There are also padded or vinyl bags sold online known as Car Seat Gate Check Bags which, unfortunately, just offer a false sense of security with a price tag. Most people put their car seats in a big plastic bag if they’re gate checking their car seat. If you gate check your car seats, we’d like to bring some of the hidden dangers to light and offer you some of our tried-and-tested tips.

the items are less exposed to the terrors of the baggage handling system (more on that later!) and so are both more likely to actually end up on your flight and less likely to be damaged.

you can use your stroller in the departing airport terminal, and/or.

The reason many parents choose to gate check their items is: car seats and strollers) rather than regular luggage. Most airlines will only allow you to gate check baby items (eg. Gate checking is when you check your belongings in directly at the gate, as opposed to checking in at the check-in counter or taking it with you on the plane (only for airline approved car seats or items which fit within your cabin luggage allowance, such as the Mountain Buggy Nano stroller and the Urban Kanga car seat). Remember to check with your airline before you fly as each airline implements their own car seat policy.

Secondly, your child is familiar with their car seat and used to being buckled in there for car rides - this usually means they're more comfortable and it's easier to keep them buckled up during taxi, take off and landing. Why? Firstly, it's statistically safer, providing more protection for your child in the event of severe turbulence. We always recommend you use an approved and certified car seat (or alternative like the CARES harness) for your child whenever they travel in a plane. First up, should I use my car seat on the plane, or check it in? If any of these are questions you’ve had, let us answer them all for you. How do you take your car seats with you to use at your destination? What is the normal way? Do you take them on the plane? What is 'gate checking' all about? There are many things to consider when travelling with your car seat. Then you try to go on an overseas holiday trip and that’s just something else altogether. Been there, done that have the mental and physical scars to prove it :). We know how challenging travelling with kids can be.

Car seat check bag