Do airlines check car seats and strollers for free?
You can check one car seat and one stroller or folding wagon per child you're traveling with, for free. This can be done at the gate or ticket counter. Large or non-collapsible strollers, and non-folding wagons must be checked at the ticket counter.
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Car seats and strollers can be checked just like any other item (at no charge at most airlines). If you do check items either at the ticket counter or gate, get your luggage tag for them straight away.
Standard strollers, folding wagons, and car seats can be used to get to your gate and then checked for free. They'll be returned to you on arrival. Collapsible strollers can be stored in-cabin. Car seats can be used onboard your flight too.
Diaper bags, soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don't count toward your personal item or carry-on.
My favorite tip: Use a large plastic lawn bag (find them at Home Depot or any other home improvement store) to contain the car seat. You can take it a step further and wrap the seat in bubble wrap for extra padding and reuse it on the return trip.
Once your child is 2 years old, you'll need to purchase a seat for them. The FAA recommends that children under 40 pounds continue to use a car seat and that children over 40 pounds use the seat belt on the airplane seat.
Once your child is 2 years old, you'll need to purchase a seat for them. The FAA recommends that children under 40 pounds continue to use a car seat and that children over 40 pounds use the seat belt on the airplane seat.
Gate checking your car seat can go part of the way to mitigating this risk at the departing airport terminal, but does nothing to prevent damage at the arriving airport terminal.
Wrap your stroller for protectionYou can wrap it in bubble wrap or plastic wrap. In fact, most airports will allow you to pay a small fee to use plastic wrap and wrap your stroller at the airport. If you use bubble wrap, collapse the stroller as much as you can, wrap it up tight and secure it with tape.
Airlines allow baby food, formula, and breast milk in a carry-on bag, but the TSA has a 3-1-1 rule for liquids, including all baby food items. Each passenger is allowed 3.4 ounces or less of liquid, gel, or aerosol products per container, and all containers must fit in one clear, quart-size bag per person.
Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag.
Children's strollers and child safety seats are not counted as part of the standard baggage and therefore can be easily checked for free. For your convenience, these items may be checked at the curbside, the ticket counter or at the gate. Child safety seats may be brought on board the plane in certain circumstances.