We are going on a trip next week and we will be traveling with our 2 children who both use booster seats. We will be needing them for our rental car when we get to our destination. We aren't using them on the flight (not approved) and we are going to be checking them with our luggage. My question is do you put them in a bag of some sort or do you just check them, put a luggage tag on them and let them go. I don't want them to get ruined, i know how they handle baggage, just wondering your thoughts. I really don't want to go and buy a travel bag for them that would cost more than the booster seats and I already checked with the car company and I have a hard time paying the cost of a booster seat just to rent them :) I may as well send my hubby to the store and buy them when we get to Miami : )
Thanks in advance smart mama's!
I either put mine in my suitcase (only works with backless ones), or carry them on.
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I either put mine in my suitcase (only works with backless ones), or carry them on.
If you're talking about the backless booster seat, only 15.00 - I would just buy it when you get there and give to a Goodwill before you leave. If it is the high back booster seat it may be cheaper to do the same thing since you will be charged for each since they are additional luggage. If they are the high back kind you can't take them as a carry-on, so you will have to check them. You could go to a Goodwill and get a piece of luggage for them to fit in.
We put ours in heavy-duty trash bags and tied them with zip ties, and they were fine. The airline said they usually have plastic bags to put them in, but they were all out when we were there. Also - remember to bring another set for the trip home, in case they get ripped on the way there. Have fun!
I just put them in a trash bag with a luggage tag they have at the front desk. Some airlines have a bag that they will put the carseat/ boosterseat in, I found this out on my return trip with I didn't have hte trash bag anymore.
Although we use the booster seats with the back on at home, for the trip we took the backs off so they would be easier to carry. We put them in clear plastic bag at home, but the airline had much larger plastic bags. The airline agent made sure to twist up any extra bag and knot it, so the bag didn't catch on the conveyor belts. You have a choice to check as baggage or to gate check, so it's up to you if you want to carry them through security and to the gate or not.
Two years ago we took my son's booster seat. They gave us a tag for it and we put with the strollers and wheelchairs right before boarding the plane. I don't think you want to check it with luggage because it can get damaged.
Carseats are free to check
Do a gate check instead of checking it with your baggage. Less chance of damage. You'll have to bring them through the airport with you, but other than that, it's easy. Just go to the check-in counter at the gate and tell them you want to gate check your boosters. They'll tag them for you and you just drop them off at the bottom of the ramp just before you get into the plane. Have fun :)
If you have AAA, the will get you the boosters for your rental car free.
I didn't read all of the responses, so sorry if I'm repeating someone else!
We have a booster and a big Britax carseat for my two kids. I have a big bag for the Britax and didn't want to buy another one for the booster, so I just stuck it in an extra duffle bag that we have. On our booster the back and the base come apart, so I took them apart and stuffed them in the duffle bag. I wouldn't send it without a bag, it will definately get ruined. My Britax has holes in it no where they ripped the bag it was in and the carseat cover itself... nice.
Be sure to tell them when you check the bag that it's a carseat, because you don't have to pay the baggage fee for carseats!
I just got back from a cross country trip with the family. We took my daughter's booster seat (no back) along with us and had no problems. We checked it at the gate every time and it came back just fine. We had two flights each way and it didn't get lost or dirty. We didn't put it in a bag of any kid, and no one at the airport even suggested it. It was a bit of a pain to tote it through security, but I felt better knowing it wasn't going to get mixed up in all the other luggage. There isn't a charge for it on any airline.
I have traveled with them over 20 times. I have only one time had one break. One of the buttons to adjust the straps popped off and I had to order a new one from the carseat company. BUT, they can get really dirty. Check with the airline. Some of them place carseats in oversized heavy duty plastic bags. If they do that then you don't need to worry. It's the airlines that just put a luggage tag on the straps and place them on the belt that you have problems with. They come out greasy and dirty and that's when you could loose parts. Generally, I just plan on throwing the covers in the washing machine when we get back from vacation. They never were so gross that I had to do it before we got home.
You might consider purchasing one double stroller travel bag instead of two separate carseat bags, it will probably be a bit cheaper. Although if you have a BIG carseat (like my Britax Marathon I barely fits into the double stroller bag by itself) then you may need something else.
We have always just rented but I have seen people putting them in plastic bags. I would think that would help to protect them from major scratches. Could you check them at the gate like they do with strollers? Then at least you would know they will be on top. We have always done that with our stroller and I have never seen so much as a scuff on it. Good luck and enjoy your trip!
if you have any sewing skills. or know someone who does, just buy a few yards of fabric and sew a simple drawstring bag for them, that you can use over and over for anything...use ugly/cheap fabric and you should be fine.
I have two suggestions (I've done both): 1) when I took my son (age 4 at the time) alone, we checked it (backless) at the terminal - when we were in the airport, he hung on to one handle and I the other - worked well to stay together; 2) when I took my daughter (again, age 4 at the time), I checked it with baggage. You can either simply tag it by itself or usually they have a clear plastic bag there you can put it in - I suppose it would keep it dry in case of rain or snow. Have a good trip!
We have sometimes shoved a backless booster into our luggage. On the other hand, we've also traveled with infant seats, toddler seats, and boosters in various stages, and nothing has come back damaged. We are not frequent fliers, but we have definitely flown more than a few times with kids and not had a problem just checking them. Sometimes they give us a bag, but I often wonder how much that could possibly do (perhaps they do it in bad weather...who knows).
Will they fit in a duffel bag? Or, maybe you can put them in a box. The airlines won't charge you. Check craigslist. Maybe you can get a used car seat bag for a few bucks.
