Car seats and flying

I know it isn't a good idea to check a car seat as baggage nor at the gate. So, what's a good alternative? I don't want to risk my $250 car seat, would buying a cheapie $50 car seat that I would throw away after the trip be alright? I know the whole issue with checking them is how they're handled so I'm not solving that problem but I guess I'm just making it so I wouldn't be risking his primary every day car seat. Thoughts?

I lugged mine around as a carry-on with my 15 month old...while pregnant.

What's wrong with gate checking it? They should have bags available to put them in so they don't get dirty or messed up under the plane.
The airline I always fly allows me to bring it on the plane as long as the flight isn't booked. That way I can strap her in her own seat and not have her wiggling and trying to climb out of my lap for two hours.

Eh, I check mine  

Quoting andthesenights:" I know it isn't a good idea to check a car seat as baggage nor at the gate. So, what's a good alternative? ... [snip!] ... I'm not solving that problem but I guess I'm just making it so I wouldn't be risking his primary every day car seat. Thoughts? "

I double wrapped ours with clear trash bags, which they said was allowed at the time. Not sure of the laws now though.

Quoting andthesenights:" I know it isn't a good idea to check a car seat as baggage nor at the gate. So, what's a good alternative? ... [snip!] ... I'm not solving that problem but I guess I'm just making it so I wouldn't be risking his primary every day car seat. Thoughts? "

Technically you are supposed to be able to strap the carseat into the airplane seats (depending on the brand, it will say if it is safe in the user manual) since children should be in their car seats in the plane as well. However if you are trying to save money by not purchasing a seat for the child, then you will likely either have to use it as your carry on or check it.

The issue I've read is that they can drop them from 6-8 feet, put heavy luggage on top of them, throw them around, generally manhandle them. You could get little cracks or other issues you might not notice. I'm just so paranoid about ruining the expensive seat.

If ticket prices go down again - we bought ours already - I'll just buy him a seat and haul his seat on with us.

Are the cosco and evenflo $40-60 seats any good?

Quoting andthesenights:" The issue I've read is that they can drop them from 6-8 feet, put heavy luggage on top of them, throw ... [snip!] ... ours already - I'll just buy him a seat and haul his seat on with us. Are the cosco and evenflo $40-60 seats any good? "

We have the Evenflo Tribute as our smurffy seat and like it.

Quoting Mamma*Mia:" Technically you are supposed to be able to strap the carseat into the airplane seats (depending on the ... [snip!] ... to save money by not purchasing a seat for the child, then you will likely either have to use it as your carry on or check it."

He's a lap baby at the moment. We weren't planning on renting a car when we bought our tickets but then we decided we wanted to but ticket prices have gone up for the moment. I'm watching them to see if they go down and then I'll just bring his seat on.

Quoting Mrs. Dexter Morgan:" We have the Evenflo Tribute as our smurffy seat and like it."

I'll look into that one thanks. I think I'd rather buy a "throw away" seat then risk ruining the one we have now if we can't get him a ticket at a decent price.

check it at the gate. i didnt know that when I flew the first time, and took all of the clothes as my carry on plus I was able to take a diaper bag as a carry on. Then I just checked my car seat for my one bag free. Well when I got to Michigan from Washington I was waiting at the little luggage thing, and my car seat never came around the conveyer belt. I was mortified. They hadnt put my car seat on the right plane. So I had to use the airports rent-a-seat which was a freaking accident waiting to happen and we drove straight to walmart and had to buy a $50 seat to get us through the week. It was rediculus. The next day they delivered the car seat to my house, but still it caused us a lot of unecessary hardship.

Quoting andthesenights:" I'll look into that one thanks. I think I'd rather buy a "throw away" seat then risk ruining the one we have now if we can't get him a ticket at a decent price. "

It's 65, I think.

Quoting andthesenights:" The issue I've read is that they can drop them from 6-8 feet, put heavy luggage on top of them, throw ... [snip!] ... ours already - I'll just buy him a seat and haul his seat on with us. Are the cosco and evenflo $40-60 seats any good? "

We have the cosco scenera and it's alright.

We've had it since A. was 6 months, and she fights really hard in the carseat, and the straps are starting to fray. But it's been 2 years. (We're obviously getting a new one, no need to tell me).