Checking carseat at airport?

pinkcallalily

We are flying with our son for the first time next week and I'm not sure of the best way to check the carseat.  Do you recommend buying one of the canvas bags (although it seems most aren't available in stores and I don't know if we could get it shipped on time) or should we just use a plastic bag.  Do the airlines supply the plastic bags for checking it?  It seems that the easiest thing would be to take the stroller frame so we could just keep him in the carseat to go through the airport and gate check it, but he really doesn't like being stuck in his carrier.  I would much rather take our City Mini and check the carseat, but I worry about getting everything from the car to check-in.  We will be fine on the other side because my parents are picking us up so we will have plenty of people to carry everything.  I'm feeling very overwhelmed by flying with an infant!

madhatter2003

What carseat are you taking? If it's a good one I'd get one of the padded bags, they do get pretty banged around on flights. We've bought cheapo convertible seats for our flights that came in their own carry bags so we just use those.  But I would take your own clear plastic bag otherwise...sometimes airlines have them, sometimes they don't.

pinkcallalily

madhatter2003:

What carseat are you taking? If it's a good one I'd get one of the padded bags, they do get pretty banged around on flights. We've bought cheapo convertible seats for our flights that came in their own carry bags so we just use those.  But I would take your own clear plastic bag otherwise...sometimes airlines have them, sometimes they don't.

We're taking a Snugride, so it's not amazing or anything and we won't be using it for a long time, but I still want it to last a while longer.  I think I should try to find a padded bag in a store somewhere.  The one I want (with wheels) is only online.  For some reason I've thought about everything else for this trip, but how to check the carseat didn't occur to me until today.

madhatter2003

I think BRU carries one for infant size seats, let me see if I can find the link to the one I saw.

I have one that fits but I'm not that close to you, otherwise I'd let you borrow it.

piccolina09

I flew southwest with the twins last week. We brought snugrides, checked them in and they provided plastic bags. I was happy with the experience. I brought 2 single strollers, Combis, which were taken under by southwest staff as we boarded the plane.

madhatter2003

Dang it, I can't find it. Diapers.com has the wheely one though, you'd get that tomorrow if you order it today.

Also, which airport are you flying out of? At Dulles, my DH will take me and the kids into the 'short term' lot and drop us off inside with all the crap. Then  he goes and parks the car in long term and takes the shuttle back...that is SO much easier than trying to get all of the stuff on the shuttle, etc. I'm sure you could do the same at Reagan if you just look. It costs a bit for the parking now (since they took away the free 30 minutes...boo!) but it's SO worth it.

DavezWife

FYI that I'm not sure is applicable - our convertible (a Graco cheapie for traveling) fits in my City Micro amazingly well. I just hook that top hook to the frame for safety, and we rock it out.

I also got a heavy duty (scoff) plastic bag with rollers and a strap for $30 at BRU.  We've used it about 6 RT flights and it's beat up, couple tiny tears, but is ok for the money.

Trust me when I say it's MUCH easier than you fear.

LisaMarisa

If you're not sure if your airport will supply bags, I would definitely get one.  We didnt use a bag when we gate checked our stroller one time and it came back with the sun visor bent.  Now every time I open it, I have to reconnect the whole thing.  We got a wheely bag from One Step Ahead (I think) and it was nice since we carried it all the way through the airport (he had his own seat so we installed it in his seat on the plane) but it wouldnt have been necessary if we were going to check it when we checked in.  Yes, you will have a lot of stuff but you can usually get carts to help carry everything.

pinkcallalily

piccolina09:

I flew southwest with the twins last week. We brought snugrides, checked them in and they provided plastic bags. I was happy with the experience. I brought 2 single strollers, Combis, which were taken under by southwest staff as we boarded the plane.

Good to know!  We are flying Southwest and they are usually really good about everything.

pinkcallalily

madhatter2003:

Dang it, I can't find it. Diapers.com has the wheely one though, you'd get that tomorrow if you order it today.

Also, which airport are you flying out of? At Dulles, my DH will take me and the kids into the 'short term' lot and drop us off inside with all the crap. Then  he goes and parks the car in long term and takes the shuttle back...that is SO much easier than trying to get all of the stuff on the shuttle, etc. I'm sure you could do the same at Reagan if you just look. It costs a bit for the parking now (since they took away the free 30 minutes...boo!) but it's SO worth it.

Thanks for the tip about diapers.com.  That's the one I'm looking at right now and was trying to figure out if anyone could get it to us on time.  We are flying out of Baltimore so we can fly nonstop.  Too bad because Dulles is so close to our house, but we couldn't get a non-stop flight from there.  I love the idea of having my husband drop us off and then parking the car.  It seems like that would be much easier than dragging everything through the airport.  I love having people that are experienced at traveling with children to help me!

madhatter2003

Definitely.  We usually just go up and sit by the check in desk and DH is back within a few minutes.  That way the kids can run around for a bit (since it's about 2 hours to Dulles for us) but we don't have the hassle of getting the kids out of the car, on the shuttle with the stuff, etc. And with the self check in things it's easy to get the bags checked before he goes.

RoxBride

Instead of spending 41 bucks on a wheeled bag plus shipping, lease the car seat at home.

Have your parents go to Walmart, buy the 40 buck convertable car seat, and use that for this any future visits, so you don't mess with a car seat at all.

RoxBride

Also, you can have your parents ask their other grandparent friends and see if anyone has a seat to borrow.

pinkcallalily

RoxBride:

Instead of spending 41 bucks on a wheeled bag plus shipping, lease the car seat at home.

Have your parents go to Walmart, buy the 40 buck convertable car seat, and use that for this any future visits, so you don't mess with a car seat at all.

I've got to say I really like this idea.  I already bought the bag with free shipping, but I can return if I want to (although I guess we will be using it when we travel to other places).  My SIL is currently pregnant so they could also use the carseat when they fly in and avoid the hassle of bringing one.  This way it can already be installed and we won't have to install it at the airport when they pick us up. 

dusk42

If we didn't use the seat on the plane, I would just buy a cheap Scenera for my parents.

kristinamh6

I have a couple things to add. I've flown Southwest several times & I always used the car seat & snap n go through checkin, security etc up to the gate. If there is an open seat on the plane they will let you bring the seat onboard, which was much better than having her on our laps. If the flight is full they will check it at the plane with the stroller & it will be set up for you when you land. That part is awesome IMO. Also I've asked about bags before & they didn't have them. I would do what I just said & maybe buy one of those cheap plastic bags Davez was talking about. I also like the idea of your parents buying a cheap carseat, but then you can't use it on a plane. Whatever you decide to do you will survive. We've taken DD on 1 hour, 2 hour & almost 5 hour (Hawaii) flights & the airport was never too bad. I was alone for the 1 hour when DD was a couple months & it was no problem at all. The worst part of all the travels was having no seat for DD on the 5 hour red eye flight to Hawaii. That was an interesting flight! LOL Good luck traveling!

Mrs.Reem

When we go to SanDiego each year we ship our cheapie carseats (and pack n play) to the grandparents and have them meet us at the airport before we hit the car rental place.