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Looking for some tips on taking a cardboard box onto a plane in the hold. This isn't a bike box but a box for a child's car seat, so similar-ish size.
The box is reasonably sturdy but think something that wraps the outside to protect from knocks would be good. We'd then need to fold down or collapse this while we're away. Folding the box flat is no problem
We actually have a bag for car seats but when used with this new car seat it leaves certain bits, like the head rest, exposed as this sticks out from the seat shell.
I'm thinking something like a tarpaulin or correx sheets on the outside of the box. Has anyone done similar on a cardboard bike box?
Child seats don't need to be boxed up IME. You might be liable for excess baggage if you do box it up so worth checking with the airline.
Child seats don’t need to be boxed up IME. You might be liable for excess baggage if you do box it up so worth checking with the airline.
Thanks, I'll double check the allowance. I disagree with not needing a box though and using one is recommended by car seat specialists over using a bag. The box isn't that much bigger than the seat. Child car seats are made of plastic and expanded polystyrene, just like a bike helmet. If the polystyrene is crushed or cracked it will severely degrade its effectiveness in a crash. Also without a box the plastic shell might be subject to forces/weight it's not designed for. The seat came via a courier in the box, seems a bit bonkers to send it off on a similar journey without the box.
I thinking of putting something on the outside of the box to make it a bit more durable to survive a few trips away.
Correx panels (what for sale signs are made from) with strong gaffer tape to join edges might be the way forward or could even just cover the box in gaffer tape.
Child car seats are made of plastic and expanded polystyrene, just like a bike helmet.
If anything over-wrapping it will mean it's more likely to get thrown around and end up bottom of the pile. I'd just go with a cardboard box. Maybe a few extra bit of card on any sticky up bits. Plenty of tape
Just send it down the belt unwrapped; it will get loaded separately with all the other awkward stuff. I flew to Malaga about 28 years ago with a full rigid Trek mountain bike, just took off the pedals and saddle and turned the bars and sent it down the specials belt. No worries, no damage.
Sent our child’s seat through several airline check ins all fine and no damage. They’ll tag it and you drop it at the outsize belt. It’s a free piece of luggage, like a pushchair. Again just sent those collapsed down. Normally drop them off at the plane embarkation.
Don’t over think it.
Hmm, pushchair fine. That'll go into it's carry bag at the gate and into the hold. But for a vital bit of safety equipment, as that's what it is, I don't think I'm over thinking it. Seems a no brainer that if I have a box designed for transporting it in, I should use it.
There is the flip side that if it's sent with minimal packing it will should be put "up top" as it's obvious what it is and its an awkward shape. But that's out of your control. If it's completely unwrapped then straps etc could get caught and broken.
“But for a vital bit of safety equipment, as that’s what it is, I don’t think I’m over thinking it.”
Everyone else just checks them in without packaging. We did too last week.
Put it in a box and it’s almost certain to be treated more roughly.
Surely the airline is not liable for damage if its without packing? Perhaps car seats are excluded regardless though.
AEROPLANE. That's all.
Avoid straps and string around it, this can get caught in the machinery. At least, with bike-sized boxes that has happened to be. Use tape to hold it together.