Traveling with Car Seat Air Tran and other ??s

[kteesmumma]

We will be traveling with a Car Seat and will be checking it in with our Checked Luggage. Is there anything I should do..such as put it in a bag or anything like that. **we are flying AirTran**. We will also be checking our Stroller as well and was wondering the same thing..should we put it in some sort of bag or no?

Another question is what are the car seat laws in Fl? My oldest is 7 but more of the size of a 5-6 year old. SHe currently uses a backless booster seat up here in MASS as it is the law...but I was wondering could I get away with not using it in florida or should I bring that with us as well..and if we bring it..can I just put it in a bag along with the other Carseat and check it as one item?

We will also be traveling with medicine and a small nebulizer machine for my daugthers asthma. I will be taking that with our Carryon. I am wondering do I have to have that stuff seperate or can I just put it all in my Carryon Suitcase? How does the medication need to be packed? Does it have to have her name on it...or just have the name of the medication?

Thanks for all the help

 

[Tara]

Yes, I would highly recommend putting the car seat in a bag to protect it from being soiled.

The FL car seat law states:

Florida law requires children under 5 years of age to be properly restrained no matter where they are seated in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier (child safety seat) or in a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children ages 4 - 5, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. If a safety belt does not fit the child correctly, a booster set should be used to correctly position the lap and shoulder belts once they outgrow forward facing child safety seats (generally at about 40 pounds and 4 years old). Children from approximately 40-80 pounds and under 4'9" in height should ride in a booster seat.

So technically you don't have to bring the booster. But I imagine the child falls into the 40-80 pound AND under 4'9" range, so I'd recommend bringing the booster. Yes, put it in the car seat bag to check it with the car seat, or you can gate check it or probably bring it on the plane and put it in the overhead if you don't have too many other carry-on items.

As for the stroller - I only checked a stroller 1 time, and that time I put it in the original box as I was visiting my sister and giving her the stroller for use with her new baby. Otherwise, I always gate checked it - it's very simple, and gives you use of the stroller throughout the airport. When you get to the gate, ask the gate agent for a stroller tag. Then during boarding, you'll walk down the jetway with the stroller, fold it at the end, and place in in the area for gate checked bags. It will be placed in the cargo area during the flight and then returned outside the door of the plane at the next airport after you land. Having use of the stroller in the airport can be a great thing, especially if your flight is delayed and your little one needs a comfortable place to nap or if you just need him corralled.

For the nebulizer, just make sure it's easy to access as I believe you'll need to take it out of the bag to go through the x-ray machine in security. For the medication, put it in a clear ziploc bag of its own and tell the TSA agent at the x-ray belt that you have medication. The restrictions that apply to carrying on liquids do not apply to medication. They may look at it, they may not.

Hope your travels go smoothly.

 

[kteesmumma]

Thanks so much for the info....

Now I am trying to find a Car Seat Bag that isnt too expensive LOL.

Thanks for the tips on traveling with the neb machine and meds as well

 

[Tara]

Thanks so much for the info....

Now I am trying to find a Car Seat Bag that isnt too expensive LOL.

Thanks for the tips on traveling with the neb machine and meds as well

Target often has one for $19.99 IIRC.

 

[love2disney]

Airtran has always put my car seat in two double plastic bags and it was fine. A car seat bag is usually expensive so the double airtran bags were a good cheap alternative. For the stroller though it wont fit in those bags.

 

[Tara]

Airtran has always put my car seat in two double plastic bags and it was fine. A car seat bag is usually expensive so the double airtran bags were a good cheap alternative. For the stroller though it wont fit in those bags.

Just be aware that all stations don't have the same supplies, so you can be counting on a bag and find they are out.

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

Don't forget to remove anything from the stroller you expect to be there when you get it back (like trays, hoods, or anything else that can come off). I would also recommend using a luggage strap to keep it closed if it doesn't have a great locking mechanism.

We got our Aria twin back with one snack tray missing and no one would help us locate it. DH stopped the woman at the desk who told him it was missing when we put on the plane. The pilot saw us looking for help and went back down to look for it himself and found it. I was so thankful as it would have been a nightmare to replace it.

We are checking carseats for the first time too but after seeing how they tossed our stroller around, I plan to at least cover them to keep them clean.