Can I take a car seat on united?

jsandrock

Am I able to have my sons car seat put under the plane even though we are not using it for the flight? If so how much does this cost?

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children.

If you check a car seat under the plane as luggage, it will count against your baggage allowance. If you're flying internationally, there is no cost but for domestic, you have to pay;

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

It's never a good idea to check a car seat in as luggage. You risk the seat being damaged and/or lost. The airlines do NOT take responsiblity for what they consider to be a "delicate" item.

If your son has a seat (not a "lap baby") and if your car seat is FAA certified, than it's your *right* to use the seat on board. Most car seats sold in the U.S. are FAA certified. Here is more information on the FAA site;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

If you haven't purchased a place for your son, still try to use the car seat on board. Ask at check-in if the plane is full and ask nicely if it's possible to "block" the seat next to you so you can use the car seat on board. Some parents book window and aisle seats in the hope that no one takes the middle seat. If so, they simply switch places.

Having the seat on board means you're guarenteed to have it at your destination. It's more of a risk leaving the airport by car without your son's car seat. Car travel is actually more dangerous than flying.

If you are unsuccessful in getting an extra place, the car seat will then be "gate checked" with the strollers and wheelchairs, which is much gentlier, cleaner and more sure than checking the seat in with the regular luggage. It will then be returned to you on the jetway. You may also be able to avoid the baggage charge this way but don't quote me on that! It's worth a try...

Here are United's car seat policies;

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1051,00.html

To get your car seat through the airport, there are all sorts of gizmos sold. Here are some examples;

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html

I simply strap my child's seat to a small metal luggage cart and secure it with an extra bungee cord. Much cheaper than the gizmos, can be used again for other bags and works great!

About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on the subject of flying with children for a local newsletter. On the web, all the information I found was written by people who had never worked directly for the airlines (and seen those accident videos which convinced me to use the seat for my own kids). I wanted to promote the use of car seats on aircraft for both safety and comfort. I have more tips so feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

It's also featured on this month's Expat Women site;
http://www.expatwomen.com/mothers/flying_with_children.php

Good luck getting your car seat on board and have a good flight!

Car seats....?

KitKat4106

can anyone tell me when i can put my son in a froward facing car seat?

Answer
It depends on how big your child is and can depend on the state you live in.

Find out about car seat laws in your state. I am placing a link in this post that will answer your question.

http://www.inventiveparent.com/state-laws.htm

This sight stated the following about turning the car seat to face forward...
The most common questions we receive at Inventive Parent are, 1) When can my babyâs rear-facing car seat face forward? and 2) Does my child need to be in a car seat?
The answer to the second question is probably Yes. The NHTSA now recommends that children stay in appropriate car seats through 8 years, 80 pounds, or up to 4'9". Many states have amended their laws to follow these guidelines. More on this in an upcoming newsletter.
Today we will focus on babies in rear-facing car seats.
Do you feel strange about putting your baby in the back seat? It is so far away! And in a rear-facing seat? Seems rather like a punishment for both of you. He canât see where heâs going. You canât see him. You fear heâll be bored, might even get car sick. And how can you comfort him when he cries? What can you do when the sun sneaks around the shades on your carâs windows?
Everyone says this is the way to do it, but you are looking forward to the day you can turn that seat around!
(I can remember driving during the day with my rear-view mirror adjusted for headlights because that way I could see my sonâs face while I was watching the road. But he was older then, a toddler in a forward-facing seat. Soon weâll show you how you can see your babyâs full face even when sheâs rear-facing!)
Babies do not watch the scenery because their young eyes can not yet focus on the distance, the gradations of color, or the movement. Think of the mobile you placed over your babyâs crib: strong contrasts, simple patterns, large objects that move slowly. It was designed for your baby. Trees flying by at 65 miles per hour outside a car window are nothing but a blur. Donât worry: your baby will not miss the scenery.

I hope this helps and also going to that sight will show you what the laws are pertaining to car seats as your child grows.

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I have a lien on my car by a mechanic who is trying to rip me off what can I do?

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Neil P

A mechanic repaired my car with no estimate nor permission prior to repairs. Then he asked for twice the money that the insurance estimated as damage, and is willing to pay. Now he put a lien on my car. What can I do?

Answer
go with the lawyer. the bbb actually has more heart for the business.

i used to get their newsletter. there was an entire page dedicated to ridiculing customer complaints.

How can I bring customers into a car dealership?

b_ussery88

I am a new salesman at a car dealership in a small town. We have maybe 240 new cars on the lot, and about 15 used. We are a part of a chain of 4 more successful lots. I am looking for ideas to bring in customers to the store, not nessecarily to automatically sell a car, I just want to build my client base. what can I do to achieve this goal?

Answer
Ignoring the reputation & sales philosophy of the dealership:

1. Network; inform all your friends & people you meet.
2. Offer a "bird dog" to your customers & friends for referrals who do buy (dealerships typically will split the cost).
3. Keep in contact with your customers via a periodic phone call, post card, newsletter, email, etc. Repeat business if the "gravy" for your income. (On one occasion, sold 5 cars; 4 were repeats & 5th was a referral). Others in the family will be needing cars & your buyer will need another one in the future.
4. Ask if the dealership will split the cost on periodic newspaper ads or radio spots (expense if pretty cheap in small towns). Coordinate with your manager on promo's - like a live radio broadcast announcing you have the new "Wizbang" on the showroom. Does the dealership sponsor local sports broadcasts, events, etc?
5. Evaluate your sales approach. What fits your personality? Do you listen, address customer needs or just push a vehicle with the biggest commission?
6. Discuss if the lot should have more used inventory. 15 used sounds awfully low compared to 240 new.
7. Know your product & inventory. Ever show a customer that they sometimes can buy new for the same payment as used?
8. Be prepared to intervene for the customer when they have difficulty in Finance or Service. Have a good working relationship with those departments & educate them if they don't know the customer is who pays the bills. Of course, if the customer is totally unreasonable (i.e. you can't fix bad credit or if the client never maintained the car...).
9. Don't always believe others that claim they sell 100 cars a month & make $2000 per sale.

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Is there a Smart Car or electric car with a backseat?

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Felicity

I'd really like to get a Smart Car or an electric car but most of them only have two seats. The problem is, I have a young son who still uses a car seat and I know letting him ride in the front seat is unsafe. Do you have any ideas for a car that doesn't use gas, but has a backseat in it? Thanks.

Answer
The answer is "yes", and "it depends." There are a host of NEV (neighborhood electric vehicles) that have plenty of room but they are not highway speed electrics.

The Tango already mentioned is a very narrow vehicle with a seat in the front and one in the back. http://www.commutercars.com/

The Nissan "Leaf" is scheduled to come out in the US in the fall of 2010 and is a 5 passenger vehicle: http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/index.jsp

There are also many conversions where you can buy a new vehicle and then convert it to electric or buy a vehicle already converted by someone else. here is an exhaustive list: http://eaaev.org/eaaevsforsale.html

Here is a general overview of what is on the horizon in electric vehicles: http://www.bestelectriccarsforsale.com/

To keep in touch with what is happening this site has a very broad and user friendly presentation: http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/index.jsp They have a newsletter you can sign up to receive.

Has anyone had any luck getting a car loan after a Chapter 13 discharge?

Jen Wolfe

We are about to pay off the balance on our Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan. At some point after our discharge is granted we want to buy a new car. We are planning on putting like 40% down. We have a good credit history with past car loans and can now comfortably afford a large car payment if we were approved. Has anyone out there been through this and/or knows if it's difficult to get approved for a car loan after a Chapter 13? What kind of interest rate can we expect if we are approved?

Answer
Your first stop should be a visit to http://www.lifeafterbankruptcy.com

This site has a lot of very useful information for people trying to recover after bankruptcy. They put out regular newsletters, and one of them does address this issue.

From a practical standpoint, if you offered 40% down and demonstrated that your income is secure and you have your budget under control, no sane car salesman is going to let you out the door.

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