We're going on vacation in a few days and will by flying to our destination. We need to take our son's car seat (Britax Boulevard) and stroller (Maclaren Volo). We have purchased a seat for him on the plane. I need your advice on the best way to transport the car seat and stroller.
When he was younger we took the car seat on the plane for him, but since it's so big, we found out he can kick the seat in front of him now - not fun. We used a CARES harness on our last flight with him and loved it. We didn't need a car seat on that vacation because we were visiting family who had an extra car seat.
We don't dare not take the car seat and risk the rental car agency not having a safe, clean car seat available, so we'd still like to take ours along. We have a GoGo Kidz which we can attach to it and use it like a stroller through the airport.
So, how should we get the items safely to our destination? Is it safer to check the car seat the ticket counter or the gate? I'm worried about damage to it and we'll only have a car seat bag to cover it (we no longer have the box it came in). If we use the GoGo Kidz with the car seat and check it at the gate, how should we pack our stroller? Put it in a duffel bag with items around it?
We've flown many times but this is the first time we've needed both items at our destination so we'd welcome all advice. Please let me know if you need anything clarified. Thanks!
This is another vote for the GATE. We flew all the way to Hawaii and back (with connecting flights) and it worked out great! SO CONVENIENT!
I also checked my carseat as luggage once and it did not arrive at my destination. It was the next day before my car seat arrived. I had my own car at the airport, but the airport still loaned me a carseat from the rental car places. However, I would highly recommend checking it at the gate, if you can. Then you gaurantee that you have it at your destination.
Just another story...a friend of mine came here to visit me with her daughter. She counted on the carseat from the car rental place and it was too small for her daughter. I ended up borrowing a bigger car seat from a friend to fit her daughter while they were here.
-L.
If he will be on it via gogo kids, check it at the gate and make sure that there is proper ID on it.
In big letters place the flight, your id, destination etc. Also have the counter tag ig in front of you.
YOU MUST GET THERE EARLY!!!
Depends if you need them in the airport - checking at the gate is very easy. I wore my guy on my back when I was traveling alone and carried my non-rolling carry ons in the car seat w/go-kids attached.
One thing - if you check the stroller, be sure to see if it works AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE YOU LEAVE. I had my guy in a baby carrier so I didn't check it, and didn't realize a wheel was twisted till days later - too late for reimbursement from the airlines.
We have a Recaro Signo (also rather large) which we have traveled with. We put it in a big, heavy duty black trash bag and seal the top (in front of the gate agent, with their tape). We also tape one of their little paper luggage tags with our name and cell phone number, and the address of where we'll be to the outside, and also attach another one to one of the car seat shoulder straps. Make sure to fasten the straps and make them as tight as they'll go. Don't throw the bag away when you get to the other end...just stuff it into the seat back pocket or into the outer pocket on your suitcase and use it on the way home. Also, if you choose to haul the car seat through the airport rather than checking it (it might not fit through the X-ray machine), you can check your stroller either at the gate or when you first check it. I'm pretty sure that you can still check "assistive devices" (strollers, car seats, wheel chairs, etc.) for free. You can do the same heavy garbage bag thing with your stroller if you're that worried about it (I would....we forgot the bag once and the car seat was so disgusting with who knows what that I didn't want my daughter sitting it it!). Good luck! -- C. --
Check the car seat at the ticket counter, and check the stroller at the gate. You will not be charged extra baggage fees because a car seat is a federally required safety item. We have flown so many times now that I can tell you you definitely don't want to lug a car seat around the airport, and the stroller is a must-have and is great when you're deplaning. If you are worried about damage to your items, take pictures of them before the flight. We use cable/zip ties to secure the straps on the car seat, and it's always come out just fine. Once in Atlanta a baggage handler wasn't careful and damaged my stroller, but the airline bought me a new one-that's where the pictures come in handy. You are right not to trust a car rental agency to have a proper safety seat-that's a gamble every time. I could tell you stories-but that's why we always take her car seat. Have a great vacation!
When I flew on Southwest last Oct.'08.I was dropped off at the curb side baggage checkin , since I already had my ticket.I did see several people there checking in their luggage, and 2 had strollers or car seats. I saw them putting it into a huge sturdy travel bag, to keep it clean, and protected. I do not know where the bags came from. Maybe you buy them at Baby stores, or maybe they are furnished by airlines, to keep the things from trying to unfold . Sorry not much help, but at least they did not have to pull or drag the extras, and baggage through to the upstairs ticket counter.
Have a fun trip,
B.
The last time I flew with my daughter I checked her car seat at the ticket counter with the rest of my luggage and didn't have a bag for it.... for some reason it didn't make it on my flight when we arrived the airline loaned me a car seat until they delivered mine to me a few hours later. Other than it being delayed it was not damaged or anything. I checked my stroller at the gate. I was flying by myself with my daughter so I needed to use it to get to the gate. Before we got on the plane they gave me a tag to put on it. We dropped it off as we got on the plane and it was right there when we got off.. hope this helps.
Check both at the gate. These are always good items to have with you at the airport. Better to check at the gate and know it will arrive in one piece with you.
I would like to know on this too. I'm due in May and my husband's family lives in Brazil, and we will be visiting at least once a year, and I definately don't leave the carseat behind, and I don't know how I would go anywhere down there without a stroller!
I would check the carseat and stroller at the gate this way they are both there when you arrive.
An option is asking the attendant at the gate counter if any bulkhead seats are open. Those seats are usually reserved for handicap or anyone needing more space. This would be a great option for you so you can put the carseat in the plane and your son won't be able to kick the seat in front of him.
The airline does not assign those seats until you get to the gate counter.
When we have traveled, we checked the car seat. They always took great care of it and never had an issue. With the stroller, we always took it through security and checked it plane side. It has been great. We left it at either the gate or right before we got onto the plane. By the time we got off the plane, it was ready for us.
