As a parent or guardian, it’s imperative to understand the importance of a car seat for your child. If you are going to be using a car in your destination country, then you must take appropriate measures in regard to the car seat. Since airlines have rules and regulations about everything ranging from luggage to passengers themselves, it is not a surprise that there are some requirements for taking car seats on a plane too.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss whether you can take a car seat on the plane and all the relevant factors that concern it. Keep reading to learn all the essentials.
What are the Car Seat Policies
The good news is that air travel rules allow you to bring your infant’s car seat on a plane. You can bring it as carry-on baggage or checked luggage, as per your personal preference. In fact, you can even use it on the plane.
Bringing a car seat as carry-on baggage
If you are thinking about taking your car seat as a carry-on item, then it must fulfil a predetermined criteria. You can take a flexible car seat that is small enough to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. If you are planning to use your own car seat while on board, then it must be FAA-approved.
Look for labels and sturdiness if you want to be careful, and specifically ask for FAA-approved models. They are a lot better because they are designed for this purpose and they fulfill all the requirements. Their design mechanism is capable of handling unexpected turbulences. Regardless, you can bring your car seat even if you don’t want to use it on the plane and opt for lap holding instead.
Bringing a car seat as checked baggage
You are also allowed to bring your car seat as checked baggage on a plane and even enjoy free check-in. Car seats of any size or weight can be checked in and taken along with the rest of the luggage. If you are taking your car seat as checked luggage, there is a very small chance that airlines will incur extra cost. A useful tip is to check your specific airline’s policies before getting to the airport. Some companies require you to get larger seats checked at the ticket counters while others treat them as gate-checked items.
You’ll receive it at the baggage claim once you reach the final destination. In case you have layovers, make sure to ask the relevant TSA agent if the car seat will be made available to you during that time.
Use of Car Seats in the Aircraft
Passengers traveling with young children or babies can opt for lap holding during the flight, but it’s not the most practical option. Long flights, international flights, and overnight flights will cause a lot of discomfort for the infant carrier and the lap infant. The air travel rules don’t make it mandatory to use car seats for lap children (infant-in-arms must be under 2 years old). However, you must note that babies will be a lot safer in car seats during turbulence and your comfort will be ensured as well.
For those of you who intend on using their own seats on the plane, make sure to understand all the policies first. Passengers must book a separate airplane seat on the plane for their infant and have a ticket to show that the seat is reserved (you can’t just attach your child’s car seat on an empty seat on the plane, prior booking is required). Naturally, it’s recommended to book adjacent seats for yourself and your child. Using a car seat is the safest way of flying, especially during take-off, turbulence, and landing. However, the policies also state that you must only use a FAA-approved car seat.
What is a FAA-approved car seat?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a United States agency, responsible for regulating the civil aviation within and surrounding the states. The FAA operates under the Department of Transportation and ensures safety for all the passengers.
FAA-approved car seats can be bought from local manufacturers and shops. The distinguishing factor would be the following label: “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”. These car seats can be used in vehicles, including cars and aircraft.
The FAA certification is sort of like a badge of approval that declares that your car seat meets the safety standards as required by air travel guidelines. It also implies that the car seat can handle sudden stops and turbulence disturbance, making it adequate for plane travel. Here are some features of a FAA-approved car seat.
- Harness: FAA-approved car seats are known to have a five-point harness and a good child-restraint system. Most CARES harnesses are prohibited on the plane, but it’s okay to carry FAA-approved harness-type child restraint devices and vests for safe travel.
- Booster seats: FAA-approved stroller will fulfil the booster seat requirements as entailed by your specific airline, but it’s best to check their official website.
- Backless or open seats: backless booster seats that require a seat belt and shoulder belt are not permitted to be used on the plane.
Airline Policies
In addition to the general air travel rules, make sure to account for your particular airline’s policies as well. Remember that different airlines have contrasting regulations as per their safety standard and other factors. While most services allow car seats on a plane, some may incur additional requirements. For instance, they may specify the placement of car seats on either an aisle seat or window seat.
Tips for Flying With a Car Seat
You can follow these best practices to experience a hassle-free journey and a smooth travel experience.
- Caution: if you are taking your car seat to be used on the aircraft, make sure it’s attached and secured to the aircraft seat properly. Feel free to ask for flight attendant’s help if you are having trouble.
- Research: if you are traveling with a carseat, the best tip is to research specific policies beforehand. Rather than getting to the airport and navigating through the process in a stressful haze, you should check the baby car seat airline rules beforehand. Not only should you check the size and weight restrictions, but you should also know where you are supposed to get it checked.
- Protective measures: car seats are not exactly cheap. If you want to protect yours, make sure to take all the necessary precautions and use car seat travel bags. Airlines do not take responsibility for damage, so it’s entirely up to you how you secure your carseat and add extra protection. Consider using waterproof, weather-resistant, and sturdy travel plastic bags to ensure peace of mind. Car infant seats are at more risk of damage if you are taking them in checked bags.
- Navigating through security: you can streamline the process by preparing the car seat beforehand. You should remove any attachments and make sure the label is intact. Your car seat will go through an x-ray machine, but if it’s too big, then the TSA officer will conduct a visual inspection.
- Layovers: For those of you whose travel itinerary includes multiple airlines, you should check each destination and airline’s policies for a smooth experience. Remember that you’ll need to go through airport security checks every single time in case of layovers and connecting flights. You must comply with the different rules each time. Where multiple layovers and connecting flights are concerned, the extent of complexity increases beyond the normal amount.
Final Thoughts
Concluding this guide, we can see that there are flexible and comprehensive rules regarding the carriage of car seats on a plane. While the air travel guidelines have laid out the ground rules, it is at the airline’s discretion to apply them and add on to them according to their suitability. At the end of the day, just try to remember that all of these regulations are levied for safety reasons and each has its own importance.
We hope this article answered your questions and helped you understand how you can take a car seat on the plane. If you have any further lingering doubts, feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to help.
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