Do car seats get checked?

Check car seats at the gate or with your regular checked baggage at the ticket counter. If you buy a seat for your infant, please make sure the car seat meets FAA-approval. If you have not purchased a separate seat but there is an open seat next to you, a lap infant may sit in a car seat free of charge.



In the context of air travel, "checking" a car seat can refer to two things: a safety inspection or baggage handling. At the security checkpoint, the TSA will physically check your car seat; they will run it through the X-ray machine or perform a manual "pat-down" and swabbing if it is too large for the belt. Regarding luggage, nearly all airlines in 2026 allow you to check a car seat for free, either at the ticket counter or at the "gate-check" podium. If you are bringing the car seat onto the plane for use during the flight, a flight attendant will check for the FAA-approved sticker (usually in red text) to ensure the seat is certified for use in an aircraft. It is highly recommended to use a padded "Car Seat Travel Bag" if you are checking it into the cargo hold to prevent damage to the buckles and straps. Remember that booster seats are generally not allowed for use during the flight, though they can still be checked into the hold free of charge alongside your standard baggage allowance.

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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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The quick answer is: we don't recommend checking your car seat. The likelihood of damage is very high regardless of how you package it not to mention in most airline fine print, they aren't responsible for damage! Your best options for traveling with little ones is to bring the car seat with you on the plan.

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The federal standards that all child restraints and booster seats must meet provide for a scientific way of making sure that all seats available for purchase provide the same minimum level of protection. They also ensure that the components of the seat work the way they are supposed to.

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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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If it is damaged, let the airline know. If you aren't satisfied with the outcome from the baggage claim office in the airport, I would also write a letter to the airline and let them know what happened. Don't hold your breath, but you may at least get a voucher toward a future flight for the inconvenience.

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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.

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Although children who have not reached their second birthday are permitted to travel as lap children, the FAA strongly discourages this practice and recommends that you secure your child in an approved CRS in their own seat for the entire flight.

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Gate-checking the carseat should be encouraged if and when it isn't possible to use it on board the aircraft for the child. If nothing else, a gate-checked seat is much less likely to be lost than a seat that was checked with luggage.

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If your seat has been approved for aircraft use, there will be a sticker (either on the back, bottom or side of the seat, depending on the size of the label) that says This restraint has been certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft in red lettering.

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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.

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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. Even if you're not boarding any time soon, attach your luggage tag to your items as soon as possible.

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