Flying with Kids: Why You Should Take Your Car Seat When You Fly

Do You Really Need To Take The Car Seat With You?

In a word, Yes.

SAFETY

Consider what the FAA website states about flying with kids, "FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a Child Restraint System or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do."

COMFORT

Use the car seat your child is already comfortable in. Flying with kids involves a lot of change and disruption…you can help them be as comfortable as possible by bringing the familiar car seat. Happy Child = Fun Trip

YEAH, BUT I HAVE TO BUY AN EXTRA TICKET

Consider whether you really want your child to be on your lap the entire flight. The days of counting on an empty seat are over. In their attempt to stay financially afloat, airlines are eliminating routes and trying to maximize the number of passengers on each flight.

TIP: Ask your airline for a discounted fare when flying with kids. Many airlines now offer discounts of up to 50 percent for children less than two years of age.

RENTAL AND UNFAMILIAR CAR SEATS

If you decide to leave the car seat at home, what will you use at your destination? Getting a car seat from a car rental agency can be a problem. - Cleanliness of the car seats is often an issue
- It's hard to know if you have the rental agency car seat installed and adjusted properly
- Confirm, confirm, confirm your car seat reservation with the car rental agency

TIP: If you don't want to rent a car seat through a car rental agency or need to rent other types of baby equipment, see this state by state list of companies with baby rental equipment.

ONE OTHER POSSIBILITY

Some of you may have heard of the CARES: Child Aviation Restraint System. It is the only harness restraint ever approved by the FAA. It weighs about 1 pound and is basically a small harness the child uses while in the airplane seat (not to be confused with the lap harness type restraint that is not recommended by the FAA). CARES IS A GOOD PRODUCT, BUT...your child will still need their own airplane seat and a car seat for driving upon arrival. Some parents take CARES on board for the airplane seat and check the car seat as luggage. But, that still requires carrying the car seat through the airport and putting it into some type of protective bag/case to keep it clean and intact. I still much prefer having my kids in their own familiar car seats on the plane, especially since I would have to buy the CARES and a protective bag for checking the car seat as luggage.

Taking Your Car Seat - So What's the Best Way?