How to Fly with Carseats

Most people are aware that the safest way to fly with your children is to take their car seat with you. However, the thought of lugging a toddler, a car seat, and your carry-on is a bit intimidating. For this, they invented the Gogokidz. This product has some perks. Namely you do NOT have to take the car seat off to go through security. Also it doubles as a stroller for your kids. They even claim that you can install the seat in the car without removing the wheels (although I have heard mixed results). The price tag is hefty so I began looking for alternatives.

I found the traveling toddler. MUCH more affordable. Then, the questions started. Would my luggage handle it? Could a metal ring work or did I need the extension? Could I stack multiple seats on one set of wheels? I began experimenting.

At the time that I needed this, I had 3 kids and I was more interested in carrying their seats with one hand than using the stroller option. I tried a ring and the luggage. It was flimsy and the luggage posed a problem when stacking seats. Next, I bought a set of cheap metal wheels at a flea market. This is what I did.

You will need:

1. you car seats with LATCH straps and top tether
2. a metal ring for each seat
3. a set of luggage wheels   

NOTE: I re-created this and had lost the metal rings, So I pulled anything round from my basement, please excuse the random objects.

 

First, open your wheels. Then, place your largest seat on top with back to the handle.

 

Next, "install" your seat onto a metal clip. Clip each side behind the luggage handle and then pull the top tether over the top. Tighten all straps. Remember, this is not child safety, so you don't have to go crazy. Just get them a bit snug. Tuck any excess strap inside the car seat. 

 Now, take your second seat and nestle it on top of you contraption. Don't worry if it seems unstable. Once you tighten the straps it will feel better.

Repeat the process with a new ring and straps. The ring will sit higher than the first set. You may also feel around the seats depending on their shape. On this one My straps were not long enough unless I went above the sidewings of the first seat. (again, we are not putting a child in it, so just do what feels good.)

You'll need to repeat the process another time for a third seat. This was when I ran out of strap. To solve this problem, I went to the basement and pulled out an old LATCH strap from an old seat. (I had cut it because my vehicle did not have LATCH, but it never got thrown away.) Simply connect it to your existing LATCH to extend it. If you do not have this, you can improvise with the traveling toddler, a bungee cord, etc.

 When you are done, you have 3 seats that can be transported with 1 hand.

This particular stack is actually stable when standing alone. The first time I did it, the 3rd seat was an infant carrier WITH a base, so it made it unstable. I was able to prop it against a  wall or table when I needed to let go and it was still easier than carrying them separately. We even topped it off with a duffel bag on top!

Please note that you WILL have to take this apart at the security station. There is no way around that. You can ASK them to use the wand on it, but my seats are steel and the luggage wheels are metal, so I did not even try.

When I got to the plane, I took this all the way in. It was too wide to fit down the aisle, but the stewardess grabbed the wheels and we lifted the whole thing up & over the the plane seats. When we got to my row, I plopped it in the aisle seat. My mother-in-law watched 2 kids, the stewardess held the baby (they do love that) and I went to town installing seats. I can't remember how we did it getting off the plane. I think the stewardess carried 2 seats off and I re-stacked them outside - but it was 3 years ago, so I don't remember. 

Hope this helps. Safe travels.