OK, this will be the first time traveling with a booster seat for my son. The last time we flew, we went to WDW and didn't need to take a carseat at all since he's already in a booster (can't use it on the plane) and transportation was all via bus (no seatbelts).

We're going to DLR in less than two weeks. This time we're renting a car, I'm taking a booster (probably the full-sized seat, unless I decide to buy a backless one before we go). If I am checking it with our luggage (not gate checking with the stroller) do I need a bag for it? It'll be fine without one, right??? I always bag my stroller since we gate check it and I don't want it to come out filthy, but in the luggage area, do I need to worry about it?

Also, since we do travel at least 3 times a year, should I invest in a booster that converts to a backless just to have less to carry when traveling? I know that it will come in handy when he's older and doesn't really need the full seat.

BTW - Max turned 4 in October; he's about 43 pounds and about 43 inches tall.

Let me tell you about this idiot that traveled with sodas in her luggage. By the time our luggage got off the carousel, everything was sopping wet. She picked up her bag, and brown stuff was leaking out, leaving puddles behind her. She noticed that several bags were also damp, and a car seat as well. She raced with her bag to the door to get it outside, then went back into try to help, but everyone was really upset with the damages done. Her husband, just laughed at her and told her "I told you so."

If you want to protect it, bag it.

Oh, and that woman was me. :(

In regards to the backless booster:

The backless booster would be much less cumbersome to carry through an airport and throw in the rental. It won't take up a ton of space and does the exact same thing.

The booster seat with a high back is tailored for cars where the seat back is lower than the child's ears. The booster "back" is merely designed to support the head and neck in the event of an accident.

Have fun at DLR. Renting a car is the way to go...you can stop by a grocery store and pick up vegies and fruit to snack on since that is hard to come by once in the park ;)

oh, and bag it ;)

We throw our booster in a large sized lawn garbage bag - Does the trick and does not cost much.

Wendi, YES, bag the carseat! The gate checked items go in the same place as your ticket counter checked items, they just go in last, closer to the cargo door. The belly of the airplane is SO nasty! I would take a trash bag, those big black leaf bags, if you don't have a carseat bag. I did get one that fit my Britax Marathon, and I can give you the name of it if you want.

I'm assuming from the posts that others have had different experiences, but I'll note that we have gate checked our stroller on several flights. We have never bothered putting it in any kind of a bag and have never had any issue with it being overly dirty or otherwise in bad condition when we retrieved it.

-Jeff

Perhaps it is the airlines I have flewn, but they have bagged my carseat everytime I fly. I was on Delta and Southwest. Perhaps they don't do it anymore, but when I flew in November, they still bagged it for me.
I would bring a trash bag in case, but they have bagged mine EVERY time. I have had no issues with it at all. The only crap that got on my carseat was crackers that fell in the back of the carseat, and were not able to get out, without being banged out. I guess flying does the trick?

UPDATE: I bought a Graco Turbobooster and tried it as a backless booster for Max in my car. Just what I was afraid of: the seatbelt isn't positioned properly, too close to his neck instead of his shoulder (who knows how it will fit in different rental cars too)... so I guess that isn't going to work and we'll travel with the high-backed booster. I may check out the folding booster though.

I'm assuming from the posts that others have had different experiences, but I'll note that we have gate checked our stroller on several flights. We have never bothered putting it in any kind of a bag and have never had any issue with it being overly dirty or otherwise in bad condition when we retrieved it.

-Jeff

My husband is a commercial pilot, and I was a flight attendant. I can tell of NUMEROUS stories of people's car seats and strollers coming up in to the jetway with crud all over them. In fact just last week, DH said he was standing in the jetway, listening to a lady rip the ramper that brought her unbagged stroller up to her, a new one because it was dripping wet with who knows what! I am glad you haven't had anything happen. I don't want to take that chance.

mi_mous We travel on AWA most of the time, who my DH flies for, and they do not provide bags. In fact, Southwest out of Spokane doesn't either, but I know they do out of Phoenix. I think it depends on the airline and the station. It is a good idea to bring your own bag just in case. I think it is nice of the airlines that do provide the bags. Just proves they know what can happen.

Wendi,
Take the Turbo Booster. It can separate into two pieces and then you can put it in a bag. Carry it all the way down the jet way and the luggage crew will load it last. At your destination, it will be there first (near where the wheelchairs are) You can do this if you have strollers too.

You can reassemble the Turbo Booster in about 10 seconds and load it in the car.

Best of luck, Jo5

Wendi,
Take the Turbo Booster. It can separate into two pieces and then you can put it in a bag. Carry it all the way down the jet way and the luggage crew will load it last. At your destination, it will be there first (near where the wheelchairs are) You can do this if you have strollers too.

You can reassemble the Turbo Booster in about 10 seconds and load it in the car.

Best of luck, Jo5

It should fit in a bag in one piece, if you buy the big trash bags. My 4yo is in a Britax Marathon, and it is a big seat and it fits in those big leaf bags.

Last time we traveled they gave us a bag for the car seat, and let us bring the booster on the plane. I have since heard of people not being allowed to use the booster, although I'm not sure why.

We shopped for a new stroller before our last trip to WDW, and had looked everwhere for a lightweight stroller with an umbrella, reclining back, and basket underneath. Believe it or not, not an easy combination. We were told to leave it at the end of the tunnel as we boarded the plane, and it arrived in Orlando no problem.

On the way home however, after waiting AWHILE, they finally retrieved "some" of it. Needless to say, Delta ended up coughing up the money for a new one since they (after 6 weeks) were unable to order new parts to replace what they broke. We are half hoping they do the same (on the way home of course) with our current double stroller so we can buy one that actually turns.;)

Last time we traveled they gave us a bag for the car seat, and let us bring the booster on the plane. I have since heard of people not being allowed to use the booster, although I'm not sure why.

We shopped for a new stroller before our last trip to WDW, and had looked everwhere for a lightweight stroller with an umbrella, reclining back, and basket underneath. Believe it or not, not an easy combination. We were told to leave it at the end of the tunnel as we boarded the plane, and it arrived in Orlando no problem.

On the way home however, after waiting AWHILE, they finally retrieved "some" of it. Needless to say, Delta ended up coughing up the money for a new one since they (after 6 weeks) were unable to order new parts to replace what they broke. We are half hoping they do the same (on the way home of course) with our current double stroller so we can buy one that actually turns.;)


Booster seats are not airline approved.
From the FAA website:
"The safest place for a child on an airplane is in an apporved CRS based on the child's weight. While booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in automobiles, they are banned for use during taxi, take-off and landing. Although they are permissible for use during the cruise portion of flight, they do not afford the same level of protection as a hard-shell CRS."
Here is the website I found that on:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/childsafetyseats.cfm



Unfortunately situations like yours happen all to often, when checking bags, strollers etc. Some rampers are careless with the handling of bags. It wouldn't have mattered if your stroller was bagged or not, it could have still been broken. Although all the pieces would have at least been in the bag.
When my mom flew to visit us in Spokane over New Years, using brand new luggage, they completely broke the wheel off her roller board. Unfortunately she was traveling on my husband's benefits, he is a commercial pilot, and they would not repair or replace the bag. I always worry they will destroy my stroller and I would be SOL. I have, on numerous occasions, with my double stroller, that is bagged, had pieces of it not together, that should be, when it arrives. Thankfully it wasn't anything I couldn't fix.

Ok I have a question where would I find a bag for a sit n' stand. This is the first time we are flying with car seats and a stroller. So we are all new with this. We have a infant carrier, a Cargbooster and the stroller. So I know now to bag them but any other sudgestions.

Leslie

We will be flying for the first time with a stroller and a carseat and does anyone recommend me taking them through the gate with us or do we leave them where we leave our luggage? May sound funny to those of you who travel often with kids but this is the first plane ride with a child. I got her a seat but I dont know if we are suppose to take her carseat on the plane or check it with our luggage. Also if I put the stroller in with my luggage that means I will be with out a stroller for a while until the luggage is there:confused: Any advise will be helpful. Im glad I read the previous posts because I had no clue I would need to bag my stroller, but it does make since:fez:
Also has anyone taken the backpack carrier to the airplane? Can i take that on the airplane? I thought it may be easier to carry her in that through the airport?

If it is a carseat with straps... not a booster, I would definitely use it on the plane. The plane's seatbelt is not good enough for a little one, and they will be more comfortable (and more able to see out the window because they're sitting higher) than in the plane's seat. If it's a booster, you'll have to check it, and I'd recommend just checking it with your luggage, no reason to lug it all the way to the gate.

I always gate check the stroller, that way you take it all the way up the ramp to the door of the plane and it will be there waiting for you when you come off the plane (although a couple of times we've had to wait a while for someone to bring it up). Just ask at the desk of your departure gate for a gate check tag for your stroller.

I haven't used a backpack carrier, but one of the things I like about the stroller if I'm also taking a carseat is that I can just put the carseat backwards and upside down over the stroller handle and push the stroller that way... less to carry. I've gotten really good at pushing the stroller/carseat that way and pulling my suitcase with a carry-on attached to it behind me with my other hand (and usually a couple of bags across my shoulder too!)

WOW your an awesome traveler. Do you want to go along with us? LOL;) So I will try what you suggested and I REALLY appreciate it. So you think they will let me push my stroller through the airport with the carseat on top of it?? That sounds great because I know she will be way more comfy in her carseat on the plane then I wont have to break my back trying to carry her through the airport. I hope they allow this. We have never flown with a baby before so I thought my stroller and carseat would have to go with my luggage so we have been trying to figure this all out.
Anyway thanks again and you have taken alot of my shoulders!!LITERALLY haha

So you think they will let me push my stroller through the airport with the carseat on top of it??
If you can handle it, they'll allow it. Especially if your little one has a seat and will be using the carseat on board. I'm even pretty sure neither counts against your 'one carry-on plus a personal bag' count!

We will be flying for the first time with a stroller and a carseat and does anyone recommend me taking them through the gate with us or do we leave them where we leave our luggage? May sound funny to those of you who travel often with kids but this is the first plane ride with a child. I got her a seat but I dont know if we are suppose to take her carseat on the plane or check it with our luggage. Also if I put the stroller in with my luggage that means I will be with out a stroller for a while until the luggage is there:confused: Any advise will be helpful. Im glad I read the previous posts because I had no clue I would need to bag my stroller, but it does make since:fez:
Also has anyone taken the backpack carrier to the airplane? Can i take that on the airplane? I thought it may be easier to carry her in that through the airport?

I recommend gate checking your carseat for sure, if you don't plan to use it on the plane, although I HIGHLY recommend using it on the plane, if your child has their own seat. Much safer. My biggest reason for gate checking the carseat is that if it gets lost and you need it when you arrive. Most airlines have loaner carseats, but you would rather have your own seat, I am sure.
If you can be without your stroller, if it gets lost, for up to 24 hours, then I say check it with the rest of your luggage. For me, I never took my stroller to the gate, and we travel a TON! But if you do want to use it up until you get on the plane, then just bring your bag with you to the gate and bag it there. They will give you a tag to put on the bag for the stroller.
If you are talking about those backpack carriers with the metal frame, they may not collapse small enough to fit in an overhead. So you might have to gate check it as well.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP!

Ok I have a question where would I find a bag for a sit n' stand. This is the first time we are flying with car seats and a stroller. So we are all new with this. We have a infant carrier, a Cargbooster and the stroller. So I know now to bag them but any other sudgestions.

Leslie

This is quite comical. I use my DH's canvas bag from his wall tent, from my Graco DuoGlider. It has plenty of extra room for the dirty clothes that don't fit in your suitcase because you bought too many souveniers! LOL. They sell them for $25 at www.montanacanvas.com I think you have to call them, and tell them you want to purchase an extra tent bag.