How do you take a booster seat on a plane trip with you?

[jacobsmommy]

I know we'll probably have to check our booster seat with our luggage, but how do we do that? It's just so much easier to lug the booster seat around than it is to lug our big car seat around. Any advice on how to do this?

 

[DangerMouse]

Probably not the fanciest solution, but we wrapped ours in a big plastic bag and checked it. Easier than carrying it on.

 

[wendypooh22]

We stuffed ours into a large duffel bag and checked it in...

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Our 6yo still uses a 5pt harness booter so we usually have it strapped and sitting on top of our rollaway carry-on until we she uses it on the plane. Otherwise, I'd get a bag from the checkin counter and check it in as luggage. Not sure if you're planning to use th booster on the plane, but if you are, make sure it says airline approved somewhere on it otherwiser you'll have to gate check it.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I am not comfortable checking a car seat w/ luggage. I don't want to arrive and find out the booster didn't make it w/ us!

Each person is allowed carryons.. I would get a low back booster seat ($15-$20) and carry it on the plane... putting it in the overhead compartment.

That way I know that my child AND the booster seat will arrive at the same place at the same time.

Plus, the way they throw the luggage around these days, I wouldn't feel comfortable using a car seat that had been put through that (especially since we need to replace a car seat if it's been in a crash!).

 

[scooter15]

We bought a carseat bag from babiesrus. Its like a duffle bag and it also has shoulder harnasses so it acts like a backpack and it even has wheels so you can roll it on the floor. We found this to be the easiest because our oldest doesn't need a carseat on a plane but he needs a booster in the car. We always check in with our luggage because it would be too much for us to carry it to the terminal and we have two others who are using car seats on the plane.

 

[jacobsmommy]

We can't use it on the plane, but I think our three year old will be fine with out it. He didn't use a car seat going to Florida last year. It's the Graco smartseat and it comes apart. Will it fit as a carry on?

 

[noryglory]

If you are concerned with losing it in the checked luggage, just lug it with you to your gate and gate check it like you would a stroller. No big deal. That way you are sure you have it and you won't have to deal with it on the plane anyhow.

We've checked them like previous posters said and they will provide a thick plastic bag that they then put your luggage sticker around to identify it as yours. Be careful of all the crackers and candy that will fall out into the bag and get smashed into the seat!

 

[jacobsmommy]

And you just get a bag from the people at baggage check? That's probably what we'll do, since that will be one less thing to take to the terminal with us.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

And you just get a bag from the people at baggage check? That's probably what we'll do, since that will be one less thing to take to the terminal with us.

Not sure if you're talking about gate checking, but if you are. You'll have to take the booster seat with you to the terminal all the way through to the end of the taramc right before you get on the plane.

 

[noryglory]

And you just get a bag from the people at baggage check? That's probably what we'll do, since that will be one less thing to take to the terminal with us.

Yup. When they ask you how many bags you are checking include the seat in that number and ask them for a bag. They'll get you all set.

 

[MateasMom]

They likely will not let you take it on the plane to put in overhead BTW. I've heard that from many parents, that they don't want it on the plane for any reason.

We gate check ours because I'm afraid they'll get lost with the luggage (though we HAVE luggage checked when I'm alone and can't carry the extra baggage to the gate, and been fine). When you check in your luggage, the agent there has huge durable plastic bags. We grab one of those and then when you enter at your gate and the agent welcoming you to the plane will direct you to the proper place to put it (bottom of the stairs or end of the walkway depending on the situation). When the girls were smaller we also gate checked the stroller. They put them on and take them off like they would a wheelchair. It is the last thing stored and the first thing taken out, it will be wiating for you a the bottom of the stairs or front of the walkway when you get off the plane.

 

[Barbday62]

I would gate check too because my daughter flew from Phoenix to Seatte and sure enough the seat was lost. She had to drive home with no car seat. They delivered it the next day.

 

[Minniemouse07]

They likely will not let you take it on the plane to put in overhead BTW. I've heard that from many parents, that they don't want it on the plane for any reason.

We gate check ours because I'm afraid they'll get lost with the luggage (though we HAVE luggage checked when I'm alone and can't carry the extra baggage to the gate, and been fine). When you check in your luggage, the agent there has huge durable plastic bags. We grab one of those and then when you enter at your gate and the agent welcoming you to the plane will direct you to the proper place to put it (bottom of the stairs or end of the walkway depending on the situation). When the girls were smaller we also gate checked the stroller. They put them on and take them off like they would a wheelchair. It is the last thing stored and the first thing taken out, it will be wiating for you a the bottom of the stairs or front of the walkway when you get off the plane.

You can't put a full sized high back booster seat in the overhead, but you can do so w/ just the small low back booster, like this one. As a car seat tech I speak to many parents (and techs that are parents) that do this and have yet to hear that they weren't allowed to bring the low back booster onboard as a carryon.

 

[mattmommy]

The skycap will provide you with a clear plastic bag to put the booster in. Once we forgot to ask for a bag and one of the tiny arm cushions got lost. No big deal. We've checked in booster many times and it has never gotten lost.

Now remembering to BRING the booster. Last trip we parked our car at the airport, took a monorail to the terminal, was at the check-in when we realized we didn't have it. DS is 6 so we felt safe enough until we stopped at a WalMart on the way to WDW. $14 for a brand new one.

FYI Hertz will give free booster/carseat to AAA members.

 

[jacobsmommy]

Can you gate check two things? I was already planning on gate checking our stroller...