Air travel with rental car and 2+ children

[anna7602]

Curbside check-in and then yes, a cart. I have never used car seats on the plane itself.

[Marmee]

Now we check the car seats with the baggage at the curb going, but pick them up at the bag carousel & often do use a cart thing to take them to the car rental shuttle. There is a lot of shuffling of stuff & I do tip everyone who helps us. I often have a car seat on my back like a backpack when I need to carry one or in a stroller while the toddler walks (like if I take it into the airplane cabin).

[kershnic]

Flying with two car seats sucks but you just get through it. I can't imagine gate checking. We check those things as soon as possible. We have bags for them and have hauled them without a cart because we're cheap asses (kids in stroller or being worn, one parent with each car seat and half the luggage) but I'd recommend getting a cart if you're not being picked up curbside if possible.

[h]

We put the car seats in the backpack style car seat bags, and then we each wear one. We can fit a Bubblebum for DS1 in one of the bags, so we can do two car seat bags for three kids. We gate check the seats. We get a smart cart for all out luggage at baggage claim, but we still wear the car seats in our back to the rental car transport.

[h]

Wait, I am the only idiot who gate checks them? Why the heck do I do this?

[lala]

We gate check them b/c somehow that seems "safer" to me than actually checking them. It's annoying, yes. We use big bag things to keep the straps safer and less beat up/dirty. I have the orange ones from BRU. We just stack them on the stroller and wear the baby or clip them to a back pack or some variation. We've never gotten one of those carts, but maybe we are glutton for punishment! When we are going to a car rental or shuttle, we strap them to the suitcases.

[erbear]

We got a bag and threw in a car seat and a booster, then checked them.

[frlcb]

Check with luggage, pick up at baggage claim, and get a cart, or we use the backpack bag and my husband carries one and I pull one. We are prone to looking like pack mules when we travel, we own it.

[Marmee]

This was the kids & I last summer waiting for DH to pick us up from outside bag claim with the car...5 suitcases, 4 kids, 1 gigantic duffle bag, 3 kids backpacks, 1 purse, 1 diaper bag, 2 booster seats, 1 car seat (DH took that with him), 3 pillow pets & a stroller You can handle it

[Deleted]

Curb side check in and then we just rent car seats along with the car.

[thebreakfastclub]

Curb check is the way to go even without kids. Not waiting in a big line is well worth the tip.

[carolinagirl831]

it's comical really. We check the car seats, I wear the baby, DH collects the 2 yr old. We get a cart and pile as much as we can on to it and DH juggles as much as he can while I wrangle the kids. I can't wait to do it again at O HARE in Dec ; )

I have found that airport people seem to seek us out and help as much as possible, which is nice! so i always bring cash handy for tips. They have made it much easier!

[bowies]

How much do you tip for curb side baggage check? I've never done that before either.

[motzie]

We check the car seats with our bags. I use nylon laundry bags to cover them, then I bungee them to my stroller to get into the airport.

[SJ]

Oct 12, 2015 20:48:52 GMT -5 h said:

Wait, I am the only idiot who gate checks them? Why the heck do I do this?

I have no idea.

I get rid of that huge car seat bag backpack thing ASAP. And I have one, not three.

[Deleted]

Are you flying with the baby. I would use a snap and go type thing. I have a quinny. Then I would put the baby in the carseat on that. I would gate check that car seat. Then I would check the other car seat with my bags. I also have one huge piece of luggage that I strap the carseat to it using bungee cords. Its one of those pieces you dont have to tilt to move so its easy peasy to push the stroller and then pull the bag and car seat. I only have one kid but could see it working well with the baby. When they get bigger they will both be checked with the bags.

[h]

Oct 13, 2015 8:18:26 GMT -5 SJ said:

Oct 12, 2015 20:48:52 GMT -5 h said:

Wait, I am the only idiot who gate checks them? Why the heck do I do this?

I have no idea.

I get rid of that huge car seat bag backpack thing ASAP. And I have one, not three.

FWIW, we always curb check all our luggage. But then we go through the airport with the carry on stuff piled on the stroller and those damn car seats on our backs. You would think we would know better.

But get this guys...I just realized that the next time we have to travel by plane with car seats is March, and my older kids will be 8.5 and almost 6. I think that means we can fly with a car seat for DS3 and a couple bubblebums (or just one bubblebum?). All in one car seat bag! We made it to the other side, folks! Victory is ours!

[anna7602]

h, I am totally counting down to going completely booster-less with DD in just 7 months, although I know that's probably verboten to say on this board, land of extended RFing and boostering until the teenage years.

[steamboat185]

We only have one, but we fly a lot and use the carseat on the plane. I attach the carseat to our carry on roller bag using the latch/tether straps and a carabiner (shape is an upside down T). It takes maybe 10 second to take apart for security. DD can ride in it and it is so easy!

The rare times we do check a bag it is always curbside.

[Marmee]

Oct 13, 2015 9:03:50 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

h, I am totally counting down to going completely booster-less with DD in just 7 months, although I know that's probably verboten to say on this board, land of extended RFing and boostering until the teenage years.

Oh I count down the days....1.5yrs until I have 1 in a booster & that is it!!

[h]

Oct 13, 2015 9:03:50 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

h, I am totally counting down to going completely booster-less with DD in just 7 months, although I know that's probably verboten to say on this board, land of extended RFing and boostering until the teenage years.

I need to get a handle on when to ditch the booster. DS1 is 8, and he's reasonably big for his age (55 inches and 69 lbs.). We're probably about there, huh?

[h]

Oct 13, 2015 9:48:10 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

h, 59" is the recommendation I've seen, so I assume that's where most belts would fit properly.

See, this is why I am so confused! I see stuff that says 8 yo unless they are 4'9" before turning 8, which makes me think 4'9" in when belts would most likely fit. And I assume it also varies by car and my kid (whether their height is in legs versus torso?). There is a test you can do.

I just started another thread on this because I feel like I am doing it wrong and potentially being Crazy Booster Mom.

[penguingrrl]

Oct 13, 2015 9:32:45 GMT -5 h said:

Oct 13, 2015 9:03:50 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

h, I am totally counting down to going completely booster-less with DD in just 7 months, although I know that's probably verboten to say on this board, land of extended RFing and boostering until the teenage years.

I need to get a handle on when to ditch the booster. DS1 turned 8 in August, and he's reasonably big for his age (55 inches and 69 lbs.). We're probably about there, huh?

Google the 5 step test. At his size he likely passes in some seats and not others. My 8 year old is 53" and 67 lbs and passes in most spots but is nowhere near passing in the captain's chair of my minivan (but has passed for a while in the third row). She passes is MILs car, FILs car and my mom's car (accord, civic, and Subaru Legacy).

[Deleted]

We travel with 3 regularly.

For a long time we didn't use the carts. We had a car seat bag with the convertible for the youngest. Middle used a go hybrid which folds into a smaller bag. Oldest a uses a bubblebum which was deflated and put into the big car seat bag. We would strap youngest into stroller, sling one adult backpack over handles, connect the two suitcases into a train and put the smaller car seat bag over the handle bars and DH would pull that. I would sling the big car seat bag over my back and push the stroller and hold the middles hand. And oldest dragged her own rolling backpack.

Now we usually get a cart. It's just easier. We don't bring a stroller anymore. Youngest wears his own little backpack on his back, older two tow their own rolling backpacks. DH and I both wear backpacks. And then we have 2 suitcases and 2 car seat bags (now containing high back booster and bubble bum in one and folding go hybrid in the other). We are about to be able to ditch the big car seat bag, but I like it because I can fill it up with sand toys, life jackets, and beach towels. I don't know what we will do when we don't need it anymore (next year probably. Then the girls will each have a bubble bum in their carry on and DSs go hybrid will be folded in its small bag.