Can You Bring a Car Seat on a Plane?

Are car seats allowed on planes?

Yes, car seats are allowed on planes in both the cabin and checked baggage. The TSA permits child car seats through security, where they ride the X-ray belt or are inspected by an officer. Whether you can use the seat during the flight depends on approval: to install a car seat in an airplane seat, it must be certified for aircraft use. Look for a label stating it is 'certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.' Most standard infant and convertible car seats carry this label. Booster seats and harness vests are generally not usable in flight because planes lack the lap-and-shoulder belts they need, though you can still check them.

Can you use a car seat in your child's seat?

Yes, and the FAA strongly recommends it. The safest way for a child under 40 pounds to fly is buckled into an FAA-approved car seat installed in their own purchased seat, rather than held on a lap. To do this, you must buy a ticket for the child so the seat has a place to go, and the car seat must fit the aircraft seat (most are under 16 inches wide, which works on nearly all planes). Install it in a window seat so it does not block others from exiting the row. Using the car seat your child already knows also tends to help them sleep and stay settled during the flight.

Can you gate-check or check a car seat for free?

Yes, and this is one of the better perks for traveling families. Airlines let you check a car seat free of charge, and it does not count toward your baggage allowance. You have two options: check it at the ticket counter with your luggage, or gate-check it right before boarding, which keeps it with you until the aircraft door. Gate-checking is handy if you are unsure whether the seat can go on board or want it for a connecting flight. Protect the seat with a padded travel bag, since checked and gate-checked items can be handled roughly. A car seat travel bag also keeps it clean.

Which car seats are approved for flying?

Look for the certification label before you fly. An FAA-approved car seat carries a sticker reading 'This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.' Most rear-facing infant seats and forward-facing convertible seats have this approval. Booster seats, which rely on the plane's non-existent shoulder belt, and harness vests are not approved for use during taxi, takeoff, and landing, so plan to check those. There is also an FAA-approved harness device called the CARES restraint for children over one year and 22 to 44 pounds; it is lighter than a car seat and clips onto the airplane seat. Check the label rather than assuming, since approval varies by model.