Question Flying, car rental, three kids with car seats

What do you typically do?

I am flying to Europe in a few weeks with wife and three kids (2 boosters and 1 infant). Have rented seats from rental car companies in past but they are expensive and my experience is that the seats are dirty, damaged and generally not comfortable letting my kids in them.

So we are going to bring our own which means lugging a lot more stuff.

I have read that you can bring the seats to the gate and check them there (with the stroller) as checking them with normal luggage risks them getting lost. I would prefer to check them as with connections it would be just too much stuff to carry through the airports.

What do you all do? If you check them with normal luggage do you pack them in something? if so what do you use? Do airlines let you bring them to the gate? Do the count as luggage?

Any advise/comments welcome

Thanks

How old and how much does each child weigh? That will determine whether the one's in booster can use a backless or high back booster. What seats do you currently own?

First I would find out if my 2 children in boosters can actually still fit in a 5 point harness and if they do, then I would buy plane seats for each child and have them use the carseats in the plane. If boosters have to be used for the older two then I would gate check them even though I would prefer not to for fear of been damaged.

Most airlines I've travelled on do not count carseats as luggage. Assuming you've bought 5 tickets, I don't think they'd have a problem with three carseats and a stroller for your entire party.

Gate checking is a little different than regular checking. You will be responsible for transporting the seat throughout the airport and to each connection. However, I think there is less chance of your seat getting lost - because it doesn't get routed through baggage claim.

For whatever reason, I am more comfortable with the thought of checking boosters than harnessed seats. I think it is because they are easier to look over for damage to the plastic and there aren't straps to get torn, etc. I'd still pad them in a box or suitcase to protect them. Also, boosters are more or less universal while it could be very tricky to learn to install a new harnessed seat in the event yours get damaged in transit.

I'd really consider carrying on at least the harnessed seat on the plane.

There are many lighter weight harnessed seats that won't be as big of a burden to carry and there are products available to transport harnessed seats if you don't want a new one. Plus, your littlest one might be more comfortable sleeping in a car seat on the plane rather than the adult seat.

Again, we can help with answers once you provide your childrens' statistics.

Yasmel said:

First I would find out if my 2 children in boosters can actually still fit in a 5 point harness and if they do, then I would buy plane seats for each child and have them use the carseats in the plane. If boosters have to be used for the older two then I would gate check them even though I would prefer not to for fear of been damaged.

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As long as they're on an American carrier. Most international carriers do not allow kids over 36 months to use a restraint on a plane, and they do not allow rear facing restraints at all, and some don't allow restraints for kids under six months (they require lap babies).

Wendy

wendytthomas said:

As long as they're on an American carrier. Most international carriers do not allow kids over 36 months to use a restraint on a plane, and they do not allow rear facing restraints at all, and some don't allow restraints for kids under six months (they require lap babies).

Wendy

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WOW, that's just wrong in so many ways.

thanks everyone.

Going to check everything as it will be physically impossible to lug all this through the airport and through security. Just now going to try find some bag/case/etc. to pack the seats in.

I know a big risk as they might get lost but will deal with that if happens.

BTW: older kids are in backless boosters (Combi Dakota) and infant is in Britax Marathon.