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BeLoved 
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Joined: 24 April 2008
Location: Sth Island
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 Topic: car seats and air/taxi travel
Posted: 22 September 2010 at 8:41pm |
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Okay I will try to make this as short and uncomplicated as possible.
DD and I are going to be commuting between 2 cities for the next 7 months and living in both. We will be flying back and forth and will have cars in both places. Sometimes we will be dropped at the airport, sometimes we will get a taxi and sometimes take our own car.
I was going to buy a car seat for both cities but then realised I am going to need to get to the airport and use a car seat of course to get there, but what do I do with it once I am at the airport. Do some taxis have car seats? Do I just have one car seat that I take back & forth? Will the airline be ok with this as well as a P&T pram and our luggage.
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luvmylittlies
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Joined: 08 July 2009
Location: Auckland
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Posted: 22 September 2010 at 9:04pm |
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We had a lot of trouble getting a taxi with a car seat even with a week's notice. So we just took ours. I fitted it in the taxi at both ends of the trip. I'm now very fast getting it in and out.
As far as flying goes it depends on your airline and your ticket. Air New Zealand allow children the same luggage allowance as the adults in addition to a car seat and a pram. It makes for a lot of luggage though.
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Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10
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fattartsrock
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Posted: 22 September 2010 at 9:26pm |
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Are you able to hire or buy a cheap second hand P&T or other buggy (Im assuming for running, otherwise I;d say just use and umbrella, easy to take but sh*te for running with lol) to leave in the place you are commuting to? and sell it when you are done with it? That might save a wee bit of stress with baggage in the long run.
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The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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tishy
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Posted: 22 September 2010 at 9:49pm |
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If you are flying Air NZ you will be fine. I don't know about other airlines.
I second fattarts suggestion about getting a cheap stroller.
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BeLoved
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Posted: 22 September 2010 at 9:54pm |
I have a little QS travel stroller that I will take back and forth, but will only bring the P&T when I am going to be in either place for longer than a week as I need it for running, but if it turns out to be a real hassle I think I will just leave it in one place, I hate lots of luggage!
Thanks for the replies, will be using airpoints so will probably only travel with Air NZ, good to hear they allow DD to have luggage too, pity she can't carry it herself 
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scribe
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Posted: 22 September 2010 at 10:22pm |
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Personally I'd always want my child in a car seat, but I'm just letting you know (in case you don't) that by law if you're in a taxi (or bus etc) your child doesn't need to be in a carseat, you can just hold her.
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IVFGirl1111
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 8:51am |
Im always here to help too chick and will be living like a 5 minute max drive from the airport so I can always go and drop it off for you to the airport when you need it 
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TTC 6 years
IVF it is
IVF/ICSI round one
10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN
IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs!
20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties
BFN
2 Frosties still in freezer thank god
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monikah
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 3:25pm |
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they will let you take your buggy to the gate and have it ready for you at the other end which makes life alot easier. we are 2 young kids with 1 travelling adult so we have to take one carseat on the plane for him to sit on so we are gonna check the other one in as apparently it is super hard to get taxis with car seats apparently
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newmum
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 9:14pm |
Yes some taxi's have a car seat - you just need to book in advance and request - we have done this often.
AirNZ changed their domestic travel policy late May
it has done away with children's rates on domestic flights but it also now classes a child's carseat or stroller as the one piece of baggage that a passenger is entitled to check in. Previously there used to be children's fares AND a carseat or stroller was exempt from the baggage count.
Just some info
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newmum
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 9:15pm |
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It used to be that a child under 12 paid slightly less in fares but was entitled to the full adult baggage allowance PLUS a carseat or stroller. Now they will charge us excess baggage fees if the kids have a bag to check in in addition to their carseat.
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tishy
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 9:25pm |
 monikah wrote:
they will let you take your buggy to the gate and have it ready for you at the other end which makes life alot easier. |
Not necessarily. The only flights I've been allowed to take my buggy to the gate was on long haul flights, anything else I've had to check it in.
Even on a flight when I was expected to carry 2 x 10month olds and a carseat to the gate on my own 
I had a double umbrella stroller however which would not fit in the overhead compartments in the plane.
ETA: Most of the time if you leave the buggy at the gate you won't be able to pick it up again until the baggage claim.
Edited by tishy
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kiwisj
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 9:47pm |
We haven't flown domestic in NZ since late last year, so may have changed since then, but we were given the option of taking our stroller on board because it would have fit in the overhead compartment.
Not sure if this travel system is available in NZ but if I was going to be doing lots of air/taxi travel I'd get one here. A lot of people use them here for older toddlers and getting around in cabs.
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SJ
Callum - Dec 2008
Daniel - Oct 2010
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monikah
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 10:19pm |
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wow thats real strange. my friend that flys back and forward had a flight 3 weeks ago and she said that she still managed to get the buggy to the gate and got it when she got off. i might ring and find out what you can get away with
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kiwisj
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Posted: 23 September 2010 at 11:51pm |
But you're talking international flights, right Monikah? International is different, and we've always been able to take a stroller all the way to the gate. Depending on where you're flying to the stroller is waiting for you as soon as you get off the plane or you pick it up at oversize luggage
In Aussie, they meet you off the plane with it but it takes a while! We were first off the plane but last into the immigration queue last time.
When I flew to NZ on my own with C the airport had someone meet me off the flight and help with bags and stuff. I'd enquire about that (are you using a travel agent?) because it was SO helpful and really lovely but I didn't know it was going to happen! Would be a huge help to you if you could have some sort of assistance given you're taken two kids, carseats etc.
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SJ
Callum - Dec 2008
Daniel - Oct 2010
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monikah
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Posted: 24 September 2010 at 2:23pm |
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wellington to sydney. i figure i will be ok anyway. DS#2 can walk so if he isnt too tired he'll be right. i have a mei tai for DS#1 so if i check the pram in (P&T with double kit) then i can use a shoulder bag for carry on, hold macks hand and carry the car seat with the other. then hopefully ill get some help to get the pram, extra carseat and the 3 suitcases from baggage. it'll be sweet. eventually someone is bound to feel sorry for me. hahahaha
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kiwisj
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Posted: 24 September 2010 at 4:19pm |
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There were people getting off our flight in Sydney with P&Ts so definitely worth asking to take your stroller to the gate/pick up as you get off the plane. They just tag it for you at check in and then put it in the hold when you board IYGWIM.
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SJ
Callum - Dec 2008
Daniel - Oct 2010
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car seats and air/taxi travel
