https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 19:40:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2774011 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 20:07:58 +0000 Becky 2774011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was so surprised to read these and just had to add that I rented a car seat and had no problem. My only issue was that it didn't come with LATCH connectors so I had to route the seat belt but now that's my preferred option! It wasn't a high-end seat but it certainly did the trick and was much easier than lugging a car seat (I was also traveling alone with my 3 year old and didn't want to check any luggage so that wouldn't have been an option anyway). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773160 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 10:40:52 +0000 looch 2773160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just one thing I haven't seen mentioned here, if your kid is fidgety, consider that if sitting in a car seat and forward facing, his/her feet will be closer to the seat in front of them and at a prime angle for kicking the person in front. They also can't use the tray table.</p> <p>That aside, we stopped using the seat at age 2. My son did great, I was surprised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773156 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 10:30:29 +0000 SweetiePie 2773156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I've never tried national but I'll check it out next time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773155 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 10:29:05 +0000 wrkbrk 2773155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Thank you!! I really appreciate all these tips. Enterprise - good to know. A local friend said she has had good luck with National as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773153 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 10:27:12 +0000 SweetiePie 2773153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: personally I agree with @MrsADS: that a longer flight 2+ hours is way easier with the kid in a car seat. My son happens to like his car seat though. He just happily climbs right in and stays strapped and trying or wanting to get out never crosses his mind on a plane (because he can't in the car so he just thinks the same on the plane). He also might nap in a car seat on the plane but NO CHANCE he would just sitting on the plane seat. And he does want to get up and roam around in the plane seat. BUT for shorter flights I just give him an iPad and he'll usually sit in the regular seat until we start to land. Then he gets antsy but I can handle that for 20 mins or do. Also, lots of snacks. When we don't use it on the plane and I don't rent, I just check the seat. Regular check, not gate check. When I'm traveling alone with him which is most of the time, I just can't lug around our carry-ons plus the seat plus him. I have the brica bag that has wheels and backpack straps. It's a godsend. And I travel alone with my 3yo a lot so if I can manage him, the car seat and both of our bags, anyone can.<br /> My other big reason for not renting a seat is that they can be pretty nasty. I've gotten a few that were just straight up crusty and stained and it just felt gross. That being said, I'm not like morally against it. I've had some really good brand new ones too! But it's hit or miss and after my own years of experience I've decided that bringing our own is just better all around most of the time. Btw, budget has the worst car seat options. I've had them missing things and just straight up gross, so when I do rent a car seat I try to go enterprise. Theirs have been pretty consistently clean. </p> <p>So in summary of my long winded response:<br /> - agree that a carseat on the plane is easier for longer flights. With iPad and snacks.<br /> - if you do rent one, go with enterprise. The cheaper rentals have grosser seats.<br /> - if you bring but don't use on the plane, check it with baggage. It's free. It will be fine.<br /> - get the brica car seat bag with wheels and backpack. You won't regret it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773125 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 09:15:51 +0000 MrsADS 2773125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee good to know, thanks!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773119 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:45:10 +0000 wrkbrk 2773119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Tx! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773116 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:44:10 +0000 BSB 2773116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: In reference to @MrsADS:'s comment about the scenera next not RF in the plane. My evenflo tribute car seat (holds upto 40lbs RF, I think) that I got from Amazon was able to fit RF in the airplane seat. If you want it to RF, you should look into the tribute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773115 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:34:29 +0000 MrsADS 2773115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk do it!!! I promise, having your LO in the carseat will make your flight SO MUCH BETTER. It was totally amazing. He was happy to chill, eat snacks, flip through all the seatback stuff, etc. It is so light and installing it on the plane was no big deal at all. You do have to install it forward facing - it won't fit RF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773114 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:31:48 +0000 wrkbrk 2773114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Scenera-NEXT-Convertible-Car-Seat-Choose-your-Color/41126745" rel="nofollow">https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Scenera-NEXT-Convertible-Car-Seat-Choose-your-Color/41126745</a></p> <p>This one does look good for the price ... maybe I will just do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773111 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 08:25:47 +0000 wrkbrk 2773111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: TY for your comment! Ugh I am so torn, haha. My local friends go ahead and rent them with the car but the clear majority on here say not to risk that and just bring our own. We would need this max once a year until he outgrows it anyway so IDK if I should buy a lightweight one ... ! Ahhh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773071 Tue, 12 Sep 2017 20:43:21 +0000 MrsADS 2773071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok, we flew 2x with an almost 2-year-old as a lap child and just flew last week with a just turned 2 year old in his own seat, so these are my observations:</p> <p>YOU MUST bring his carseat on the plane. Seriously, there is absolutely no way he would have sat in an airplane seat with just the seatbelt. He would have been sliding all over the place, wanting us to hold him, etc. In the carseat, it was just like being in the car. He was totally fine. Compared to when he was an almost-2 lap child, sooo much easier. (As a lap child, he was into EVERYTHING and it was so hard to hold him)</p> <p>Totally worth getting the ultralight carseat - I bought the Cosco Scenera. $44 at Walmart. It weighs 6 lbs and was no trouble to carry through the airport and easy to install on the plane.</p> <p>I agree with what others have said re: not using a rental seat, but I very very strongly recommend bringing the seat onto the plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2773061 Tue, 12 Sep 2017 19:50:52 +0000 maddyz 2773061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have traveled with two car seats and two under 3 (one checked, one on the plane with us) it sucks. but i have also found people to be super helpful. I never once had to carry it off the plane, someone always asked if I needed a hand with it. I was grateful to be installing seats i knew when we arrived, it was super helpful. I have the added problem of having to take a cab to the airport anyways, so I need to bring our seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772831 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:39:27 +0000 Littlebit7 2772831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my reason for not renting car seats along with rental cars is due to a bad experience by my SIL. She had "reserved" a car seat via a major rental agency and when she got to the airport all they had was a booster seat for her 2 year old. The kid manning the agency was apologetic but also didn't "get it" why the booster couldn't t be used. (And it wasn't a harnessed booster, it was just a bubble bum or something).<br /> So they had to send dad in the car to go buy a car seat and come back to the airport. No fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772819 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:01:06 +0000 psw27 2772819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the Cosco 9 pound car seat for travel and we just bought this $8 travel bag for it to lug it through the airport. The car seat is big but so light it doesn't bother us to throw it over our shoulder while we go through the airport. </p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Gate-Check-Bag-Seats/dp/B000RRD7UG/ref=pd_sim_75_1?_encoding=UTF8&#038;psc=1&#038;refRID=QH6R6X55P498MK02SW0S" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Gate-Check-Bag-Seats/dp/B000RRD7UG/ref=pd_sim_75_1?_encoding=UTF8&#038;psc=1&#038;refRID=QH6R6X55P498MK02SW0S</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772781 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:38:47 +0000 nana87 2772781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've rented a car seat along with a car for lo1 once she outgrew her bucket seat. You just get it along with the car; it comes uninstalled so you install it yourself. I think we've only done it twice, once abroad where the car seats are different/have different safety standards and installation methods. I guess this is an unpopular option but we live in a small apartment and can't store a spare car seat for travel purposes when we so rarely need one for travel (most our travel is to visit our parents, and they have car seats for us there to use) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772772 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:09:11 +0000 wrkbrk 2772772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Nah it's middle of the road. We have the Chicco convertible in both of our cars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772771 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:08:13 +0000 BSB 2772771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: What car seat do you have now? It is super heavy or expensive? I have Diono Rainier car seats for the twins and I can't imagine traveling by plane with those car seats. My sister has a Diono, too, for her son and on her last trip, her car seat went missing. </p> <p>If you have the funds for it, I would get a cheap car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772767 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:53:14 +0000 RKitty 2772767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We flew last month with a lap infant and I did a lot of research if we should rent or bring our own car seat.</p> <p>We ended up bring our own as I didn't want to deal with a car seat with an unknown history and unknown treatment. Plus no idea what seat we would get and the condition it would be in and I saw some horror stories about it - but also plenty of stories where it was just fine. </p> <p>I kept the box that ours arrived in (we ordered the seat off Amazon). And just checked it that way. We got some funny looks about checking it in the box but no actual issues and there was no charge for it. I felt more comfortable checking it in the box then by itself or a bag as it had been shipped to us that way! It was a little awkward going through the airport with the box but it's only a short distance so it wasn't a big deal and we intentionally bought a light seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772764 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:31:54 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2772764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: we just took a flight and didn't bring our car seat on the flight. It was fine! I think some kids do really well in car seats In general... mine has never been one of them! He did flip out about putting his seatbelt on our return landing but I doubt he would have happily been buckled in to his car seat either in the mood he was in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772752 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:07:28 +0000 wrkbrk 2772752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nanilani: Thanks for your post!! Probably leaning towards just lugging ours.......... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772736 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:24:11 +0000 nanilani 2772736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked a similar question earlier this summer and got enough negative responses to scare me off of renting a car seat (not knowing the accident history of the seat being the big one). In the end it was cheaper to buy a Cosco Scenera seat and a luggage strap than it would've been to rent a seat for four days anyhow. DS flew as a lap child and Southwest checked the car seat for free with no damage upon arrival. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772735 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:23:16 +0000 wrkbrk 2772735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I think checking it sounds like a good option. Thanks for your response! I cannot picture my child sitting in his carseat in a plane seat, but I guess I will think about it a little more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772734 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:22:10 +0000 yoursilverlining 2772734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Kids over age 2 do not have to sit in car seats on a plane just because they have their own seats. That's totally up to you whether or not you have him in a car seat in his plane seat or not. </p> <p>We've rented seats several times from National and never had an issue but as others have said you will have to install it yourself. I've also never had any issue getting a good, tight, correct install on the seats they use. </p> <p>That said, lightweight travel seats are a good option too - - you can get a little rolling device for like $20 on Amazon too that makes zooming a seat through the airport much easier so you don't have to lug it. Or you can check the seat and just pick up and install in your rental car at your destination. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772733 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:19:48 +0000 littlebug 2772733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Sending you a PM </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772727 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:53:55 +0000 wrkbrk 2772727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Good tips and thanks for the links!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772721 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:34:57 +0000 BSB 2772721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would recommend buying a travel car seat (evenflo tribute or cosco scenera) and using the car seat for the plane and the car. If your LO is under 40lbs, the car seat is on Amazon for $50. </p> <p>Also, I would get a car seat transporter or a car seat strap that wraps around your luggage. I let my brother use my car seat transporter for his international trip and they were in love with it. They told they would buy another one and sent it to me. </p> <p>I have this one. I found a used one on craigslist. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Roll-Car-Seat-Transporter/dp/B0074JKQ0Y?th=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/BRICA-Roll-Car-Seat-Transporter/dp/B0074JKQ0Y?th=1</a></p> <p>Or you could get this one. I don't have any experience with the straps. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XTT17QC" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XTT17QC</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772720 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:34:01 +0000 wrkbrk 2772720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: No worries! He will be a lap baby on the flight there for the last time. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772719 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:33:23 +0000 SweetiePie 2772719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Oh yes then. Sorry I missed that part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-rent-a-car-with-a-car-seat-in-it#post-2772718 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:32:10 +0000 wrkbrk 2772718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I think we have to because he turns 2 on the trip and I think once they are 2 he cannot sit with us anymore lol. </p>