gate checking a carseat

Anyone do this? DS will be flying on my lap so it's not like we will need the carseat on the plane but I think I am too paranoid to check it. I feel like there is less likelihood of it getting dropped or damaged if we gate check it. What do you think? We will also be gate checking his stroller, plus we might have one carryon bag plus 2 personal items. Is this going to be a crazy amount of things to carry? DS likes to walk but I guess we could make him sit in the stroller till we get to the gate.

Any suggestions on an inexpensive carseat bag for travel?

ALso, anyone rent a carseat? Is it really THAT bad an idea?

Message edited 2/20/2012 12:40:07 PM.

Re: gate checking a carseat

That's not a lot of stuff, it shouldn't be too bad just a PITA when going through security (taking off shoes, collapsing the stroller, etc). Last time we flew we had the stroller, a carry on bag, laptop bag, diaper bag and my purse. I put my purse in the basket below the stroller, DH carried the laptop and carry on bag and I had the diaper bag over the stroller handles and pushed DD in it to the gate.

I've gate checked a car seat before, no bag it came out fine. And we gate check her stroller almost every time we fly with no bag, always comes back fine.

Re: gate checking a carseat

We gate checked our carseat. DH and I had a double stroller, 2 boys, my backpack, DH's backpack and a carseat. It wasn't too bad. We managed. DH carried the carseat and his backpack. I rolled the boys with the double. More of a pain at security, but it was fine
We also have a gatecheck bag for both the carseat and stroller. Glad we did b/c the stroller bag looked like it was dragged.
Plus, once I saw someone take the wrong stroller and left another couple with the wrong one.
They figured it out at luggage claim, but it was still nice to know noone took ours b/c it was in a bag.

Re: gate checking a carseat

Re: gate checking a carseat