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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Car Seat Travel Cart vs. Umbrella Stroller at the Airport
I posted this on facebook but reposting here in case any of you ladies have thoughts on this.
The three of us are travelling by plane in the beginning of March (goodness, help us) and I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on these car seat travel carts vs. taking a stroller (and checking his car seat) to the airport.
We need a car seat at our destination but could easily pick up a cheapo umbrella stroller. Or do any of you kind folks have one of these you'd be willing to let us borrow for a week in March? I'd pick up and drop off promptly.
TIA
Re: Car Seat Travel Cart vs. Umbrella Stroller at the Airport
I should also add, I'd be willing to buy a used one off of someone, if you're interested in selling it. I just don't want to pay $60+ for something we may only use once or twice.
If you want to sell one you can email me at
MahoneyRyanB (at) gmail (dot) com.
For another idea, this is what we did.
We had a strap that strapped the carseat to one of our rolling carryons. DH strapped our "small personal items" in the carseat. He rolled that through the airport.
DD was in our umbrella stroller, and I hooked the handle of the other carryon over the stroller handle and had my purse hooked on the other handle and I pushed that through the airport.
I can't find the exact one, but the strap was similar to this:
http://www.amazon.com/Go-Go-Babyz-Travelmate-Luggage-Orange/dp/B0068IGSHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358268333&sr=8-1&keywords=luggage+strap+for+car+seat
ETA: I did find the one I had. Here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Go-Go-Babyz-Travelmate-Luggage-Orange/dp/B0068IGSHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358268333&sr=8-1&keywords=luggage+strap+for+car+seat
That's actually not a bad price. They were more than that last time I looked!
Did you buy him a seat, or are you taking him as a lap infant?
The one time we took Lanna on a plane she was 13 months and DH just carried the seat through the airport. I would've been more concerned if it was just me, but it worked out fine. I saw a documentary once that scared me so badly that I insist on using a carseat for the kids. DH wants to kill me, but I just feel like it's safer!I've traveled a few times with the kids - last year all 3 + me (crazy!) but I never take the car seat on. For Eamon since he was a lap baby I took our bigger stroller b/c I knew I would need the storage space under the stroller when we got to our destination. Then I just gate checked the stroller and wore him in my baby carrier. The girls just sat buckled in their seats. Eamon sat on my lap & also stood in the aisle right by me for a good bit of the flight entertaining all the people.
I've seen people take on car seats but the great majority that I see do not, rather hold the kids or buckle them in.
I have a bunch of umbrella strollers if you want to borrow one of those. I would definitely take a stroller and gate check it if you decide not to buy one of the travel car things. Just frees up your hands and keeps the baby from squirming as you are getting through the airport.
How time flies! Caileigh (9), Keira (6) & Eamon (3)
Thanks everyone.
Mandy, he's travelling on our laps. I'm a little nervous about it, but keeping my fingers crossed that it will be fine.
Sheila, thanks so much for the offer. We have an umbrella stroller. I'm just not sure if the airline will let us gate check both a car seat and a stroller - but I know they'll gate check the car seat/travel cart thing. We need the car seat for travel at our destination. We don't need the stroller until we're tooling around and doing stuff.
We're going to visit my BIL, wife, and new baby in Seattle so we can either borrow a stroller from them or buy a cheapo one when we're out there.
Oh yeah, we can baggage check it no problem. I'm just trying to avoid paying extra checked baggage fees. We already spent an astronomical amount of money on the plane tickets.
I guess it's the difference if we buy the cart thing vs. paying to check it - the cost difference there is like $15 (more to buy the cart thing). So I may already have my answer!
Aha, I did not know this, I've never gate checked anything before. Thank you! I tried to call my airline but was on hold for a really long time and got fed up. There online information is rather vague. I'll look into it. Thanks
i don't think i've ever seen anyone gate check a car seat b/c they usually take it one with them to use. Does your friend have an extra car seat you can use so you don't need to take it at all?
Let us know what you find out!
How time flies! Caileigh (9), Keira (6) & Eamon (3)
I've only seen it when they're attached to those cart things.
They do, but it's above G's weight. It's a 30+lb car seat. G is only 21lbs now, so I don't think he'll be big enough for it by the beginning of March unfortunately.
Check with the airline re fees--I've flown several times on Delta and they don't charge for any baby items. Don't do the online or curb check in, they have a special line for specialty items and that's where they check baby items for free.
The United website has one of those auto-answer chat boxes. Here is what it replied to the question "Can I gate check a car seat?"
Alex: We will accept one car seat in addition to your normal baggage allowance at no charge. For more information, see this page.
So if I'm understanding this correctly I can check the car seat with our other checked bag at no charge. I really need to get a live human on the phone to resolve this.
Thanks so much for your input everyone!
And after some more digging on the United website I found this...it seems like I can check his car seat. Then gate check his stroller. Although the Note is a little confusing. I'm not sure if that's talking about strictly just checking the stroller OR car seat.
Strollers and car seats as checked baggage
United accepts one stroller or one carseat in addition to a customer's baggage allowance. When checked as baggage, all oversize and overweight charges will apply. First and second bag fees do not apply to either a stroller or a car seat. United is not liable for damage to strollers. Excess Valuation may not be purchased for strollers.
Note: If you are traveling with a stroller and a carseat in addition to the baggage allowance, only one of these items is carried free of charge.
Infants traveling internationally on 10 percent of an adult fare will be granted a free baggage allowance of one stroller or one carseat and one other item (linear dimensions must not exceed 62 inches (157 cm) and weight must not exceed 50 pounds (23 kg). If the infant?s free baggage allowance is exceeded, the excess will become part of the fare paying adult's baggage allowance and all restrictions and excess charges will apply.
a stroller and car seat are assistive devices (like a wheelchair) so you don't have to pay to check them. I actually fill the slots of the bag we use for the car seat with clothes and heavy items so I don't have to put them in my checked bags and take up space/weight