Stupid question

[seagodess]

Our trip to DL is going to be DS's first plane ride. We will be taking a low back booster seat for the shuttle and taxi while in CA (he wont be using it on the plane). I just dont know what to do with it before that. Do we pack it? I've heard you can take it on the plane with you. Is it counted as a carry on?

 

[starshine514]

I believe it would count as a carry-on since you are not allowed to use it on the plane and it would have to be stowed. We always check ours. Every airline we've flown has always allowed our car/booster seats to be checked for free. Some airlines put them in a clear plastic bag, but not all do, so you might want to bring a clear bag to put it in if your airline doesn't provide them.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You can check it at the gate for free. I would do this over checking it with the rest of the baggage unless it's in a bag because it won't get banged around as much.

 

[SpaceMan5]

I agree with the previous posts, check the booster. We fly Alaska and they have always put the seat in a heavy duty plastic bag at no charge. (It is kind of funny saying no charge and airline in the same sentence. It won't be long before they starting charging for this as well).
I would call the airline that you are flying to see what they do in this situation.

 

[seagodess]

I agree with the previous posts, check the booster. We fly Alaska and they have always put the seat in a heavy duty plastic bag at no charge. (It is kind of funny saying no charge and airline in the same sentence. It won't be long before they starting charging for this as well).
I would call the airline that you are flying to see what they do in this situation.

We are flying Southwest, and they dont charge to check bags. I guess I COULD do it as a carry on since we each get one plus personal item.

 

[sonnyjane]

We are flying Southwest, and they dont charge to check bags. I guess I COULD do it as a carry on since we each get one plus personal item.

But it doesn't HAVE to count as your personal item. As PP's mentioned, if you don't want to check it when you arrive at the airport because you're afraid it will be roughly handled, you can gate-check it before you board the plane. Just tell the people at gate that you'd like to gate-check the booster. They will put a tag on it and you'll walk with it down the jetway and leave it there before you take your seats. They will put it under the plane, and then when you arrive, you will pick it up right there outside the door of the plane.

 

[seagodess]

But it doesn't HAVE to count as your personal item. As PP's mentioned, if you don't want to check it when you arrive at the airport because you're afraid it will be roughly handled, you can gate-check it before you board the plane. Just tell the people at gate that you'd like to gate-check the booster. They will put a tag on it and you'll walk with it down the jetway and leave it there before you take your seats. They will put it under the plane, and then when you arrive, you will pick it up right there outside the door of the plane.

Oh ok that sounds good. I didn't know what gate checking was. Sorry, we dont fly much

 

[sonnyjane]

Oh ok that sounds good. I didn't know what gate checking was. Sorry, we dont fly much

No problem. Same applies with strollers

 

[Pesky]

There are padded carseat bags available to buy (I think ours cost $35 from Wal-mart). If you check it, it does not count against your luggage allotment as car seats are required by law. The lovely thing about that is that I normally put the carseat in and then put some extras like diapers, dirty clothes (when a return flight), blankets and the like in the seat itself, zip it up and check the whole thing. Little extra storage space. Just depends on how nervous you are about the ordinarily rough baggage handling versus carrying the booster through the airport.

 

[SpaceMan5]

Oh ok that sounds good. I didn't know what gate checking was. Sorry, we dont fly much

Nothing to be sorry about. This is the best place to get information on anything Disney. The people on this disboard are super helpful.

 

[seagodess]

There are padded carseat bags available to buy (I think ours cost $35 from Wal-mart). If you check it, it does not count against your luggage allotment as car seats are required by law. The lovely thing about that is that I normally put the carseat in and then put some extras like diapers, dirty clothes (when a return flight), blankets and the like in the seat itself, zip it up and check the whole thing. Little extra storage space. Just depends on how nervous you are about the ordinarily rough baggage handling versus carrying the booster through the airport.

Its only a $10 seat, so its not a big deal. We really only got it for this trip. He has a high back booster in both our car's, but we didn't want to lug those things around.

 

[dismom73]

I know you've already got plenty of answers to your question...I just wanted to ad that if you do gate check it, don't forget to wait on the jetway for them to bring it up from the belly of the plane. They only do this for car seats and strollers. But I can't tell you how many times parents have gate checked car seats and then forgot to wait for them and went straight to baggage claim. If you are flying Southwest and get an early boarding number I would just bring it on with you and stow it in the overhead bind. That way you don't have to worry about forgetting it, or it getting lost or damaged.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

I believe it would count as a carry-on since you are not allowed to use it on the plane and it would have to be stowed.

You're not allowed to use carseats on planes anymore?

 

[limace]

I don't think you can use a low booster seat on the plane. They are designed to make the child tall enough for a shoulder belt to fit and therefore don't work on a plane, with a lap belt only. Car seats say on them whether or not they are approved for flying.

 

[larina]

You're not allowed to use carseats on planes anymore?

I think it is the booster type seats that aren't allowed on the plane, but someone will know better than me, I'm sure.

 

[dismom73]

I don't think you can use a low booster seat on the plane. They are designed to make the child tall enough for a shoulder belt to fit and therefore don't work on a plane, with a lap belt only. Car seats say on them whether or not they are approved for flying.

This is correct. Low booster seats cannot be used since they are not supposed to be used with a lap belt only. Most other types of car seats can be used. The have to have sticker on the side saying they are FAA approved for use on an aircraft. Also, car seats do not count as one of your carryons.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

Interesting. I've only flown with 5-point harness seats on a plane. It never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to use a booster seat on board. Good to know.

 

[limace]

You can fly with your high back, 5 point booster if you have one. We have a Britax booster that has the option to use with 5 point harness, or with shoulder belt. It's FAA approved.