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  1. #1
    CBB is offline Gold level (500+ posts)
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    Nov 2003
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    Boston, MA.
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    Default traveling with a Wizard

    We just moved DD to the Wizard. We will be flying to China at the end of October. The flight will be about 24hr long. We did buy DD a seat. What's the best way to carry the car seat in the airport? We will try to limit the carry on stuff to minimum, but the car seat is still really heavy. We do have a zippy'04 stroller. Can we put the car seat on the stroller for transport? We are actually thinking about not bringing the stroller and just borrow one from family. Also, how should we install the car seat, RF or FF (DD will be 7mo old then). I appreciate any other suggestion to help us travel with the Wizard.

    Thanks,
    Li
    Baby Jasmine 3/18/04
    Baby Justin 9/18/07

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Richmond, Virginia, USA.
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    20,018

    Default RE: traveling with a Wizard

    If you are thinking about not bringing the stroller, then I'd look for something very small with wheels to get the seat easily through the airport. Like the Lo-rider http://www.elitecarseats.com/kiddiecargo-lorider.shtml
    or the samsonite micro mover http://shop.store.yahoo.com/airline/sammicmovfol.html (which other moms swear is perfect for the Wizard/Marathon).
    Since you install her rearfacing in the car, you should install her rearfacing in the plane. You'll enjoy being able to see her and play with her the whole way, and it might be easier to route the lapbelt through the rearfacing belt path, anyway (see posts by stillplayswithbarbies...she's a whiz at traveling with her marathon!)

    Hope that gets you started, I'm sure someone else will have some ideas!
    Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
    http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    8,856

    Default RE: traveling with a Wizard

    You will be required to use it rear facing on the plane. The airlines say you have to use an approved seat according to the manufacturers instructions, and Britax says rear facing for a baby her age.

    You may have to show the instructions to the flight attendant, they sometimes don't know the rules and will tell you to put it forward facing because they don't know any better.

    Rear facing is safer than forward facing, so stand your ground if they try to tell you to turn it forward. It's also much easier to install rear facing.

    As for getting through the airport . . . you will want to have your own stroller when you get there rather than stress over a borrowed one. See if you can balance the car seat in the stroller and carry the baby. That can work if you don't have a lot of connecting flights (especially if you have a sling to carry the baby)

    Another thing you can try is to hang the carseat off the handle of the stroller. I have a Teutonia Toni stroller and I use the Stroll'r Swivl'r hooks to hang the car seat from the handle. Try this out at home first to make sure it works on your stroller.

    Some people extend the straps of the car seat and wear it like a backpack. There are straps you can buy that turn the car seat into a backpack.

    For a 24 hour flight, you might not be able to fit all you need for carryon into one backpack, so you might want to get a wheeled cart for the carseat. I suggest backpacks for carryon luggage, it makes getting through airports much easier.

    Be aware that you have to put the stroller and the carseat through the x-ray at security, so whatever you rig up make sure you can undo it and do it back up again without too much trouble.


    ...Karen
    DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
    http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/bo...breastfed2.gif

  4. #4
    CBB is offline Gold level (500+ posts)
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
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    Boston, MA.
    Posts
    675

    Default RE: traveling with a Wizard

    Julie and Karen, thank you so much for your replies. We didn't want to bring the stroller since we were worried that it would get damaged -- there are two connection each way. We have family in China who has a stroller so it won't be a problem to get one there. However, if it's easier to transport the Wizard, we can just bring our stroller. We have a '04 zippy. I don't know if the Wizard will fit on it. The car seat is already installed in the car. I hate to take it out, but I probably will have to do it. Other options will be finding straps that Karen mentioned or the Samsonite carrier which are both more affortable. Do you think it's easier to just bring the stroller? Where do we put the stroller then? Since we'll need it for the connection, we won't be able to check it in.

    Thansk again,
    Li
    Baby Jasmine 3/18/04
    Baby Justin 9/18/07

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Posts
    8,856

    Default RE: traveling with a Wizard

    You gate check the stroller, which means that you wheel it right up to the door of the plane and then fold it up and leave it there. They load it on the plane and then unload for you at the connection so you have it to move through the airport. Then you do it again for the next plane.

    Especially when you get to your final destination, you may be very thankful to have the stroller to put the baby in while you go through immigration and get your luggage from baggage claim.

    I have never had a stroller damaged by gate checking it yet and I fly a lot.

    you would not want to check it with your luggage, but gate checking it is safer.

    ...Karen
    DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
    http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/superpower.gif http://members.aol.com/khowe14494/bo...breastfed2.gif

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