If you’re flying with a baby or toddler, this guide will help you decide whether to check or carry their car seat on the flight. Plus, we’re sharing lots of tips and things you should know about flying with a car seat.
There’s a hot debate about what’s the best way to deal with a car seat on an airplane:
Should you check it or carry it on the flight?
The best answer varies from person to person, and comes down to a handful of factors.
Personally, we’ve been on 60+ flights with our 3-year-old daughter, and have checked her car seat every single time.
That doesn’t mean checking it is the best choice for every parent though.
We’re going to break down all the things to think about so you can make the best decision for you and your family.
Car Seat Travel Guide
Our experience
We have flown with our daughter on 60+ flights in her first 3 years of life, domestically and abroad. We’ve managed flying with a car seat and without, so here is what we do:
Note: This is not necessarily a recommendation, as this is a personal decision. That said, I know it can be helpful hearing what other people do.
We personally always check the car seat at the check-in counter.
We recently purchased an inexpensive and very lightweight car seat for travel (similar to this one) so if it gets damaged it won’t be as big of a deal.
Plus, we always check it with a car seat cover (this one) to keep it clean and as protected as possible. We’ve never had any damage or issues with this, but that doesn’t mean we won’t eventually.
Even when our daughter, Juniper, turned 2 years old and we had to buy her own seat on the plane, we still decided to check the car seat. We feel like she is more comfortable in the airplane seat during the flight compared to being strapped in a 5-point harness for hours.
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Do I even need to bring a car seat?
You might be asking yourself, “Can I rent a car seat at my final destination?”
Yes, you totally can. Nearly all rental car companies will offer car seats as an add-on. We’ve done this in the past and have had no issues.
That being said, most of the time, we do bring our travel car seat along with us for a few reasons.
Risks of renting a car seat
If you decide to go this route, you do run the risk of bumping into issues. We’ve heard stories of car rental companies:
- not having the correct size car seat for all children (i.e. infant vs. toddler seats)
- providing dirty, damaged, or broken car seats
- having expired car seats
Car seats can also be neglected since it is an add-on and not the main focus of a rental car company. When we rented a car in Hawaii, for example, we saw several car seats strewn about in a warehouse and it made me never want to book a rental car seat from that company ever again.
Additional cost
You’ll also have to factor in the daily cost of a rental car seat and how many days you’ll have the rental car. It can really add up and it might make more financial sense to bring your own.
When we were in Japan, we rented a car for 2 weeks and looked at the price of a car seat add-on. It would have cost us $10 USD per day, making the total cost $140. We thought this was outrageous since our travel car seat cost only $60, so we just brought our own.
How will you get to and from the airport?
If you’re not bringing a car seat on your travels, you’ll have to think a little bit about how you’ll get your child safely to the airport and back.
Are you driving your own car and leaving it parked at the airport for the duration of your trip?
Will a friend or family member drive you to the airport and hold on to your car seat while you’re away?
Can you book an airport shuttle with a car seat?
It’s not a big deal, just something to think about.
Check the car seat or carry-on?
There is a lot to think about when traveling with a car seat. We think it really comes down to you and your child’s personal preferences.
Here are the pros and cons of bringing your car seat on the plane with you:
Pros:
- Your child will have somewhere to sit while traveling through the airport
- Your child is already familiar with the car seat harness
- Your child would be strapped in in the event of turbulence on the flight
Cons:
- You must have an FAA-approved car seat
- If the child is under 2 years of age, you will need to purchase a seat on the plane for them in order to bring the car seat (whereas children under 2 sans car seat are considered “infant-in-arms” and fly for free)
- Bringing the car seat through security, the airport, and the plane can be a hassle, especially when managing a little one and other carryon luggage
- The car seat most likely will be asked to be placed next to the window for emergency egress rules, meaning only one parent can manage the child at a time.
- Some airlines may ask you to check the car seat due to space (though it is your right to travel with one if you choose), so just know you might have to have that tough conversation
Things to know about checking a car seat
Flying with a child for the first time can be tricky, but we’re here to help. There are a few things to know before bringing your child’s car seat on your next travels.
Car seats fly free!
You can always check a car seat for free. There will be no extra charge to you no matter how old your kiddo is.
Use a car seat bag
You should absolutely have a car seat bag when checking it to protect it from being damaged and from the weather. If it is raining or snowing outside, your kid will thank you for the nice dry seat.
We use a universal car seat bag as it is easy to get the seat in and out.
Unwritten rule: Use this tip at your own discretion, but we have been known in the past to stuff a few extra diapers in our car seat bag so they don’t take up space in our regular luggage. There have been stories of people getting caught doing this and the airline makes them remove the diapers. But we do this all the time.
Take photos of your car seat
If you will be checking either your stroller or your car seat, take pictures of the items before your trip.
Save these photos, as well as their receipts (if you have them), on a digital Cloud account for easy access.
If there is any damage, most airlines have forms you can fill out to get some sort of compensation, and the photos and receipts will be helpful in the process. (You’ll also have to take a photo of the damage.)
Where to check your car seat
If you don’t plan on using the car seat on the flight, you will need to check it, either at the check-in desk or at the gate.
Check it at the check-in desk
- Pro: this means you won’t need to lug the car seat around the airport
- Con: there is a greater chance of damage to your car seat
- Con: there is the chance that it could get delayed arriving to your destination (just like any other piece of luggage)
Check it at the gate
- Con: you will still need to carry it around the airport
- Pro: checking at the gate means you know it’ll be on the correct flight
- Pro: there’s less opportunity for damage
- Con: you’ll need to wait for them to get it off the plane when you land, which can be tricky if you have a tight connection
Regardless of what you decide, we’d definitely recommend putting the car seat in a protective case to keep it clean and prevent damage. This is the one we have.
Bring a travel stroller
So you got rid of your bulky car seat bag (thank goodness!), but how are you going to carry your little bundle of joy through the airport?
Solution: a compact travel stroller. Ever since we bought this compact travel stroller, we have not flown without it. It is super comfy and can grow with your child from when they are just holding up their heads to full-blown toddlers.
The best part is that it collapses so small that it fits in the overhead compartment! We’ve even had flight attendants come up to us and ask about the brand because they are so impressed with the size. They are quite affordable compared to the other bougie brands out there claiming to do the same thing.
Things to know about carrying on a car seat
If you’re choosing to bring your car seat on the flight, there are a few things to keep in mind. We’ll walk you through the process of bringing a car seat as a carry-on from start to finish.
Need to purchase an airline seat for your child
If your kiddo is under two years old, they can fly for free as an infant-in-arms child. This is where your child sits on your lap for the entire flight.
Note: On some long-haul flights, there is an opportunity to have a child bassinet if you sit in the bulkhead seat (front row facing the wall in the middle aisle). We got a bassinet for our daughter one time from Tokyo to Thailand and it was so nice!
However, if you wish to bring a car seat on the flight, you must purchase a seat for your child, even if they are under two years.
Can you bring your car seat on the flight without purchasing a seat?
We’ve seen influencers recommending this, and perhaps it is possible from time to time.
But on all the flights we’ve taken where Juniper does not have her own seat, we’ve been told: “No, this is not possible.” Even when we were lucky enough to get an empty seat in our row, they would not let us bring on a car seat.
Getting through the airport with ease
If you’re flying with a very young baby, you may just secure their infant car seat to your stroller. Easy peasy.
Bigger car seats for older babes are much bulkier and more difficult to get through the airport. Here are a few options:
- Car seat travel belt: This car seat travel belt will allow you to connect it to a carry-on bag so you can roll it through the airport with ease. This is our recommendation, as it’s the least expensive and least bulky option.
- Car seat carrying case: Get a car seat case with backpack straps so you can carry it through the airport. We have this case and like it for protection, but we don’t usually carry it through the airport since we usually travel with other backpacks too.
- Bag with wheels: This protective bag has wheels to make getting it around easier.
- Car seat “stroller”: There are also wheel sets you can attach to the car seat (like a dolly). Just note that this can be a bulky item to pack.
At the gate
This would be a good time to allow your child to get the wiggles out and run around since they will be strapped in a seat for a long flight soon.
Go look at the airplanes, do some airport yoga, or go find an indoor playground (if the airport has one).
This would also be a good time to chat with the gate agent to let them know you are bringing a car seat on board and to see if there are any seats available that are more comfortable for your family.
Getting on the plane
When the gate agent starts boarding, be ready because you’ll want to board when they call “anyone traveling with small children”. You’ll need a little extra time to get down the plane aisle and hook up the car seat.
Strapping in the car seat properly
Be sure to watch a few videos or read the instructions on your car seat ahead of time on how to properly strap it to the airplane seat. The last thing you want to do is be fidgeting with the lap belt while everyone is coming down the aisle.
Good to know: More often than not, the flight attendants will ask you to place the car seat next to the window to allow emergency egress.
Forward or backward facing?
This, of course, is up to your car seat manufacturer depending on the height and weight of your child. Obviously, if you’re traveling with an infant, please place them rear-facing.
If you’re traveling with a toddler, it might be more convenient for them to be forward-facing so they have more room to play and possibly use their tray table.
On the plane
Since your kiddo will be up against the window, only one parent will be able to manage the child at a time. If you are flying with both parents, be sure to take turns; it’s only fair.
Also, this is a great time to get lots of pictures of your baby looking out the window!
Deplaning with a car seat
Since it will take a moment to unhook your car seat and maneuver it back down the aisle, we’d recommend letting everyone else deplane before unhooking the car seat and getting off yourselves. It takes the pressure off and you’ll have a better experience.
Of course, if you have a short layover, please ignore the above and just get off the plane!
Bonus: How to properly install a car seat in a rental car
I know this is not related to airplanes, but it is something that we learned along the way that can significantly increase the safety of your child.
The best way to install a car seat in a rental car is to use the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. Most likely, this is how you hook up your car seat in your own car. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please watch this video on how to use the LATCH system.
But when it comes to rental cars, you really don’t know what you’ll get and some regions of the world have different safety laws when it comes to car seats.
Many rental cars will not have the LATCH system integrated in their seats. If this is the case, you’ll have to use the seat belt to secure the car seat.
We have hooked up our car seat with the seat belt many times before and have felt very safe about it. However, your seat belt needs to be “locked” to do this. Meaning you pull the belt all the way out and when it tries to return it clicks and locks in place if you try to pull it out again.
If you have a locking seat belt and no LATCH system, you should be fine. But on the rare occurrence that there is no LATCH system and no locking seat belt, please travel with a car seat locking clip.
By properly installing this clip, the seat belt will be locked in place and will not move, making your car seat secure. It is a very cheap and small item but we recommend to always travel with it. Please watch this video on how to install a car seat locking clip in your next rental car.
Want more advice for traveling as a family?
We have lots of resources on traveling with children, from newborns to toddlers. Check out our Family Travel Guide for all the answers to your most burning questions, or read some of our favorite articles below!
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We want to hear from you!
We hope these tips for flying with a car seat are helpful!
What advice would you add? Any travel hacks that have helped you? What questions or concerns do you still have?
Note: Please be respectful with your comments. Remember, we are sharing tips that have personally worked for us. This doesn’t mean they will work for everyone.