Can you take a car seat on an aircraft?

Answer 1

Yes. It is highly recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other professional organizations that children under the age of 4 and who weigh less than 40 pounds be properly secured in a car seat on an airplane. Each car seat has a label that indicates whether it is approved for use on an aircraft so make sure the car seat you are using has this label, as the airline will check for it as well (most rear-facing and forward-facing car seats with a harness are approved; booster seats are not because the airline has lap-only seat belts and booster seats require a lap/shoulder seat belt). Also, check the airlines policy on using a car seat before you arrive to depart. Because of seating space, the airline might have maximum width limits for the car seat. While the FAA allows children less than 2 years to be held by a parent while in flight, it is very dangerous and places your child at great risk of injury. Turbulence is the greatest threat to an unsecured child on an airline. With strong enough forces, a parent cannot hold onto their child and they become a flying projectile. Think about we... airlines secure luggage, laptop computer and even the coffee pot but they allow our most precious possessions to be held unsecured and at risk of injury and death. To provide the optimum safety for your child during flight, secure them in a child safety seat.

Answer 2

You are not required to have a car seat on an airplane although it is recommended. Babies can be held by their parents.