Air Canada and Car seats

[Wy`sMom]

I am travelling on Air Canada from Victoria to Calgary with my 15 month old DD and I do not have a seat for her and I need to take my carseat. When I called Air Canada they said they will not allow me to gate check it. Has anyone had any experience with this? How should I pack it if I have to send it with my check luggage? I am so worried that they will damage it. I have seen what they can do to a suit case! I need some seasoned advice.

[QuassEE]

Call Air Canada back. They will gate check strollers and carseats--they do it all the time. I think they're concerned because your child doesn't have a ticket to count the gate check against their luggage allowance. If it's counted into yours, it shouldn't be an issue for them.

On that note--I would highly recommend purchasing a seat for your child..for your sanity, and your child's safety. If you end up not doing so, you can try to get the check-in agent to block a seat next to you in the hopes that you'll be able to use your carseat in that seat with your child if the plane isn't full. AC may or may not do this--the Canadian airlines tend to be a bit more rigid than the US ones.

-Nicole.

[Wy`sMom]

I will call again, but it doesn't say anything about gate checking carseats on the website, only strollers. Also, she should be allowed one carry on of her own as well as one checked bag - even without her own seat, so that part shouldn't matter. I can't afford her own seat or I would have gotten one for her. I am really hoping that there will be extra seats and she will be able to use her Truefit, but who knows.

[unityco]

Is your flight non-stop? Is it a smaller aircraft? On some of the smaller planes they don't "gate check" at all they use a a "valet cart" (which amounts to exactly the same thing as gate check - you carry your stuff to the door of the aircraft and right from there it's put in the cargo hold. Why they give it different name, heaven only knows. :rolleyes:)

If it's non-stop on a large aircraft, I'm not sure why they told you what they did. Parents gate-check seats all the time.

Good luck on your travels. :)

[hipmaman]

I will call again, but it doesn't say anything about gate checking carseats on the website, only strollers.

Because the stroller is considered a gear that you need to transport a child in the airport. Whereas the carseat is not, kwim? A lot of times, it does depend on the agents at the check-in counter, the airports you are travelling to and from. But it does not hurt to confirm with AC one way or the other.

I am really hoping that there will be extra seats and she will be able to use her Truefit, but who knows.

Depending on the flight but do be prepared that you might have to cargo-check the TF :(

[unityco]

I am really hoping that there will be extra seats and she will be able to use her Truefit, but who knows.

Sorry, I missed this the first time. Air Canada's official policy is NOT to allow the use of carseats on board unless the child has its own ticket - even if there are seats available. :thumbsdown: You may get lucky with a flight crew, but probably not.

For future reference, WestJet does offer a free service they call "Infant Standby" that does allow the use of carseats for unticketed children - space permitting of course.

[canmom]

For future reference, WestJet does offer a free service they call "Infant Standby" that does allow the use of carseats for unticketed children - space permitting of course.

That was always my experience as well.... they recently told me that is only for domestice flights. They told me it isn't a WestJet rule though :confused:.

[Wy`sMom]

I just wanted to update everyone. I did call Air Canada again just before we left. The person I talked to was awesome and said that I would absolutely be able to carry my carseat to the door of the plane. I had no problems at the airport. I did buy a Sunshine kids travel bag for the carseat - to contain the straps and stuff. The bag was pretty destroyed by the end of the trip. I suspect it was because there was no reinforcements where the strap is secured as both ends were ripped open. But the seat was in great shape and I was a happy mom!