Car seats on airplanes: what the FAA and AAP say (2026)
Short answer: buy your baby a seat and use their car seat. The FAA allows lap children under 2 but strongly discourages it, because your arms can’t hold a child in turbulence. Look for the label “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”. Boosters, backless seats and baby carriers can’t be used for taxi, takeoff or landing. The FAA-approved CARES harness is for 22–44 pound children (AAP), not infants.
Recalls checked November 10, 2026 on CPSC and NHTSA. We screened NHTSA’s recall data file on November 10, 2026 for child-seat campaigns reported since November 1, 2025 and found five: Evenflo All4One (25C011, December 2025: recline can shift in rear-facing mode), Evenflo Titan 65 (26C001, January 2026: some made without a tether strap), Evenflo LiteMax Factory Select (26C002, February 2026: wrong limits in the Spanish manual), Graco SnugRide Turn & Slide infant seat and travel systems (26C003, April 2026: carrier may detach from the base in a crash) and Britax B-Safe Gen 2, B-Safe 35, B-Safe Ultra and Endeavours infant seats (26C006, August 2026: a carry-handle screw can loosen). Check your exact model and manufacture date at NHTSA.gov/recalls. Our recall-check policy.
How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from official safety guidance (AAP/HealthyChildren.org, CPSC, NHTSA, FDA), federal safety standards and recall records, linked at the bottom of the page. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t give scores. Our methodology.
Not medical advice. This page explains product safety guidance. For questions about your child’s health, feeding or development, ask your pediatrician.
Quick answer
Short answer: buy your baby a seat and use their car seat. The FAA allows lap children under 2 but strongly discourages it, because your arms can’t hold a child in turbulence. Look for the label “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”.
Last updated Recalls checked 2026-11-10
Bringing the car seat also means your child is buckled in the rental car or taxi at your destination (FAA).
Lap vs car seat vs CARES vs booster
| Option | Allowed? | What sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Lap child (under 2) | Yes | FAA strongly discourages it; AAP: turbulence is the leading cause of children’s injuries on airplanes |
| Car seat with aircraft label, own ticketed seat | Yes | FAA: safest for under-2s; install per manufacturer directions, rear- or forward-facing per the label |
| CARES harness | Yes, aircraft only | AAP: for children 22–44 pounds; not for infants or cars |
| Booster or backless seat | Not for taxi, takeoff or landing | FAA; federal airline rule 14 CFR 121.311 bars booster-, vest- and harness-type and lap-held restraints then |
| Baby carrier | Not for taxi, takeoff or landing | FAA |
Tips for flying with a car seat
- Check the label and your manual to confirm the seat fits on an airplane seat; otherwise you may be asked to check it (FAA).
- Buying a ticket is the only way to guarantee you can use the seat (FAA). If you don’t, ask whether an empty seat is available (AAP[3]).
- If your approved seat doesn’t fit in an assigned seat, the airline must accommodate it in another seat in the same class (FAA).
- Car seats, boosters and strollers generally don’t count as luggage (AAP).
- If your baby sleeps on your lap, stay awake and check on them often (AAP).
Who should skip this, and what to skip
If buying an extra seat isn’t possible, the AAP[3] suggests flying at less busy times and asking about an empty seat for your car seat.
- Holding your baby on your lap for the whole flight: FAA: your arms can’t hold a child in unexpected turbulence.
- Using a booster during takeoff and landing: FAA prohibits boosters and backless seats then.
- A CARES harness for an infant: AAP[3]: for 22–44 pound children only.
- A car seat without the aircraft certification label: FAA requires it (or an approved foreign marking).
The free or budget option
Bring the car seat you already own if it carries the aircraft label (FAA). Children under 2 can fly as lap children for free on many airlines, but the FAA strongly discourages it.
Frequently asked questions
Do babies need their own seat on a plane?
How do I know my car seat is FAA-approved?
Can I use a booster on a plane?
Should my baby face backward on the plane?
Sources
Safety guidance, standards and recall records come only from the official pages below, which we opened and read for this page. Retailer pages, if any, are used for price and specs only. This page lists no prices.
- FAA: Child Safety in Flight, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (faa.gov)
- FAA: About Child Restraint Systems, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (faa.gov)
- AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Flying With Baby, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (healthychildren.org)
- eCFR: 14 CFR 121.311, Seats, safety belts, and shoulder harnesses, fetched Nov 10, 2026 (ecfr.gov)
- NHTSA: Car Seats and Booster Seats (recommendations, installation, inspection, registration), fetched Nov 10, 2026 (nhtsa.gov)
Related
How to choose an infant car seat (2026): fit, limits and recalls
Short answer: pick a rear-facing seat that fits your baby’s weight and height, fits your car, and that you can install tightly every time. NHTSA and AAP both say no single seat is safest and a higher price is not safer. Check NHTSA for recalls and get a free inspection.
guideInfant vs convertible vs all-in-one car seat: which to buy first (2026)
Short answer: both are safe from birth when used rear-facing. An infant seat is more convenient (carry handle, click-in base) but outgrown sooner; the AAP lists limits of about 22 to 35 pounds and 26 to 35 inches. A convertible or all-in-one seat costs you that convenience but lasts years longer and usually allows rear-facing to 40–50 pounds. If budget is tight, a convertible from day one is the one-seat path.
guideWhen to switch to a booster seat, and when to stop (2026)
Short answer: switch to a booster only when your child outgrows the weight or height limit of their forward-facing seat’s harness, not at a set age. Keep them in a belt-positioning booster until the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt fits on its own, typically around 4 feet 9 inches tall and between 8 and 12 years old (AAP; NHTSA). All children under 13 ride in the back.