Keeping your child rear-facing to the limit of the seat is the safest choice. When you gate check your car seat, you have to carry it on the jet bridge all the way to the gate of the plane. A rear-facing car seat offers the best protection for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and even young school-age kids and should be properly used for as long as possible, to the limits of the car seat. I'd be leery of checking a snap and go at the counter. Gate checked strollers and car seats need to get tagged to their final destination. Our seat widths vary depending on the size of the aircraft. Gate Checking Your Car Seat Means It’s Less Likely t o Be Damaged Try to figure out a way you can transport both through the airport – maybe use the stroller to carry the seat and put baby in a carrier just while you’re in transit. Here are 3 reasons to always gate check your car seat. It will get filthy otherwise. When your flight lands and you deplane, it will be available for pick up in the same place where you left it.

It works a lot more often than you’d think! Ask the attendant at check-in if you can gate-check your car seat when boarding to avoid it from being jostled around with the rest of the luggage.

Like car seats, strollers can be checked for free, but it might not always make sense. As you can see below, we gate checked, the car seat, car seat stroller and scooter. Checking car seats on an airplane can be done, but there are some things you should know before doing so. Here are some tips: Please don’t assume your baby or toddler is safe on the plane while in your lap. Most people put their car seats in a big plastic bag if they’re gate checking their car seat.

Every time we have to travel with a stroller, we carefully weigh whether to check it though with the other luggage or use it all the way to the gate. New car seats always come with a registration card attached to the seat or in the box somewhere you can fill out and send in. Most airlines allow baby items to be gate checked for free, but double check with your airline to be sure. Since this is the safest way to travel, we encourage you to do so, if you can. You can gate-check the stroller as well, which is why this plan is so genius! Most airlines allow you to check your car seat for free so don’t worry about paying to bring it. They have travel bags for sale made just for carseats. If you’re planning to gate check a car seat because you’re traveling with a lap child, you can walk up to the gate agent with your car seat and politely ask if there’s an empty seat where you can seat your baby safely in her car seat. As an advocate for child safety, I feel very strongly about not using the “lap child” option on aircraft. Gate checking will definitely lessen the wear and tear. You then loop the tag onto your car seat and stroller. If you can't find one last minute or think it's a waste of money, get a big garbage bag at least. In this day and age though, registration is generally easiest on the internet.

However, a big question is whether you should you gate check your car seat or check it at the ticket counter. But if you're traveling with a lap infant and want the use of your car seat after security but before the flight, you can also gate check it.