How to check carseats at the airport?

[cosmowife]

We are going to be flying in a month.  We'll need to check two car seats.  Do you check them at the front or at the gate?  I am trying to figure out what type of bag/contraption I will need to get them into the airport.

[pinotgrig]

We got a car seat gate check bag from Amazon for like $16. We carried it through security and checked it at the gate.

[ECB]

We check it at the front. No way are we lugging that contraption through the airport! DH would just put it in a huge contractors garbage bag and tape it up.

[carolinagirl831]

gate check at the front. We got an orange bag at Babies R us to "protect" it. It was like $10 and i'm glad we had it. It keeps the material from getting ripped or smeared

[magpie]

I check it at the front. I only carry it through the airport/security if I'm going to use it on the plane. I also use a big garbage bag.

[savan]

We purchased some nice, padded car seat bags and check ours in when we check in our luggage. No way are we lugging them through the airport. Every airline/airport has a different method of checking in car seats so you'll have to ask a representative when you check in.

[pippa]

Check them with luggage. We bought the childress padded backpack car seat bag from amazon.

[thebreakfastclub]

We always do curbside check in, so that's where the carseat goes; stroller at the gate. We used the cheaper red Amazon bag for the car seat and stroller.

[SJ]

Curb. It's free.

[erbear]

Check it in the front.

[smock]

I gate check, because I'm always hoping for a last-minute free seat on the plane for DD (she's under two and we haven't bought her a ticket yet). Otherwise, I'd get a padded bag and check it before security, to avoid lugging it through the airport.

[anna7602]

Curbside check-in as soon as I get out of the cab, if I can't avoid traveling with one.