https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 18:29:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2580110 Sat, 02 Jul 2016 06:09:12 +0000 MrsSRS 2580110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: They sell the Cosco seats at Target and on Amazon, too. We bought ours at Target. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2580047 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 19:39:49 +0000 Littlebit7 2580047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cosco scenera next. Hands down. For this trip and those in the future. So easy, so lightweight, so safe. Easy install too. You should force yourself to learn how to install car seats. It's not difficult, will make you more confident, and will prevent problems in the future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579970 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 16:14:09 +0000 meganmp 2579970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a big fan of checking car seats and having lap babies! I checked our seats with our luggage and then used carriers the rest of the way to the gate. Super easy. TSA just swabbed us, and never even woke up the kiddos. They were 3 months old at the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579955 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:50:38 +0000 Pollywog 2579955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just flew with a 4.5 month old. It's way easier than driving. I'd carry LO on and check the seat. I personally wouldn't want a car seat on a plane-- it's way more hassle than its worth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579900 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:29:35 +0000 BSB 2579900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: We got the GoGo Banz and the Brica Car seat transport and we are going to check our two umbrella strollers with our checked bags. I wanted to reduce bags in the airport but I might have trouble fitting everything into 2 checked bags. I might just pay for the 3rd checked bag and stick with going roller carry-on free through the airport (we will have diaper bag backpacks as carryon, though). I wanted to be pretty much hands free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579893 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:25:31 +0000 BSB 2579893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: Oh, I didn't know, it is made in the US, as well. I do know the Cosco Scenera is a Walmart exclusive model. I try not to go to Walmart because it's always crazy and the other part is their business practices. (Though, Amazon's warehouse practices aren't perfect, either.) I do buy from Walmart if they have things online and shipped. </p> <p>Oh, I needed it shipped within two days so Walmart shipping was too slow. So Amazon's two day prime shipping won. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579890 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:19:02 +0000 rattles 2579890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I've flown solo with DD and our Foonf, I've used a GoGo Babyz instead of a stroller. Once I bought a $20 umbrella stroller and left it there rather than traveling with it. The other times I've used a carrier while at my destination. It is a big seat, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. It certainly didn't feel worth it to me to buy another seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579884 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:15:45 +0000 honeybear 2579884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a Cosco Scenera Next for a similar purpose. </p> <p>@bluestriped bee: The Cosco is made in the USA and Walmart shipped it for free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579875 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:06:16 +0000 BSB 2579875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Yeah, it was a toss up between the Cosco Scenera or the Evenflo Tribute. Lucie's list had these two seats for their top two travel seats. <a href="http://www.lucieslist.com/baby-travel-gear/" rel="nofollow">http://www.lucieslist.com/baby-travel-gear/</a></p> <p>I admit I didn't want to go to into Walmart and Evenflo is made in the US and shipped for free through Amazon. I don't usually buy things made in the US (because I like saving money... more (haha, sorry folks) but the Cosco and the Evenflo were the same price and both light weight, so Evenflo it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579873 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:55:59 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2579873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: thank you for that car seat rec! Now, I have two to compare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579862 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:29:03 +0000 Boopers 2579862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I follow the Carseats for the Littles page on Facebook and it is highly recommended. I am glad we bought it as our travel seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579851 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:17:53 +0000 BSB 2579851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: We just bought the Evenflo Tribute LX car seat for just airplane travel. Purchased through Amazon Prime. It was only only $49 shipped! The car seat is 9 lbs!</p> <p>We have Diono convertible car seats (which they are still in the Chicco Keyfit infant seats), but after my sister flew with her Diono car seat and the airline lost the $250 seat... yeah, I would rather just get a cheap travel car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579841 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:59:56 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2579841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: I hear good things about that car seat and will probably get it for this trip.</p> <p> @JenGirl: ooh, curb check is music to my ears! Then, I can still gate check his stroller. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579830 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:45:15 +0000 KayKay 2579830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, we have checked the NextFit a handful of times, and it's heavy enough to be a pain in the ass just doing that. We have a travel bag, and it always takes some finagling with the recline to get it to fit right....and we have been accused by the gate agent of putting a lot of other stuff in with it because it weighed so heavy (to be fair, there was an extra pack of diapers in there with it...but 98% of the weight was the actual carseat!). It's great for everyday use but SUCH a beast for travel. </p> <p>We have light/inexpensive carseats now for travelling that are both easier and that I don't care if they get checked and banged up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579812 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:28:21 +0000 Boopers 2579812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Chicco Nextfit and that seat is so heavy, I cannot imagine lugging it on and off the plane by myself with a baby. When LO was 13 months we flew and took a Cosco Scenera Next we bought for $50 at Walmart. It's super light weight and was easy to install on the plane! We used the seatbelt in the plane and the latch system in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579811 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:28:09 +0000 Foodnerd81 2579811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: do you have any friends with slightly older babies who aren't using their infant seats anymore? I know you only have the convertible seat but this is one instance where an infant bucket seat would make things a lot easier. If anyone could lend you know (obviously you wouldn't buy one just for this) you could borrow or pick up a second hand snap and go. </p> <p>If not I would go with driving with your regular convertible seat, either one, and just carrying him on as a lap baby. I know at that age both my babies would prefer to be held anyway and nursing on take off and landing is really good for their ears. I wouldn't bother attempting to bring a huge seat on board, and I wouldn't want to do a nine hour drive with a new unfamiliar travel seat. </p> <p>Have you looked into renting a car seat? Then you don't have to schlep yours back, but I know sometimes the rental seats can be questionable. </p> <p>No matter what you decide you should familiarize yourself with installing your car seats. It's really not as hard as you think once you do it a few times and you never know when you will need to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579808 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:25:46 +0000 JenGirl 2579808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: In that case, I'd curb check the carseat. And get a traveling bag to help protect it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579802 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:12:32 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2579802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: no, we have convertible carseats &amp; our stroller isn't travel system compatible anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579786 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:56:54 +0000 JenGirl 2579786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age, I would gate check the carseat and hold baby during the flight. </p> <p>Does the car seat click into the stroller? That helps so much. You can take the stroller and the car seat through security and neither count as baggage. Then you can gate check both for free. I recommend clicking the car seat into the stroller, putting all your luggage on the stroller and wearing baby. You can ask for a hand check so that you don't have to take baby out at security. Then gate check car seat and stroller and wear baby onto plane. They may make you take off the carrier for take off, but that's not the end of the world. </p> <p>We flew at 2 months and my husband flew with our son, on his own at 5 months. For us, my son hates being in the car seat, so this was so much easier than driving 9 hours. On a plan, at least you can pick baby up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579776 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:41:11 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2579776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: my old state manager asked me to think about how logistically I can make this travel happen since they want me to stay over two weekends. I'll be staying at my mom's; the company isn't paying for hotel or per diem. It doesn't hurt to ask... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579771 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:38:22 +0000 BSB 2579771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, depends on the length of the flight.</p> <p>I install all of the car seats in the plane and in the car so it's fairly easy for me to do it. </p> <p>I think you can do it, though! If you have the car seat manual, definitely read up on it. Using a latch and then having to use a seatbelth is different. Just get familiar with your car seat so you aren't frustrated. Practice installing it in your own car with just the seatbelt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579761 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:27:56 +0000 yoursilverlining 2579761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you really think your company would buy an extra ticket for your baby? None of my employers would have done that - they don't pay for family members to travel with employees.</p> <p>For a 9-hour drive, I would rather fly and I would luggage check the seat. We have a travel car seat which is small/skinner than our usual seat and it doesn't fit down a plane aisle unless the plane is a huge one. It's a PITA and not something I would want to deal with alone with luggage and an infant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579758 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:25:36 +0000 looch 2579758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is the flight very long? If it's a short flight, I would just gate check your car seat and fly with a lap infant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579751 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:16:45 +0000 Iced Tea 2579751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask the company to rent you a car for the return trip. I imagine a single time installing the car seat would be so much simpler than flying alone with an infant and gear. Plus security, long waits. If the drive was less than 7 hours, I'd drive. </p> <p>You could practice a few times installing the seat before you leave so you aren't doing it alone on the road for the first time. It's a good skill to know anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579742 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:06:24 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2579742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok I change my vote reading @ShootingStar's reply! Gate check for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579741 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:05:38 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2579741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's a tricky one! I think you'll want your baby to be comfortable as possible for the drive there... I would have said do lap baby with cheap seat you can check... I think if either of your seat is "lighter" I would use that one and just buy a seat for him on the plane (hopefully company will) to make it worth bringing. I don't know maybe this advice sucks! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579739 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:04:06 +0000 ShootingStar 2579739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done this a few times with our Nextfit. I will warn you, DH has a tough time with it, and he never had to do it alone. I was always able to take care of DS while he struggled with the carseat. For one, the aisle is too narrow for the carseat. We had a wheelie thing for getting it through the airport, but getting it to the actual seat on the plane was tough. He had to lift it the whole way down the plane. Then the installation on the airplane is a lot harder than in the car, because you (obviously) have to do seat belt installation, and he's used to latch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579735 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:01:00 +0000 Mrsbells 2579735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: oh i see are you planning to gate check the stroller? I havent travelled with LO on a plane that young but I do know people that gate checked the seat and just had a lapseat for their baby </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579732 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:57:33 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2579732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: he will be 3 mos old</p> <p>I just realized I would have my stroller with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bulky-carseats-on-planes-alternative#post-2579723 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:49:45 +0000 Mrsbells 2579723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: How old is your LO?</p> <p>we have travelled with a car seat, it was convertible seat by Britax and LO was 3 at the time. It really was a big pain in the butt and the now that she is 4 we will avoid bringing her carseat on the plane. if necessary we will just check it at the gate.<br /> If you do decide to take it on the plane then just try to get on the plane earlier than the others and as you board ask for a seat belt extender which makes all the difference in attaching the carseat to the plane seat </p>