Spain Hire Car - Taking car seat and pram into cabin

[travelhelp201]

We visited Spain last year & requested a car seat from the hire company for our 4yo but was given a really no backed booster seat (which they scrambled to find despite being on the booking). This year we’ll have a 6 month old in tow and hoping to hire a car again but not sure how it’ll work with car seats? Am I best taking our own?

We’re flying with WizzAir & this is what the website says:

• A foldable baby pushchair, pram, foldable travel cot, or car seat for a child over 2 years old can be checked in free of charge. However, they can only be taken until the aircraft door or steps, where they will then be stowed in the aircraft hold. These items will be tagged either at the check-in desk, baggage drop-off desk, or at the boarding gate.

• All passengers, including children aged 2 to 14 years, are entitled to bring one free carry-on bag on board with dimensions of up to 40x30x20 cm.

I bought a Joolz Aer Plus as our main pram as it’s marketed as cabin friendly but the dimensions are 53x45x23 cm when folded so will need to be checked. From the WizzAir website, it doesn’t seem as though I’ll be able to take a baby car seat though.

We’re flying to Malaga so any recommendations for car/seat hire companies would be appreciated

The wording is confusing, but if it's truly only one extra out of those per child, then I'd keep the buggy through the airport and give it up at the plane steps, and check in a baby car seat. Then I'd rent/request a seat for the 4 year old from the rental company.

Check on Google maps for local rental companies, I've only had positive experiences and cheaper prices than the big names.

@DatsafunnyoneOo I hadnt thought about that. Do you think the additional car seat/pram allowance applies to the 4 year old too? So for example, I could check the buggy under the baby’s allowance and then the car seat under the 4 year old’s and not have to pay any extra? I’ll attach a screenshot of the guidelines but think it’ll go to MN for approval.

Ill have a look at the local companies, thank you :)

From their website an infant can check an extra item and a child can also check an item. You've paid for a ticket for your child and a (lap) ticket for your infant, so I would assume you can check 2 items free of charge, i.e. one each. The baby seat would be more important to me than a 4 year olds car seat which I'd rent when there.

Even Ryanair let you bring 2 items per child!

Look at Marbesol for car hire, they've been around for decades.

It’s very tight of them, I’d read the Ryanair guidelines before and assumed they’d all be the same

I agree I’m better off taking the baby car seat, it’ll be easier finding a car seat for the older one from a hire company.

thank you

I would do: Trunki boostapak for the 4YO - it can be their carry on and car seat. No it’s not the best carseat ever but it’ll be no worse than what the rental co gives you and there’s a practical and money saving advantage. Baby car seat gets checked at bag drop, for free. Baby pram you attempt to carry on, it fits in the locker so you might get away with it, if they’re going to be stickler for their smaller dimensions then you hand it over at the gate, also free.

Trunki boostapak slightly too large to be the small free item of hand luggage for wizzair, if they're being utter sticklers. Renting one will be cheaper, and it would be nice for the older child to have their own little backpack with toys, books etc 😊

Although honestly, I really take care to ensure all our hand luggage meets the requirements and then I see others with items much larger. Annoying!

The buggy would also only go in the cabin as your larger piece of luggage if you've booked that at an extra cost (even if it would fit). I'd just plan on gate checking.

Bring a sling for the baby in case you don't get the buggy back until baggage reclaim in Spain

Edited to add: sorry, didn't realise the boostapak is also a backpack!

I hadn’t seen the Trunki Boostapak before, looks perfect. I’m not sure it’ll be allowed as a free carry on though as the dimensions say 36 x 16 x 40 and the WizzAir limit is 40x30x20 @JellyAnd it does however say I can purchase an allowance for a ‘trolley bag’ if I pay for priority at £80pp.

Should have gone with Ryanair

You can get car seat travel bags from Amazon and bring them with you. You check them in with other luggage and leave them at the oversized baggage desk at the airport - you do not need to take them into the airport or through security. I would say you can get a baby seat much easier from car seat companies but a seat for the 4yo that is appropriate and rear facing is much harder so prioritise the 4yo if you can. Their guidance is confused .

We travelled to Portugal last year with a 4 year old and 4 month old. I requested a baby carrier for the car and was given two boosters seat. I royally kicked off and got a full refund for the carrier and also for the car hire through jet2 as we declined the vehicle. They were fantastic but next time we go away I'm taking his car seat. Such a faff but I know he will be safe. Sorry I haven't helped much

I would also take car seats with you and check them on even if you need to pay. Even if you get a baby carrier from the car rental company it might be old, only meet minimum safety standards for sale (which are pretty low), not installed correctly and might have been vomited or pooped in without proper cleaning so definitely worth taking your own. Even for the 4 year old I would consider if you are happy with minimal safety standards. If you take your own get a car seat bag and bad it out with nappies or beach towels to prevent damage (and get extra luggage).

Never hired a car abroad since having children so can’t help with that.

However, we used mi folds for ours in taxis. Ideal for your 4 year old. Also took an umbrella folding buggy that either child could go in. When eldest was in it I carried youngest in a sling.

I always take our own car seats (including booster seats). I box them in their original boxes, bonus of being able to put in extra bits in the boxes like nappies, wipes, even beach toys.
I pay for airport parking that's walking distance from the terminal to make my life easier (than having to lug boxes onto shuttle buses).
Get a trolley at the airports, put the seat boxes on first, then cases/bags. Check in with the hold luggage.
Never had a problem and flown multiple times with them.

Never hire car seats from the hire car companies, they literally throw them around. They take them out the vehicle and throw the at the wall to land on the pile of other used ones. For all the flights I've done the boxes are still in great condition so can tell they haven't been mishandled or thrown about.

Most airlines allow 2 items for infants so I take a pushchair and car seat. I now realise I need to double check easyjet as we're flying with them when mine is over 2. I've taken a car seat or booster for our then up to 8yr old and never had to pay so hopefully you can take 2 seats and your pushchair with no fees.

@Couldntthinkofausername24this is what I’m afraid of! The man at the car hire looked frazzled when we asked for the child seat we’d requested and just grabbed the booster, tiny plastic thing I’d have used as a child, from the top of a filing cabinet.

How about an equipment rental rather than relying on a car company?

totsstore.com/

This is what it says for children aged 2-14:

• A foldable baby pushchair, pram, foldable travel cot, or car seat for a child over 2 years old can be checked in free of charge. However, they can only be taken until the aircraft door or steps, where they will then be stowed in the aircraft hold. These items will be tagged either at the check-in desk, baggage drop-off desk, or at the boarding gate.
• Please note that a booster seat is not permitted to be taken on board and will be treated as additional luggage, subject to applicable charges.

and for infants aged 0-2:

• A foldable baby pushchair, pram, foldable travel cot, or a car seat. Note, these items can be taken until the aircraft door or steps, where they will then be stowed in the aircraft hold. They will be tagged either at the check-in desk, baggage drop-off desk, or at the boarding gate.

• One additional personal item (40 x 30 x 20 cm, maximum weight 10 kg), it will be considered infant’s luggage.

So it’s definitely only one seat/buggy per child isn’t it?

Have you looked at a bubble bum? It can fold up and go into your hand luggage. We took it for our 5 year old and it was perfect.
we checked in the baby’s car seat but completely wrapped it in the plastic stuff like clingfilm to protect it. Then took the buggy right onto the plane where it was put into the hold.
we’ve been away quite a bit and have always done this without any problems.

What about the be cool foldy and put it in a suitecase. For the 4-year-old.

You can purchase a bigger cabin bag then your pushchair could go on board. No idea of the coat.

One item can be free for the 0-2 child as well.

Thanks Jelly, I did think of buying a bigger cabin bag but they can only be purchased if you pay for wizz priority boarding at £80pp. Unless anyone knows otherwise? This is what I can make out from the booking.

i had a look at the link a PP tagged where I can hire a car seat for the older one at the airport, so I think we’ll go with that.

Just get a better hire car. Don't use those stupid websites you're pushed towards by airlines, etc. Just look up destination airport or hotel on Google maps, look for car hire nearby. Filter by review ratings. You'll get much better cars and services and usually cheaper.