Checking a car seat?

stephmarie

Has anyone checked a car seat along with their luggage? I'm taking my first flight with DS Friday and while I need to bring the car seat, it's not compatible with the stroller I'm bringing. I'm pretty sure I could gate check it (right?) but don't want to have to lug it around along with my carry-on, DS and the stroller.

I guess I just wanted to make sure checking it is an option and if anyone has any experience doing so. FWIW I'm flying Southwest.

bubblegummum

I know for sure you can gate check it...and I'm sure you could check it with your luggage if you don't mind it being thrown around a bit. When we flew with DD and her carseat we checked it at the gate because the lady checking our luggage told us it might not come back in the shape we checked it. It ws a brand new carseat so I cared that it stay nice. Maybe contact Southwest and see what they have to say.

It would be a lot to lug around but maybe you could get a cart or something. I wish that airports or car rental places had carseat rentals available so we didn't have to worry about stuff like this.

Good luck!

mrs.raz

Duplicate

mrs.raz

The only way I would check a car seat is if it was in a hard sided carrier. I think about how beat up suitcases look and couldn't imagine it would be good for the integrity of a car seat. Good luck on your trip!

Payne2B2008

 I know you can gate Check a car seat but like others have side I don't know if I would trust it. What kind of carseat & stroller are you taking? Have you looked into bringing a "snap N Go" type stroller?

stephmarie

can you gate check a stroller and a carseat? we have a chicco car seat and bought a lightweight combi stroller since we needed one anyway. I thought about just using the travel system but at 9.5 months DS would not enjoy being stuck in the car seat. hmmmmmm choices, choices.

Payne2B2008

yes I belive you can check both, but I would Call your air line just to make sure. Plus if you gate check & the plane is not full you might be able to seat for your DS & he can ride in his car seat. 

When Aiden & I want to CA last November I found these to be a Life saver (link below) Also you want to keep Milk or other things cold just put these in the freezer and use them as ice packs (that way you are not carrying another thing.  I know Aiden was older when we flow but if you need any helpful hints check out my blog (that I know I really need to update it ) 

https://www.happybabyfood.com/ourproducts?page=shop.browse&category_id=9 

stephmarie

I called Southwest and you can gate check car seat and stroller, or else she said I can put the car seat in a garbage bag to help protect it and check it with my suitcase. Now to just decide what I should do:)

Mrs. Sarah&Micah

I would gate check it, so you will get it right away when you get to your destination and typically there is less damage to things when gate checked- in my experience anyway. We went to Florida in September and we gate checked the stroller and just rented a carseat through the car rental company so we didnt have to drag that with as well. It worked out well.