Checking car seat for flight

[Anonymous]

What's the best way to package a car seat to check it with the regular luggage? Last time I flew we took it on board, but he's old enough now to sit still and I'd like to check the seat.

I'm not interested in renting a seat at our destination (don't trust the safety).
The seat I'm bringing has a steel frame so it's heavy, but I trust it not to get damaged. (Is that a big mistake??)
I don't want to buy a "car seat bag" since they look flimsy and expensive, and we don't fly often with the kid.

[Anonymous]

According to CPSTs, trusting your seat to be checked is a big no-no.

We don't like to risk our standard (expensive) seat, so we travel with a lightweight cheap seat we bought at Target or somewhere for $50. It didn't come packaged in a box when we bought it -- just a bag -- so I figure it can handle being tossed around with some luggage.

[Anonymous]

Put it in a garbage bag, and gate check it.

[Anonymous]

I let them bag it at the counter. I would not want to carry the behemoth to the gate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I let them bag it at the counter. I would not want to carry the behemoth to the gate.

They'll bag it for me? In what? Can I really just use a garbage bag? (Yes, I tend to over think everything...)

[Anonymous]

You can buy a car seat bag with wheels and a handle to make it easier to to the gate to gate check it.

[Anonymous]

This will probably fit it:
http://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Car-Seat-Travel-Bag/dp/B001CWVYMI

That said, PPs are right that it's not recommended (although I've done it.) FYI, it doesn't count against your checked baggage allowance.

[Anonymous]

Not all airlines provide bags at the counter or have them when you need one (speaking from personal experience).
Whatever bag you choose, make sure you gate check it.
I've had friends whose checked carseats have gotten lost, like luggage, and not made it to the final destination.

[Anonymous]

Large duffle bag with a blanket, pillow or something to give it support. They make car seat duffle bags. A plastic bag can rip and is useless. I would bring on board or gate check and buy a cheaper seat.

[Anonymous]

Flying tomorrow with a car seat. We bought a cheap bag at BBB and are planning to gate check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not all airlines provide bags at the counter or have them when you need one (speaking from personal experience).
Whatever bag you choose, make sure you gate check it.
I've had friends whose checked carseats have gotten lost, like luggage, and not made it to the final destination.

We have always gate checked using one of those big red car seat bags. However, on a recent return trip from Charlotte, the agent at check in insisted that we check the car seat in with our checked luggage. I pushed back but she was firm, and since it was not our regular car seat and we were returning home (and DS was traveling as a lap baby), I eventually gave in. For our next trip I will look up and print out information on airline policies re: gate checking carseats to have to rebut the agent's arguments if I am pushed to check the carseat again, because if it were to get lost in transit we would be SOL at our destination.

[Anonymous]

The only way to safely pack it is in the original box.

[Anonymous]

Toys R Us has inexpensive car seat bag which we use extensively. Has wheels and backpack straps. Stuff extra stuff (extra diapers, soft bulky items).

[Anonymous]

Do they still have sidewalk check in? I didn't notice it when I was at the airport over the weekend. We did that 2 years ago. That was better than walking to the check in counter. Then we printed the boarding pass at the kiosk. It was so much more faster. Especially if you see a LONG line at check in counter.

I'm one of those who observe what people are doing by the planes outside. Never the one to sit and wait for at the gate. I can tell you some baggage handlers will through your precious luggage and strollers and carseats onto the truck. There is no "handle with care." Too many luggage to load/unload.

[Anonymous]

You shouldn't check it. You don't know what can happen to it while it's checked that would make it unsafe to use.