Traveling with car seats...

valeivegas

Dh and I are traveling to FL next month with DS (3 yrs old) and DD (10 mos).  I need some tips on the logistics of hauling 2 car seats thru the airport - what is the easiest way to do this, and how to pack the seats so they don't get damaged at the gate check?  We will also have our sit & stand double stroller, probably one small carry-on suitcase & the diaper bag.  I'm thinking of wrapping the seats in bubble wrap & putting them in big plastic bags, then strap them to a collapsible luggage cart & wheel it down to the gate...  (just a side note - we are not intending to bring the seats on the plane - DD will be in my lap most likely nursing the entire trip & DS is well over 40 lbs so he will be safe belted in his own seat.)

Any tips or feedback on other's experiences with the best way to go about this would be appreciated!  Thanks!

rockychryslerb2010

We use this one to carry our britax convertible backpack style through the airport.

https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396898968&sr=8-2&keywords=carseat+carrier

If you check it at the gate, they will walk it down to the plane and bring it up to the gate when you arrive.  I think bubblewrap is overkill, our seat has survived several flights in this bag.

jc&cat

We just returned from a trip to Florida over the weekend and have lugged the kids and seats on several trips. All we have done is packaged the car seats in clear trash bags we bought from home depot (they are the contractor sized bags). I also put a tag on the actual seat with our name, address, etc. The seats were checked with our bags at the ticket counter. Southwest will give you a bag if you don't have one; US air didn't have any bags this weekend so glad we had our own (and stuffed some in the suitcase for the return flight). There is no baggage charge for carseats or strollers. Its not the most protection but our seats have never been damaged. 

We took an umbrella stroller all the way to the gate and tagged it at the jetway/received it back at the jetway. 

Have a great trip!

valeivegas

rockychryslerb2010 said:

 I think bubblewrap is overkill, our seat has survived several flights in this bag.

Thanks for the input - I've seen the car seat bags but not sure if it's worth it for just this one trip... Checking the car seats at the ticket counter would be the easiest way, but I'm just worried about them getting damaged...

jc&cat

valeivegas said:

rockychryslerb2010 said:

 I think bubblewrap is overkill, our seat has survived several flights in this bag.

Thanks for the input - I've seen the car seat bags but not sure if it's worth it for just this one trip... Checking the car seats at the ticket counter would be the easiest way, but I'm just worried about them getting damaged...

I agree that it's a bit overkill but also understand you don't want to risk your seats. Consider what will work for you at the moment. Taking the seats out of the car at the airport and wrapping up could be a huge logistical thing not to mention packing it for the return flight. I think you are pretty safe with skipping that step but do what you feel comfortable doing.

NavyMom77

rockychryslerb2010 said:

We use this one to carry our britax convertible backpack style through the airport.

https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396898968&sr=8-2&keywords=carseat+carrier

If you check it at the gate, they will walk it down to the plane and bring it up to the gate when you arrive.  I think bubblewrap is overkill, our seat has survived several flights in this bag.

Another vote for the Childress Back-pack style carrier. I used it on several cross-country trips with a Britax, a stroller and a toddler all on my own. Leaves your hands free for other things, keeps the seat safe, and I used to stuff the empty part of the seat FULL of additional things (blankets, coats, extra diapers other soft and squishy stuff that was coming with us) since they don't weigh the gate checks, or at least they didn't a few years ago. A bonus to the backpack style is you look like a giant turtle and people in the airport give you a LOT of room to maneuver!

BabyHope2013

We just got back from Florida this past weekend. I bought this bag on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Car-Seat-Travel-Bag/dp/B001CWVYMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396960065&sr=8-1&keywords=car+seat+bag and it is what we used. It has a durable carrying handle and also a strap you can use to carry the car seat on your back. It's not ideal to have to carry the car seat, stroller, diaper bag and toddler all through the airport---but it's manageable. And after talking to my co-workers who have had issues with their seats being damaged when they checked them with their other suitcases, I was paranoid. 

I agree with the PP bubble wrap is probably overkill. I had no issue with our car seat or stroller being gate checked on the flight there or the flight home. And it was added comfort to know that my car seat actually got on the plane and there wasn't a chance of it getting lost and being left without one when we got to Florida. 

VOR

I would just check them at the ticket counter to be honest.  I can't imagine lugging 2 carseats through the airport only to gate check them. 

emberlee3

I love the GoGo Kidz wheelie thing for car seats, works like a stroller. I put DS's seat in a car seat bag and check it at the ticket counter.

valeivegas

Thanks for all the input.  I'm thinking we may just check the seats at the ticket counter.  We have 2 kids to haul, plus carry-on bags, & a diaper bag - to add the car seats may be too much... 

ebp913

I would check the stroller, roll the car seats with the kids in them through the airport on a luggage cart and then use them on the airplane.  Easiest way to insure your seats don't get damaged and your kids are still contained.  

Jenny952

We have had good luck renting car seats vs bringing them with us. Between the stroller, luggage and wheelchair for dd, its easier to get it with the rental car. Is that an option?

ASmallWonder

Renting car seats is incredibly dangerous so please don't do that.  Since seats are life saving devices, you have to know their history because them being mishandled can, quite bluntly, be an issue of life and death.  They're routinely wiped with harsh chemicals that can render the straps useless and they could very well have been in a crash.

Checking seats at all isn't recommended because, like above, they can be thrown and damaged but if you must, you're not being overly paranoid about how you want to pack it.  Bags merely keep them from getting dirty and won't stop them from sustaining microscopic cracks that could cause them to fail in a crash.  Packing it in its original box is best but if not possibly, bubble wrap would definitely be better than nothing

MammaBear81

Checked is checked, weather it's at the gate or at the ticket counter.  Either way your seat is left with an unknown history and could be damaged and you wouldn't be able to tell.  Of course my suggestion would be to take them on the plane and use them, so your children can be properly restrained and safe (they really aren't that hard to install) but since you are going to check them use a corrugated cardboard box check them at the ticket counter, and cross your fingers.

https://csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/