If you've flown with a baby, toddler, or young child, chances are that you've thought way too much about car seats. Car seats are one of the biggest sources of confusion, misinformation, and frustration for parents flying with kids. There are all sorts of logistics involved to bringing (or not bringing) a car seat along for air travel. Do you check your car seat or does that introduce too much potential for loss or damage? Do you bring a car seat on board the plane or is carrying it around too much of a hassle? Do you chance it with a rental car company's car seat?
Needless to say, there are a lot of factors to consider and decisions to make. After hundreds of flights with kids, my family has done and seen just about everything when it comes to car seats on planes.
Seven years ago, I endeavored to come up with a comprehensive list that covered every question I'd ever heard, read, or experienced when it came to car seats and air travel. The result was this guide, which has now been updated multiple times in subsequent years as I've experienced even more and new products and solutions have come onto the market.
As you might imagine, the guide got pretty darn long, so I divided it into three parts based upon the different logistical stages of an airplane trip - at the airport, on the plane, and once you arrive at your destination. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about flying with kids and car seats on planes.
- Part 1: Car Seats at the Airport (you are here)
- Part 2: Car Seats on the Plane
- Part 3: Car Seats at Your Destination
(Note: this advice applies only to domestic air travel within the United States unless otherwise specifically noted).
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Car Seats on Airplanes Part 1: Car Seats At the Airport
1. Is there a charge for checking a car seat on an airplane?
No. Every U.S. airline allows you to check a car seat free of charge when traveling with a child. You can check your car seat at the airport baggage counter or wait and check it at your gate.
If you plan to gate check a car seat, remember to check with the gate agent when you arrive at the gate. The agent will give you a checked bag tag to put on the car seat (or any bag you plan to put it in). Drop your car seat at the boarding ramp exit door right at the entrance to the plane. Gate checked seats will usually be returned at the jetbridge when you deplane.
If you check a car seat at the ticket counter, it will usually be returned at baggage claim. Often car seats are not loaded onto the usual conveyer belt with suitcases to protect them from damage. Look for the oversized luggage area at baggage claim to retrieve a car seat.
2. Are there risks if I check a car seat?
Potentially. If you fly often, you've probably had a checked suitcase damaged at some point. The same can happen to car seats. While some types of damage would be visible, not all damage necessarily is. As parents, however, we all decide what risks are acceptable to us, and many parents choose to check car seats every day. I've checked a car seat multiple times myself. But it's your call.
That said, the only way to ensure that your car seat doesn't sustain any damage during air travel is to buy a seat for your child and bring and use the car seat on board the plane. Sometimes trade-offs like budget or simple logistics, however, make that option too difficult.
If you do plan to check your car seat, I highly recommend that parents buy a cheaper car seat for travel in case it does get damaged. We have used the Cosco Scenera NEXT and its predecessors with great success with both of our children. Check out my full Cosco Scenera NEXT review. We loved that it is even more compact and lightweight and allows for longer rear-facing use. Consider a protective bag to protect against grime and some damage.
3. Will the airline provide a protective bag for my car seat if I check it?
Sometimes. Some airlines will wrap your car seat in a giant clear plastic bag if you choose to check your car seat when you check your luggage, but that option isn't available at all airports or from all airlines. It doesn't prevent real structural damage, but it will protect your seat from grease and grime.
I'd recommend bringing your own bag just in case. Our family has had good luck with the inexpensive red "Gate Check" bags. You might also consider a padded bag for a little more protection (like the backpack style padded J.L. Childress Ultimate Car Seat Travel Bag) or one that has wheels if you need to transport a car seat more easily.
4. Car seats are so bulky. Are there products to help me transport a car seat during my air travels more easily?
Yes! Lots of them, in fact.
If you have an infant, I'd recommend taking your infant seat and a simple stroller frame (like the Baby Trend Snap N Go). Stroll your baby through the airport to your gate. Then gate check the stroller portion as well as the car seat portion if you don't have a seat for your infant on the plane. If you've booked a seat or are given a free empty one at check-in, then take the infant seat aboard and use it.
If you have older children, there have been a lot of products available over the years to make your convertible car seat more portable in airports. The most well-known, the Go Go Babyz is hard to find anymore and has a number of models unavailable, so check out these more current brands and products:
Britax Car Seat Travel Cart: This simply device turns your car seat into the equivalent of a rolling suitcase. Strap your car seat onto the cart and then your child into the car seat for easy wheeling through airports.
Car Seat Travel Belt: If you don't need to put your child into the car seat but rather just need to lug a bulky seat more easily, this belt is the best choice. Use it to secure an empty car seat to your rolling luggage as an attachment.
5. Are there reasons to wait to gate check my child's car seat?
Maybe.
First, gate checked bags are handled a little bit less, so if the risk of damage really concerns you, your chances may be a little bit better if you gate check your car seat. No guarantees, however.
Second, if you are traveling with an infant, a bucket car seat and stroller frame combination makes for a great travel system (see #4). Use the combination as your stroller for transport through the airport and gate check both.
Finally, if you are traveling with a lap child, you may want to wait and have the seat with you in case you find yourself on a flight with empty seats. A gate agent may be willing to allow you to have an empty seat for your lap child and bring your car seat aboard to use.
If you are flying Southwest Airlines with a child, your chances of snagging an extra seat are the highest because of its open seating policy. If there is a single empty seat on the plane, it's probably yours to claim! Just make sure you check with the gate agent for approval to bring your seat on board and use it the extra seat.
More Car Seats on Airplanes Questions Answered
So now that you know what to do on the first part of your journey with a car seat through the airport, what's next? Check out the second and third parts of this guide at the links below.
- Part 1: Car Seats at the Airport (you are here)
- Part 2: Car Seats on the Plane
- Part 3: Car Seats at Your Destination
Traveler says
I once had a baby seat behind my seat. It was rear facing and the seat was set right against the back of my seat which did not allow me to lean back. It was a long flight and having to sit up right the whole time was very uncomfortable. People behind me never said a thing even though it was very evident I couldn't move my seat back since I tried.
Roberta Whatelli says
Tough Cookies. Boo hoo. You don't have a right to recline into the space I bought. Also, if it comes down to you or child safety, pretty sure the crew is going to go child safety every time. It's not like ANY carseat is going to take up less space on a crowded plane, and the FAA says that carseats have to be the direction they are designed to face based on the age of a child. If you're got a 1 year old, you have to face backwards. Parents don't make the rules.
Anonymous says
Totally understand what you're saying as a parent who flies with their kid with a car seat but there's no need to be a total a**hole about it.
Anonymous says
Hahaha rear face a car seat on a plane?! Are you freakin kidding me hahahaha
And how is it that a rear faced car seat is going to save a child on plane that is crashing and exploding at hundreds of miles per hour IN THE AIR??????? Jeeeez
Anonymous says
We've traveled with both of our sons many times on international and domestic flights. Age 6 weeks on up, currently 2 and 4 years old. We usually bring car seats with us, but checked-in, never once brought a car seat on the plane. "The FAA says that car seats have to be the direction they are designed to face based on the age of a child". I have no idea if this is true. If it were, than logically there would be a rule that required car seats in the first place (there definitely isn't).
Traveling with kids is stressful enough, If you decide to bring a seat on the plane, don't be a jerk to fellow travelers (this applies to those not traveling with kids too). Secondly, and this is just my recommendation, but bringing the seat on the plane seems a tad overzealous. Check it at curbside, and forget it. You, your kids, and the other passengers will enjoy the flight more.
Anonymous says
It is true, you paid for that space. You should use it however you want. To the ones who complain about other people having kids, it's one trip, you won't die if you are a little uncomfortable. I promise the people with kids are also uncomfortable. People are too used to their comforts. Get used to what's necessary to have. You can always buy a first class so you don't have to complain about the kids. It is amazing the disrespectful people in the world towards children. Sure kids can be annoying, but everyone is there for the same reason. To get from one place to another. Deal with it for one trip and get over it. Also, car seats would absolutely be effective in cases where there were people injured from turbulence. A lab baby would have been hurt the most in that scenario. You cannot rely on you being able to hold them when something like that happens. Not every flight will explode and crash. The car seat would protect them in a crash where there were survivors. Some of these comments are very ignorant. I have also seen many adults whining more than the children on planes.
Anonymous says
Lap*
Hannah says
I have flown first class with a lap child so don’t expect that there won’t be kids in first class 🙂
Carol says
Hello! I have a travel system with 3 parts: frame, car seat and stroller seat. The frame will not collapse if either the car seat or the stroller seat are installed. I want to take all of them at my trip from Hungary to Brazil. Is that ok? Is it ok if I collapse the base and put the stroller seat right above it and tie it up? Thank you!
Lauren says
Yes! The harass should always be fastened correctly whether you're in the car, in a shopping cart (not on top of a shopping cart), on a plane, boat, space ship or submarine. I find it difficult to read an article about carseat advice when the poster doesn't buckle their child correctly. There is no excuse to improperly buckle a child. If you're using the carseat, use it properly.
Margot Robbie says
Travel with baby really tough for me. I have to travel most of the time with baby. Infant car seat travel bags really help me to manage comfortable travel with baby. Thanks for sharing really nice ideas.
Golan Manor says
I never liked this kind of scenario, it felt so awkward. So when we went to Japan last month we simply opted to buy this gate check bag that they are selling (not even $30) for our son's car seat and this gate check bag that works well with strollers too. Guess what? I got my car seat and stroller faster and with no damage whatsoever. The bag made it easy for us to carry because it's like a backpack. Worth every penny.
Cat S. says
Hi Leslie, I want to thank you for this great article. I've spent my entire motherhood avoiding the Internet, and everyone's stories of fear. However, when none of my friends had traveled with their children on an airplane, I realized someone out there had to have the answers I'm looking for. Your experiences have provided me with confidence that I can navigate Hartsfield Jackson with a 10 month old. Thanks,a nd safe travels!
David Schocken says
Hi Leslie, I would like to ask if it possible to fly with a baby car seat when flying without a child. Any idea? Thank you!
Anonymous says
Rear facing because for those of you who dont know there is a thing called landing... oh and also take off, in which the plane is still on the ground and going at a high velocity....
Ling says
So sad you gave the baby an iPad and call it a successful flight.
Lang says
@Ling, not really.
Carol says
Can we leave car seat at airport, retrieving it upon our return from vacation
Leslie Harvey says
Not that I know of. There are a few larger airports (usually in major cities around the world) that do offer luggage storage services so those would be the only places where it might be possible, but I'd imagine costs could add up quickly.
bay says
What about the carseat base? Do you just carry it through the airport and check it curbside attached to the carseat? I have a 3-in-1 stroller/carseat system also and don't know how to handle the base.
Anonymous says
@bay, if you're talking about a separate base for an infant car seat, you dont need to bring it. those car seats can be used with and without the base - just need to use the seatbelt to buckle in. look at the instructions for your car set and it'll show you how to.
Charity says
@bay, I'm sure this is late advice, but you could probably bring the base and clip the car seat into the base before you gate check it. If you plan to fly with the car seat without the base, you can probably gate check the base on it's own. Just be vigilant on making sure it's identifiable so you can get it back after the flight
Elle says
I'm flying with a toddler an infant next month (my first time flying with kiddos), and I was curious about what the TSA process looks like when you bring your carseats? Do they also go through the x-ray machine? Would they be too big? Also, if I'm alone with two young kiddos, can all three of us go through the metal detector together?
Thank you so much for all this indio! These articles are so helpful!!
Fay says
@Elle, Hi Elle hope you had a good flight. What was the process like?
Kyle says
Hello!
Extending the "packaging" conversation a bit further... My wife and I will be taking our 2 kids, each using a booster seat at our destination. My plan was to pack both booster seats together in 1 standard-sized check-able suitcase (less than 62 linear inches). Probably stick in their life jackets in the extra space and call it good.
I haven't seen anything yet regarding if this is allowed (put 2 booster seats in a suitcase) and still be free of charge, or do the booster seats need to be separate in their own bags - anyone know? We're flying United.
Thanks!