Taking a Car Seat as Baggage on a Plane

[Melora]

I am heading off to Texas tomorrow for 4 days and only taking my 3 year old. It will cost me $45 to rent a car seat from the car company so I'm just going to take my own with me.

I could not find a "travel bag" for it at any of the stores around here so I am wondering if I should just stick it in a big duffel bag or is that even necessary? Can I just carry it in and check it in at the counter?

Thanks!

 

[debster812]

We checked DS's high back booster in January of 03. The nice folks at Southwest put it in the BIGGEST clear plastic bag I have ever seen and just sent it on through.

We also put duct tape on the bottom of the seat, with our name and address since we were flying into Orlando, and there could have been lots of the same seat coming off.

Our seat suffered no damage whatsoever.

 

[AZKathy]

If there are no big bags (have not done this for a few years now and they did not offer the big bags when we checked our car seat), make sure your straps are all secure on the car seat or they could get stuck on the conveyor belt.

 

[Kimberle]

We've flown with Brittany seat many times. I've never "wrapped" it. Sometimes the airline wraps in in plastic. Sometimes they just put it in a big open tray.

It's never been damaged.

I've watched the employees loading the seats onto planes many times. They go on last and the handlers seem pretty gentle with them.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Can you put your 3 year old in the car seat on the plane? Or you can gate check it. I would always be worried about hidden cracks and things that you cannot see that would make the seat unsafe. JMHO.

 

[Melora]

Thanks for the info everybody!

Jenn Lynn.. I do not think I could put Jeffy in the car seat for 3+ hours in the plane! He would lose his mind, and then take me and everyone around us with him!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have done it with DD 4 times. It was fine when she wasn't tired, but she would not take a nap during one flight and that was HELL! It took every toy and treat I had brought to keep her from freaking out! LOL! I will only do morning flights from now on.

 

[MosMom]

Everytime we have done this, they give us a thick durable plastic bag to put it in and we've never had a problem. I've checked our carseat/s about 8 times and they always come out just fine.