Car Seats and Planes
- Hayley Lester
- Dec 6, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 10, 2024
We love using our car seat on the plane. However, EVERY airline has different rules about car seats and deciphering all the fine print is a bit of headache. So to make life easier, we have done it for you with a link to the carrier's page - I highly recommend printing or saving it in case of confusion in the airport. One caveat, certain aircraft types or configurations may negate general carrier guidelines. You can always ask the crew to check the manual about positioning on your specific aircraft.
General Guidelines
Here are some general guidelines across carriers:
Car seats must be approved for use in flight with a sticker - CE for European manufactured seats and FAA for American or other similar government transportation entities.
Bases for infant seats are prohibited. Boosters are typically not allowed.
Car seats need to have five-point harnesses and be able to be installed with a lap belt.
They must fit in the seat. Arm rests should be to be down for take-off and landing so the seat must fit between them. You can check seat width for your specific flight with Seat Guru.
If in doubt, contact customer service to confirm seat placement and
We recommend the Cosco Scenera Next for birth to 40 lbs and the Safety 1st Grand Booster for older children. You can read more about why we love them here.
Included Carriers
Carrier Info
AerLingus does not permit car seats during the flight. Additionally, they only allow eight infants per flight. AerLingus will check one stroller free of charge for each child as well as one car seat, booster seat or travel cot.
Car seats are welcome for passengers with a seat assignment. They may be installed either rear or forward facing for take-off and landing, but only forward facing during the flight so as not to interfer with seat recline. Car seats must not be wider than 44cm or 17.3in. There are cabin restrictions: car seats cannot be used in La Première and select Business configurations while harnesses may not be used in Premium Economy. A car seat and a stroller may be checked free of charge.
Alaska welcomes approved car seats onboard for use in the window seat or middle seat if access to the aisle isn't blocked. It must fit within the seat (minimum seat width is 16.5 inches). Car seats are prohibited from aisle seats, exit rows, the row before or after the exit row, and A seats on E175s. Car seats can be used in an assigned seat or an unoccupied seat next to an accompanying adult. A stroller and a car seat may be checked free of charge for each child onbaord.
American allows for both forward and rear facing car seats that are approved for air travel as well as CARES restraints. You must have a seat for the child or an open seat next to you in order to use the car seat during flight. Children must be buckled in the car seat for taxi, take-off, and landing and any other time the seat belt sign is illuminated. Due to seat angle, car seats may not be used in certain Business or First class configurations.
Every ticketed passenger may check one stroller and one car seat free of charge. Only one of these may be gate checked. Strollers weighing more than 20 lbs must be checked in at the ticket counter.
Approved car seats and CARES restraints are welcome onboard for those with a seat assignment. Car seats may not exceed 17in in width and must secure the torso, lap, and lower body, but are not required to be a five point harness. Families with lap children are granted free seat reservations. Seats for children under two may not be purchased online; contact Customer Service. You may also check two of the following free of charge: collapsible stroller, car or booster seat, travel cot, or baby back carrier.
Delta allows for car seats and CARES harnesses at all times during the flight. A booster may be used during the flight, but not take-off and landing. Car seats should be installed in the window seat or in a middle seat on a wide body with an adult, 18 years or older, next to the seat. Car seats may not be used in the exit row, the rows before or after an exit row, first class lay-flat seats, or some bulkheads. It may not obstruct another passenger's access to the exit. If a seat has not been purchased for the car seat, you may use an open seat. Additionally, a car seat and a stroller may be checked free of charge.
Approved car seats are allowed for infants sitting in their own seats and must be installed forward facing. Car seats must fit in the 44cm wide or 17.5in space between arm rests. Additionally, CARES and FireFly GOTO posture seats are approved for use. Other speciality seats that support posture or are medical need approval which can be requested through Customer Service.
Easy Jet allows two of the following checked item for each child, free of charge: travel cot
pushchair, double pushchair, buggy, car seat, collapsible or non-collapsible pram, booster seat, or baby back carrier. If you take these items onboard, they are subject to a large cabin item fee.
Car seats are encouraged on Frontier flights, but they must fit in the seat. Minimum seat pitch across the fleet is 16.5in. FAA approved seats should be placed in the window seat and may not be used in the first row, exit row, or the rows directly ahead and behind the exit row. CARES is also allowed. Booster seats may not be used for take-off and landing, but can be used during the flight. A stroller may be used up to the gate and checked free of charge. All other baggage is subject to fare allotment.
Iberia is very vague about their child seat policy. An authorized car seat is permitted for children who have a seat assignment. Baggage allowance is dependent on fare class and trip length. Per Iberia, children will "have the same allowance as this adult and may also cover a foldable stroller or a car seat."
Car seats are welcome at all stages of flight for children up to 11 years old as long as the passenger has a seat assignment and the seat meets American, Canadian, German or European standard. CARES is welcome as well. Car seats must be used with in the window seat and are prohibited from the exit row as well as the row before and after the exit row. Car seats that require a three-point seat belt installation may not be used.
For children 2 to 11, a checked stroller is allowed free of charge in addition to baggage allowance. For children under two, a stroller and car seat are included as well as a checked bag on all fare levels except Economy Light.
JetBlue allows any FAA-approved car seat as long as it fits (minimum seat width on JetBlue is 16.3in) and the passenger has a reserved seat. They allow a checked car seat and stroller for each child free of charge.
KLM welcomes car seats onboard, but the airline must be notified prior to travel. To reserve a seat for a child under two, contact the airline. The max width for the car seat is 42cm or 16.5in. You may place the seat rearfacing during take-off and landing, but during the flight, the seat much be placed forward-facing. CARES is also approved, but you still must notify KLM in advance. You may also bring a stroller and a car seat for each child, but a protective cover is required for checked items.
Lufthansa allows car seats onboard. For a passenger under 2 years, a car seat is required for them to sit in a seat. Seats should be put in the window seat to avoid obstructing other passengers in case of emergency. In some wide body aircraft, car seats are allowed in the middle of the aircraft.
Lufthansa provides a list of approved car seats. It is very inclusive of European brands and lists a few American seats. You can use seats not listed on here as long as they fit in the seat, can be secured with the lap belt, and have a harness. I have used our seats without fail - the brands are included in Lufthansa's list, but not the specific seat. They are smaller than several other seats mentioned.
RyanAir allows car seats the are no more than 16.8 inches wide. They must be placed in the window seat in rows 5-14 & 19-30. You must contact RyanAir prior to departure to add a car seat to your reservation. Do not show up at the airport with it - you will not be allowed to board with it.
For a child under two, you must purchase a seat. You can do so at a discount by contacting Customer Service. For children over 2, you can book online and then contact Customer Service to confirm the car seat and location. You may also use the Amsafe CARES Child Restraint during flight.
If you do not want to use it onboard, a car seat (along with a stroller) may be checked free of charge. Strollers can be used up to boarding and will be waiting upon departure where airport configurations allow. Be sure to have your stroller tagged prior to boarding, preferably at the check-in counter.
Approved car seats are permitted onboard in the forward facing position for those with a seat assignment. You may check one car seat and one stroller for each child traveling, up to 12 years old.
Car seats are welcome on Southwest. They should be used in the rearfacing position for a child under 20 pounds and forward facing up to 40 pounds. Car seats may not impeded the exit of passengers and generally should be placed in the window seat. Middle seats are allowed in the forward-facing position. Car seats are not allowed to be used in any aisle seat, exit row, or the row before and after the exit row.
Customers are allowed to check one stroller and one car seat without charge when travelling with a child. Strollers and car seats should be tagged prior to boarding. If you wish to pick up your stroller at the gate, notify airline personnel so that it is properly tagged. If you do not have a bag, you may purchase a reusable cover at the ticket counter for $17. Preboarding is allowed for families with children under six as there are no seat assignments.
Approved car seats and CARES can be used during flight with a seat assignment. Seats are 15.5in to 17in across. Car seats may not be installed in the exit row or the row in front or behind the exit row. They may also not be used in seats with inflatable seat belts (varies by aircraft type). One car seat and one stroller may be checked free of charge for each child.
TAP allows car seats in flight for passengers up to 5 years old with the purchase of a seat. You must notify TAP 24 hours prior to the flight to use a car seat onboard. To use onboard, the base must not exceed 40 cm or 15.7 in. The seat must go in the window seat and may not be used in the exit row or the row before or after an exit row. If the item does not fit, it will be checked.
Passengers below the age of 5 also may check a stroller or a car seat free of charge on all fares and an additional 10kg item on all fare classes except discount.
Car seats may be used in the window seat on United flights. Children under two must have purchase a seat to use the car seat. Bases, booster seats (without a 5-point harness), and baby carriers are not allowed during the flight. CARES harnesses are also approved for use onboard. One stroller or wagon and one car seat may be checked free of charge per child.
Car seats are allowed onboard and are required for an infant under 2 in their own seat. To book a seat for an under two, contact customer service. Car seat width must not exceed 44cm or 17.3in. Children up to three are allowed to use a car seat. Boosters are prohibted. Strollers may be check for all children up to 12 free of charge and may be gate-checked or brought on board if they meet cabin size requirements. Children under 2 years may also check a carrycot, car seat or cot. The car seat can only be checked in as special luggage, at an additional cost.
Wizz Air allows only rearfacing car seats onboard. An additional seat must be purchased for the infant. Car seats must be installed in a window seat with an accompaning adults at least 16 years old. A stroller or a travel cot may also be checked free of charge.
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