WestJet+2 year old+confusion= ?????

[Nicolle76]

Hi everyone! WE just booked 2 weeks in Orlando!!! We will be flying out of Winnipeg to Toronto and then on to Orlando on January 14th.
My questions are:
Can I bring her carseat onto the plane? We obviously had to buy a seat for her but just wondering.
I have never flown taking a connecting flight before. We leave Wpg at 6am and arrive in TO at 9:20. Our flight to Orlando leaves at 10:30am. We have to switch planes so I am confused how that all works. We don't need to go through security again do we? Can someone offer me some insight as to how this is going to work?
Thank you - sorry, silly questions!!!
Nicolle

 

[calgarygary]

Can you take it on the plane - that question can be taken 2 ways. If you mean can your 2 year old use it on the plane, yes if you have purchased a seat for your 2 year old and if the seat is approved by the airline (see their sight). If you mean can you take it with you for later use but not on the plane, then the answer is also yes but it will count as a piece of luggage.

In Toronto, you will likely have to clear U.S. customs so it is possible that you will have to pick up your luggage and clear customs and do security again there.

 

[toesmom]

Hi everyone! WE just booked 2 weeks in Orlando!!! We will be flying out of Winnipeg to Toronto and then on to Orlando on January 14th.
My questions are:
Can I bring her carseat onto the plane? We obviously had to buy a seat for her but just wondering.
I have never flown taking a connecting flight before. We leave Wpg at 6am and arrive in TO at 9:20. Our flight to Orlando leaves at 10:30am. We have to switch planes so I am confused how that all works. We don't need to go through security again do we? Can someone offer me some insight as to how this is going to work?
Thank you - sorry, silly questions!!!
Nicolle

I always brought car seat on the plane for my now 4 year old. I've only once had a flight attendant check whether it was legal (and that was on Air Canada). As long as it is valid in Canada, and not a booster seat, it can be used on plane. It's really tough to get it in place properly, almost broke my wrist each time.

But I would definitely do it again if I had to. He sat through most of the flight with no problem. When we last travelled without the car seat (he's now past the 5 point harness), it was fun let me tell you. He really liked that aisle.

Anyhow, I definitely recommend the car seat.

You will have to clear customs in Toronto, but they'll probably have you bypass the regular line because of time constraint for flight.

 

[b-1]

We don't travel with a car seat so I can't help with that, however we just did the same westjet flight this past september.

This is a very tight connection, I did not have any checked bags so I went right through the US connections door and over to customs. To save time at customs I would grab a US customs form at the Winnipeg airport ( Near where you enter US customs, the forms are usually on the check in desk at Northwest) and have the form filled out so you can get right in line in Toronto. Even without having to pick up any checked bags we were at the gate in time to get in line to board. We did have to go through security again.

As for customs, there were many people in line that were obviously headed for Orlando ( ME tags on luggage and people wearing Mickey mouse stuff) The line was long but moved efficiently. There were employees working the line and making sure people moved up. If you are concerned about the time, I would let one of the employees know as soon as you encounter them, maybe they have a fastpass...

 

[Allegro]

Yes you can bring the carseat on the plane. We've travelled with and without when daughter and son were two. I would pick without in a second. There are difficult to put in and a hassle to cart around the airport when you change flights. AND in a carseat it is so very much easier to kick the seat in front of you.

The last time we travelled (DS was 2 yrs 3 months) we checked the carseat. SO much less hassle. He sat with his seatbelt just fine (and he's really a challenging kid) and it was so much easier when he wanted to sleep. He just cuddled up against me.

 

[encinc]

Can't comment on the customs issue, but I'm going to strongly suggest bringing the carseat on board with you. Yes, it's a PITA to haul through the airport and to strap into the seat. But, knowing the way luggage is thrown around by baggage handlers, there's no way I would feel confident my carseat was safe to use after going through that sort of treatment. Not to mention the risk of lost luggage. What would you do if you arrived in Orlando and didn't have a carseat?

 

[nelljay1973]

Can't comment on the customs issue, but I'm going to strongly suggest bringing the carseat on board with you. Yes, it's a PITA to haul through the airport and to strap into the seat. But, knowing the way luggage is thrown around by baggage handlers, there's no way I would feel confident my carseat was safe to use after going through that sort of treatment. Not to mention the risk of lost luggage. What would you do if you arrived in Orlando and didn't have a carseat?

I've flown twice now with the carseat option and the last flight was with one carseat and the other booked as luggage. The airline did not weigh my carseat because depending on the airline they have allowances for certain items like strollers and carseats. Anyways, let me say the option that I will be using is called GATE CHECK. We arrived back in Halifax from 24+ hr flight to have DS carseat not turn up from Toronto. Air Canada told us it didn't make the flight and would be on the next flight...nope, try 5 hrs later which meant we had to stay overnight in a hotel because there was no way I was going to drive DS home in their loaner carseat that they gave us to get to the hotel (We live a fair way from the airport). So if you don't want to lug it on the plane, take the gate check option, that way you at least know it's coming off the plane and also that the car seat is not handled like our bags.

 

[b-1]

Although I have had my gate checked stroller turn up at the gate in Orlando with a missing wheel. and they insisted that I had gate checked the stroller without the 4th wheel! Ahh, fond memories...