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Original poster

Checking in car seats?

11 replies

CAM123 · 29/11/2009 21:42

Am travelling next month with Olympic Airlines, within Europe, and checked their baby allowances / restrictions - they insist you must check in the car seat but I wanted to check with this forum on that.

My instinct is that this sound a bit risky - surely on the same principle that you shouldn't buy a second hand car seat (in case it's been in an accident and has been damaged internally) surely the check in process and baggage handling has similar risks?

I'm wondering if it'd be more sensible to buy one the other end (we're being picked up by family so could get them to meet us with it).

Am I being overly cautious?

(PS: Olympic don't allow you to buy a seat for the baby and use the car seat for that, which I've seen postings on elsewhere - they insist on the baby-in-lap approach)

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 30/11/2009 07:38

They in all likelihood will say that the car seat must go in the hold. Also you run the risk that your actual car seat won't fit in their car.

If you're being met by family I would ask them to purchase a seat for you.

mumoverseas · 30/11/2009 11:22

I've always (over the last 16 years) had to check in the car seat. I always wrap it well (bubblewrap and then bin bag) and it nearly always has to then get dropped off at the outsize bag drop off point after you check in.
Have never had any problems with one being damaged.
sadly thats not the case with prams which have often been damaged/misplaced

stealthsquiggle · 30/11/2009 11:32

Our stage 2 car seat has survived 20+ flights unscathed and has always gone in the hold. I made a huge drawstring bag for it for a massive trip with lots of flights, but for just a single flight you could get a strong plastic bag. By far the most likely source of damage is straps getting snagged - so if it is in a bag it should be fine.

Kiwinyc · 30/11/2009 16:52

Baggage handlers have children that travel in car seats too. Also does this mean you should never hire one with a rental car?

That said we've always checked a myriad of car seats on a variety of airlines, short haul and long haul and never had a problem. However if your family can obtain a car seat that they know the history of to satisfy your anxiety by all means, let them.

I have also never wrapped ours - i want the handlers to know what they're handling. I think they're more inclined to drop an anonymous lumpy heavy black bag.

stealthsquiggle · 30/11/2009 17:04

Kiwynyc - the seeing what they are throwing handling argument is definitely a point in favour of clear bags (Virgin used to give them to you at check in but probably don't any more) but I still think some sort of bag is worth it - as I said, I would be less concerned about it being dropped than about straps snagging on belts, etc.

Hire car seats vary drastically by country. We hired in Cyprus with no issues at all, but South African hire seats (for example) are shockingly bad.

EldonAve · 30/11/2009 17:12

We have had one car seat damaged - plastic was cracked

We usually stick them in a strong plastic bag although I have seen them wrapped in bubble wrap

If you do the journey often then having a seat ready at the other end can be a good option

Original poster

CAM123 · 30/11/2009 20:13

Thanks all, clear plastic bag it is then, with some bubble wrap to boot - can you get these clear bags at airports? Or I guess the wrapping they do would work too if they have it at our terminal. Thanks!

OP posts:

EldonAve · 30/11/2009 20:38

It depends on your luck with the airline - some have them some don't and some charge

Virgin out of London last time had no bags but coming back we got them

stealthsquiggle · 30/11/2009 22:58

I guess you could get it wrapped by those people who do cling-film type wrapping of luggage?

ecat · 03/12/2009 21:54

Does anyone know if I can check in a car seat and a pramette? I am worried that it will all be too much and the airline will say no. I am planning to fly to Australia with my 3 month old next year.

mumoverseas · 06/12/2009 18:15

just flown back from Dubai (how sad am I that the first thing I do when I get home is check MN)
We took our Graco pram with the carseat that fits on top and checked in both. On the way out we checked them both in at check in and on the way home DS was fast asleep so I asked to keep them both til the gate. At first they weren't happy about it but they did agree so they tagged them both separately and we just left them at the gate of the plane. Collected them no problem at the other end on the baggage carousel.
This was with Saudi Arabian Airlines but airlines may vary so worth you checking

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