Can I bring a car seat on a plane? Yes. In the United States you can carry a car seat through the airport, check it as baggage, or, if your child has their own purchased seat, install it on board. The catch is that the seat must be approved for aircraft use, and you have to follow the airline’s rules on where it can go. This guide explains the basics in plain English, as of November 12, 2026.
It is based on published guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the TSA and airlines, not on product testing. The FAA says the safest place for a child under two on a U.S. airplane is an approved child restraint system, not an adult’s lap. Airline rules differ on the details, so always confirm with your own carrier before you fly.
Quick answer: what is allowed on board
The FAA says a child restraint system (CRS), meaning a hard-backed forward- or rear-facing child safety seat, must be certified for use in aircraft. The table below sums up the main options.
| Option | Allowed as a restraint on board? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Car seat with an aircraft-approval label | Yes, in a seat bought for the child | Frontier requires a solid back and seat, secure straps and a motor vehicle and aircraft label |
| CARES harness | Yes, in the child’s own seat | The FAA says it is certified for children of 22 to 44 pounds and up to 40 inches tall; aircraft use only |
| Booster seat | No, not during ground movement, takeoff or landing | The FAA prohibits it in those phases; Delta lets you carry a booster on as an extra free item, within carry-on size limits |
| Child on an adult’s lap (under 2) | Permitted, but the FAA strongly discourages it | Delta says a lap infant flies free on flights within the U.S. |
What the approval label must say
Crew may look for a label on the seat. The FAA says to confirm the seat has “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” printed on it, or that it is approved by a foreign government and carries the required label or marking. Frontier’s policy page uses slightly different wording (“approved for motor vehicle and aircraft use”), and Delta’s page says only that the seat must be an FAA-approved child safety seat. Find the label on your own seat before the trip and keep the manual handy.
Frontier also says an acceptable seat has a solid back and seat and secure restraint straps. The FAA also advises reading the manual to confirm the seat can be secured properly in an airplane seat; otherwise you may be asked to check it as baggage. If your seat has no aircraft label, plan to check it rather than install it.
Do you have to buy a seat for your child?
To count on using a car seat for the whole flight, yes. The FAA says buying a ticket for your child is the only way to guarantee you can use a restraint for a child under two. Children under two are permitted to travel as lap children, but the FAA strongly discourages it. Delta’s guidance says you can use a child safety seat for takeoff and landing if you booked a seat for your child. If you did not buy a seat, or no extra seat is free, a Delta representative must check the seat at the gate.
Delta also says an infant under 2 can travel on an adult’s lap for free on flights within the U.S. Outside the U.S., it says a ticket is required, usually at 10% of the adult fare. Fares and rules change, so confirm for your itinerary. If your trip is disrupted, see our guide to flight cancellation refund rules before rebooking a child’s seat.
Where on the plane can the seat go?
Frontier says not to place car seats in exit rows, in the rows directly in front of or behind an exit row, or in the first row. It recommends a window seat so the car seat does not block the aisle. Delta adds three practical points:
- Not every aircraft seat allows child safety or booster seats, so check the seat type for your flight.
- Child safety seats and booster seats cannot be used on Delta One flatbed seats.
- Children under 2 may not sit in a seat with an airbag seatbelt.
Delta also says infant seats and bassinets must be secured tightly with a seatbelt. The FAA says the seat must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, facing forward or rearward as the label indicates for the child’s size. It adds that if an approved seat with a purchased ticket does not fit a particular aircraft seat, the airline is responsible for accommodating it in another seat in the same class of service.
Booster seats and the CARES harness
Booster seats
The FAA prohibits passengers from using booster seats, baby carriers or backless child restraints during ground movement, takeoff or landing. Frontier’s list of accepted restraints does not include booster seats either. Delta treats boosters as a carry-on item: it says booster seats, infant seats and bassinets can come on board as an additional free item, subject to carry-on size limits. In other words, a booster is easy to bring, but it is for the car at your destination, not for takeoff and landing. For general bag size rules, see our carry-on size guide for U.S. airlines.
CARES harness
The FAA says AmSafe’s CARES device is certified for children who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds, are up to 40 inches tall, can sit upright alone facing forward and occupy their own seat. It works with the existing aircraft seatbelt and is approved for all phases of flight, but for aircraft only, not for cars. The device should carry an “Approved for Aircraft Use Only” FAA label. The FAA also warns about counterfeit CARES devices sold online and suggests buying direct from the manufacturer. Frontier lists CARES as an accepted system.
Checking a car seat as baggage
Delta says child safety seats do not count toward your standard baggage allowance, so you can check them free at the curb, the ticket counter or the gate. Other airlines can differ, so read the policy page for yours.
At security, the TSA says car seats are screened by X-ray, along with strollers, baby carriers and booster seats. You can put the seat on the belt, and if it does not fit through the machine, officers will inspect it by sight or by hand. The TSA also says to take your child out of the seat and carry them through the walk-through metal detector.
How to choose a travel car seat
This is a checklist drawn from the FAA and airline guidance above, not a list of tested products.
- Check the label first. Look for the wording that says it is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.
- Confirm the basics. Frontier expects a solid back and seat and secure restraint straps.
- Check width against the cabin. None of the FAA, Delta or Frontier pages used for this guide gives a seat-width limit. Measure your seat at its widest point, then look up your airline’s seat width for the aircraft on your flight, or ask the airline.
- Think about weight. You may carry the seat through the airport and into a narrow aisle, so a lighter seat is easier to handle. Compare weights listed by the manufacturer.
- Read the manual. The FAA says to check the manual to confirm the seat can be secured properly in an airplane seat. For a child of 22 to 44 pounds, the CARES harness is a lighter alternative to a hard-backed seat on the plane, but it cannot be used in a car.
FAQ
Is it free to check a car seat?
On Delta, yes. It says child safety seats do not count toward the standard baggage allowance and can be checked free at curbside, the counter or the gate. Check your own airline’s page.
Can I use a car seat if I did not buy a seat for my child?
Only if an extra seat is open in your row. Delta says that if you did not buy a seat or none is free, the seat must be checked at the gate.
Does a car seat have to go through TSA screening?
Yes. The TSA says car seats are screened by X-ray, and your child must be taken out and carried through the metal detector.
Bottom line
So, can I bring a car seat on a plane? Yes, and checking it is usually free on Delta. To use it in flight, buy a seat for your child, make sure the seat carries the right aircraft label, put it in a permitted seat such as a window seat, and confirm your airline’s rules. Booster seats cannot be used for takeoff or landing, and the CARES harness is an FAA-certified option for children of 22 to 44 pounds. These details are as of November 12, 2026, so recheck the FAA and airline pages before you fly.
Sources
- FAA: Child Safety in Flight
- FAA: About Child Restraint Systems
- FAA: FAA-Approved CARES Device
- Delta: Children and infant baggage
- Frontier: What child restraint systems are accepted on board?
- TSA: Traveling with children
- Delta: Children and infant travel overview
