Question about flying with infant car seat

[Anonymous]

I did not purchase a seat on the plane for my baby and it is unlikely that the airline will let me use a seat for free b/c the plane is completely full. However, I do need to take my baby's car seat with me (Chicco KeyFit) b/c I need it for the car at the final destination. The question is : what do I do with the car seat?
- check it? and if so in what kind of bag?This seems convenient, but the problem is that if they lose the bag, I will end up with no car seat for the car at my final destination...
- gate check it? Do airlines usually allow you to gate check infant car seats? What if they refuse to gate check it? If gate checking, do I need to purchase a special bag for that so that the car seat does not get damaged or does the airline wrap it in some kind of plastic to protect it?...

What do people usually do?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

A lot of moms prefer to gate check their seat for the very reason you stated and also because your seat may take less abuse, if you gate check it. I have never heard of anyone not being able to gate check one. I don't think you need a special bag to gate check (but I don't know first hand) -- I think they'll just have you tag it like a stroller.

The one time I flew with a carseat that I didn't use on the plane, I checked it with my luggage. I was 32 weeks pg and with a 3 yo - and I just didn't want to be hauling the seat through the airport. There are lots of bags out there made just for carseats. I got one with wheels and it was fine -although it doesn't really offer a lot of protection. You can also just put them in a bag (like a trash bag - which sometimes you can get at the airport) - but they won't do anything to protect your seat. Ideally, I think if you're checking your seat - you put it in the box it came in.

[Anonymous]

Me again - I'll just add that if you have a car seat the fits in your stroller and you plan on gate checking your stroller - I'd definately gate check your seat too. The only inconvenience I can see, is that you'd have to take the stroller/seat apart at security.

[Anonymous]

I've gate checked and baggaged checked my carseat. I have a rolling bag which makes lugging it much easier, especially if I am travelling alone with the baby, diaper bag, and suitcase. If you are concerned about losing the car seat or it not making a connection, I'd gate check it. The airline won't to anything but tag it so I'd recommend getting a car seat bag or large duffle or whatever it will fit in. Expect it to get tossed around so you can pad it if you want with your winter coat or blankets.

[Anonymous]

Target sells bright red gate check bags for car seats for about $15. I'm guessing the big baby stores have them also. I highly recommend you get one if there is a chance you won't bring it on the plane. We gate checked our snap-n-go and it was raining and it came back soaking wet. It wasn't a big deal because it was just the stroller frame but the other family on the plane had a soaking wet umbrella stroller returned to them and they were not happy.

What might be easiest for you since you have an infant seat is to just use your snap-n-go (assuming you have that) and stroll that right up to the gate and gate check both. Then if a seat happens to open up you can bring the infant seat on board. Just be sure to take the cup holders off the snap-n-go if you have any. And make sure when you get to the gate to have the stroller and seat tagged, sometimes they forget to do that when you first check in. If you are bringing your base as well we just checked that with our luggage.

[Anonymous]

PP here... I think that Target sells the gate check bags on-line only, so don't go to the store looking for them there.