Toddler and airplane travel... HELP!

[lsea0323]

I'm traveling next week with my 3 year old, and need to take her carseat with me... I'm buying a new car in my hometown, and we'll be driving it back down.  I want to gate check it, because it's a long drive from the airport to my parents house, and can't chance them losing my luggage and having no car seat.

So how the hell does my pregnant ass lug it through the airport?

With one of these? Pretty expensive, and I would only use it one time, but it seems sturdier.

www.amazon.com/Brica-Roll-Car-Seat-Transporter/dp/B0074JKQ0Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367251791&sr=8-4&keywords=car+seat+travel

Or has anyone used something like this? I hadn't really planned on packing a carry on, but obviously the price is much better. I just don't know how reliable it will be. Fwiw, it's a late flight, so I want her to be able to 'ride' in the carseat in case she's tired and/or sleeping.

www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Seat-Travel-Accessory/dp/B000JHN3AS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367251791&sr=8-1&keywords=car+seat+travel

Or should I just suck it up and check the carseat with my luggage and keep my fingers crossed?

TIA!

[lilybug]

Those rolly things are probably your best bet if you want her to be able to ride in it. FWIW, I've gate checked our carseats countless times and they've never been lost or damaged.

The one that straps the carseat to the suitcase looks like it would be a pain in the ass. But maybe someone here has used it with success?

[WOT?*]

I've generally brought my regular car seat and had it checked with the luggage. They don't charge for car seats and strollers when you check or gate-check, and I've never had one damaged. Almost forgot to pick them up once but I have a feeling that with a three year old that'll be on of the first things you remember. If you have a rolling suitcase just attach it to the suitcase handle by the straps or balance it on top and against the telescoping handle and you'll be fine.

I've had her on late flights and held her when she was an infant and she had her own seat when she was a toddler.  Gave her a blanket and pillow and raised the arm if she wanted to lean against me to sleep and she was just fine.

[vanillacourage]

Are your parents picking you up at the airport, or are you renting a car? 

If your parents are picking you up, I'd seriously consider asking them to pick up a cheap convertible (my mom has the Cosco Scenera in her car as a grandparents' car - only $40 at Walmart). Then you can install it into the car that you drive back home. 

Or, if you're renting, you could rent a carseat along with the car, and then buy one (see above) when you're out and about for the drive home.

[lsea0323]

Apr 29, 2013 11:25:17 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Are your parents picking you up at the airport, or are you renting a car? 

If your parents are picking you up, I'd seriously consider asking them to pick up a cheap convertible (my mom has the Cosco Scenera in her car as a grandparents' car - only $40 at Walmart). Then you can install it into the car that you drive back home. 

Or, if you're renting, you could rent a carseat along with the car, and then buy one (see above) when you're out and about for the drive home.

My mom will be picking me up... She can pick up a seat if I need her to

I guess I'm trying to condense two in one, kind of. Because if she can ride in it then I won't have to bring a stroller as well. I'm just thinking of dragging a toddler through an airport on a layover at 9pm, and want to have something I can push her in.

When you all are referring to gate checking, you're referring to at the actual gate of the plane, not with the regular luggage, right? I know I'm making this much more difficult than it needs to be. lol. fwiw, I'm flying Southwest so technically can have 4 pieces of luggage at no charge. I'm just looking at the convenience standpoint of getting from point A to point B during the layover, and ensuring that I have my carseat in the end.

[mrssandro]

I can't imagine trying to get my 3 year to sit down in that at all. So it just makes me giggle.

I would just check your carseat and then use an umbrella stroller. You will probably need one when you land as well.

[ering1115]

I have always checked w regular luggage and had no issue. They are usually careful when it comes to carseats. It was always the first thing off of the plane too. You couldn't pay me to lug it through security.
Personally, I would check the carseat w the luggage. Take a diaper bag and umbrella stroller through to the plane and call it a day.

[Bad Dingo]

www.walmart.com/ip/Sit-N-Stroll-Convertible-Car-Seat-and-Stroller/10854728


We got one of these for airplane travel when DD was little (and also used it as a spare car seat when home).  We bought it on Craigslist for $80 and then resold it when we were done for $80.  I'd highly recommend it.  It's super easy to push with one hand and you can hang heavy bags on the handle.  The best part is that if your kid is sleeping in it in the car you can just take it out, pop the wheels out and not even wake them up.

[speckledfrog]

I would just check it. Maybe try seeing if you can get one of those carseat wheelie things for cheaper on craigslist.

[vanillacourage]

Apr 29, 2013 11:33:31 GMT -5 lsea0323 said:

Apr 29, 2013 11:25:17 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

Are your parents picking you up at the airport, or are you renting a car? 

If your parents are picking you up, I'd seriously consider asking them to pick up a cheap convertible (my mom has the Cosco Scenera in her car as a grandparents' car - only $40 at Walmart). Then you can install it into the car that you drive back home. 

Or, if you're renting, you could rent a carseat along with the car, and then buy one (see above) when you're out and about for the drive home.

My mom will be picking me up... She can pick up a seat if I need her to

I guess I'm trying to condense two in one, kind of. Because if she can ride in it then I won't have to bring a stroller as well. I'm just thinking of dragging a toddler through an airport on a layover at 9pm, and want to have something I can push her in.

Yeah, but I'd much rather deal with a cheapie umbrella stroller than lugging a carseat around, and then having to worry about it being roughly treated during baggage handling (potentially to the point of being unsafe to use). 

[lsea0323]

Apr 29, 2013 12:16:50 GMT -5 Que? said:

I'm lazy and willing to buy time. I would leave my car seat home, and use an umbrella stroller for the airport. I would have my Mom buy a car seat at the other end and then just sell it later.

Simplify this, so it's one less thing you have to worry about.

Ok, yes. This is what I will do. Thank you for the input everyone. I was making a simple thing WAYY too complicated.  lol

[tigress]

We used the carseat accessory that you have listed from amazon when we went to Kenya with my 19 month old 3 years ago. It was AWESOME and worth every penny and more. Strap it on to a carry on rolling suitcase and strap the kid in, off you go. A suitcase stroller. Highly recommend.

[thumper55]

I traveled with my kids for the first time last year and brought the carseats on board.  I had a really bad  hassle with them, so I will never bring them on board again.  I had problems on every leg of the trip, to and from. Some examples:
Unlatching /relataching for the security screening.   I felt like I had to insist & justifying keeping the seats with us at check in, once I got on the plane was the same thing with the flight crew. I had been told I did not have to get a window seat, but the flight attendant insisted it was FAA law.  There were no open window seats left, so the person who was forced to up their $UPGRADED window seat had a huge hissy fit and it was a scene.  I was so uncomfortable sitting next to her for the flight.  also the belt was very hard to unlatch every time and needed help, this we delayed the people on the next flight from boarding .

If you still want to bring your carseat on the plane, choose a window seat.  The ticket agent, the written policy, and the flight attendent might tell you different things, but the flight attendant will win.  To cart my seats around, I bought a magna cart from Costco ($20)  and used some cargo belts from the dollar store. 

[lsea0323]

Apr 29, 2013 13:48:08 GMT -5 thumper55 said:

I traveled with my kids for the first time last year and brought the carseats on board.  I had a really bad  hassle with them, so I will never bring them on board again.  I had problems on every leg of the trip, to and from. Some examples:
Unlatching /relataching for the security screening.   I felt like I had to insist & justifying keeping the seats with us at check in, once I got on the plane was the same thing with the flight crew. I had been told I did not have to get a window seat, but the flight attendant insisted it was FAA law.  There were no open window seats left, so the person who was forced to up their $UPGRADED window seat had a huge hissy fit and it was a scene.  I was so uncomfortable sitting next to her for the flight.  also the belt was very hard to unlatch every time and needed help, this we delayed the people on the next flight from boarding .

If you still want to bring your carseat on the plane, choose a window seat.  The ticket agent, the written policy, and the flight attendent might tell you different things, but the flight attendant will win.  To cart my seats around, I bought a magna cart from Costco ($20)  and used some cargo belts from the dollar store. 

Yeah, no way would I actually try to put it on the plane. I was just going to check it at the gate, like I would a stroller. That sounds like a nightmare.