Questions about Carseat on SWA?

[vossjemi]

We'll be flying SWA first time this saturday. We have 2 kids, DS3 and DD5. We'll be getting a minivan so we are bringing a car seat for our son and a booster seat for our daughter. We have never done this whole travel with car seat thing before, so I have some questions.

1. Would you normally bring both on board so the kids could use them on the plane? Can you even use the toddler seat? Or would you gate check them? If you would gate check, would you just do the car seat and put the toddler seat in overhead bin if can't use it on board or what?

2. If we gate check, what is the typical procedure? Please tell me exactly what you do.

Thanks!

 

[madge]

If I'm not mistaken, you won't use the booster for your older child on the plane, unless it's FAA approved. My DD is 3, turning 4 on the trip, and we are checking her booster seat with the luggage. Earlier this year, we used her seat. It was familar to her, and hept her in one place on the plane, LOL.

I would check both seats with the luggage.

 

[DisFan331]

They will probably not allow the toddler seat on board. If there is not a harness system it is not FAA approved. You can get a travel bag for it and check it with your luggage. You could gate check it, but that is no guarantee that it will come back unharmed! You will need to let the attendant at the counter know that you need to gate check the seat and they will give you a ticket for it. You can do this with a stroller as well if you are taking one. The other seat should be fine and you should be able to board first and install the seat for your 3yo.

 

[vossjemi]

I've heard that you don't want to check car seats with luggage for exactly those reasons....damage to them, although hubby would probably prefer we check the carseat so we don't have to lug it all the way to the gate.

I guess I'm just worried about my 3 year old's safety and damage to the seat so I thought maybe we should use it on the plane or gate check it. I guess that is why I thought about gate checking instead of standard checking. I probably won't "buy" a bag to hold the seat but does the airport have plastic baggies or something to protect the car seats or should I bring one to put the toddler seat in and gate check?

If we decide to check the car seat/toddler seat with our luggage, can we just put them in a clear plastic bag for their protection? I know it won't protect against getting banged up, but maybe at least reduce grease smears and the like.

 

[momsully]

Many of the airlines have plastic bags you can use at the airport. If not just use a large garbage bag. At least it will protect the seats from dirt and water.

 

[JennsBabySky]

I've heard that you don't want to check car seats with luggage for exactly those reasons....damage to them, although hubby would probably prefer we check the carseat so we don't have to lug it all the way to the gate.

I guess I'm just worried about my 3 year old's safety and damage to the seat so I thought maybe we should use it on the plane or gate check it. I guess that is why I thought about gate checking instead of standard checking. I probably won't "buy" a bag to hold the seat but does the airport have plastic baggies or something to protect the car seats or should I bring one to put the toddler seat in and gate check?

If we decide to check the car seat/toddler seat with our luggage, can we just put them in a clear plastic bag for their protection? I know it won't protect against getting banged up, but maybe at least reduce grease smears and the like.

I love using a carseat for my little ones on the plane, they are used to sitting in the carseat in the car, so they will actually stay put. When my dd was 3 and younger, she was a nightmare when she was on our laps in the plane. She wanted down so that she could explore -- Ack! Plus it is so much safer if they are in the carseat. The belt on the plane is designed to hold adults. Since you are already bringing the carseat and have the seat for your 3 year old, you may as well use it.

If you decide to check it, I would gate check it rather than check it with luggage. A bag will reduce the stains to the seat, but not prevent structural damage. If large and heavy pieces of luggage land on the carseat or if it is majorly mishandled by the luggage handlers, it could actually cause invisible structural damage that could cause it to fail in a crash -- Yikes!

Like the others have said, you can't use a booster on the plane. Airplanes only have lapbelts and boosters need shoulder belts. Plus the seats on the planes are designed to push forward, so boosters are not at all safe on a plane.

 

[catherines_mama]

First off Congrats on your upcoming trip! I fly SWA with my lil one (4 1/2 now) and here are my takes on your questions:

1. Would you normally bring both on board so the kids could use them on the plane? Can you even use the toddler seat? Or would you gate check them? If you would gate check, would you just do the car seat and put the toddler seat in overhead bin if can't use it on board or what?
We've always checked the seats with main baggage. Flew with DD when she was 2 and she got her own seat next to the window. NO they won't allow toddlers to sit in toddler seats on planes. Unless the seat is FAA certified, they cannot sit in it (no shoulder belt, so what's the point to boost them up).

2. If we gate check, what is the typical procedure? Please tell me exactly what you do.
When you check-in your luggage count each seat as a piece of luggage. They will tag it and send it on its way. Make sure you do a name tag on them also as "many bags look alike" so do carseats. This has NEVER been a problem for us.