What's the Best Way to Bring a Car Seat on a Trip on Airplane and Rental Car?

Hello there Jin,

It sounds like you have your work cut out for you with your active little one on a plane. :) We traveled with my daughter when she was much younger. So, unfortunately, I don't have any advice on how to keep her entertained. I do know that the way we transported the car seat worked well though. We put the car seat in a very heavy duty black garbage bag. Then we put it in a large box and just checked it. Then it came out with all the other luggage when we landed so we could put it right into the rental car. I packed a blanket and pillow in with it too so that it didn't get bumped around too much on the plane. :)

Good luck to you! I hope you have a great time!

C.
www.EnhanceYourWayOfLife.com

We have traveled a lot with our two boys since the oldest was 3 months old (he just turned 6!)and I can't stress enough how much easier it is when the child has a seat of his/her own on the plane! I've traveled by myself with my oldest on a route that included three long flights and took 14 hours overall when he was 3m, 6m, 9m, 12m, 18m, and 24m....so I've been thorough all the stages! =) We've brought the car seat on the plane with us and we've also checked it as baggage as the boys got older. If you check it, be sure to have it in a heavy-duty garbage bag or in a large nylon car seat carry bag (try Babies R Us or someplace similar). I would definitely suggest bringing your own car seat as opposed to getting one from the rental company though. Your daughter will be used to it, you know how to properly install it, you know it's never been in a car accident, etc. If you can afford it, get her her own seat....you'll all be much happier...and so will the people sitting around you which will make the flight go much smooher! =) And take her carseat with you as either checked luggage or on the plane for her to sit in! Good luck!

Are you planning on paying for a separate seat for her? I would highly recommend that she sit in her carseat on the plane. A plane is like a car as far as she is concerned, it will keep her in one place and safer too. The good news is that the flights to Florida aren't that long.

If you are traveling alone with her, the carseat would be pretty tough to handle along with her though.

Good luck.

Hi Jin,
We just got back from Florida (Ft. Lauderdale with our 8 mo. old son. We did not get a seat for our son because we knew he wouldn't sit in it anyway. I pre-reserved seats in the aisle and window. On the way there we had someone in the middle who was more that happy to swap the aisle for her middle, but on the way back we had the row to ourselves. I'm still breastfeeding, so I just fed him during take off and he went right to sleep for the majority of the flight! Since your daughter is 22mo. I would suggest lots of snacks to keep her chewing so her ears don't bother her - it can be VERY painful(gum for you since you aren't used to flying either). Bring lots of activities that won't take up a lot of space like coloring and reading. It should only be about a 2.5 hour flight.

We thought it was great that the rental car company had carseats so we wouldn't have to take ours.......DON'T DO THAT!!!! The seat was not the right size, it was dirty, we had no clue how to install it and the staff was not very helpful & I think it was missing parts!!! If you are going to check your seat, the suggestions the other moms had were excellent - heavy duty plastic bag, carseat cover, and/or a box. Just make sure you know the dimension restictions your particular airline has on checked luggage (they will charge you if a box is too big!!) You can also check the seat at the end of the jetway, right before you board, where you check your stroller. These "gate checked" items that also include wheelchairs (so you know they are extra careful with them) do not go in the same compartment as the luggage or cargo and it will be at the gate when you arrive in Florida instead of being thrown around on the baggage belt. It's very important to make sure you have identification on the carseat, bag or box just in case! If your carseat or stroller becomes lost or damaged, the airline does provide "loaner" items until yours are recovered or replaced.

If you do have a seat for her on the plane and are taking the carseat onboard, make sure it is FAA approved, otherwise they will not let you use it in flight. Hope this helps. Sorry it's so long! I used to work for an airline at PHL International Airport so I know what goes on behind the scenes!!
~J.

Most car rental companies include the carseat if you ask for it.

One way is to see if your car seat can also be used as a child restraint device on the plane. Check the car seat user guide and manufacturers website. Then call the airline for the seat dimensions. You will need a seat belt extention, which you can obtain from the flight attendant upon boarding.

Or, rent a car seat from the rental car company. The big companies will do this. Make sure you call the car rental place the day before your arrival to confirm the car seat "detail" (learned the hard way).

Good luck!

We traveled cross country with our 2 year old daughter last year. We did not take her car seat on the plane with us for her to sit in. Instead we checked it with our luggage. Airline personnel gave us a large clear bag to place it in. We ended up encountering a few last minute plane changes (one plane was cancelled and we were put onto another plane on another airline) and our carseat still made it to our final destination.

Also, we invested in a portable DVD player and bought our daughter some new movies that she had never seen before (Dora, Diego, etc). She loved wearing her headphones and watching her movies.