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Although airlines are still (begrudgingly) working through allowing families to sit together for free, they do, at least, allow young families to check a stroller and car seat for free. Here’s how the 3 legacy airlines word it:

American Airlines

Strollers

Delta Air Lines

STROLLERS & CAR SEATS

For your convenience, we don’t charge any fees for traveling with strollers or child-restraint seats, like an FAA-approved car or booster seat. These don’t count toward your (or your ticketed child’s) baggage allowance. You can easily check these items before you go through security; or if you prefer, you can check them at the gate.

United Airlines

Can I check my car seat or stroller at the ticket counter?

You can check one car seat and one stroller or folding wagon per child you’re traveling with, for free. This can be done at the gate or ticket counter. Large or non-collapsible strollers, and non-folding wagons must be checked at the ticket counter. However, they’re also free.

The other airlines have similar allowances for strollers and car seats.

More than just a car seat

For years, some parents have thrown some items in the bag holding their car seat. A package of diapers, for example. A favorite toy or two. Things that are probably for the baby, but take up way too much room in the suitcase, so they throw it in with the car seat. Sometimes that frees up enough space so they don’t have to have to check another bag.

Not anymore

Travel friends, it looks as if those days are dwindling.

Kennady Scott is a travel blogger based in Colorado who specializes in traveling with a small child. Not long ago she gave a warning about the crackdown on throwing those “extras” into the car seat bag – apparently the airlines are asking people to come back to the check-in counter and pay to check those extra items.

Here’s a link to her Instagram video and what she wrote:

It doesn’t matter if it’s coming from TSA or the airline, if this is part of your packing strategy, have a plan B. I’ve turned commenting off because people are bananas. Have a plan B, be prepared, it may not happen to you, but it might. Check out part 2 for everything else I learned from this silly viral reel ✌️

⚠️ Warning! TSA (or maybe the airlines?) are cracking down on car seat and stroller bags 👇🏼

They do not allow you to put ANYTHING inside of your stroller or car seat bag – including diapers! I had zero problem traveling Aspen to LA, but on the return, 3 different agents asked what was in our car seat and stroller bags and advised us to remove anything that we put in there other than the stroller and car seat.

They said they are pulling bags and paging people to come BACK to the check in counter to pay to check their stroller and car seat if other items are in the bag. When we got back home, both of our bags had been inspected – I’m so glad I listened to the check in agent and removed our diapers and small dirty laundry bag.

Don’t let this happen to you. Plan ahead and ONLY put your car seat or stroller in your car seat and stroller bags.

I don’t know why the TSA would care what’s in the car seat bags as much as the airlines would, in an attempt for a money grab. Unless the airlines are getting the TSA involved as a way to legally open/check the bag in question. But whatever the case, heads up that it’s happening. And, as Kennady said, have a Plan B ready, in case it happens to you.

Feature Image: Tom Woodward / flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

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