Can we carry on a child's backless booster seat on plane

[Devin18]

We will be flying AirTran in a few weeks and we are not sure about renting a car while there or not. Anyway, my 5yo will need a seat and was thinking of just taking her backless booster from home?? Will there be a problem taking on the plane??? Thanks

 

[Hoopfamily]

No need to bring it on, they will let you gate check it.

 

[heathrow42]

Please check it with your regular luggage, before you get to the gate if you can!! The last flight I had on airtran out of MCO was a wreck, in large part because of those backless booster seats! I guess they aren't FAA approved, so kids can't use them at their seat.. then everyone was trying to cram them in the overheads, and they only fit one way, and take up so much room. People were getting into fights about overhead bin space, and the booster seats were a big part of the problem. It was a mess.. and the flight attendants weren't warning people about the booster seats before/during boarding.

--Heather

 

[stephie1012]

gate check it you cant use it on the flight. i would get a protective bag for it. please dont check it with your luggage, it could be damaged and then you would be stuck without one. Those bags get banged around alot i would not feel comfortable checking my kids seats.

 

[robinb]

I think that it's the same if you gate check it or put it in your regular luggage. It still gets bumped around and many times gate-checked items end up in baggage claim anyway.

When my DD used a backless booster we bought a rolling duffel bag for it. It fit in one part of the bag and we were able to fill the rest of the bag with other bigger things like pool noodles from home. The duffel was easy to open and I packed it so the booster was right on top.

 

[Hoopfamily]

I agree it's the same if you gate check or put it in your luggage, but Airtran has baggage fees for checked bags. Gate checking an item is FREE & Free is for me.

 

[Devin18]

Thanks for the input. I think we are just going to put in a small bag and gate check it since we are not going to take an additional checked bag if we don't need it, gate check works for me. My hubby said we should just buy one there since they don't cost that much, but I think I would rather take my own!!

 

[robinb]

Thanks for the input. I think we are just going to put in a small bag and gate check it since we are not going to take an additional checked bag if we don't need it, gate check works for me. My hubby said we should just buy one there since they don't cost that much, but I think I would rather take my own!!

Make sure that you don't overdo your carry-on allowance if you do that. You are usually allowed one carry-on bag and a "personal item" (like a purse) per person.

I hate the new baggage fees! They really honk me off.

 

[stephie1012]

actually gate checking it its the last to go on the plane and the 1st off, its not tossed under other peoples suit cases and its not put on the baggage carousel, totally different.

 

[robinb]

actually gate checking it its the last to go on the plane and the 1st off, its not tossed under other peoples suit cases and its not put on the baggage carousel, totally different.

I have had to pick up many gate-checked items from the baggage carousel so simply check checking things does not mean that it will be waiting for you on the jetway or that it won't get squished my someone else's luggage. Also, gate checking an item does not mean that it will be taken care of any better. Airtran ruined the cover on my DD's booster seat (gate checked ... they had a plastic bag for it one way and it was OK, but not on the way back from MCO), Southwest put a huge rip in my gate checked stroller bag and NWA broke my gate checked Combi stroller.

 

[Hoopfamily]

Make sure that you don't overdo your carry-on allowance if you do that. You are usually allowed one carry-on bag and a "personal item" (like a purse) per person.


Gate checked items do not count toward carry-on allowances. The airline views strollers wheelchairs carseats as things you need and they will gate check all of them. We gate check our daughters stroller and booster and they never bat an eye.

 

[robinb]

Gate checked items do not count toward carry-on allowances. The airline views strollers wheelchairs carseats as things you need and they will gate check all of them. We gate check our daughters stroller and booster and they never bat an eye.

I would still suggest that the OP double-check with her airline about their specific carry-on poilicy. A carseat that can be used on the plane and a stroller that can be used on the way to the plane is one thing. A booster seat cannot be used on the plane and may indeed be counted against the carry-on allowance.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We have always checked our booster bottom seat with our regular luggage, before and after the baggage fees went into effect. We flew USAIR and they did NOT count that as part of our luggage. They tagged it and ours was always in a gray bin on the carosel down in baggage claim for us.

I would call and ask your airline...and if you aren't sure, ask an employee when you get to the airport.

Mary