Hellobee Boards

We checked ours (check it and forget it) and it was easy peasy.

We travel with car seats with 2 LOs. We use the CARES harness on the plane so we check the car seats with our luggage (when we get to the airport - less to lug through the airport).

Our strategy is to park onsite. One parent wheels a luggage cart and (and anything that doesn't fit on the luggage cart) while the other parent pushes the stroller with the "help" of a toddler. We gate check the stroller and only carry on 1-2 bags total.

If we were parking offsite, and it was easy to curb check luggage, I'd consider having DH drop me off at the terminal with the kids, car seats, and luggage. That way we wouldn't have to lug car seats and kids on a shuttle. We have the same strategy when renting cars - DH gets the car, I head to baggage claim with the kids.

I'll tell you what you *should* do and then what I've had experience doing

You *should* (according to CSFT/Car Seat Lady) bring your own on the plane, with each child in the car seat. This is by far the safest scenario. Kiddos is safely secured in their own seat and seat will not be damaged by going through cargo, and you know your own seat and its history.

That being said, what I've done are following:
(1) Bring your own (I've brought a backup car seat we only use for travel) and check it. That way you have your own car seat for the rental car. Car seat can potentially get damaged in cargo though. You can curb check or check in at the font counter so you're not hauling it around the airport. This also worked well with the infant bucket seat that attached to a stroller base, in which case we just gate checked both. Car seats are free to check (at most airlines I believe).

(2) Rented a car seat from the car rental agency. Pain in the A** to install because Hertz wouldn't give me a manual nor tell me which car seat it actually was since they have them produced in bulk from the manufacturer. Finally figured how to get a secure install, after a lot of sweat and curse words. But I didn't have to worry about lugging a car seat through the airport when traveling by myself.

Ideally I would bring my own car seat and purchase a seat for the LO. But the other two options have worked just fine for us so far.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Buy cheap travel car seats (Cosco Scenera Next is the one we have - its $45 from Walmart, weigh 10 pounds and they come with their own plastic zipper bag). Adjust them and fit them to your LOs at home and practice installing it. Tuck one of the manuals in the travel bag. Most airlines will let you check them for free and not count towards your luggage.

If you want, you can see if one of you can go get the car while the other waits with the luggage at the terminal. Perhaps your husband can take one of the carseats and LO with him and bring the car around with one seat installed. Quickly install the other one at the curb, throw your luggage in, and go!