LEAVING MONDAY MORNING - booster seat airplane question....

[storybookmum]

Hello, I need a quick answer, please!

My 6 y/o dd uses a short booster, you know, just the little backless seat with the handles that the seat belt slides around. I thought I could get it into the bottom of the stroller basket and gate check it that way, but just discovered it doesn't fit.

Will they let me gate check it? I know she can't use it on the airplane, that's fine, but I want to bring it to Florida for the rental car, and I can't possibly cram the thing into one of the suitcases.

Any help would be appreciated. We leave first thing Monday morning, on Spirit.

TIA,

Kris

 

[CTillberg]

Gate checking a car seat or booster seat is done all the time. We will be doing that if we go with a rental car instead of a town car. There's no way I am going to use up my allotted luggage allowance for a required safety device.

Have a great time!
Cathy

 

[NotUrsula]

You can gate-check it, no problem. You might want to ask at the main check-in desk for a bag for it, though; they usually don't keep the clear plastic bags at the gate area.

 

[mobetsy]

You can definitely gate check it. Do make sure you have your address & name written on the underside, or an address label taped to it. You also can let her bring it aboard as a carryon, in a small duffel/bag or "unwrapped"; I've found backless boosters fit easily in the overhead or under the seat.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've also seen people gate check the backless boosters or bring them on as carryon. I have a fullsized booster and will put it in a bag and check it. We only have one bag each that we are checking and I can then use the booster seat bag for overflow clothes when returning home (we never seem to be able to pack as tightly returning home from vacation, not to mention we buy things on vacation).

T&B

 

[CarolA]

I don't think I really understand this. Why would you want to lug it through the airport if you can't use it? Just put it in a box or bag and check it. Gate checked items go under the plane with the regular stuff. It's not like they get extra special gentle treatment if they are gate checked.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We've checked both backless boosters with no problem. We didn't bother to bag or box them, they stuck the stickers right on them.

It did make me smile to see them come up as luggage. No chance of someone mistaking them that's for sure.

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by CarolA
I don't think I really understand this. Why would you want to lug it through the airport if you can't use it? Just put it in a box or bag and check it. Gate checked items go under the plane with the regular stuff. It's not like they get extra special gentle treatment if they are gate checked.

Is that true?? I thought the whole point of gate checking them was that they didn't have to go on the usual conveyor belt and get bounced around (think Toy Story II)

I have two full booster seats that I need to bring with me on Saturday. They will fit into one bag, but should I just put them in clear bags?? I'm just not sure how I'm going to carry two rather large booster seats in the equivelant of trash bags.

Thanks for any advice...

Sorcha

 

[NotUrsula]

No, it's not true. As long as you reclaim them at each stop, gate-checked items do not pass through the bag room, and the only machinery they come into contact with is the conveyor ramp that you can see positioned next to the plane for taking pieces off the jetway. It is possible that a handler may drop them, but that is the only similarity.

Depending on the type of aircraft, gate-checked items may be placed into a smaller separate section of the hold. In all cases, they are the last items placed into the hold at a given stop, which means that they are not being buried under tons (literally) of suitcases. They might bounce around in that position, but which do you think more likely to do more damage, possible bouncing or certain crushing?

 

[CarolA]

It may or may not be true....

Gate checked items can be processed one of two ways. It will either be checked to your destination or returned to the gate. Luggage for example is often checked to the destination and you must get it at baggage claim. It will be up to the airline what they do with the booster seat. You can make a request to have it returned and normally they will honor it for booster seats and strollers, but not luggage for example.

You are right it does not go thru the baggage claim, but it is under the plane and gets bounced around just like the rest of the luggage down there.

I see a lot of car seats coming off the conveyer belt and most of them look OK to me. (Not too long ago I saw a family with Quints and one other little one at BWI, trust me they had to check the 6 car seats they had. There is no way you can haul 6 car seats LOL!)

Since I have heard stories on these boards of strollers being damaged in gate check I would just not assume that the "gate check" is all that safe.

Also, if you take it to the gate it counts as a carryon. Here in Nashville they count and you are not getting by with ONE extra carry on regardless of if you plan to gate check it or not. (I call them the luggage Nazis)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

sorchamac, what type high back boosters do you have? I have one that is very lightweight material, seems like the foam stuff in bike helmets, and that I would never bring on a plane since it seems so squishable. I have another one which used to be a todder seat, but without the straps is used as a booster, that I will bring.

What I have used to carry my seat is a large gear bag for baseball supplies (which I need to find and clean out). It has a handle, which will make it easier to carry. If you don't have something like this I think I would let them bag the seats at the airport so they are not so big and bulky in one plastic bag.

T&B