Rent a car seat?

[RandiB]

I was wondering...

To rent a car seat is about $50 for our trip. Should I do it? I have a DD who will be two on the day after we fly home.

The idea of checking my $70.00 car seat is too much for me. It's big. My mom is paying for the rental car though, and $60 seems like a lot of $$$ to me right now. I can barely affors to get spending $$ for the trip together (with Christmas, hours cut at work and a wedding to go to).

Has anyone ever checked a full size car-seat on the plane? Is it trouble? My mom will be with me, so she can help with DD2. We will use the curbside check in and the car park shuttle also.

We are going for five days.

 

[tjmw2727]

The one time we rented a carseat with the rental car it was in awful condition. We used it only long enough to get to a wallmart and purchase another.

It isn't required but both the FAA and AAP recommend that you use a carseat on the aircraft for children under the 40lb mark. This will solve your problem of checking it and keep your dd safe and sound during the flight.

My sil has a great carseat bag that can be carried like a backpack or rolled like a rolling suitcase, she got it at Babies R Us.

I personally wouldn't check a carseat because of the amount of jostling and how the luggage is handled. Many have reported doing so and had no problems though.

You can also gate check the carseat along with the stroller. This requires bringing it to the door of the aircraft where it will be loaded last and unloaded first, hopefully minimizing the likelyhood of damanage.

If it were me, my first choice would be using the CRS on the aircraft, 2nd gate checking it, 3rd checking it through as luggage and 4th renting with the rental car.

TJ

 

[Hannathy]

If you are flying by yourself I would NOT take the carseat on the plane! It is a real hassle especially if you have a plane change to handle a toddler, seat, bags all by yourself. And do not expect any help from the flight attendants. I checked our seat many times and only had a problem one time when I didn't close the adjusting bar all the way and it got dinged. Just put it in a bag to keep it from getting dirty or wet. I flew a tremendous amount without the carseat.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would not rent a carseat. We rented once with a car service and it was a piece of junk. Thank God it was only for the ride to the resort. It still stressed me out to put them in them.

 

[belleandthebeast]

You may want to check the local AAA's in that area. Our AAA rents carseats (toddler seats $50) but when you return the seat, you get your $50 back as long as the seat is in the same condition it was when it left. The seats at our AAA are brand new (purchased w/in the last 6 months, but it depends on your AAA). I use a seat for my niece (keep one in my car), since I have her alot, it's easier to keep one in my car w/out purchasing yet another one (they already have 2).

The only downfall, going to the office to pick it up and drop it off. Check w/ the local AAA's regarding availability of this program.

 

[Pigsty333]

If you are ever stuck - most airlines have "COMP Car Seats"you can acquire from them. I did it recently with my sister-in-law and it worked great. You need to ask one of the reps and they will direct you to the office, fill out a form for the seat and return it back on your way to your flight.

 

[katerkat]

If you are flying by yourself I would NOT take the carseat on the plane! It is a real hassle especially if you have a plane change to handle a toddler, seat, bags all by yourself. And do not expect any help from the flight attendants.

I've only once not had help from the flight attendants. I've done it alone with the carseat/toddler several times now and while it is very difficult, it's doable. Besides, the OP said her mom would be along to help.

I would bring it onto the plane if possible. We use a folding rolling luggage cart to strap the carseat to for hauling around the airport. If not, they make bags for checking carseats.

 

[skowks]

A rental seat would make me nervous. I think it's easier to deal with a seat that you know how to install and use, not to mention you don't have to worry about adjusting the straps for your child's height. We checked our carseat when we went this year and it was no problem. I just tripled garbage bagged it and ducted-taped it up nicely. I made sure to pack a small pair of scissors in our checked baggage and bring extra garbage bags and duct tape for the flight home.

 

[RandiB]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to bring my car seat.

Can I bring it on the plane? I didn't pay for DD2 plane ticket. Will they let her use a carseat?

 

[Kayakmom]

I have done it soooo many times (I have a ds10, ds5, and dd8months) and I've travelled alone with one or all of them many times. When you get to the airport, curbside check, or at the earlist opportunity, check in your checked bags. Keep your stroller and your car seat with you, along with ONE bag that you will carry on. Set your car seat on top of the stroller and carry the baby, or push the stroller and carry the car seat. (I know they're big and heavy, but it's worth it!) When you get to the gate, check if there are any extra seats on the plane. If there are, they will let you take the car seat to put your child in their own seat. If there are not, you get a gate check tag just like you do for the stroller. I ALWAYS gate check the stroller. It's always right there waiting when I get off, along with wheelchairs and other gate checked items. It does take a few minutes to pull yourself together getting everything situated when you pick up the stroller, car seat, etc., but it's worth it!

You could also call the night before or early that morning to find out if it's a full flight. If it is, then you know to just check the car seat up front rather than schlep it through the airport for gate check. I've done it this way, too, if I know the flight is full and the baby does not have a ticket.

Either way, don't stress too much! It's just a short period of inconvenience that will yield a safe and happy trip. I totally would not feel safe with a rental car seat. That's jmo.

I wanted to add that strollers are a huge asset at the airport!!! One time in Tampa I took the tram thing across and when I got to the other side there was about a 2 hour wait and I certainly would have missed my flight. The guy said, "Miss, strollers through here please," and I went right by!!! After that I realized that stroller people always get pulled from the line because you do have to take the baby out of the stroller and they don't want you in the main line holding things up.

 

[Grumpy24]

We also did not want to take a chance on a car rental seat as we had heard the same stories. We rented one from A Baby’s Best Friend there in Orlando, and it was like new. Very clean, delivered to us in a clear protective wrap, and Mike met us at the airport just outside luggage claim. It was so easy and convenient. We did the same thing in reverse to return it.

The folks at ABBF are very friendly and worked it all out with us with our flight information and arrival time, etc., about a week before our flight arrived.

They get great reviews on this board and I can tell you first hand they are excellent.

HTH!

 

[sskem96]

I have flown with a carseat twice. We checked it with our regular luggage, we didn't invest in a cover or anything. We never had a problem.