[vadermom]

I have a 3 year old that we are taking on the plane and I want to reduce the amount of stuff that I should carry for this trip. What you recommend, using his carseat on the plane and getting a stroller attachment like this kidztraveller I saw here or not take his carseat and use a flight harness on the plane and rent a car seat when I get there?

[erinellakal]

You can check the car seat at baggage check in then you don't have to rent a car seat whtn you get there.
I would say that the kidztraveller would be a big waste on money, cuz really how many time are you really going to use it?
We have traveled by air several times with the kids all different ages. What we did When Erin was 2 and a half was check her carseat and she just sat in the regular airplane seat. Our flight was nearly 3 hours and she did really well.

Good luck

[deedee1231]

I have traveled with small children several times and on several different airlines, and I have found that the airlines do not want carseats in their airplane seats. I traveled with a 2 month old and thought it would be no big deal to put her infant carrier in the seat next to me. The airline personel would not allow me to take it on the plane and I had to gate check it. This has happened with toddler booster seats as well.

So, here is my advice, if you are going to need either a carseat or a stroller on the trip, ask the airline if you can "gate check" those items. Gate checked items are special things that you will need right away when you arrive at your destination and most airlines are happy to gate check baby related items. Passengers are not charged a fee for gate checked items. If you are renting a car, I would take a carseat and gate check it. If you plan to use taxi or public transport on your trip, do not bother with a carseat, just bring your (small!) stroller. You will give yourself a serious back ache lugging a carseat around from taxi to train and so forth!