Another travel question re: carseats

ThePiemaker · September 2010

Not really AP related but we are traveling to CA next month to visit DH's family and we will need to bring a carseat for our LO. We are flying infant in arms, and we will be wearing her at the airport. Is it better to check the carseat all the way through, or can we gate check it? I am worried about it getting damaged if we check it all the way through. Is there some type of bag you recommend to protect it (it's a SnugRide 35)? TIA!

mandyclaire579 · September 2010

We gate checked for the same reason. We were always nervous about it getting messed up. One of us would wear DS. We usually just had the carseat, huge diaper bag, and one rolling bag. Sometimes another bag, but it was pretty easy. I will admit that we check the convertible at the front now. It's just too much to carry through the airport.

hikerbeth · September 2010

I gate check to minimize wear and tear but also *just* in case there's an extra seat on the plane. . . they'll likely let you bring the carseat on and use the seat for free.

ThePiemaker · September 2010

mandyclaire579:
We gate checked for the same reason. We were always nervous about it getting messed up. One of us would wear DS. We usually just had the carseat, huge diaper bag, and one rolling bag. Sometimes another bag, but it was pretty easy. I will admit that we check the convertible at the front now. It's just too much to carry through the airport.

We've been thinking about getting a Snap 'N Go frame just to carry the car seat through the airport because that thing is heavy even when it's empty!

hikerbeth:
I gate check to minimize wear and tear but also *just* in case there's an extra seat on the plane. . . they'll likely let you bring the carseat on and use the seat for free.

That's a good point about the extra seat.

chrislynd · September 2010

We always gate check because you're screwed if you get to your destination and they've lost your luggage. The airlines supposedly have loaner carseats for that type of situation, but I've heard they're junk, and honestly, I wouldn't trust them.

MrsGhappilyeverafter · September 2010

We traveled a couple weeks ago and checked the car seat with the rest of our luggage. It was fine. The bag we used had padding and backpack straps. We have a graco snugride 32. We used this bag- https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009RNXNA/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1284258834&sr=8-1

DeAnna&DavidRyder · September 2010

have you thought about the possibility of renting a car seat. i know the hospitals here have them to rent.

it might be worth the price not to be toting hers around an airport. and worrying if it'll get lost/broken etc.

MrsErinnElizabeth · September 2010

We've only taken the car seat with us once (when she was two months) and we checked it all the way through. They put it in it's own little bin and there wasn't a scratch on it once we reached our destination. However, gate checking isn't allowed for car seats here, so if it were, I probably would have gone that route.

Yay for traveling with LO!

finsternis · September 2010

we rented one the last time we flew and had a great experience. it wasn`t through a hospital [which i`ve never heard of] or a car-rental company [which i`ve heard bad things about], it was a small private company run by a mom that rents a whole bunch of stuff for travelling with LOs. if you google `carseat rental`, there`s a page that lists the companies in every state. we rented the carseat, a bouncy seat for the hotel, and a boppy--all things i would *not* want to travel with, but really wanted to have with us! have fun

Married2MrWright · September 2010

We just flew to CA from OK last month and this is what we did:

I wore LO in the Ergo but used the Snap n Go to hold her carseat (Graco Snugride 32) and other bags, etc. Gate checked the stroller and seat (covered with a JL Childless Cover)...no problems whatsoever.

We flew with American and they did offer to check her stroller and carseat for free, but I was afraid of them being damaged. Even gate checking caused a little damage to the carseat cover, so I can only imagine what would've happened if it hadn't been covered and/or if we checked it as baggage. This is what we used:

https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA

It works for the infant carriers and covertible carseats, so I felt good about buying it now and being able to use it later on when we get a convertible carseat too.

We had to change planes in TX between OK and CA, so DH picked up the Snap n Go and Carseat while I waited with DD at the gate for him. She was in the Ergo...he piled our carry ons onto the Snap n Go and wore the carseat on his back (the bag has backpack-like straps) and we changed terminals. Easy.

christina627 · September 2010

I love pushing daisies...

We skip the carseat when we travel...no help. (We will be using a car service this week when we travel.)

andrea922 · September 2010

chrislynd:
We always gate check because you're screwed if you get to your destination and they've lost your luggage. The airlines supposedly have loaner carseats for that type of situation, but I've heard they're junk, and honestly, I wouldn't trust them.

I have had a car seat broken when we gate checked it, and never had a problem when we checked it as luggage. We do have a car seat bag. When they broke our seat Delta gave us a loaner car seat and it was brand new and was in perfect condition.

ThePiemaker · September 2010

Thanks for all the tips ladies!

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