Alternatives to Get Your Child to and from the Airport? Need a Car Seat?

Hi D.! Here is what we have done while traveling with our daughter since she's been in our lives. We drive to the airport, but use a parking facility called Park Fly and Ride instead of parking at the airport. You can reserve your spot on-line before you go and it is much much cheaper than parking at the airport for any length of time. Indoor parking is available as an option as well, so you don't have to deal with snow.

You park at the facility and then they provide you with a quick shuttle to the airport. It's easy breezy - you are dropped right at your terminal. When you return to the airport, you call them after you get your luggage and they'll tell you where the shuttle will pick you up. This is generally at a door close to the baggage claim. (Your baby can ride the shuttle sitting on your lap.)

I highly recommend this option for traveling with car-seated children. It has worked very well for us! A link to the service is provided below. Hope this helps!

http://www.parkrideflyusa.com/?source=google&002=1070...

Dare I suggest the obvious that you take public transportation? If you have someone drop you at the el (or take the bus), you won't have too much walking to do before you can get a cart for yourself. And, I've found people to be extremely helpful if you look like you need it.

Let me also suggest that you minimize the amount of stuff you bring. Do you REALLY need the laptop? Can you do laundry while you're traveling so that you can bring fewer clothes? Can you buy diapers at your destination so you don't have to carry a bunch? Do you really need a stroller or can you use a baby carrier like a sling? I bet you can cut your load down considerably, which will make your life much simpler. Ask yourself: how many times to you return from a trip and say, "oh I didn't use XX" versus how many times do you say, "I wish I had brought XX"? If you often bring things you don't need, you're packing too much.

This might not be feasible for your time line, but we've been using the Orbit stroller/seat system. It's the only one with infant and convertible car seats that lock onto the stroller base. So, we just use the car seat to get to the airport, then put the car seat on the stroller to get to the gate, gate-check the stroller base, and use the car seat on the airplane too. It's really convenient, but rather pricey.

I asked a taxi driver if they have car seats and he said they do, but sometimes they take forever/don't come. You would need to call in and request one specifically.

I don't believe it is required to have a car seat in a taxi in Chicago. I've certainly taken taxis locally without one, but know that some people are uncomfortable with that.

For our last trip to the airport, I called a cab company and asked if it was required that my daughter have a car seat-- they basically said that I assumed liability but they'd take us without. I didn't ask if they provided them, I am sure this company did not. Luckily we were able to get my in-laws to drive us so we could use my daughter's car seat and then leave it with them.