flying, which seat do we take?

aunt83me02

Senior Community Member
Ok, so we (my sister, 7mo niece, and me) are flying from Des Moines to Phoenix Nov. 15th. My sister wanted to buy a seat for the baby but her husband didn't think they could justify the price... Anyway, we won't be using the seat on the plane but will need it for the rental car, we have several choices: Cosco Touriva, Graco Comfortport, SK Radian 60. I have a giant wheeled duffle that I was thinking we could put the Cosco or the Graco in to gate check but then I got to thinking... If I bought the Radian bag could I take it as a carry-on so we wouldn't have to worry about it getting wrecked? As long as the Graco or Cosco were in good condition for the rental car down there I wouldn't care if we had to throw either one away when we got back as they are reaching their expiration date (in about a year). Has anyone ever taken a a Radian as a carry-on? I know it would be heavy as all get out...

Any ideas?

Marie
CPS Tech
aunt flying with a baby for the first time!
 
ADS

skipspin

New member
I've taken mine on the plane several times, but I always used it on the plane. In fact, most recently I took the RN for my 4 yr old AND an infnat seat for my 7 month old while flying alone. It was wonderful to have a seat for the baby so he could sleep and I could actually have a drink without him spilling it. I had the RN on a $14 luggage cart from Wal-mart and it rolled down the aisle on the plane that way.

I don't think that they will let you carry on a Radian if you're not using it, since it's larger than a normal carry on bag. You could find out when you check in if the flight is full. If there are extra seats they may let you take the seat for the baby. If not you can throw it in the bag and check it.

All that said, I'd prolly take a lighter seat than the RN unless there is a specific reason that you want to take it. I don't think a RN would work well (if at all) RFing on the plane anyway since it has a closed beltpath and takes up a lot of room.
 

MagnificentMama

Senior Community Member
What airline are you flying? When I flew with DD and she was under 2, Southwest let me actually use an empty seat and install her car seat. Obviously you'd have to catch a "off peak" flight and hope for the best, but the times i've flown with them and didn't purchase a seat for DD- she was able to get a seat of her own without me paying.

Maybe you could check into if your airline has some type of policy like that?

anywhoo- i'd bring the Touriva. You're most likely to get a good install with that seat. From everything I heard about a RN, it's pretty much hit or miss with the type of vehicle it installs in. I don't think you'd like to be thousand miles away with a car seat that doesn't install right into a car, KWIM?
 

aunt83me02

Senior Community Member
We're flying Delta, I know that some airlines (like SW) let you use empty seats for carseats, does anyone know about Delta? Looks like we'll be taking the Touriva (which was what I'd been planning all along. Do you think I'll have any problems gate checking it in a giant wheeled duffle bag?
 

mburks26

New member
We're flying Delta, I know that some airlines (like SW) let you use empty seats for carseats, does anyone know about Delta? Looks like we'll be taking the Touriva (which was what I'd been planning all along. Do you think I'll have any problems gate checking it in a giant wheeled duffle bag?

Im not sure bout gate checking seats alot of people say they have been damaged. The way people load stuff on and off the plane maybe get som bubble wrap and wrap it then put in the duffle bag and maybe some packing peanuts things? They make large bubble wrap. I dont see bubble wrap and peanut things those white foam things making the bag heavier? could protect the seat
 

UlrikeDG

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
I don't think they'll let you take a giant wheeled duffle past the security check. I could be wrong, and DSM's a small airport, so I guess if you got to the security check early and it was a problem, you could just run the bag back out to your car. OTOH, if you do get to use the seat on the plane, you'll still have the giant wheeled duffle to deal with.

Is it a non-stop flight? If so, the airline is US Air, even if your ticket is through Delta.
 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus
From what I understand the Radian install problems are mostly FF with the seatbelt. When using it with LATCH or RF with the seatbelt, it shouldn't be as much of a concern.
 

CDNTech

Senior Community Member
We've taken our Radian as carry-on before. It does fit the requirements of carry-on luggage and goes in the overhead bin with no problems. We did not have a carry-on bag for it though... just the seat itself.
 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member
We've taken our Radian as carry-on before. It does fit the requirements of carry-on luggage and goes in the overhead bin with no problems. We did not have a carry-on bag for it though... just the seat itself.

I was going to say the same thing. I would do this :thumbsup:. I've put our Radian in the overhead bin no problem.
 

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