What to take travel system wise?

[finallypregnant]

We're heading to the States when our DS will be around 5 months old. We're planning on taking our sling but also need to take the car seat which attaches to part of our travel system (underneath would be the pushchair part that doesn't come off the frame).

Will we get away with this at the airport? We can't travel without a car seat as we may well end up taking taxi rides during the day and certainly will as our transfer option from airport to hotel.

What do you do if you are on holiday with no car seat and need to get a taxi somewhere or a bus without a car seat? Could we get away without it? The airlines are seeking to charge for every bit of baby equipment which I don't mind as I don't expect anything for free but they are already taking £200+ for his taxes and surcharges alone which pixxes me off as he'll be on my knee and won't eat or drink anything they supply!

Under UK law you can make 'occasional or emergency' journeys without a car seat, and no buses have baby seats...

If you do take it I'd check in the carseat as hold baggage and take the pushchair to the gate - most airlines will carry pushchairs free.
What else are they charging you for?
At that price it sounds like it'd be cheaper to (eg) buy a cheapy travel cot for $40 when you get there.

£213 for him to sit on my knee.

£10 telephone booking as they don't have infant facility to book on their website.

£25 for the car seat

£25 for some form of pushchair.

Might look at buying a buggy type thing when we are there.

which airline charges £25 to gatecheck a stroller? Name and shame!

Delta Airlines from Edinburgh but I have been reading up on another travel forum that there are limo companies that have baby seats for airport to hotel purposes and that you don't need a car seat for a short taxi ride.

I am thinking that at 5 months he may well be in a lightweight buggy anyway which we could probably get there anyway?

oooh and £25 to guarantee a bulk-head seat.

that sounds sensible - unless you're hiring a car I'd book a transfer with a carseat and leave yours at home.

I'd still consider taking an umbrella stroller (or indeed buying one there and bringing it back) as they are useful things to have. Delta's website here says strollers will be checked free but may only refer to umbrella-fold ones.