Baby car seats and taking them on a plane

[LaserTam]

This is something that is troubling me and would like advice from others who, no doubt, know the answer.

This summer, I will be going on hols (to Spain on a BA flight) with my wife, step-daughter and step-granddaughters. Because I have no kids of my own, I have never had the delights of taking a 3 yr old and a baby of 8 months on a flight before.

The 3 yr old isn't a problem, but we want to take the baby car seat for the little one, because its seems not all car hire firms will rent you one for a child less than 1 yr, and also we need to carry the baby in the taxi to the airport (this end). So, can I check the car seat in as luggage? Do people do this? I have no idea and can't say I ever remember seeing other passengers doing it at check-in, but then until now I have never cared. If you do, what do people do regarding protecting it, wrap it up in something??

Sure I will have to check with the airline whether its included in luggage allowance, but wanted to get some experiences from you lot.

[Silver993tt]

You can check anything in as hold luggage. Folded push chairs are quite common also.

[Fat Audi 80]

We took a push chair and a car seat to the plane door with BA at new year.

They will put them both in the hold from there...

HTH

[Amateurish]

Check it in as luggage - I've done it many times and never wrapped it in any protective packaging. Sometimes you have to put it through as oversized baggage.

[sneijder]

I would recommend sending them with special luggage, gate checking stuff is when it goes missing or damaged.

[Puggit]

We did it with some big maxi-cosi car seats. They are built to withstand bigger knocks than what will happen to them on the way to the hold.

Thomas Cook and Thompson both carried them for free.

[LaserTam]

Thanks for replies chaps. Mind suitably put at rest.

[LuS1fer]

Many airlines actually give you a 10kg allowance for children if you check. We flew BMIBaby, a budget airline, and checked in the baby seat - just wrap it up in plastic bags. We also put a polystyrene booster seat in the hand luggage case.

[dienamic]

I don't know about BA but Thomas Cook will give infants 10kg baggage allowance and let you check in either a car seat or pushchair free of charge. We have all this to go through this summer taking 12 month old twins to Greece. I've still got to check whether we can check in a double buggy + 2 car seats.

[DBSV8]

Heres ours

Its great for travelling ATka Graco duologic 2

Simply park the car , remove the seat from the main frame



Wheel the child through the airport ,



Normally we fly BMI allowed 10kg allowance but you are also allowed car seat and push chair free of charge , the child seat is taken to the check in area , then prior to boarding its loaded onto the plane normaly we recieve it in the oversize baggage section at the other end ,

The seat can be attached with normal belts for use in a taxi , or in the main frame with ISOFIX or seat belts

If your interested in this type of car seat you can purchase here direct from Sweden , its the most compact car seat , rear facing from birth - 18kg and passed the Swedish plus test
reccomend the vendors Håkan Svensson

[e-mail]

http://www.carseat.se/store.html?gclid=CKbgkYipw6c...

Edited by DBSV8 on Thursday 10th March 06:11