Car seat and air travel question

[rbp]

@fivedogs (Sorry, I feel like you're getting tagged a ton lately!)

And anyone else who has thoughts on this: 

M (will be 7mo) and I are flying to visit my mom next weekend. He will be a lap infant. We will only be riding in my mom's car once we land. He still fits very comfortably in an infant bucket, but I also considered having a convertible seat shipped to my mom. If I take the bucket seat (option A), I will take the snap-and-go stroller frame that we already have. If I order the convertible (option B), I will get an umbrella stroller (I think we will need this in the future anyway) to get through the airport and to use at our destination. The convertible I am thinking about is the Guide 65. I will either leave it in my mom's car or have her bring it the next time she drives down here to put in H's car and use as our secondary seat (will get a more plush one for my car, which will be the primary seat). 

Problems with option A:
-Have to deal with bucket through airport (I think I'll probably wear M in the Boba; he likes it).
-Some concern about the seat being damaged when gate-checked

Problem with option B:
-Have to install a seat I've never seen before in the airport parking lot (I don't trust my mom to do this herself).

I need to pull the trigger ASAP or I'll be going with option A by default. WDMMMT?

[spk926]

What car seat do you have? IF you have the KeyFit you could get the Chicco Liteway Plus stroller. Nice and lightweight stroller that can easily hold the car seat or be used as a regular stroller. www.target.com/p/chicco-liteway-plus-stroller/-/A-14263631?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14263631&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14263631&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14263631&kpid=14263631&gclid=Cj0KEQiApbunBRDs0fba3dz484cBEiQAMsx-p5APW78bYZeBPrPvr0RkPOGlcizAsYtldEfVxBdaNaAaAs0N8P8HAQ

[rbp]

Feb 26, 2015 22:19:05 GMT -5 spk926 said:

What car seat do you have? IF you have the KeyFit you could get the Chicco Liteway Plus stroller. Nice and lightweight stroller that can easily hold the car seat or be used as a regular stroller. www.target.com/p/chicco-liteway-plus-stroller/-/A-14263631?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14263631&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14263631&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14263631&kpid=14263631&gclid=Cj0KEQiApbunBRDs0fba3dz484cBEiQAMsx-p5APW78bYZeBPrPvr0RkPOGlcizAsYtldEfVxBdaNaAaAs0N8P8HAQ

Britax B Safe. I already have a City Elite stroller, so I don't care to buy another one that's bucket seat compatible. 

[anna7602]

Questions:
Do you need a stroller in the airport at all? Does M tolerate being worn? Will you need a stroller on the other end?

I didn't have a single moment in my recent travels in which I thought, damn, I wish I had a stroller right now. Even when we had a 3-hour delay in Charlotte (in addition to our already scheduled layover).

Also, can you curbside check a bucket seat (so that you don't have to deal with it in the airport)?

Answer:
I find the bucket seat a lot easier to install than a RFing convertible, so what you should actually do depends on your own comfort level. As I mentioned in your other thread the other day, DH managed to install a convertible car seat he had never seen before in the drop-off/pick-up only lane at the airport while cars around him honked and the traffic cop kept hovering. When we double-checked it all back at my ILs' house, manual laid out in front of us and no time constraints, it turned out that he actually had done it correctly.

Not helpful?

[spk926]

Feb 26, 2015 22:22:22 GMT -5 rbp said:

Feb 26, 2015 22:19:05 GMT -5 spk926 said:

What car seat do you have? IF you have the KeyFit you could get the Chicco Liteway Plus stroller. Nice and lightweight stroller that can easily hold the car seat or be used as a regular stroller. www.target.com/p/chicco-liteway-plus-stroller/-/A-14263631?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14263631&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14263631&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14263631&kpid=14263631&gclid=Cj0KEQiApbunBRDs0fba3dz484cBEiQAMsx-p5APW78bYZeBPrPvr0RkPOGlcizAsYtldEfVxBdaNaAaAs0N8P8HAQ

Britax B Safe. I already have a City Elite stroller, so I don't care to buy another one that's bucket seat compatible. 

I would do option A then. 

[rbp]

Feb 26, 2015 22:22:22 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Questions:
Do you need a stroller in the airport at all? Does M tolerate being worn? Will you need a stroller on the other end?

I didn't have a single moment in my recent travels in which I thought, damn, I wish I had a stroller right now. Even when we had a 3-hour delay in Charlotte (in addition to our already scheduled layover).

Also, can you curbside check a bucket seat (so that you don't have to deal with it in the airport)?

Answer:
I find the bucket seat a lot easier to install than a RFing convertible, so what you should actually do depends on your own comfort level. As I mentioned in your other thread the other day, DH managed to install a convertible car seat he had never seen before in the drop-off/pick-up only lane at the airport while cars around him honked and the traffic cop kept hovering. When we double-checked it all back at my ILs' house, manual laid out in front of us and no time constraints, it turned out that he actually did it correctly.

Not helpful?

Very helpful food for thought, thanks! M typically loves being worn; he rarely fusses in the Boba. I do want a stroller at my mom's house, but we could do curbside check. 

The thing about easier installation is pushing me toward bucket. Well, that and the fact that making another decision would require me to be proactive and start ordering shit. 

[mainelyfoolish]

I would take the bucket seat and the snap and go frame you have. It's not that hard to get it through the airport/security. You can still wear DS in a carrier.

[nomad]

We did the bucket seat option when my girls were a year (they are tiny). We went into it thinking if the seat gets damaged it's ok we'll move them into convertibles when we get back. If you aren't going to try to get him in his own seat on the plane (we bought one girl a seat and had one lap infant and one of our planes was nearly empty so they let us bring both car seats on board) I'd just check the seat at the counter so you aren't lugging it through the airport.

[sjh722]

I did the bucket seat and gate-checked it.

[rbp]

Is it free to curbside check a carseat and stroller? Or only if you gate check?

[anna7602]

Feb 26, 2015 22:39:04 GMT -5 rbp said:

Is it free to curbside check a carseat and stroller? Or only if you gate check?

I have counter-checked (so inside, not curb, but before security) a car seat and it was free. 

[Shreddingbetty]

We traveled with stroller/bucket seat until she was 4 months old and then never again because it was such a pain in the butt. I would just wear her and we gate checked the bucket seat. The bucket seat is light and easy to carry without a baby in it. Plus it is easy to install with a seatbelt and you don't need a base for it (I always see a lot of people traveling with their bucket seat AND the base which makes it a lot heavier and pain to carry it around). So I vote bucket seat unless you would want your mom to have her own seat for future use but it doesn't sound like it.

and I always gate check the car seat because the chance that it gets lost is a lot smaller and it would really suck to end up at your destination without a car seat

[frlcb]

Feb 26, 2015 22:39:04 GMT -5 rbp said:

Is it free to curbside check a carseat and stroller? Or only if you gate check?

Both ways are free

[D2M]

I think you'd be fine either way, but I'd be nervous about reading a new manual and installing a new seat on the fly. Also, the bucket seat is easy.

We just flew on Saturday. We had the snap n go and bucket seat and used it as a receptacle for all our crap (winter coats, diaper bag, books, etc). I wore DD in the ergo the whole time. Going through security was a breeze. ATL has a special lane for stroller parents. It's the one for pilots and airport workers and it moved quickly.

We gate checked the frame plus carseat. I was traveling with my H but I was thinking at the time that I'd do the same setup if I were flying solo just because if I needed to go to the bathroom at the airport, I'd be able to put the baby in the carseat/snap n go and it'd be easy. I have peed while wearing DD but it's not fun.

You'll do great!

[VillainV]

Bucket seat + snap n go in the airport with the option to wear through security. Gate check the seat and snap n go (or keep the seat on board if there happens to be an empty seat to put the baby in).

[rbp]

Thanks ladies. I'm going to stick with the bucket. I'm just too nervous about installing a convertible in the airport parking lot. (Especially a less expensive seat not known for ease of installation.)

[rbp]

How do people travel with car seats if they don't gate check? Is this why I should have bought M a seat on the plane? I really don't want his car seat to get damaged.

[spankswife]

Could your mom have the seat in option B installed before she gets to you? Also, will you be visiting your mom frequently? Maybe she should just keep the seat. That's what we did with my inlaws.

I find gate checking to be less risky than counter or curb checking (no scientific proof, just my opinion), so if you want to bring your bucket, I would bring the bucket and snap and go, and just gate check them. There might even be a chance there's an open seat on the plane, and then you will have your seat with you.

[VillainV]

I'd definitely rather gate check than counter-check. At least if you gate check it gets hand-carried to and from the airplane instead of riding on the automated conveyor system through the airport getting jostled around. Also, I think this is why a lot of people travel with cheapie seats (like Scenera) so if it gets damaged you're not out a $300 seat.

[ktw]

Feb 27, 2015 7:24:08 GMT -5 rbp said:

How do people travel with car seats if they don't gate check? Is this why I should have bought M a seat on the plane? I really don't want his car seat to get damaged.

We've only flown with G once, she was 6 months old, and we bought her her own seat and installed the bucket rfing on the plane. The risk of checking either gate or regular is damaging the seat. Obviously if it was noticeably damaged, you would replace. But it's possible for there to be damage you can't see, so you wouldn't know to replace it. I'm extremely risk-averse when it comes to car seats, you have to decide how much risk you can handle personally.

[longtimenopost]

If you bring the car seat, gate check it. I find it really strange that after a small fender bender people go nuts if insurance won't pay to replace a car seat, but are willing to send it through the baggage system to get beaten up and thrown around and all is well. To be fair, gate checking has risks, but major damage is less likely.

Eta I really would ship a convertible and stroller there and just wear him. Like Anna, I've done it often (even alone) and never once wished we had a stroller. Just wear stretchy pants you can work with under the carrier and wear comfortable slip on shoes. I fit everything I need in a diaper bag and pack my purse.

[rbp]

Feb 27, 2015 8:05:37 GMT -5 ktw said:

Feb 27, 2015 7:24:08 GMT -5 rbp said:

How do people travel with car seats if they don't gate check? Is this why I should have bought M a seat on the plane? I really don't want his car seat to get damaged.

We've only flown with G once, she was 6 months old, and we bought her her own seat and installed the bucket rfing on the plane. The risk of checking either gate or regular is damaging the seat. Obviously if it was noticeably damaged, you would replace. But it's possible for there to be damage you can't see, so you wouldn't know to replace it. I'm extremely risk-averse when it comes to car seats, you have to decide how much risk you can handle personally.

That is why I thought about having a convertible shipped to my mom...but I am worried about having to install it in the airport parking lot. I cannot trust her to install it herself. She would lose her fucking mind. 

[gerberdaisy]

Looks like you've already decided, but I just did this last weekend. Since we needed to buy a convertible anyways in the near future I had one shipped to my parents ahead of time. I watched a couple you tube videos prior to going and installed it at the airport no problem.

In the airport I wore C and brought a stroller, which worked really well. It was nice to have a place to put stuff and during our three hour layover she wouldn't have been happy being in the carrier the whole time. We gate checked the stroller.

I saw lots of people with a bucket seat/snap n go combo gate check both of them, so that would be a good option.

[gerberdaisy]

I forgot, what I meant to add is they seem to be pretty careful with gate checked strollers/car seats. Each of my 4 flights I saw the person walk it to the plane and then walk it to me. They were all really nice and helped me unfold the stroller or just automatically put it in the bus since we have one of those flights where you take the shuttle to the gate.

Just my 2 cents, but I would have felt comfortable gate checking my car seat.

[ktw]

Feb 27, 2015 9:01:05 GMT -5 rbp said:

Feb 27, 2015 8:05:37 GMT -5 ktw said:

We've only flown with G once, she was 6 months old, and we bought her her own seat and installed the bucket rfing on the plane. The risk of checking either gate or regular is damaging the seat. Obviously if it was noticeably damaged, you would replace. But it's possible for there to be damage you can't see, so you wouldn't know to replace it. I'm extremely risk-averse when it comes to car seats, you have to decide how much risk you can handle personally.

That is why I thought about having a convertible shipped to my mom...but I am worried about having to install it in the airport parking lot. I cannot trust her to install it herself. She would lose her fucking mind. 

I agree, that would make me nervous, too. I buy more expensive seats (we have 2 nextfits and a marathon) specifically because I like that they are easy to install and have bells and whistles to make me feel confident it was done correctly. I would hesitate to buy a $$ seat that you would rarely use, though. I'd probably buy the easiest to Install cheap seat, have it shipped to your mom, read the manual ahead, watch YouTube videos and have them queued up on your phone, pay to park, and just take your time installing it.

[aqualuv]

We've gate checked our infant seat twice so far with no issues. We bought this car seat bag: www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425047489&sr=8-1&keywords=j+childress+car+seat+bag. It made me feel more comfortable that it had some padding, plus we have been able to shove extra stuff in there.

[rbp]

Feb 27, 2015 9:23:08 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

We used the snap & go and our buckets and gate checked them in those $15 red bags. They came out unscathed (over 6 or 8 flights total), though the bags are dirty. So easy. I wouldn't fully check seats but am fine with gate checking.

What bag fits the snap and go?

[sh10]

Can you have your mom contact safe kids to have them check the car seat install if you go with Option B? I personally am not comfortable checking a car seat, I have had bags ruined and would not want to end up with a ruined seat or a lost seat and having to run out and buy one.

I had a seat sent to my dad's house and I showed him how to install it. You can send your mom YouTube videos to show her how to install it, and then if there is time, she can get it checked by a pro.