The booster seat dilemma

[kjs1976]

Hi
Traveling with DD 4.5 who will not need a kid seat of any kind for the airplane this year. However, we will need a booster for the rental car. Yes, I could rent one from the rental car place for $12 a day but think I have come across discussion on here about people buying them once they get to their destination? Or is it possible to check a booster for free when boarding the plane? Any ideas of how to make this the least expensive and easiest as possible would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mel522]

I know you can check car seats on planes for free. I would assume it is the same for booster seats, since it is a safety issue for traveling after you get off the plane.

 

[Jkpark]

You can check booster seats for free

 

[kjs1976]

Yea! I am also reading on a few sites that you can count them as a carry on and stow in the overhead.

 

[Diegosmom]

Southwest counts it as a piece of luggage if you check it. But I was allowed to carryon a booster I think I counted it as DS carryon...

 

[Jkpark]

Wow - southwest had always allowed me to check it and not count it against my 2 free. I jest assumed they all did.

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

There is always a travel carseat, something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221087675353
We used one of these on our trip a few months back for BOTH our toddler and our 4 year old! They fit right into our luggage and were perfect to just pull out and pop into the shuttle and rental car! I really didn't want to have to bring both of their huge car seats to lug around with us, so these were perfect!

 

[RavenRequiem]

Another option is the BubbleBum inflatable booster. I can't post a link but google it.

 

[3monkeys4me]

Please don't check your carseat. There are dozens of pictures online of seats that were destroyed by airlines. Even worse, many seats get hairline fractures that are not easily visible.

A couple of options are
1. use a harnessed seat if you have one she can fit in

2. Use a travel carseat like the ride safe travel vest or bubble bum

3. Use a high backed booster that comes apart like that evenflo or graco boosters. Pack the high back portion in a suitcase well padded with clothing and carry on the backless booster portion.

4. Buy an inexpensive lowback booster (the harmony youth booster sold at walmart is lightweight and less than $14)


My personal opinion is with a 4.5 year old options 1 or 3 are the best.

Good luck and have a great vacation!

Signed
Your friendly CPST.

 

[kjs1976]

There is always a travel carseat, something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221087675353
We used one of these on our trip a few months back for BOTH our toddler and our 4 year old! They fit right into our luggage and were perfect to just pull out and pop into the shuttle and rental car! I really didn't want to have to bring both of their huge car seats to lug around with us, so these were perfect!

I've never seen Anyang like this! Very interesting. But won't work for us..dd is very tall and 48 lbs.

 

[kjs1976]

Please don't check your carseat. There are dozens of pictures online of seats that were destroyed by airlines. Even worse, many seats get hairline fractures that are not easily visible.

A couple of options are
1. use a harnessed seat if you have one she can fit in

2. Use a travel carseat like the ride safe travel vest or bubble bum

3. Use a high backed booster that comes apart like that evenflo or graco boosters. Pack the high back portion in a suitcase well padded with clothing and carry on the backless booster portion.

4. Buy an inexpensive lowback booster (the harmony youth booster sold at walmart is lightweight and less than $14)


My personal opinion is with a 4.5 year old options 1 or 3 are the best.

Good luck and have a great vacation!

Signed
Your friendly CPST.

All great options, thanks! However, she outgrew our harnessed seat last summer.mso we now have the high back with detachable booster seat. I think it looks like we will be carrying the booster on with us. At least we can...I just didn't want to have to pay for one with a rental car or even run to walmartbor target and spend $20+ on one when we get there.

 

[kjs1976]

Upon sorting through some wording, it looks like Frontier, which we will be flying, states that there are no fees to check it and it is allowed as a carry on. So I think we will be good either way. Boy, saved $90 bucks on our rental car today, found we had a free update on our gps so did not have to pay the $50 upgrade fee, and found out we can bring the booster for free! Great day! But, I suppose this means more souvinirs for us...

 

[laura&fam]

If you plan to have your child sit in the seat on the plane the booster must have an airline sticker. Our sticker came off on a trip and they would not let us use it on the return. Somehow they thought it would be safer for our barely 2 year old to have nothing than a seat without the sticker.

 

[mama2dutchies]

Hi
Traveling with DD 4.5 who will not need a kid seat of any kind for the airplane this year. However, we will need a booster for the rental car. Yes, I could rent one from the rental car place for $12 a day but think I have come across discussion on here about people buying them once they get to their destination? Or is it possible to check a booster for free when boarding the plane? Any ideas of how to make this the least expensive and easiest as possible would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Just check it.. IF you need to just bring the bottom not the high back.. The law states;
"Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.

Children under the age of 8 who are 4' 9" or taller may be secured by a safety belt in the back seat."


The CHP I know in Sacramento prefer to see kids in high back boosters but cannot ticket as long as the child is fastened in a booster.

it's really easy to plane side check it OR even to check with luggage.

 

[BayGirl22]

If you plan to have your child sit in the seat on the plane the booster must have an airline sticker. Our sticker came off on a trip and they would not let us use it on the return. Somehow they thought it would be safer for our barely 2 year old to have nothing than a seat without the sticker.

You cannot use a belt positioning booster (high back or low back) on an airplane. They are designed to position a seat belt with a shoulder strap, not a lap belt alone. Only a harnessed seat like a convertible or infant seat should be used on an airplane.

I'm surprised they let you use the booster on the way out. It's not FAA approved to use it in booster mode.
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

While booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in vehicles, FAA prohibits passengers from bringing these types of restraints on airplanes for use during taxi, take-off and landing. These restraints should be checked as baggage. Also, supplemental lap restraints or "belly belts" are not approved for use in both airplanes and vehicles in the United States.

 

[mrswh]

I would not check the booster. As previously mentioned, there is a pretty good chance it will come out the other end broken. (Though I don't think it really matters on a tush booster if there are unnoticeable hairline cracks - I think that applies only to a car seat vs. a booster, which is intended only to lift the kid up, not restrain the kid.) But also, there is the chance that it doesn't come out at your destination at all.

I don't understand how you would buy one when you arrive - how would you get your DD to the store where you buy it??

I'd take it as a carry on - it's easy enough to carry and stow that there's no point in risking it.

P.S. State laws re: car seats/boosters don't necessarily reflect the *safest* way to get a child from point A to point B. Just the minimum required.