Gate check in for car seat

Hi, We are going go florida this week with southwest airlines. We were not going to take DD's car seat as I was afraid that it would get beaten up if it went through the same process as the reg luggage but after calling southwest the rep said I can check it at the gate.

Has anyone done this?

TIA

Re: Gate check in for car seat

Yup, it's pretty painless. They give you a tag at the check in counter and you bring it onto the jetway with you and leave it right before you get onto the airplane.

Re: Gate check in for car seat

We have. You just take it to gate and they will tag it and take it. Then you wait after you de-plane and they will give it back to you.

It's easy. We did it with our infant seat and stroller in July and will do it again with the stroller in December when we go on our cruise.

We flew JetBlue the last time, and Southwest the next time

Re: Gate check in for car seat

Thanks....I dont have a bag to carry it - its a britax marathon...am I nuts to be dragging this around the terminal with us? The only thing that puts me off renting a car seat with our car rental is we did that the last time and the seat was really, really grubby....cringed everytime I put DD in it and had to place a light blanket underneath her.

Re: Gate check in for car seat

I know what you mean about the rental carseats. They can be DISGUSTING.

You can buy a carseat cover thing at Buy Buy Baby. Its like a duffel bag for the carseat to protect it.

Have a great trip!