cheap convertible seat for travel?

[marie3246]

We are flying with DD in a month. We are going to be renting a car at our destination, but only til we get to DH's family and then we can ride in their cars. Any suggestions for a cheap travel seat? Would you gate check it? Or check it at the counter?

[sunshine608]

I'm ordering the Cosco Scencera and will gate check. I went to Walmart to get it last week but it wasn't in stock ( even though it said they had 6 online).

[spk926]

I got a Costco Scenera and gate checked it. TBH I hated that thing. Couldn't get a good rear facing install no matter what I did. I still curse that thing when I walk past it in the basement. There is another light weight seat that is something like $20 more that is supposed to be much easier to install rear facing. The name escapes me but I would get that over the scenera any day.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 13:29:03 GMT -5 spk926 said:

I got a Costco Scenera and gate checked it. TBH I hated that thing. Couldn't get a good rear facing install no matter what I did. I still curse that thing when I walk past it in the basement. There is another light weight seat that is something like $20 more that is supposed to be much easier to install rear facing. The name escapes me but I would get that over the scenera any day.

The Safety 1st Air Guide 65? I have a hard time getting a good install on this one too but it's better than the Cosco Scenera imo. 

[spk926]

Jul 7, 2015 13:30:59 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Jul 7, 2015 13:29:03 GMT -5 spk926 said:

I got a Costco Scenera and gate checked it. TBH I hated that thing. Couldn't get a good rear facing install no matter what I did. I still curse that thing when I walk past it in the basement. There is another light weight seat that is something like $20 more that is supposed to be much easier to install rear facing. The name escapes me but I would get that over the scenera any day.

The Safety 1st Air Guide 65? I have a hard time getting a good install on this one too but it's better than the Cosco Scenera imo. 

That could be it, it sounds familiar.

[anna7602]

Cosco Scenera. But, full disclosure, I've never installed a car seat RFing on vacation (except for the bucket seat). I thought the FF install on the Scenera was straight forward enough, and this was with having to install over and over again in different cars and cabs on vacations past. Definitely light weight.

[marie3246]

Thanks, Ill check these out.

[serendipity]

I would check your local Target. I saw the Scenera on clearance at mine. Plus they are having a gift card promo this week with a certain $ amount purchase.

[itsme]

Safety 1st Guide 65 is not easy to install rear facing.

[Deleted]

We use Even Flo Maestro (FF only), and it works great. It's only 11lb.

[spk926]

Jul 7, 2015 13:39:36 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Cosco Scenera. But, full disclosure, I've never installed a car seat RFing on vacation (except for the bucket seat). I thought the FF install on the Scenera was straight forward enough, and this was with having to install over and over again in different cars and cabs on vacations past. Definitely light weight.

Forward facing it's fine to install, but rear facing is a bitch! Frustrated doesn't even begin to describe my experience. We were thankfully visiting family so I was able to install the Scenera FF for nephew and then turned his seat RF for DD to use. Installing the Scenera RF and FF are two completely different ballgames.

[magpie]

I have the Scencera for travel. It can be a pain to install rear facing (I needed a rolled up towel in the last car we rented), but I've done it on two trips so far and lived to tell the tale. I installed in once rear facing with no issue/struggle.  It true that it is really easy to do a forward facing install...I did one for the drive from the airport to our hotel, where I had more time and a towel to roll up to do a proper rear facing install.

I check mine at the counter if I'm not using it on the plane.

[chickadee77]

I have a Guide 65, and at first the install was a bitch. Once we watched a YouTube video, that made it much easier to install rear-facing.

I haven't flown commercial with it, yet, so I can't speak to the checking issue. However, L seemed pretty comfy in it yesterday (2 hour drive, 3 hour flight - though we took her out for part of that - and 30-minute drive home).

[itsme]

We've flown a few times with the seat. When she was a lap kid we checked the seat at baggage check. Now that we buy her a seat we take it on the plane and she sits in it.