I'm just back from Tampa, Fla., where I grew weary watching all those families dragging all those car seats through the airport. I returned home to news that Hertz will rent up to two car seats free to AAA members who book the seats when they reserve the car. You need an AAA number and promotion code 121623. The deal is good through Sept. 30, subject to availability, of course.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how many families will benefit. After all, it's still not safe to put a small child in an airplane seat without a car seat. There's no law requiring parents to strap little ones into car seats on planes, but there ought to be. Families that want to ensure the safety of their most precious cargo still will have to drag those car seats through the airport with them.