Buying car seat for rental car - help needed

[PatioGardener]

I hope you car seat savvy mamas can help me out.  I unexpectedly have to make a trip next week.  I will be flying and then renting a car.  My 8 month old will need a car seat for the rental car.  The budget was tight before the need for this trip, so I am hoping to get a decent car seat that is easy to install for not so much money.  I am in Canada.

The issues I see are 1) I have no idea what type of rental car I will get.  I can request a certain make, but it is not for sure

2) the rental car person will have to hold my 8 month old DS while I install the car seat.  A quick, easy install would be good!

3) my current car seat (Britax Marathon) was a bear to install in my (very old) car.  Finally I took it to a clinic and the car seat techs helped me out. I will not remove it!  This has scared me for the rental car, although I hear that newer cars are easier.

Any ideas, advice etc really appreciated.  A tight time-line and a sick baby make research difficult right now.  Thank you!

ps. I see this one has had good reviews in the past.  Any thoughts?  http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10324220&search=Scenera&topnav=&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search〈=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode%20matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=Scenera&Ntt=Scenera&No=0&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial

[NorthernPixie]

Your cheapest option is without a doubt going to be the Scenera, but you'll get it cheaper at Walmart than at Costco online.  They're usually around $75 at Walmart and recently was on sale for much less than that.  They're lightweight (which is good when carting it through an airport), and RF to 35lbs.  They do only FF to 40 though, which isn't great.

They often require a pool noodle or towel to install to get a good angle, so tuck a towel in the pocket of your suitcase and you'll be all set.  You should be able to install using UAS which any rental car will be new enough to have.  You won't have a front seat passenger (I'm assuming) so it won't matter about how much room there is or how far forward you might need to have that seat.  If you need to, sit your little one on the seat beside you while you install, and take your time to do it properly.

If you aren't buying an airplane seat, try to gate check the car seat rather than checking with your luggage.  Westjet tends to be nicer about giving you an unoccupied seat for the car seat, if they have one, than AC, but it doesn't hurt to show up early and ask nicely.  Good luck.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by NorthernPixie 

Your cheapest option is without a doubt going to be the Scenera, but you'll get it cheaper at Walmart than at Costco online.  They're usually around $75 at Walmart and recently was on sale for much less than that.  They're lightweight (which is good when carting it through an airport), and RF to 35lbs.  They do only FF to 40 though, which isn't great.

They often require a pool noodle or towel to install to get a good angle, so tuck a towel in the pocket of your suitcase and you'll be all set.  You should be able to install using UAS which any rental car will be new enough to have.  You won't have a front seat passenger (I'm assuming) so it won't matter about how much room there is or how far forward you might need to have that seat.  If you need to, sit your little one on the seat beside you while you install, and take your time to do it properly.

If you aren't buying an airplane seat, try to gate check the car seat rather than checking with your luggage.  Westjet tends to be nicer about giving you an unoccupied seat for the car seat, if they have one, than AC, but it doesn't hurt to show up early and ask nicely.  Good luck.

Thanks!  I didn't think about Walmart - will check it out.  And thanks for the info about a towel.  And for suggesting to sit my DS on the seat beside me - could you tell I'm a in a bit of a panic about this trip? 

I will not be buying a seat on the plane for him - if there is an unoccupied seat can I use the Scenera RF for DS on the plane?

Thanks again for your reply.  I am less panicky already. :)

eta my guy is long but thin, so I am not so worried about the 40 lb FF weight restriction for now.  that will last a while for us I think. :)  I'm more concerned about the RF height restrictions, but that's probably another thread.

[TheGirls]

We use a scenera for travel, I haven't found a car it won't install in yet (rental cars, relatives cars, etc - we've put it in well over a dozen cars).  You'll want a piece of pool noodle or a rolled towel to get a better recline in many cars. 

It also goes beautifully RF in most airline seats.  In some seats the passenger in front can even still recline.  I've probably put ours in a a dozen airplane seats also. 

[chel]

just bought the scenera for travel.  loved it.  comes with a plastic cover.  i just partly unzipped it, used a bungy cord to attach it to my rolling carry-on.

got mine at walmart.  they did have a higher weigh model that cost not much more, though the shell height seems the same.

[allisonrose]

I'm another with a Scenera for travel. It is much lighter than other seats on the market. PP are definitely spot on about a noodle or towel for RFing. Since you're traveling with just you and your child, I'd say give a try on installing the seat in your own car, a friend's car, a relative's car. Perhaps even more than one vehicle to get familiar with installing it. It'll make installing it in the rental car a bit smoother. A tip I heard for installing it that has served me well is to get into the car behind the seat, use your hips against the top of the seat for leverage and pull at the seatbelt (I've only done seatbelt installs with it) from the middle of the seat by reaching in under the cover.

[NorthernPixie]

If you'll be doing a lot of walking in the airport, you may want to get a folding/collapsible luggage cart (I imagine they're around $20 at Canadian Tire or Walmart) that you can strap the car seat to, throw the carry on diaper bag/backpack into it (or your child if it works for you) and then wear the baby and wheel the seat and stuff.  I know when I travel it never seems that I have enough hands or clean places to put anything.  I bought a cart and it was the best $20 I had spent in a long time.  You can get those higher end ones that are made for car seats but this worked fine for me. It came with a bungee cord too.  The Scenera is light enough that you might not need to bother - but I was just thinking of you wearing the baby, carrying the seat, wearing a backpack, and struggling for a boarding pass or whatnot...it can get tricky!

[Erin77]

Many car rental companies (II know for sure Avis) offer car seats as an additional option for your rental. They do RF and LATCH, so if you're comfortible with it, it could be convenient!

[an_aurora]

I would not recommend renting a seat.  You have no way of knowing the seat was crashed or washed or mistreated, and I've heard horror stories of rental seats.  I think a Scenera with a cheap $15 luggage cart is the way to do.

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by Erin77 

Many car rental companies (II know for sure Avis) offer car seats as an additional option for your rental. They do RF and LATCH, so if you're comfortible with it, it could be convenient!

Only do this if you want to trust the carseat rental company AND everyone who has ever rented that seat, with your child's life (in other words, dont do it).  

[PatioGardener]

OP here.  Just wanted to check back in to say thanks for the input. I went with the Scenera and an airport luggage cart / the plastic case it came in (with carrying handle) and was fine. The installation in the rental car wasn't bad (I think it took 20 min?) as I took towels with me to get the rear facing angle right (thank you MDC moms!). It was super cheap at Walmart ($70 including taxes.)

Interestingly, DS did not like the Scenera very much. He fussed in it and had a hard time falling asleep, unlike his Britax at home. The seat doesn't have much padding, and I guess it isn't as comfortable.

So, I give the Scenera 5 out of 5 stars as a travel car seat. DS probably gives it 3