On the Go > Baby Travel > By Air > For the Airport > Checking In
Checking In at the Ticket Counter
Check everything you don’t need (keeping in mind that you might need some extras in the event of flight delays) at the ticket counter; that includes carry-on suitcases if they’re within your checked bag allowance or budget. Car seats and large strollers can be checked free of charge. It’s recommended that they each be stowed within padded transport bags; most manufacturers provide an option to purchase their custom designs (don’t forget to use the negative space within to smuggle extra diapers, wipes or a favorite blanket).
When traveling domestically, we exercised extra caution and preferred to gate-check our car seat when possible. We had hoped to implement this practice internationally, but learned that some foreign airlines were unaccustomed to the gate-check concept, which once resulted in a car seat scavenger hunt at baggage claim in Instabul’s Atatürk Airport and added about 45 minutes onto the backend of our arrival.
(Add a tired, screaming baby fresh off of a long flight to your imagery of that moment.)
MOMganized 