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If it's free, I check it with luggage. I always put it in a bag, either a clear garbage bag or the bright orange cheapie bag (costs about $15 at BRU) just to keep all the straps together so it doesn't get caught on anything else and to keep it clean.

We gate check ours. Got a nice bag on Amazon with shoulder straps so we could wear it like a backpack until we got to the gate.

@T.H.O.U.: Yup, and I secure the whole shebang with duct tape, and I use that as a label.

We've gate checked ours several times. The airline always provides a bag for us without even asking for it. We pretty much always fly Southwest though so it may be airline dependent.

We just flew. I bought a bag on Amazon ($16) and checked it with our luggage. It doesn't cost anything to check. I saw other car seats without bags that looked to be shrink wrapped or whatever iit's called to be wrapped entirely in clear plastic.

@T.H.O.U.: Are you interested in a Cares Harness?

United gives bags, if you are flying with them.. We always check with luggage.

I would just use it on the plane if you can. It keeps her and the seat both safer. I always worry that they will toss the seat around and then it will be the same as if it had been in a car accident. We just went ahead and bought a car seat to leave at my parents so we wouldn't have to worry about traveling with one.

Since we used the car seat in the stroller, we gate checked both the car seat and the stroller. If we were bringing it in addition to the stroller I totally would have curb side checked the car seat. There was no way to use it on the plane as we were flying during the holidays and all our flights were full.

@T.H.O.U.: Totally, right? I bought it and haven't used it and don't plan to. I think I missed the opportnity to use it.