Air travel with carseat- help me out please

When DS is 18 months we are flying to Florida. We are renting a car down there. How do you travel through the airport with a carseat? Is it best to have it on the flight with us? Can we board with a stroller and carseat?

Any suggestions are welcome. TIA!

Re: Air travel with carseat- help me out please

1. We did not rent a car seat with a rental company. I've heard it is approximately $10/day, which wouldn't be worth it for us. Plus my SIL had a horrible experience too.

2. If you got a seat for DS, then definately bring it on board with you, you can just gate check the stroller and bring on the carseat. If you did not, then check the carseat. We put ours in a giant laundry bag, wrote "DEVINE" across it and checked. Best thing We did.

HTH!

Re: Air travel with carseat- help me out please

I saw a really nifty backpack attachment for a carseat on this woman's back at the airport. She had her Britax in there and I was feeling awfully jealous because I was lugging mine along while rolling the luggage and my son's stroller and I almost died. I asked her where she bought it and I THINK she said BRU. Check it out! Would definitely be worth it!

I also saw others with a carseat that they attached into a base that rolled in lieu of a stroller. VERY cool invention!

Also, when you check in, ask if it's a full flight. If you didn't buy a seat for your child and it's not a booked flight, you can bring the carseat on the plane with you. If there are no free seats, then you can check it! Srollers are checked right before you board the plane, so no worries there.

Re: Air travel with carseat- help me out please

BRU sells a car seat travel bag...it's a zip up bag that has handles and a detachable shoulder strap. I'd suggest one of those (it's what we use).

If you bought a ticket for DS, then bring the carseat onto the plane with you (you can travel through aiport with seat in bag).

If you are flying with DS on your lap, put a luggage tag on the bag and check it. Most airlines will NOT count it against your suitcase allowance.

The stroller, you can check at the gate when boarding, that way you have it as soon as you arrive.

And remember that when going through security, you will have to put the stroller (and the car seat if you take on board) on the belt scanner, so before you get to security make sure you have everything out of the basket and DS out as well...

Good luck and safe trip!!!