I have one and will use always use it for our air travel now that my toddler is old enough to sit in a “big person” seat. UPDATE: A new option is the reusable Gate Check bags (highly recommended!). You may bring a child restraint car seat onboard as a carry on. At first we thought it was ours, but fortunately, our daughter’s arrived safe and sound shortly after. Carry-on and checked baggage allowances do not apply In-flight meal allowance does not apply.

On our last trip to Florida a car seat, just like the one in this picture above, came out onto the luggage carousel pieces at a time. You can take it a step further and wrap the seat in bubble wrap for extra padding and reuse it on the return trip. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Car Seat Travel Storage Bag Gate Check Carseat Backpack Cover Holder Ship at the best online. My favorite tip: Use a large plastic lawn bag (find them at Home Depot or any other home improvement store) to contain the car seat. However, there are checked-baggage fees for your luggage on most airlines.Ĥ. With that said, it won’t cost you anything to check your car seat and other baby equipment, like a stroller. If you do check your car seat on the airplane and your toddler is under 40 pounds, use a CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) to ensure your child’s safety.Īgain, clear air turbulence does happen and CARES is the best way to protect your little one and the most convenient option since it fits easily in your carry-on bag.ģ. Southwest offers infant fares, but you may need to call to book vs. Infant fares are hard to come by, but check with your airline–especially if flying internationally–to see if you can get a discounted price for your infant. Again, it’s clear air turbulence that can hit anytime and does happen daily.) I’ve discussed this topic before, and a car seat used on the plane is absolutely the safest route for you little one. Think of it like this, you don’t drive without your little one being in a car seat – you shouldn’t fly that way either. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does happen it’s scary as heck. Remember, this is coming from a former flight attendant who has had beverage carts slammed down on her during clear-air turbulence. As an advocate for child safety, I feel very strongly about not using the “lap child” option on aircraft.

Please don’t assume your baby or toddler is safe on the plane while in your lap.

Checking car seats on an airplane can be done, but there are some things you should know before doing so.

Car seat check bag