Most Harnessed Car Seats Are Approved for Airplanes. Here’s How to Check the Red Label Before Your Holiday Flight

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Using a car seat on a plane starts with one sticker. To be used on a U.S. airline, a car seat made to U.S. standards must carry a label that says, in red letters, “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” Most harnessed infant and convertible seats have it, but not all, and booster seats never qualify.

Here’s how to check. Turn the seat over and look at the stickers on the sides, the back, and the bottom of the shell. One of them should have that sentence in red lettering, often merged with a second line saying the seat meets all federal motor vehicle safety standards. If you find the red text, the seat can go on board. If you can’t find it, check the owner’s manual. If neither one says the seat is approved for aircraft, plan to check the seat instead of using it in the cabin.

The FAA says the safest place for a child under 2 on a plane is in an approved car seat or device, not on a parent’s lap. Buying a seat for your child is the only way to guarantee you can use one.

How to Check the Red Label on Your Car Seat

Here’s what to look for, step by step.

Find the stickers

U.S. car seats have several labels with information such as the model number, the date of manufacture, and weight and height limits. The aircraft approval is usually on a white sticker on the side or back of the shell, or on the bottom. On some seats, it’s printed on the plastic.

Look for the exact wording

The FAA’s guidance says the label must include two statements:

• “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”
• “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft,” in red lettering.

The two statements are often combined on one sticker. If the red text is there, your seat is approved.

Check each part of the seat

Some seats have more than one part, and each part may be approved differently:

• Infant seats: Most infant carrier shells are approved for aircraft, but some bases are not. You don’t need the base on the plane; the carrier is installed with the airplane’s lap belt. Check the base’s label if you’re unsure.
• All-in-one and combination seats: These may be approved in harness mode but not in booster mode. The label usually says so.
• Booster seats: Belt-positioning and backless boosters are never approved for use on airplanes, because airplane seats have only lap belts. You can bring one as carry-on or checked baggage for use at your destination.

Seats from other countries

If your seat was made to another country’s standards, it needs that country’s approval marking, and U.S. airlines may handle it differently. Check with your airline.

Read the manual

The owner’s manual tells you whether the seat is approved and how to install it on an airplane. Bring it with you, or save a copy on your phone, in case a flight attendant asks.

What to Do Once You Know Your Car Seat on a Plane Is Approved

Measure it

Approved seats still need to fit. Many U.S. airline economy seats are roughly 16 to 18 inches wide between the armrests. If your seat is wider than that, it may not fit. Check the seat’s width in the manual or measure it, and check your airline’s website for seat widths on your aircraft.

Book the right seat

The FAA says car seats generally must be installed in a window seat, so they don’t block other passengers from getting out in an emergency. They can’t be in an exit row. Some airlines also restrict the rows directly in front of or behind an exit row. Book a window seat for your child, and seat an adult next to them.

Many airlines let you choose seats free when traveling with a young child, but policies vary. Call the airline if the app doesn’t show seats together.

Install it the right way

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions:

• Rear-facing seats: Install rear-facing if your child is within the seat’s rear-facing limits. The airplane’s lap belt goes through the rear-facing belt path.
• Forward-facing seats: Use the forward-facing belt path.
• Tighten the lap belt by pressing down on the seat while pulling the belt tight.
• Don’t use the seat’s tether or LATCH anchors, since airplanes don’t have them.

If a flight attendant questions whether your seat is approved, show them the red label and the manual. Flight attendants are trained to look for it.

Getting a Car Seat Through the Airport

Security

The car seat must go through the X-ray machine at the TSA checkpoint. If it’s too large for the belt, TSA officers will screen it by hand. Remove any loose items from the pockets first.

Carrying it

Car seats are heavy and awkward. Some options:

• A car seat travel cart or strap that attaches the seat to a rolling carry-on.
• A stroller that the infant seat clicks into.
• A backpack-style carry bag.

Gate-checking or checking

If you don’t use the seat on board, most U.S. airlines let you check a car seat free, either at the ticket counter or at the gate. Gate-checking means less handling by baggage crews, but there’s still a risk of damage. Many families use a padded bag. If a car seat is involved in a crash, or is dropped hard, the manufacturer may recommend replacing it, so inspect it when you get it back.

The CARES Harness Option

For children who are at least 1 year old and weigh between 22 and 44 pounds, there’s an FAA-approved alternative: the CARES harness. It’s a belt-and-shoulder-strap system that attaches to the airplane seat. It’s approved only for aircraft, not for cars. Its label says “FAA Approved in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d), Approved for Aircraft Use Only” or similar.

Many families use CARES when they don’t need a car seat at their destination.

Lap Babies and Holiday Travel

Children under 2 can fly on a parent’s lap on U.S. airlines, and many families do this to save money. But the FAA strongly recommends a car seat or approved device for the whole flight. Turbulence can happen without warning, and a parent can’t safely hold a child through severe bumps.

During the holidays, flights are often full, so don’t count on an empty seat next to you. If you want to use a car seat, buy a ticket for your child.

Checklist Before You Leave

• Find the red label on the car seat and take a photo of it.
• Pack the manual or save a digital copy.
• Measure the seat and compare it with the airline’s seat width.
• Book a window seat for your child, with an adult next to them.
• Practice installing the seat with a lap belt at home.
• Bring a padded bag in case you need to check it.

Common Problems and How to Solve Them

The flight attendant asks you to check the seat

If you’ve booked a seat for your child and your car seat has the red label, U.S. airlines are required to let you use it, as long as it fits in the seat and is installed correctly. If a crew member questions it, calmly show the label and manual. If it doesn’t fit because of the seat width, ask whether there’s another seat available, or ask to gate-check it.

The armrest won’t go down

Some car seats are wide enough that the armrest won’t lower. Many airlines allow this as long as the seat is otherwise installed correctly and doesn’t block another passenger. If it’s a problem, ask the flight attendant for help.

The person in front can’t recline

A rear-facing car seat can limit how far the seat in front reclines. Flight attendants may need to help sort this out. Booking a bulkhead row isn’t always a solution, since some bulkhead seats have armrests that hold tray tables and may be narrower.

Your child has outgrown the seat’s limits

Each seat has weight and height limits. Check them before you fly, and make sure your child is within the limits for the mode you’ll use on board.

Seats for Older Children

Once a child outgrows a harnessed car seat and moves to a booster, the booster can’t be used on the plane. For children 2 and older who have their own seat, the airplane’s lap belt alone is allowed. The CARES harness is an option for children within its weight and height range. Bring the booster as checked baggage or carry-on if you need it at your destination, or arrange for one through your rental car company or relatives.

The Bottom Line on Using a Car Seat on a Plane

Most harnessed car seats made for the U.S. are approved for airplanes, but you have to check. Find the red sentence on the label, bring the manual, book a window seat, and install the seat with the lap belt. With those steps done, you’ll be ready for the flight, and you’ll have your own car seat waiting at the other end.