If you do plan to use a car seat in an aircraft for a child under two, you will need to reserve and purchase a separate seat for them. Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority has yet to make child restraints on aircraft compulsory but its website suggests it is under consideration. There’s an increasing amount of research globally to suggest that children under four are much safer in an aircraft if they are using an approved child restraint – effectively an approved car seat – not just the fitted lap seatbelt. Federal Aviation Administration.Using child car seats and safety restraints when flying Which child restraint systems does FAA approve for use on aircraft? Federal Aviation Administration.
Does the FAA require children on commercial flights to be in child restraint systems (CRS)? Federal Aviation Administration. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.ĪAP. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing.
When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. Where to find more informationįor more information, visit the websites of the FAA and of the nonprofit group Child Passenger Safety.īab圜enter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Still, for convenience, you may want to check your child's booster seat as baggage since the FAA says that children big enough for a booster can be properly restrained with the aircraft's seat belt. But boosters with backs and harnesses that are labeled for use in cars and airplanes are allowed. What about booster seats?īackless booster seats used in cars are not allowed during taxi, takeoff, or landing because kids in these kinds of boosters can be crushed if their airline seat suddenly flops forward under pressure. Supplemental lap restraints, also called belly belts, are not approved for use in airplanes (or any vehicle) in the United States. It's sold online and in some retail stores. The only harness-type device approved by the FAA for takeoff, flight, and landing is the Child Aviation Restraint System, or CARES, suitable for children at least 1 year old who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds.ĬARES weighs 1 pound, fits into a 6-inch stuff sack, and can be attached to any airplane seat. Yes - but only one and it's not for babies under age 1. Is there a harness or belly belt I can use instead? Over 40 pounds? Use the airplane seat belt.Īs always, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when strapping your child into the seat.20 to 40 pounds? Ride in a forward-facing car seat.Less than 20 pounds? Ride in a rear-facing car seat.Here's what the FAA recommends for children riding on airplanes: You may not put a car seat in an aisle seat or exit row. That's where you'll need to put the car seat, to make sure it won't block the escape path in an emergency. To fit into a typical coach seat, the car seat should be no wider than 16 inches (though you can lift the airplane seat's armrest to accommodate slightly wider car seats). The label should read, "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." Flight attendants are instructed to look for the label, and you may run into problems if it's missing.īe sure to measure the car seat you're planning to travel with, too. What kind of car seat do I need?īefore you bring a car seat on board an airplane, make sure it's FAA-approved. Call your airline to ask for a discount, or ask what the company's policy is for using empty seats. Many airlines offer half-price tickets for small children. If your child is young enough to ride free, you may be able to find an empty seat for him, but there's no guarantee. Whether you use a car seat or a harness, your child will need his own seat on the airplane. And statistically that's a far more dangerous way to travel. Why isn't there a law requiring child safety restraints in airplanes? Because Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) analyses have found that if forced to buy an extra airline ticket, many families would drive instead. Ironically, the law mandates that everything in an airplane cabin be battened down during takeoff, landing, and turbulence - except children young enough to ride on their parents' lap. And in a crash, your child could be crushed against your body.
Legally you may carry a child up to 24 months old on your lap, usually free of charge - but unexpected turbulence can send that lap-carried kid flying out of your arms. That means either an approved car seat or the CARES harness (see below). You're not required to, but both the Federal Aviation Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend that you use an FAA-approved child restraint device.