S/O flying

Cricket81

Has anyone rented a carseat along with a car? In may we are going to visit family in Detroit. My ILs bought us the tix and they are flying too. LO will be in a lap for the flight. We are renting a car there to go see everyone. I'd love to not have to check a carseat if possible. What have you ladies done?

WasNotWas

We have done it for DS1 and it was fine. I think it was a Britax.

ASmallWonder

Don't risk it for a bunch of reasons.  The first is that they don't guarantee that they'll have an appropriate seat.  You could very well be handed a booster for a baby.  The second is that you  have no way of knowing if it was in an accident (people aren't likely to be very forthcoming about a minor accident to the rental company if it means a hefty charge) and the seats are routinely cleaned with harsh chemicals, including the straps.

Checking the seat is super dicey too but if you've already purchased your plane tickets and there's no chance of buying another for the baby, do you  have the original box?  The corrugated cardboard is what protects the seat during shipping before you even buy it so it's what's recommended if you have to check it. 

WasNotWas

to piggyback what @steamboat1679 said...this is one in which every person has a different experience because there is no universal standard to which rental car companies are held. We could have lucked out and just had a good experience, but just as easily could have had a bad experience steamboat is referring to. I think you should just do what you are comfortable with...maybe call the rental car company beforehand and let them know that you will be a bitch if it's not right...

needanustart

WasNotWas said:

We have done it for DS1 and it was fine. I think it was a Britax.

Samsies. I had another rental that was some other brand like 2 years ago. The Britax ones from Sixt were like brand new, I would totally rent cars and seats from them again! But it is a crapshoot. I was able to indicate the size of the baby and type of seat I needed in advance so there wasn't any confusion that I needed an infant bucket and a convertible. If they handed me the wrong type I just would have thrown a fit If you are concerned you could always call the rental location and ask what make and year the carseat they will be using is.