Taking car seats on a plane

[chicaguapa]

Hiya! Am travelling 2 adults, 1 child and an infant so I think we have the luggage allowance x3. Does this include car seats? We're hiring a car abroad but I don't feel comfortable using their car seats. The ones I had to use last year were really tatty so I want to take our own that I know aren't damaged etc. DD is in one of those lightweight booster seats with a back and strapped in using the car seat belt and DS is in a Britax Isofix which is quite heavy. (it can also be fitted using a seat belt if neccessary). I want to put them in the hold but don't know if we'll have the allowance. We will also have a stroller but I hope to keep this until we board.

I have also come across special bags to put them on the plane in to stop them getting damaged. Do you think it's worth it (£15) or will a black bin liner suffice?

Which airline are you using and where are you flying to?.

I would check with the airline regarding their policy on car seats; generally speaking each piece of luggage cannot weigh more than 32kg. You need to bear in mind also that neither car seat may actually be compatable for the car you are hiring and you've got more than enough to carry as it is.

The stroller will be taken from you at the departure gate; ensure that check in it is tagged. I have tied something brightly coloured around the handle for easy identification at the destination. It may be handed to you upon exiting the aircraft but sometimes strollers appear on the carousel (again would check with them where it will appear on arrival).

Depends entirely on the airline so you'll need to check with them
SAS gave us a strong bag to put ours in, Virgin didn't
I doubt a bin liner will not be strong enough

Where are you going?

oops - I doubt a bin liner would be strong enough

AFAIK they aren't included in your baggage allowance - like pushchairs.

We have flown with Easyjet, Delta and RyanAir with carseats and not had a problem.

We've put them in clear plastic bags to protect them. That way customs/security can see them. I asked my local nursery shop for their spare bags!

im ex cabin crew if the car seat is one that can be secured by a lap belt (have to be able to get seatbelt under neath it) britax sometimes are like this then you may be able to take car seat on board and use it if child is between 1 and 3 (if they are under 2) you will have to buy a seat otherwise it goes in hold and isnt usually part of baggage allowance but some airlines ryanair for one have different rules and are now charging for hold luggage so to be on safe side check with the airline and the airport! ground staff can often work to a completely different set of rules to what the airline tells you. and they check in staff are often on commision when it comes to excess baggage charges

Hi, we're flying Thomas Cook Airlines to Lanzarote. We don't have an airline seat for the infant so we won't be taking either of the seats on the plane. DD will be 4.5yo. Are there any other safe options for car travel other than the Britax Trio? Our friends always take a normal booster for their child, who's the same age, but I didn't think that was safe/ legal. I am very fanatical about car seats which is why I prefer to use my own rather than a hire car's. I understand the car seat might not be compatible with the hire car but from past experience, there's no way of knowing if the hire car's seat is either.

we are flying with an infant with flymonarch in july. they allow you to have a pram and car seat with no extra charge and a bag of 8 kg for the baby.