Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

Hi,

We are flying southwest from islip to FL this coming weekend. DD is 3. They will not gate check the car seat so the options are to check it in as checked luggage or to take it on board and DD will sit in it.

I am reluctant to do either but have to make a choice.

With checking it I think its going to get banged around a lot - it happened before with another airline.

With taking the car seat on I am afraid she wont have a lot of room for her legs as its a britax marathon and she will probably end up kicking the seat on front of her which I dont want.

Any experience with this? What would or do you do?

TIA

Message edited 4/21/2009 11:50:45 AM.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

Didn't you have to pay for a seat for her since she's 3? So without the car seat, she'll just be sitting in the seat i take it?

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

Yes we are paying for her and she will sit in a regular seat just like us.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

Take it on. DD kicked the sh#t out of the person in front of her. Whatcha gonna do. SW makes the rules...if they didnt she would have been in the front row not kicking a sole

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

that is a great question. I am also flying Southwest in 1 1/2 weeks to FL.
I thought it was their policy that your child has to sit in a seat in a proper child restraint(i think they called it that). If you find out please let me know I would love to not have her in a car seat.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

I am not sure why they would not gate check it

We have always brought ours on and DD has sat in the seat the entire time (good way of controlling a wild one!!)

She had more than enough room (we also have the Marathon), she occasionally kicked the seat in front of her, but we taught her not to do that and she pretty much listened.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

I dont know why they wont gate check it either - other airlines do - it still ends up in cargo but its carried down to the cargo area not put through the carousel with all the other luggage.

We did take her car seat on an international flight before and I spent the entire time stopping her from kicking the seat in front and her legs were not as long as they are now!

Stuck between a rock and a hard place - piss off the person who had the misfortune to sit on front of us or run the risk of damaging the car seat and we know how good SW will be about paying damages if that happens

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

SW has gate checked it for me. DD is only 11 months so we don't buy her a seat.

When she was <9months and in infant seat, I'd bring the carseat and if its a full flight I gate check it, if not I bring it on. We flew 3 round trips on SW when she was in Graco Snugride.

The last flight she was in the Britax Roundabout and I bought a bag and checked it at counter b/c it was a short flight and not during naptime so I knew DD wouldn't stay in it!

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

I'm flying Southwest with my DS is a month so I just looked up everything on their website! You can most def gate check the seat if you wanted!

Flying with an infant on SW

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

Southwest will absolutely gate check it.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

It's so much safer having DC in the car seat on the plane. DS was about 4 in a Britax Boulevard on a SW flight to Oregon. If he fit fine, I think your smaller DC in a smaller seat will be OK.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

I flew SW 2 weeks ago and they gate checked mine. No questions asked.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

If at all possible - use the car seat. Please understand that a lap belt only situation is not the best for a 3 year old. There is an increased chance of internal injuries as the lap belt is positioned badly for a young child.

See if there is any chance in getting the first row of seats so noone is in front of you.

I understand your concern, but use the seat if you can.

Message edited 4/21/2009 11:04:36 PM.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

I am also flying SW to Fla this weekend - maybe I'll see you!

The other option is to rent a car seat from the car co. IF you are renting a car.

Re: Anyone take a car seat on board a southwest flight?

When we flew SW in Oct I was told if you can gate check and infant seat used with a travel system but a convertible must be checked and counted as piece of luggage. HTH.