Does anyone know where we can get some big packing boxes?

We are moving at the end of the month and have 2 baby car seats to pack (one is 100 x 50 x 40 cm and another is 65 x 60 x 50 cm). I have checked the Swiss Post webshop and also the packing materials offered on sale by the company we are using to send our stuff home, but they do not have boxes that are big enough.

And does anyone know whether it is possible to bring along a baby car seat to use on the seat in the airplane? Considering this option if I really cannot get a box that is big enough for them.

Thanks.

Try Landi for the boxes, best et would obviously be to check with the airline regarding the car seat

Hi Homer,

Thanks. Do you have the website for Landi or the full name of the company etc? Tried to google it but nothing relevant came up.

I have checked the airline's website and it is possible to use a child car seat in the cabin, but not a booster seat. But it would be difficult for us to bring it on board the plane since we'd have 2 small kids, 2 strollers and 2 backpacks with us already. That would have to be the last resort.

Can't you just check it in as luggage? Might be easier?

(I know its not what you asked, but we've done it before)

Hi, Weber-vonesch have packaging materials that you can buy www.weber-vonesch.ch . The biggest i could see from a quick look was the wardrobe type, which is 137 x 50 x 50. maybe both would fit in one of those if you have one the right way up and one upside down?! Otherwise can't you just get the packers to wrap them in layers of that clingfilm stuff, like they do with settees? Good Luck with the move.

Hi Caviarchips,

We have considered checking it in since we have a total of 100 kg allowance, but not sure how to do it. Can we check it in without a box? Or just with clingfilm wrapping it? I'm worried it might get damaged if not packaged properly.

I've seen people check car seats covered in cling film. And I've seen them come off the luggage belt like that too. Have you spoken to the airline?

Hi rachael,

Thanks for the info. We are packing our own stuff and then bringing it to the transport company for air freight. We don't have much to move since we are not moving any furniture, our big items are only 2 high chairs and the 2 car seats, so didn't need packing service.

Ah, sounds good. I'm going to write to the airline today. I've had bad experiences eg luggage damaged beyond repair (UK trip), TSA-approved lock missing plus zip damaged (US trip) and badly soiled stroller (France trip) on previous flights, so I was worried the car seat might get damaged too. Wonder if I can claim against the airline if the car seat gets damaged?

Buy some rolls of kitchen cling film and wrap them up. They are designed to survive a car crash, and they should survive the airport baggage handling!

Hi
You don't need to use weber-vonesch for the full move, they have a seperate shop so that you can just buy boxes etc without using them to move. I guess you could just order boxes to be delivered if there are no offices in your area. Or maybe a moving company based near to you has a similar service where you can just buy a box or two if you are worried about the "clingfilm" option. I just know about Weber-vonesch as we used them to move (but I didn't buy their boxes as it was cheaper at migros diy!!) and I got the full sales pitch including the option to buy boxes from their store whether or not i selected them to do the moving! Good Luck!

IKEA sell boxes for moving, usually found in the wearhouse part. Not sure on the price only noticed them last weekend!!

IKEA boxes are too small, http://www.ikea.com/ch/de/catalog/products/60047151/

Do you mean Migros Do-it + Garden? Checked their website but I don't see any moving boxes, only boxes for clothes for home use.

I just moved and spent a while researching boxes. Migros Do It do sell a moving box, but it is a similar size to the Ikea moving box, not big enough for your car seats I think. OBI (near Shoppyland) have boxes in a range of sizes but I don't think their biggest is big enough either. Wrapping and checking is probably your best bet.

I doubt the airline will offer enough compensation if they damage them. I was offered a pitiful sum after a piece of luggage was lost once upon a time. (That was Alitalia though, who were rubbish in so many ways.) If you are really concerned you should look into whether you can get some insurance that covers it.

Landi's website is a bit useless;

http://www.landi.ch/Laden/deu/wo-ist...ndi_58287.aspx

Both OBI and Coop Bau & Hobby sell large packing boxes and packing material. I bought most of ours from OBI, and I would guess that they're cheaper than Coop Bau & Hobby. They have lots of different sizes, including very large ones.

As for bringing the car seat on the plane, I thought I'd let you know that there are things sold that can allow you to carry the car seat on your back, like a backpack. I think they were basic straps that go around the seat and that you slip your arms through. Not sure how comfortable that could be, though.

Thank you all for the advice.

I have moved home already and I thought I'd just update on what we did and how it went.

We first bought the largest box we could find at BAUHAUS but it was a clothes box and though it could fit both car seats in, it felt flimsy. So we returned the box.

Then we bought a big box (maybe 100 x 50 x 50 cm, meant for lamps and not listed on their website) from Peyer. We used the seats for the drive to the airport, with the box still flat in the car boot (so we saved on car seat rental which would have cost us CHF 130). We packed the seats into the box before returning the rental car. And then we checked in the box. Due to the large size, it had to be checked-in at a different counter. Everything got home safely.