??? on Checking a car seat and stroller

[Snoozan]

My DS and his family are flying on SW with a 3yo and 9yo. They are thinking they will check the carseat and booster seat as they will be needed in FL as they are getting a rental car. They will also have a stroller. What is the best way to check all this stuff? Does any of these count as part of their 2 free bags each? I have never travelled with some kiddos so cannot help with their questions. I, personally, would prefer my 3 yo DGS ride in his carseat on the plane so any suggestions on how to convince my DS & DDIL would also be appreciated!

 

[maciec]

It doesn't count towards your checked baggage on Southwest.

Gate checking the stroller is easy peasy

Taking the car seat on the plane was a pain, but so worth it to us for our 20mo ds.

I think that putting the kids in their car seats takes away their impulse to get up and want to run. It's safer for sure.

 

[sam_gordon]

When we flew w/car seat and stroller here's what we did...

1) Make sure the car seat had the sticker on it that okayed it for use on airplanes.
2) Got a travel bag (like this:

)
3) At the airport, took the car seat out of the car, put it in the bag. We put the child in the stroller.
4) At the gate, gate checked the stroller (ask at the desk for a tag), and used the car seat on the plane.

A couple tips...
A) On one flight into MCO, all the gate checked bags, including strollers, were automatically sent to baggage claim. Sort of defeated the purpose of bringing the stroller to the plane, but that's what happened.
B) Put the car seat back into the travel bag OFF the plane. At least the one we got, while not difficult, it did take a few minutes to get the seat into the bag correctly so the bag would zip.

 

[dsneprincess]

SW is good about putting the seats in huge plastic bags. Put a luggage tag on it & away it goes when I check in. Stroller goes to gate where it will be tagged by FA & left at end of jetway. I prefer to check carseat; have used on plane twice & hate it! I will carry it with me if I check bags at WDW & don't want to spend the time in line at airport to check car seat. I honestly don't like taking it on the plane; it is very uncomfortable in the row, child is closer to row ahead & more likely to bang into seat & my kids just act better out of it.
Car & booster seats & strollers do not count against your free baggage.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not bring a car seat for a 3 year old on a plane. A CARES harness or the seatbelt is fine.

You can get baggage allowance information on your airline's website. As already noted, car seats, booster seats and strollers don't count against your baggage allowance.

 

[Madzac]

Our most recent trip we gate checked the car seat and stroller on our way down. This worked fine but we had to haul it through the airports which was a bit of a pain. On the way home, we checked the stroller at no charge with out luggage, much easier. We too bought one of those car seat bags and it worked great. We were able to fit the carseat and a booster for our 5 yr old son too.