LAX to Pasadena towncar or taxi that provides a child car seat?

September 10, 2011 1:02 AM

Looking for LAX<>Pasadena town car service that provides child car seats.

I am off to Pasadena with my 1-year-old son early next week, landing at LAX. Since I will be solo parenting for this trip I am trying to minimize the amount of stuff I need to lug with me. So I'm looking for a town car, taxi, or other transportation option to and from our hotel in Pasadena that will provide me with a car seat for my son. Bonus if it's a rear-facing convertible seat, since that is what we use at home.

I've found a few options online but web searches have turned up precious little in the way of reviews of any of these places:
http://www.laxairportshuttle.com
http://www.bestlaride.com
http://saferidetransport.com

Please note that I am aware of the relative safety of travelling with my son on my lap (vs a car seat) on the plane and have read the previous ask mefi threads that discuss this topic. This question is not an invitation to debate whether or not I should bring my own car seat from home. I will be calling any recommended companies to inquire about the model, age, and condition of their car seats and if I don't find any options I am comfortable with I will indeed bring my own.

posted by sanitycheck to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

I can't suggest a Los Angeles town car service, but I can tell you that in all my travels with (now) a two-year old, the only kind of car seat I ever was able to procure while traveling was a front-facing seat, and always the seat is the most barebones model available. Mostly I've seen Coscos, with a Safety1st and an Evenflo mixed in there sometimes. Be prepared for the operator to have exactly zero clue about which brand or model of car seat they provide. Also be prepared to be lied to. "Oh, yeah, we absolutely provide infant car seats." The correct translation of this statement is "You mean a seat for a kid? We got those, uppity parent."

When my son was an infant, I did get frustrated enough with the lack of rear-facing seats to start lugging my own and gate-checking it. Now that my son is older and no longer uses a rear-facing seat, I roll with whatever I can procure from the car rental company. I once got a car service with a car seat in Chicago. I would describe it as "adequate-ish."

Most of those front facing seats can be installed rear-facing, but usually doing so involves a level of understanding I'm not able to comprehend after a long flight with a baby.

In my experience, any time a car seat is involved, installing it will fall to you. I've been told this is because of liability issues, but whatever the reason, when you're traveling alone with a baby, figuring out what to do with the kid while you're installing the seat is - uh - challenging. I once made a little play pen in the (open!) trunk while I wrestled with the seat. It's always made more difficult because every seat is different, and none seem to use standard latch installations.

One thing: every single seat seemed to be brand new or barely used. I don't think a lot of people avail themselves of rental car car seats very much.
posted by incessant at 2:06 AM on September 10, 2011

I've used slightly-nicer car services, such as BLS Limousine -- and in my experience the companies at that level do always have car seats available, as long as you arrange it advance. I also made sure to be very specific when making my reservation -- "I need a rear-facing seat," etc.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:58 AM on September 10, 2011

Just to clarify, we will not be renting a car since I don't drive. I am looking for some sort of airport transfer service that has car seats.
posted by sanitycheck at 8:04 AM on September 10, 2011

If you'd be comfortable having your son on your lap on a bus and train, there's actually relatively easy public transit from LAX to Pasadena. You take the Flyaway bus to Union Station and then the Gold Line train to Pasadena.
posted by kbuxton at 11:01 AM on September 10, 2011

kbuxton has it.

Did exactly this when visiting my brother in Claremont last year.

Felt down right European.
posted by Sphinx at 11:44 AM on September 10, 2011

kbuxton - I did consider flyaway + gold line. Normally I am all about the public transit! But I get in quite late (11:30pm), will have a large-ish suitcase, and have a 9am meeting in Pasadena the next morning that I need to be at least somewhat rested for. So I don't want to mess about with public transit if I can avoid it.

I ended up booking with SafeRide because they:
a. Had the least sketchy website
b. When I called, were able to tell me the model and weight limit of their rear-facing car seats.
c. Only charge $5 for the car seat

I will report back once I've had a chance to try out the service!
posted by sanitycheck at 4:38 PM on September 10, 2011