALL children under 4 in their own seat to be in a carseat at the time.