quick question, anyone that travels with children and car seats, when you check them at the ticket counter do they provide the clear plastic bags for them, or do we need to have all that stuff when we get to the airport?
customer service was no help for our airline.

Sorry, I have never traveled with a car seat, so I have no advice, other than have a great trip!

When we went 2 years ago I dont remember them bagging it for us. But I'm not 100% sure. After 2 years its sort of a blur. CAll the airline and ask. They'll be able to help you.

I just saw that you said they werent helpful- call again, hopefully you'll get a different agent that can help you. Otherwise just go prepared to take care of it yourself.

Not helpful can be a synonym for Airlines sometime :rolleyes:

DO NOT count on the airlines to have a bag for your carseat. We use heavy duty lawn garbage bags (the black ones that are really thick) for ours. I am assuming you are talking about a booster seat - yes? If you are talking about a toddler seat consider taking it on the plane with you. I do that with my son's Britax seat. We strap it into the airline seat and he is much more comfortable and is up higher so he can see more.

Have a blast!

I just take my car seat to the ticket counter and the airline deals with it from there. Make sure and tie up any straps or anything else that can be caught. If the airline doesn't like it they will bag it or box it.

You will have to take your own bag for it. If you're talking booster seats, they have to be stowed, but infant or convertible seats you should have your kids sit in on the plane... it's much safer for them to be in their carseats than in the plane's seatbelt.

You'll want to bring a bag for your stroller too, if you are gate-checking it, they stow it in the filty belly of the plane. I usually just bring along a couple of giant garbage bags and a rubber band to close it up.

Others have posted that there are some nice carseat bags available - I thought I had seen one at least once at Target? They're usually open a bit late in the evenings?

Adrienne

We were able to find a fairly nice car seat bag that has wheels on the bottom of it. I think I bought it at Babies-R-Us. It was such a help to have wheels on it so we could just pull it behind us. We also use the car seat on the plane. Make sure you have bought your child a ticket for the seat, otherwise, they could decide that you can't use the seat. It's a little more expensive that way but at least you won't have to hold your child the whole flight.

Since my DD is a lapbaby we take our seat to the gate incase there are empty seats. If there are they will allow you to put the chair in the seat. If not you can checkit at the gate along with a stroller.