We lived in a city and had a similar scenario. The Cosco fits into car seat backpacks easily and it’s light but annoying to tote around. I usually brought a travel stroller if we were taking cabs (GB pockit) and a bungee cord and clipped the seat so it dangled off the back of the stroller.
Get a Cosco Scenera. They're super cheap and light. Really good for travel. [https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cosco-scenera-next-convertible-car-seat-boulder-0468824p.html](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cosco-scenera-next-convertible-car-seat-boulder-0468824p.html)
If you do go the car seat route, I highly recommend getting the Cosco Serena! It’s inexpensive, simple, and super light weight. Just make sure you adjust the height straps ahead of time. We have bulky every day car seats, and they never would have worked for travel. We just draped it over our stroller awning while going through the airport, but if you have a big undercarriage, it might fit there too. Not quite as long, but we did a 5.5 hour flight with our son at 20 months and he slept in it nicely for the late night flight.
We got the Cosco Serena for traveling. It doesn’t click into a stroller, *but* is still portable depending on your stroller. If you have a bigger one, it could definitely fit in the under carriage. Ours is compact (Thule spring) and it fits perfectly when it’s upside down over the sunshade. That’s how we bring it around the airport. Looks a little silly, but it works. So maybe not ideal to just have on hand at all times, but if you know you’ll likely need it, it’s light and portable enough that you could probably bring it. They also make car seat back packs. It’s super light, so would be a little bulky but not too heavy to carry that way.
Cosco scenera a couple times (it fits in the basket of the uppababy vista, although just barely). Otherwise I go out of my way to take the bus and subway because I don’t want to risk just having him sit on my lap.
1) delta and suncountry are my only experiences. Seemed like the same old stuff. Both fine enough. Just pay attention to carryon restrictions but I believe diaper bag doesn’t count as a carryon.
2) we brought our own guava lotus and gate checked it
3) depends on your options. The extra leg room seats are always already booked or crazy expensive so not worth it for us. We aren’t tall people so it’s less horrible.
4) check bags is way easier IMO and check the car seat (but get a cheap and light travel one -Cosco Serena for 60$ Walmart so you don’t care if it’s lost or damaged).
5) watch some YouTube videos for advice. Ppl have done this hundreds of times and made good content. Baby wear.
Top Travel Car Seats on Reddit
1
Cosco Kids
Scenera Next DLX Convertible Car Seat
78% positive of 241 users
Super light, cheap, great for air travel, but outgrown fast.
Accidentalhousecat
