If you travel with young kids, I don't have to tell you that dealing with car seats in airports and on airplanes can be a total pain in the neck. Since I started this blog nearly a decade ago, I've been on a mission to simplify the process of air travel with car seats for myself and my kids. Thankfully a lot of products have come onto the market during that time to make life easier. One of our family's favorites in the travel car seat space has turned out to be the Cosco Scenera NEXT convertible car seat.
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For several years with our older child, our family's go-to travel car seat was the Cosco Scenera. When I heard that the company had released a next-generation model of the same seat when my son was a baby, I knew I had to put it to the test. This seat, the Cosco Scenera NEXT, is about as good as it gets for an inexpensive and lightweight car seat for travelers. And it's still going strong many years later!
So, is this the car seat for your next trip? I used the Cosco Scenera NEXT on dozens of trips, trying it in nearly every situation that traveling families will experience. And I'm confident I've put it through the paces and then some. I've used it for a long road trip, checking it on the plane ride to and from our ultimate destination when our toddler son was flying as a lap child. I've also used it on a different trip on the plane flight itself as a seat for my now 2 year old son. I've used it for nap times and redeye flights. I've taken it on both domestic flights and on a few international jaunts. I have carried it in a backpack carrier and on a rolling car seat cart.
After all of these experiences, I truly think it is a must-buy for traveling families, even in spite of a few flaws. Here's the scoop the Cosco Scenera NEXT for traveling families.
Cosco Scenera NEXT Pros: What Works
Lightweight
At 10.4 pounds, suffice it to say that the Cosco Scenera NEXT car seat is really, really light. I can easily carry it with one hand for an extended period of time when traveling. I even found myself able to balance it on top of a rolling suitcase and easily pull both at the same time. If you put it in a backpack carrier or a car seat roller (like the Britax car seat travel cart), it is a breeze to maneuver.
Slim width
If there is any car seat that is going to fit in the narrow seats of an airplane, this is the one. We have been able to fit it easily on every flight we took it on with the armrest fully down.
One Trips With Tykes reader reported that she was even able to fit the Cosco Scenera NEXT in a bulkhead seat - seats that are often narrower because the tray tables are stored in the arm rests. I can't promise this seat will work on every plane everywhere but if the Cosco Scenera NEXT doesn't fit, probably no car seat will.
Lots of fun color options
While style is never the first thing I look for when I'm trying to find an inexpensive and functional piece of gear for travel, it is always a bonus when a product has color and pattern choices.
The Cosco Scenera NEXT now even comes in Disney designs. So if you are flying to Orlando or hopping on a plane to Anaheim to meet Mickey, you can get your child excited about the vacation en route.
Rear facing up to 40 pounds
Car seat experts are now recommending that kids stay rear facing as long as possible. We kept my son rear facing well past his 2nd birthday, and it is nice to find a lightweight seat that accommodates that position for older toddlers - both on planes and at your final destination in the car.
Excellent safety ratings
The reason I bought the Cosco Scenera originally is because of the excellent ratings it and other seats by Cosco received from Consumer Reports. The Cosco Scenera NEXT hadn't yet been rated when I purchased it, but Consumer Reports now lists it as a "Best Buy" and has ranked it highly on its list of best convertible car seats, with a "Better" ranking for its safety features in independent tests.
PRICE!
My family needs a lot of gear for traveling with our little ones, so the cheaper the better for me. At just $48-49 at Walmart (and note that this seat is exclusively sold at Walmart), this is a total no brainer. There really aren't car seats that come any cheaper.
If you plan to check your car seat, it's important to realize that the airlines may sometimes damage it. Often that damage will not be covered and you will be replacing a car seat yourself. It hurts your wallet a lot less to replace a car seat that is under $50 than some of the $300+ fancier models out there now.
Cosco Scenera NEXT Cons: What Doesn't Work
Tougher than usual installation
Because this is a no frills seat, it lacks a lot of the special features you might find on those fancier car seat models that will help the install process. I personally found it a bit hard to get a tight fit on installation, particularly when forward-facing. Be prepared to use some elbow grease. I had to really get my knee in the seat to push down on the seat while pulling the LATCH straps tight.
Potentially Uncomfortable Airplane Seat Belt Positioning
Speaking of installation, installing this seat is thankfully much easier on airplanes. Just slide the lap belt through the back slots, click to close, and pull tight. But, depending on the aircraft you are in, you may find that the buckle ends up falling right behind the lower part of your child's back when seated.
Since there isn't a lot of padding on the car seat, a few children have complained that they can feel the belt buckle through the fabric in this uncomfortable spot. This has never bothered my child who has even slept in this car seat on several plane flights, but I know a few other parents have reported to me that their child was bothered.
Wears & tears quickly
If you are looking for durability, the Cosco Scenera NEXT is only middling in that department. The cosmetics features of the seat seem to wear and tear a bit more than some of the fancier models. The cloth cover is somewhat weakly banded around the outside of the seat and pops off a bit when moving the seat around (the flip side is that the cover is easy to remove for washing!).
In addition, one issue arose with my seat when I checked it on my last flight (it was in a protective bag): the LATCH strap actually popped off. The straps on most seats are just connected with a simple tether and a little pressure apparently popped the connection on mine. While I can still use the strap, it is a little annoying to no longer have it permanently tethered to the seat for convenience.
Only works up to 40 lbs
For those of you looking for a travel car seat for older kids, this isn't the seat for you. Unlike many of the fancier convertibles that will work up to 60 and 70 pounds, the maximum weight limit for the Cosco Scenera NEXT is 40 pounds.
Of course, at 40 pounds and 4 years old, your kids can begin to use a booster which opens up additional conveniences for travel (my family, for example, uses the Bubble Bum booster for travel with our older child). But many parents and car safety experts prefer and recommend using a car seat as long as possible.
The Bottom Line: Highly Recommended
At under $50, frequent travelers with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers really can't afford NOT to have the Cosco Scenera NEXT in their air travel arsenal. It's not perfect, but it's perfect for the price and the weight. It's also a great extra seat to have for grandma's car or as a backup for transporting a friend's child.
Need more product recommendations for every age and stage? Check out my guide to the best car seats and boosters for airplanes. And be sure not to miss my 3 part guide to all your questions answered about car seats on planes.
Anonymous says
You mentioned that you checked the carseat in for both your flights...what did you pack it in? I didn't see an option for a carrying case. We're traveling with our 21 month old on lap but need a seat when we arrive at our destination. Thanks!
tripswithtykes says
There are a bunch of options on the market - we use the cheap red gate check bags that you can find on Amazon, Babies R Us, or Target for about $15. Airlines often have thick plastic bags that you can use when you get to the airport for free as well. Neither of these options have padding to protect the seat that much (although they do protect against dirt & grime and some water), so you could buy a padded car seat bag for further protection. Those are unfortunately a bit more expensive and can get bulky so it's a tradeoff.
Saftey mama says
This may seem unrelated but its hard to take advice fromsomeone who post pictures of their children in the carseat with out the straps adjusted correctly. Please consider this when posting. Some people dont know that having the staps loose is one of the leading reasons kids die in accidents. One way to help fix this when talking about carseats and saftey is showing properly done carseats. Whats the point of a carseat if they arnt correct. Thank you. I mean this with the upmost resepct.
tripswithtykes says
While I certainly know I have photos of my kids not strapped in all the way (usually taken because I photographed them as I was getting them in or out of the car) on certain occasions, the photos in this post have my son strapped in as snugly as is possible with this car seat. There is a gap between his belly and the straps but that's because of the positioning of clip that goes between the legs and where it sits. The straps were indeed quite taught as you can tell by looking at how snugly they fit around his shoulders. Any tighter and I would have injured him. Seriously. I really wish moms would stop judging one another so harshly - car seats seem to bring out the worse in many! If you can't see in it person and wiggle him around yourself or put two fingers under the chest clip to test, you really can't judge.
Anonymous says
i can't believe the level of parent shaming that goes on on the web. you are doing a great job. i'm sorry that "safety mama" felt the need to say this.
Jasmine says
Thank you SO MUCH for posting this. I've been scavanging the internet looking for reviews on thie car seat for flight travel. And Southwest to boot. This was so very, very helpful!
Travelmom says
I bought one last year for a trip across the planet. Loved it! It's light weight and my son was able to fall asleep in it easily.
Danielle says
Hi,
I wonder if anyone can help me? I flew with this car seat and my son a few months back, but the seat belt clip ended up resting in the middle of his back (forward facing) because of the installation under the seat cover. Can anyone give any advice on how they got theirs to fit? We ended up having to leave it unbuckled which defeated the purpose entirely. I have another flight coming up and don't really want to buy another car seat.
Thanks!
Anne Meidlinger says
I encountered the same issue, we looped the belt up and over the armrest and clipped in the belt extender and this made the belt connector no longer behind our kid's back.
Anonymous says
Do you know if the car seat sits low enough to use the airline tray table? We have packed coloring books and stickers for our 2.5 year old and I'm just wondering if he'll be able to use the tray table! Thanks!!
tripswithtykes says
I've never been able to use a tray table with any car seat -- this one included. Bummer!
Anonymous says
I was able to use the tray on Hawaiian airlines comfort seats. We had the "bulkhead" comfort seats which was an upgrade. They are not truly a bulkhead because they have seats in front of them. We were actually the first row behind first class.
Adriana says
What carrier do you recommend to check this seat in? Did you gate check it or check it with the rest of your luggage?
Stephanie says
Would you recommend buying this for a one time use for a 36" tall, 29 lb 2.5 year old?
I'm seriously trying to avoid having to lug my heavy britax. I did it on solo in June when my daughter and I flew to NYC. I was 15 week pregnant and it was a hassle. This time I'll be 34 weeks pregnant to WDW and we seriously only need the seat for the flight. We don't use it on Magical Express. I'm just trying to decide if $40 is worth not having the hassle of the carrying the Britax (we do have a GoGo baby whatevermajig mini rolling cart but the britax was so heavy on it it kept toppling over).
Someone on a forum recommended the Gear 65 but it says it's 14 pounds... for 14 pounds I may as well carry my britax.
Katie says
Hi, I am traveling with my 14 month old next month and am wondering if anyone has installed the Scenera Next rear-facing on a flight in economy class of a 737 or airbus 319 aircraft? If so, did it fit comfortably rear-facing? Does it allow the person seated in front to recline their seat at all? Does the seatbelt buckle end up uncomfortable under the child's back like some of the replies suggested for the forward facing installation? If so, does the seat belt extender help rectify this issue?
Thanks,
Katie
KatieP says
@Katie, I am curious if you ended up getting the Scenera Next for your flight and how it went. I have a 14 month old who will be flying on a Boeing 737 next month.
Danika Kochanowski says
Can you install the convertible car seats rear facing on an airplane? Or do they have to be installed forward facing?
Rachel says
Did anyone find out more about this?
Anonymous says
Last time I flew with my 14 month old they told me it had to be forward facing on the plane.
Edie says
Does anyone know the best travel cart for this seat? Go Go, Britax, Brica? Thanks!
Sireenah Michlovich says
Did you ever find this answer out? I'd love to know as well...
Yosefa says
What stroller do you use wen traveling?
Need a car seat - thinking to buy the Cosco and also need a lightweight stroller for traveling next month.
Anonymous says
Hi. I'm thinking of getting a cosco next to use for my 18 month old when we fly to the US from New Zealand in August. We will be rear facing her in it in a car but do you know/think if it's necessary to do so in the plane?! I don't want to affect the recline of the passenger in front. Thanks
ClaireSale says
I live abroad so we travel frequently with our two children (ages 2 and 4). I bought this carseat based on your recommendation and I've been beyond happy with it. BUT- I feel like you missed the biggest perk of this carseat for traveling families! The carseats are STACKABLE! Meaning, I can easily throw them both in the same bag to go in the airplane hold. That's one less piece of luggage and so much more managable, which is a huge deal for us.
Miranda Falk says
My son is 3years and 7 months. He is 38lbs and 39inches. The Cosco car seat says 40lb limit but all the boosters say he has to be 4years old and 40lbs and 40inches. Is it okay to use a travel booster for him? Buying a lightweight car seat for three days of travel t Maui seems crazy.
Anonymous says
Only on thing that was not mentioned in this post. I have an exceptionally tall "almost" 2 yr old, that is well over 36" and 35lbs. We found on our last flight that the straps are too short for her now. We have loved using this on multiple flights, and still highly recommend it. But be cautious if you are starting out with a tall child as you won't be able to use it for very long.
Rob says
Hello, question on the COSCO Scenera Next forward facing on a plane. It seems given that airplane seatbelts buckle in the middle, when I feed it through the forward facing belt path, will I be able to get my hands in the middle of the belt path to buckle it? If so, won’t the seatbelt buckle be pressing in on the child’s lower back? The only thing between the belt buckle and the child’s back is a thin padding. Thanks.
TJ says
This was a problem for us on a recent flight. When placed rear-facing in economy, the seat gets tipped up when the person in front reclines their seat (or prevents them from reclining, depending on the design of the seats). When forward-facing, the seat belt clip is squarely in the middle of their back and is totally unusable. There is no option for using the LATCH system on the plane. Everyone talks about how great this seat is on planes, even in the forward facing orientation, but this is never brought up. Some have described wrapping the seat belt around the armrest and using the belt extender, but this seems less than ideal from a safety perspective. Still waiting for a good solution.
TJ says
This was a problem for us on a recent flight. When placed rear-facing in economy, the seat gets tipped up when the person in front reclines their seat (or prevents them from reclining, depending on the design of the seats). When forward-facing, the seat belt clip is squarely in the middle of their back and is totally unusable. There is no option for using the LATCH system on the plane. Everyone talks about how great this seat is on planes, even in the forward facing orientation, but this is never brought up. Some have described wrapping the seat belt around the armrest and using the belt extender, but this seems less than ideal from a safety perspective. Still waiting for a good solution.
Ana Luiza Rangel says
Someone mentioned it here that you should ask for the seat belt extender so the buckle is not in the child's back. I have taken this car seat on several trips as checked luggage but this will be first time my daughter will use it in the flight.
I use this car seat as my main car seat (I have it in 2 cars) and it also fits on the Mountain Buggy Nano which is perfect for traveling!
Vicki says
Has anyone used this seat on spirit airlines? Does it fit forward facing in their seats?
AJ says
has anyone ever tried traveling with TWO of these? Are they stackable?
Rovert J.Davis says
Wow Helpful information. Nice review.
jubaeid says
We’re traveling with our 21 month old on lap but need a seat when we arrive at our destination. Thanks!