Flying With Carseats

The most frequent questions I get from readers are about how to get through the airport and to their destination with a car seat for a young child. Most parents look to avoid the burden of flying with a carseat when they can. When they cannot, they want to know the easiest ways to deal with their seat (or the best seat for travel). Here are our best tips related to carseats.

Safety Tips

Choosing and Buying a Carseat

How to Choose a Booster Seat (includes links for finding safe carseats at any age)

Getting from the airport to your destination without a carseat

When we're visiting a major city, our top preference is to take a train or subway from the airport to our hotel (it helps to pack light). Often there is a short walk between the station and the hotel, and we divide the work by having one parent get in a taxi with the baggage while the other walks with the kids. We meet up at the hotel.

When public transportation just isn't possible, it take some searching, but we can often find a shuttle service or limousine service that provides carseats on request. The carseats need to be requested when you book, and you will have to be very clear about the age of your child and the type of carseat you need. We also recommend re-confirming the carseat the day before you travel. Most shuttle and limo drivers will not install the seat for you for liability reasons, so be prepared to install the car seat when they pick you up. Remember to inspect the carseat carefully just as you would in a rental car.

A final option is to use a more portable carseat for travel. For kids 30 to 80 pounds, the Ridesafer Travel Vest