Moving the car seat through the airport is no doubt a hectic task that can drain your mind a lot and spoil your mood right at the start of the travel or trip.
But don’t worry; you do not have to lose your cool over a mere car seat. This article is there to unveil some of the best tips on how to bring car seat on plane.
Just follow these five tips mentioned in the article and enjoy a pleasant trip without any tension and stress.
Let us remind you that your airplane car seat must be approved by the FAA; otherwise, it will not be allowed on airplanes. So, take care of that.
Bringing a car seat for air travel: Is it really worth it?
Before going to the essential tips, let’s address an important question that most people ask. Is it worth it to bring a car seat during a fight? A simple answer to this is that it is really worth it.
As there are many reasons for it and it can help you in many ways. Let’s discuss a few.
- First and foremost, it ensures the safety and security of your child in every possible way.
- Its weight is not included in your luggage.
- Your arms can be relaxed because now you are saved from the fatigue of holding an infant throughout the flight.
- For most flights, you don’t have to pay an extra fee to bring a car seat in an airplane.
- You can keep your child’s essentials, such as diapers, wipes, and milk feeder, in the car seat basket so that when you need them, these essentials are near you.
How to bring car seat on plane
We recommend you bring a car seat with you without any hesitation as the safety, security & comfort of your child are the top priority, but first, prepare yourself & go through the important tips & guidelines so that you cannot face any inconvenience in the airport or during the flight.
So, let’s delve into the five important tips that could be a game changer for you.
- Easy to carry car seat
So nowadays every parent wants to travel light. This can only be possible if you have a lightweight airplane car seat rather than a giant one.
A lightweight infant car seat will typically weigh approximately 20-40 pounds. Similarly, the airplane car seat, in the absence of a child, weighs 10 pounds and can easily be carried even with one hand.
So now the question is, what is the right way to carry the car seat on an airplane? So, it is advised to put your child in the car seat and hold it in front of you with both your hands.
In this way, you can easily carry your car seat without any injuries to yourself or anyone else, and because of the fact that you are carrying it with both hands the weight is also divided evenly.
Another pro of having a lightweight car seat is that you don’t need to buy anything extra to carry it. A lightweight car seat also easily passes through the security screening.
- A car seat with wheels on it
Getting a car seat with wheels attached to it can save you from carrying a heavy car seat with your biceps.
So, if you are going on a long trip a car seat travel cart with wheels on it is the best option. You can easily pull it with your child strapped and move through the airport.
This rolling car seat will feel like a swing for your child, and there can be a possibility that your child will fall asleep upon arrival at the airport and wake up at the destination airport.
- Take it or leave it
It is important to stick to the decisions you make. If you want to bring the car seat to the airplane, then you must use it; otherwise, do not bring it.
For example, if you want to put your child out of the car seat so that he can play for a while, you can keep the car seat elsewhere.
In that case, let us tell you there will not be enough space. On some flights, there are huge overhead bins, but not all have one, so it is advisable not to bring an airplane car seat if you are not going to use it.
- Selection of car seat
It is advised that one should select rear-facing car seats for children up to two years of age. But above that age, when the child grows, buy a forward-facing car seat.
Also, choose car seats that are portable because it makes the experience even more amazing and smooth.
This strategy is essential for the safety of your little one.
- Installation
To secure your car seat during the flight, either use a seat belt or lower anchor. It is not advisable to use both at the same time.
Also, fit the harness properly so that your child remains protected.
So, that’s all, next time don’t forget to take these tips with you whenever going on any trip with children traveling with you.
We hope that now you have an idea on how to bring car seat on plane.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What does the FAA stand for?
A: FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration. To know more about FAA Approval, click here.
Q: Do airlines charge an extra fee for bringing a car seat for air travel?
A: No, most airlines usually do not charge extra money for a car seat.
Q: What can be the perfect size of a car seat?
A: The size of the airplane ranges from 16-22 inches, so the size of your car seat should be less than this range. Preferably, one is advised to buy a slim and smart car seat so that it can easily be installed on any airplane.
Q: Can I bring any kind of car seat during the flight?
A: No, only certified car seats are allowed on airplanes. When buying an airplane car seat, you must check the label at the bottom of the car seat. It should state that “the car seat is certified to be used in aircraft.”