Cosco Kids - Finale 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

We have a couple of the Cosco ones. They stack well amd are easy to carry. Not the fanciest but seem to do the job.

Hey. Just saw this, but if you didn’t get a car seat yet, I highly recommend the Cosco Finale. It’s a forward-facing car seat that converts to a booster. Like the Scenera, it’s lightweight, inexpensive, and FAA approved (but only in 5-point harness mode). That was what we got when our kids outgrew the Scenera.

We brought my son’s Extend2Fit on the plane. We fly 4-5 times a year and many different airlines and have never had a problem rear facing it. We had a backpack to carry it through the airport. When my son turned FF after he turned 4, we bought a Cosco Kids Finale and that was a breeze to use on the plane. It was so lightweight and made me wish we had purchased the rear facing Cosco one just for all our trips before FF. They’re cheap Walmart seats.

I check my car seats. I recommend the backpack car seat covers mainly to make it easier to move them but the Cosco seat is light and my go to for travel. Or put the seats in your stroller and wear baby 🤷🏻‍♀️

We bought a cheap seat we use for air travel. That way if it’s damaged we aren’t out hundreds.

That’s precisely what we have!

We recently used the same one others are recommending, the Cosco. You can literally carry it around the airport with one finger

We rented a car for one day on vacation recently and got a cosco seat. It was in okay shape, but we couldn’t get the latch system to tighten and had to use the seat belt. Our 3.5yo was almost too big for it and I don’t think they had anything bigger except a booster so idk what we would’ve done if she was too big for it. The cost will add up over several days too. Normally we bring the seat but had bus transportation to the hotel and didn’t want to bother for one day.

We don’t bring car seats on the plane for our 5 year olds. I’ve actually never seen anyone do that. For travel car seats we use a cheap Cosco one. I believe it’s the Finale. We check it with our bags and put it in a car seat bag (you can get them on Amazon) so it doesn’t get gross. Edit: For out of the country travel when we don’t know what kind of vehicles we’ll be riding in, we use Ride Safer vests. However, for travel within the states I prefer them to be in an actual car seat.

Our kids wear vests now but when they were babies we’d bring travel carseats (cheap Cosco seat from Walmatf. They’re really light) Travel carseat and gate check. We don’t usually check luggage so gate checking saves us from waiting for the luggage to get unloaded.

We don’t drive much when we travel, so our 5yo (similar stats for height and weight) uses a Bubble Bum. I got it specifically because it’s UK and EU certified and I didn’t want something that would be disallowed in Europe.  We previously had a Cosco Finale for travel, but are probably done with it in harness-mode based on height. It was fine on the plane in harness mode though, and pretty lightweight to tote around. I never checked it - always flew in-cabin. 

I did a lot of research and we got a cosco seat because it’s so lightweight and every car seat education resource I found recommended using it on the plane for safety. So that’s what we did. Definitely a hassle bringing on board but we strapped ours to the stroller, and gate checked the stroller and made it all work. Everyone was very nice and understanding

We rent one with the car at our destination. It’s generally a Cosco car seat, which is the one we have anyway.. inexpensive, lightweight, very safe, super easy to install.

I've seen rental seats missing important safety components (tether anchors, chest clips, etc) and I've also see rental car employees literally toss them into hot storage rooms. I wouldn't risk my little ones on those seats. I have been flying with Cosco seats for years and love them. You can either check them in a seat bag (for free), or buy a luggage strap. I like to use the luggage strap through the seatbelt paths and then flip the seat upside down, securing it top down, padding side in against my suitcase in the airport. It works great and isn't an extra item to lug through the airport. Additionally, there are personal car rental companies like Turo that you can look into. I have had better luck with Turo seats because I can communicate with the vehicle owner about the specific seat ahead of time. Another option, if you need additional baby gear, is BabyQuip. You can have them meet you at the car rental agency with the baby gear you ordered including car seats.

For what it's worth, my spouse and I have two cars and one (tall) four year old. We've now owned the following seats for him; Chicco travel system (one seat, two bases). Cosco Scenera Next x2 (dad's car, less traveled in) (caregiver's car) (we also used this seat for airplane travel, it's very light). We grew out of this one pretty early because my son is tall. Maxi Cosi Magellan Max (mom's car, more traveled in). I should note, this was one of those expensive 'buy it for life' type seats and I ended up hating it once my son was mobile enough to get into a seat on his own. It was too high and hard for him to get into, plus he wasn't able to learn to clip and unclip on his own. Diono Radian 3R (mom's car). I LOVE this seat. It's more expensive than the lowest priced seats on the market but well under that $400-600 range of 'buy it for life' seats. I have never installed it rear facing because we started using it at age 3. It's also very easy to wash and my child can buckle and unbuckle independently. Cosco Finale x2 (dad's car, caregivers car). I also LOVE this seat. It's light and it's great for travel, it's easy to install for someone without a lot of carseat experience like a caregiver. Ride Safer Vest (for rental cars, cabs, and ubers). Hiccapop Booster (I keep this for emergencies when there might be a second kid in the car or we're really in a bind, he's realistically a little too young for a booster but it's better than nothing in the event of an emergency). We'll use it when he's a little older for a booster seat in rental cars when we travel. All of this to say, I hate the promise of a 'buy it once' car seat because the seats are unwieldy, expensive, and there is no guarantee of how long your child will fit in it because a long torso'd kid will grow out faster than a shorter statured kid, or a heavy kid may outgrow the latch install because the seat itself is so heavy that the latch weight limit is low, etc. I have found that being flexible and buying seats to fit our child in their current phase has been a better call for us.

My toddler just grew out of the scenera and I looked into this and there’s really nothing great. Lightweight option is the Cosco finale but it’s only forward facing. For rear facing the best bet was Graco E2F which I bought and it’s really bulky and heavy. We’re taking the finale on our next trip even though I’m not planning to forward face him normally, this trip has very minimal time in a car so I’m ok with it.

If you are comfortable forward facing your kid, the Cosco Finale is light and cheap forward facing only car seat. It’s 10lbs with 5pt harness. Unpopular opinion: last time I travelled with 2 kids, I brought one car seat for the plane (I wanted the 18month old to sit in one) and rented a car seat from the car rental company. I have travelled with 2 car seat before and hated it. We did have a backup plan of going to the nearest Target to buy another car seat if whatever the car rental place had sucked.

The cosco one is awesome for this!

I think you’d be better with a lightweight folding stroller and a separate convertible seat. There are also travel seats that are super light and portable like cosco finale or similar.

Yes, we used a Costco Scenera on several flights for the reasons others have mentioned- safety on the flight and protecting the car seat for use upon arrival. Now we use the cares harness and a ridesafe vest (if just using a car service to/from airport but otherwise not really going in cars) or we gate check the Cosco finale if we’re renting a car. The gate check is supposedly to minimize handling and therefore damage. It’s not ideal but my kid is no longer willing to sit in one on flights. 

I would get something like a cosco finale or graco tranzitions. Or, with her stats, she could use an evenflo chase (must be converted to booster at 50lbs). Just scrolled the comments and the ride safer vest would be a good option too. There’s just a learning curve to it and you have to make sure you have the right size. I’ve heard the company is great with working with customers to assess sizing and fit.

I’ve flown at least a dozen times with my kids and I either bring a car seat into the cabin or use a CARES harness. But I also use a travel car seat (Cosco brand) because it’s lighter. Toddlers and babies are not properly secured with the airplane seatbelts.

I’ve used the Cosco car seat in the US and Europe. It doesn’t fold but it’s light weight and affordable! https://www.walmart.com/ip/260704037?sid=90f439a5-15dc-4c2d-a5b4-b8dc55a764be Contact the manufacturer and they’ll send you a locking clip!

We have (obnoxiously large) bags we put the car seat and stroller into when we check or gate check. Mostly so we don't land and have a wet seat. We bought the cosco car seat for travel. It's like 7 pounds so easy enough for one of us to carry.

We have 2 nicer car seats for the kids main vehicle and the cheaper ($80 Walmart) cosco seats in the 2nd vehicle. These seats are great for flying/traveling, so our lightweight to-go option.

This is what we do. Got a super lightweight one (cosco brand - not the store, it was from walmart). Checked it with our luggage.

The best thing I did was buy a Cosco seat from Walmart for travel. They are safe, but more fiddly to use. They are super light and make airport travel a breeze.

**Buy a Cosco car seat for one or both kids. They weigh like 6 pounds and are no frills. Sooooo much easier to carry around. OP I promise it's worth it.** But yes absolutely carry the car seats on. I wouldn't want them getting thrown around the baggage area even if you gate check it. Do family boarding obviously. Head to the back of the plane so you have time to get everything strapped in before other customers make it to you.

Sometimes we rent cars w seats from traditional rental places or from tuoro. Although we got these lightweight travel seats from Walmart cal Cosco seats for 60 bucks that are lightweight. Then we put them in a travel bag for car seats cause it makes them easier to carry and not get all jacked up. And then we check them. I was really nervous the first time flying. My daughter was 18 mo and my son was almost 3. But they did well until my daughter struggled with her ears during descent. And sometimes they cry and it just it was it is. Bring tons of screens. Snacks. Books, stickers, coloring stuff, etc. And now they're fine at 3.5 and 5.

We use the Cosco car seat. Super light and inexpensive only $50. We put it in a car seat bag and check in. Never had any issues with car seat in general when traveling.

We also used the Cosco car seat, it's very light weight

Buy the cosco car seat. Super light and easy to carry.

We have been to five countries with our 2 year old, can confirm I have never been asked by any airline or uber or anything ever about my car seat. In general, people are just accommodating and happy to have kids in car seats or annoyed that you have to install and have way too much stuff.  I would just get the car seat you are most interested in for everyday life. If you are traveling a lot, I’d consider a car seat dedicated for travel like the Doona or Cosco. 

Just an update for everyone - we purchased the Cosco car seat that was recommended to us in this thread. It’s been a lifesaver! Not only was it a breeze to carry through the airport, it was easy to install on the plane and in our rental. We booked bulkhead seats so it was critical that the car seat fit (as the arm rests don’t fold up). Worked out beautifully! Thanks again to all who contributed.

We used to take Cosco car seats onto the plane when my kids were smaller. They're lightweight and FAA approved with a big sticker on the side saying so for any flight attendant who wants to see it. They fit perfectly down the aisle, and you can get a little dolly to attach them to to make them kind of like strollers through the airport. So incredibly convenient! Now that my kids are older, we use Mifold boosters, which easily fit into suitcases and carry-ons. They meet all of the safety standards, even internationally.

How do you like the Cosco seats? Out kids aren't quite into convertible yet. The Cosco went on super sale today and we bought two thinking that if we like them then we can buy another two later, and if we don't like them then they become the ones in "Dad's car". I'm a huge fan of Consumer Report and the Cosco did really well in their testing....