Car seats on planes: rules for 41 US, UK & global airlines
Whether you can check a car seat free, and whether your baby can sit in it on board, depends on the airline. Using one on board requires a booked seat for your baby and an FAA-approved (or UN ECE / TÜV / CMVSS approved) car seat in a window seat. See our dedicated FAA car seat guide or compare all 41 airlines below.
| Airline | Car seat rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | Use on board needs a booked seat. The car seat must be no wider than 43 cm (17 in), face the same way as the aircraft seat, have a metal or plastic frame and a harness; two-part seats (seat plus separate base) are not suitable. If it doesn't comply, an infant under 24 months sits on your lap with an extension belt for taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence. | Official page |
| easyJet | If the infant has their own seat, a suitable forward-facing car seat is needed for take-off and landing. | Official page |
| Ryanair | Use on board requires a booked seat. Seats must be forward-facing, aircraft-approved, max 43 cm wide, with a 5-point harness. | Official page |
| Jet2 | Included in the two free items. Use on board needs a booked seat and an approved car seat. | Official page |
| TUI Airways | Checked free, as above. Use on board needs a paid seat and a forward-facing car seat no wider than 40 cm with an aircraft label (often ECE R44-03) and a single-release harness; booster seats can't be used. | Official page |
| Virgin Atlantic | One car seat or booster free on top of the allowance. On board only with a booked seat for an under-2: aircraft-approved, forward-facing, 5-point harness, max 43 x 43 cm. | Official page |
| Aer Lingus | Needs a purchased seat at a window. Forward-facing only (rear-facing not permitted), with a 5-point harness, secured by the aircraft lap belt, with a CE or FAA label saying it's certified for motor vehicles and aircraft. Maximum width: 42 cm (16.5 in) on the 0 to 5 months section of the page and 43 cm (17 in) on the 6 to 24 months section. Car seats are for children over 6 months and under 36 months; babies 0 to 5 months must sit on an adult's knee. | Official page |
| KLM | 1 car seat or CARES harness per child free. Booster seats aren't allowed on KLM flights. Seats for car seats or CARES are limited, so KLM asks you to reserve them by contacting it, up to 48 hours before departure. | Official page |
| Air France | One car seat checked free. On board: an approved seat or CARES, max 44 cm wide. | Official page |
| Lufthansa | Car seat or baby basket free. Use on board requires a child ticket and a certified seat secured with the lap belt. | Official page |
| Emirates | On board in a separate seat: aircraft-approved and forward-facing, secured with the lap belt. Emirates doesn't provide child restraints. | Official page |
| Qatar Airways | One car seat free only if the infant has their own seat. | Official page |
| American Airlines | One car seat checked free. Use on board requires a booked seat and an FAA-approved car seat (window seat preferred, never in an exit row). | Official page |
| Delta Air Lines | One car seat free per child. Use on board requires a purchased seat and an FAA-approved (or foreign/UN-approved) child restraint or CARES harness. Booster seats not allowed for take-off/landing. Window seat preferred. | Official page |
| United Airlines | FAA-approved car seats made after 1985 (with the certification sticker) can be used in a purchased seat, ideally a window. Not allowed in United Polaris on Boeing 767, 777 or 787, or in exit rows. CARES is accepted. Booster seats and chest harnesses (papooses) can't be used on board. Check your aircraft's seat width on United's fleet page. | Official page |
| Southwest Airlines | One car seat checked free. Use on board requires a purchased seat (or an open seat if permitted by staff) with an FAA-approved child restraint system; window or middle seat only, never in an exit row. | Official page |
| JetBlue | One FAA-approved car seat checked free, or used on board if you book a separate seat for your child (window seat preferred). | Official page |
| Air Canada | One car seat checked free per child. Use on board requires a purchased seat and a Canadian CMVSS 213/213.1, US FMVSS 213 (FAA), or UN ECE R44/R129 approved restraint, or CARES harness. | Official page |
| Alaska Airlines | One FAA-approved car seat checked free. Use on board requires a purchased seat (or an open adjacent seat if available at the gate) and an FAA-approved car seat or CARES harness; window seat required. | Official page |
| Turkish Airlines | Car-type infant seats need a purchased child-fare seat, must be no larger than 40 × 40 cm, have their own harness, fit between the armrests, and go next to the parent, preferably at a window (not aisle or exit rows). | Official page |
| Iberia | Own seat (CHD fare) requires a car seat approved for road use (ECE R44/R129) with TÜV or FAA aircraft certification, no wider than 42 to 44 cm. An adult can travel with 2 infants only if one of them is in an approved car seat. | Official page |
| Icelandair | An infant can use an approved child seat at a window if you buy the child fare. Seats must attach with a 2-point lap belt and meet ECE R44-03 or later, US FMVSS 213 (with both red-lettered labels), the German TÜV aircraft standard or Canadian CMVSS 213. CARES is approved (age 1+, 10 to 20 kg). Icelandair doesn't provide child seats. Bedboxes aren't allowed on board. | Official page |
| Wizz Air | Only rear-facing car seats are permitted on board, on a purchased extra seat at a window, next to the accompanying adult; not in or next to exit rows. The seat must fasten with the passenger seat belt. | Official page |
| Vueling | Own seat requires a car seat approved for aircraft use, max width 44 cm, booked through Customer Services. | Official page |
| Loganair | Infants can travel in an approved car seat on a child fare; Loganair doesn't provide car seats. During take-off and landing an adult must hold the infant. | Official page |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines | To use a child safety seat on board for a child under 2, book an extra seat through SAS Customer Service. | Official page |
| Norwegian | An infant in their own seat (child ticket) must be in an approved car seat at a window: JAA, FAA or Transport Canada aircraft approval, ECE R44/03, 04 or later, CMVSS 213/213.1, or US FMVSS 213 with the red-lettered aircraft label. | Official page |
| Finnair | Allowed for children under 7 with a reserved seat; must be approved for use in aircraft (ETSO-C100c, EASA, ECE R44-04/03 or R129 with aircraft approval, CMVSS 213, FMVSS 213 with labels, or AS/NZS 1754:2013 'For Use in Aircraft') and have its own straps. Not usable in Business on the A350 and A330. | Official page |
| SWISS International Air Lines | Needs a separate seat for infants. Child under 12 and under 27 kg; seat approved for aircraft. SWISS gives the seat size as 43 × 43 cm on its on-board page and the base limit as 40 × 40 cm in its FAQ, so check with SWISS for a seat between the two. | Official page |
| Austrian Airlines | Book a separate seat at the child fare. The seat must be aircraft-approved and fit a 43 × 43 cm aircraft seat; you fit it yourself (cabin crew can't help). Window seat best; not in exit rows or behind partitions. | Official page |
| TAP Air Portugal | Book a seat at the child fare. Car seats need an aircraft/vehicle approval sticker (ETSO-C100c, EASA, ECE R44/04, R44/03 or R129, TÜV/958-01/2001, FMVSS 213, CMVSS 213, AS/NZS 1754:2013); base no larger than 40 × 40 cm with seat and base together. | Official page |
| Brussels Airlines | With a booked seat you can bring an approved child restraint device; if it doesn't meet requirements it's checked in. Request an infant life vest for under-2s. | Official page |
| AEGEAN | Aircraft-approved (e.g. TÜV/958-01/2001 'For Use in Aircraft'), base no bigger than 40 × 40 cm, with shoulder belts; child max 27 kg; used in an unoccupied seat. | Official page |
| Eurowings | Register the seat in advance; it's checked at the counter (no web check-in). Approved: ECE R44-03 or later, ECE R129, TÜV/958-01/2001, CMVSS 213/213.1 and others listed by Eurowings. | Official page |
| Singapore Airlines | With a purchased seat for a child under 3, you may be able to bring a child car seat or harness for use on board. | Official page |
| Etihad Airways | Children up to 36 months on a child's ticket may use an approved car seat on board. Without an approved car seat, infants sit on your lap for take-off, landing and whenever the seatbelt sign is on. | Official page |
| Cathay Pacific | Car safety seats must meet Cathay's safety seat requirements; some car seats, child restraint devices and CARES harnesses can't be used on its seats. Contact reservations. | Official page |
| Qantas | Car seats need Qantas pre-approval and a certification (country-specific list). CARES suits 10 to 20 kg and up to 100 cm. Booster seats aren't permitted, and Qantas restricts seats that need a top tether. | Official page |
| Air New Zealand | Infants in their own seat must use an approved car seat; a 43 cm (17 in) wide seat may not fit every seat. Infants can't be booked in their own Business Premier seat. | Official page |
| WestJet | Transport Canada or FAA-approved car seats in a purchased seat (tell WestJet when booking). Not in Business; booster seats and baby hammocks not permitted; rear-facing seats usually at a window. | Official page |
| Frontier Airlines | FAA-approved car seat in a purchased seat, at a window, not in exit or bulkhead rows. Booster seats can be used during the flight but not for take-off or landing. | Official page |
Summarised from each airline's official page, checked 2026-10-30. Rules change: confirm with your airline before you fly.
Flying in or to the US? Read our full guide to FAA car seat rules on planes & TSA breast milk exemptions for economy seat widths and mandatory red FAA stickers.
Lightest infant car seats we list
| Product | Weight | Suitable for | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat | 3.1 kg (6.8 lbs) | Rear-facing 2.3–18 kg (5–40 lbs); forward-facing 10–18 kg (22–40 lbs) | $59 MSRP (approx. £55) | Check price at Cosco Kids |
| Joie i-Snug 2 | 3.35 kg (7.4 lbs) | Birth to 75 cm (up to 13 kg / 29 lbs) | £105 RRP / $169.99 MSRP | Check price at Joie |
| WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat | 3.6 kg (8 lbs) | Forward-facing toddlers 10–22.7 kg (22–50 lbs, 76–114 cm / 30–45 in, age 1+) | $380 MSRP (approx. £310) | Check price at WAYB |
| CYBEX Cloud T i-Size | 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) | 45–87 cm, up to 13 kg (4–30 lbs) | £199.95 RRP / $449.95 MSRP | Check price at CYBEX |
| Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 Pro² | 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs) | 40–87 cm, up to 13 kg (4–30 lbs) | £259.99 RRP / $399.99 MSRP | Check price at Maxi-Cosi |
| Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller | 7.8 kg (17.2 lbs) | Rear-facing infants 1.8–16 kg / 4–35 lbs (up to 81 cm / 32 in) | £349 RRP / $550 MSRP | Check price at Doona |
Blank cells: not yet verified from the maker's official page.
FAQ
Can my baby sit in their car seat on the plane?
Yes, if you purchase a seat for your child (or are given an open seat on airlines like Southwest/Alaska) and the car seat has the mandatory FAA red certification lettering or approved foreign aircraft label. Read our full FAA car seat rules on planes guide.
Do car seats fly free?
On the major US and UK airlines we track, yes: a car seat is checked free for an infant or child, at the gate or ticket counter. One exception: Vueling carries Group 0+ car seats free but treats other car seats as paid special baggage. Some airlines, such as Wizz Air, only allow rear-facing seats on board, while Aer Lingus only allows forward-facing ones, so check the airline page.
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