How do you check a booster seat for a flight?

[Disney Dider]

Do you have to put it in a bag or anything?

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Our last few flights DS has brought along a backless booster (he'll be 8 on the 20th) we'll do the same for this trip (leaving on the 20th). We gate check our booster seat, like we do with DD's stroller, don't want to risk it getting lost or damaged ~ DD (4 yrs. 9 mos.) uses a car seat on the plane ~ our favorite travel seat is the Cosco Scenera. DD usually places the booster on her lap while I stroll her through the airport, I either carry the car seat on my back or set it in the stroller and have DD sit in it. DS can carry his booster through the airport as well. It's a pretty easy thing to do.

 

[DisneyNic]

We will be taking DS's backless booster on our next trip. Can he sit in it on the plane?? Or will they store it somewhere else???

 

[Disney Dider]

I'm not sure what you mean by gate check. Are you taking them on the plane with you are are you checking them with your luggage? I assumed we would check it as it is not needed on the plane. My son is 7 1/2 so we only need it for the shuttle.

 

[Jenn1116]

Sorry to butt in, but is CA law now 8 yrs and 80lbs? When did it change? I'm so confused.

 

[disneymayz]

First of all - Gate check is when you take it to the gate with you. When you board the plane you give it to the employee right before you get on the plane. They then take it outside and put it on the plane. When the plane lands they will take it off the plane and bring it back up to you as you exit the plane.

Since we have 2 backless seats we will actually pack one in one of the suitcases. It does not take up much room. But we will gate check the stroller. Our other booster seat is airplane certified so we will use it for our youngest on the plane.

 

[RaeRae's Mommy]

I'm not sure what you mean by gate check. Are you taking them on the plane with you are are you checking them with your luggage? I assumed we would check it as it is not needed on the plane. My son is 7 1/2 so we only need it for the shuttle.

Some shuttles you do not need a car seat or booster. I'm taking to Disney Express Bus and you do not need a car seat or booster. The shuttle we're taking to the airport is also a bus so no car seat or booster needed. If I remember right there are no seat belts on the buses.
So I am not taking me dd3 car seat with us. This is very hard for me to get my head around but at no point in are trip is the car seat needed or can even be used. The airplane is the only place I can even belt in the car seat and we fly with babies in are LAPS. So no car seat needed.

 

[Disney Dider]

We are taking a private 14 passenger shuttle and we need boosters. My child hovers around 60 lbs and I would rather be safe. He doesn't need it at all in Idaho and I still use it.

 

[TravelinGal]

If you care at all what it looks like, then YES! PUT IT IN A BAG!

And maybe find a way to write "GATE CHECK" in large letters on the bag, just to HELP make sure it gets back to you @ the gate.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since we have 2 backless seats we will actually pack one in one of the suitcases. It does not take up much room. But we will gate check the stroller. Our other booster seat is airplane certified so we will use it for our youngest on the plane.

Which backless booster is airplane certified?

 

[minniefaye]

We hand carried ours onto the plane and put it in the overhead. The airline doesn't allow them in the seats.

 

[Shelebeen]

We usually check them.. they don't count them against your luggage total. We just ask for a bag when we get there... they give you a plastic bag.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I will never check my carseat/booster as luggage. If it does not make it on your plane you are stuck at the airport with no way to leave.

I always gate check- ie, you carry it to the plane and leave it on the gangway just outside the airplane doors (where the door to the outside is). You need to get a gate check tag from the desk at your gate.

And please never use a booster on a plane (or anywhere there is only a lap belt). Boosters are ment to be used with a shoulder possitioning belt, NOT a lap belt. If you use a booster with just a lap belt you would cause more harm to your child than good if in a crash.

 

[Tink208]

We have a car/booster seat bag that has a shoulder strap so it is easy for transporting and protects the seat when we check it. (It also is a good way to stash any soft items like extra blankies/pillows or warm clothes that might not fit into a suitcase.)

We did have our car seat not make the transfer on a flight summer before last, but the airline did have a few loaners which worked for the drive to where we were staying, and then the airline delivered our seat to us when it finally arrived.

Also, for some reason, the one time we tried gate checking something (a stroller), it wasn't delivered to us at the gate when we arrived; it went to the baggage claim area. It was very annoying because that particular airport had a long hike to baggage claim, and we had a 14 month old who liked to walk but not that far, but weighed too much to comfortably carry for any length of time, especially while dragging the bags we had carried on.

 

[Shelebeen]

I will never check my carseat/booster as luggage. If it does not make it on your plane you are stuck at the airport with no way to leave.

Actually not quite true... happened to us when we went to Hawaii at Christmas. The airline has them and must provide one to you if yours does not make it. They will rent one from the rental companies if necessary. Sadly it happened on the way home too! The only luggage we have ever had not make it to our destination or home when we did funnily enough. At any rate... My biggie is I don't want to have to haul 2 booster seats through the airport, through security, etc. I already have enough with my kids and their crap . We always used our carseats on the plane when they were smaller though.

 

[disneymayz]

Which backless booster is airplane certified?

Sorry if I confused you. The backless one is going to be packed in the suitcase. My son's is not a backless but is airplane certified so we take it on and use it. I wish they made a airplane certified backless one. Sorry again.

 

[disneymayz]

I will never check my carseat/booster as luggage. If it does not make it on your plane you are stuck at the airport with no way to leave.

I always gate check- ie, you carry it to the plane and leave it on the gangway just outside the airplane doors (where the door to the outside is). You need to get a gate check tag from the desk at your gate.

And please never use a booster on a plane (or anywhere there is only a lap belt). Boosters are ment to be used with a shoulder possitioning belt, NOT a lap belt. If you use a booster with just a lap belt you would cause more harm to your child than good if in a crash.

If you have a 5 point harness boster seat it can be used with a lap belt. These are the ones that are Airplane certified.

 

[Kirabird]

Last year we put each one in a large strong garbage bag, taped a large label on it w/ packing tape, and tied it up w/ packing tape too. No problems at all. They checked it right thru

 

[minniebeth]

Last year we put each one in a large strong garbage bag, taped a large label on it w/ packing tape, and tied it up w/ packing tape too. No problems at all. They checked it right thru

This is a good ideas since most airlines are no longer providing the bags for you.

 

[usschmidt]

Sorry to butt in, but is CA law now 8 yrs and 80lbs? When did it change? I'm so confused.

I live in CA and the law is 6yo or 60lbs for a child safety seat. Many states are moving to the 8 or 80...which I think is a safer choice personally.