Car

Practicalities Getting There Car Reader Report 

Last February (our daughter then 6 months) we went on holiday to Florida, booking our car hire through Alamo (UK). Prior to our departure, upon booking, I checked availability/suitability of car seats, stating her age, and was told they could supply a seat at a reasonable cost - so all OK?

Upon arrival at Miami we were given a seat which I was most concerned about. It was forward-facing, very upright and with very little padding - ie hard plastic construction, therefore unsuitable for both weight and age. I checked again with the staff and was told it was correct for my daughter.

Presented therefore with no alternative we took the seat (since it was too late to do much else!). It proved to appear very uncomfortable/probably frightening for our daughter. We bought a new seat of a design suitable for her - rear-facing, padded and reclining, for the rest of our stay, allowing both her and us to travel comfortably. Due however to the variation in seat belt fixing it was unsuitable to use back home so we left it in the US with some helpful but rather surprised BA staff.

We had taken our own Carry-Tot style car seat with us as back-up but it did not fix securely with the seat belts in our car.

When I complained to Alamo I was told that the seats provided were suitable for infants aged between 9 months and 4 years - as I suspected - and that they regretted that this was not made clear. I had checked twice.

The seat rental was refunded but obviously does not make up for the discomfort and anxiety in addition to the more worrying safety issues and risks.

Tricia Mahoney-Phillips
The Netherlands