Flying with a baby: airline rules for car seats and strollers
Flying with a baby in the US is governed by two sets of rules: federal rules from the FAA and TSA, which apply on every airline, and each airline's own policy on lap infants, strollers and car seats. This page sets out both, airline by airline, checked against the airlines' own pages on October 4, 2026.
The rules every US airline follows
- Lap infants: a child under 2 may fly on an adult's lap. The FAA says the safest place for them is their own seat in an approved car seat.
- The label: a car seat is approved for aircraft if it says "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft," in red lettering.
- Airlines must allow it: once you buy your child a seat, an airline cannot refuse an approved car seat (14 CFR 121.311).
- Where it goes: usually a window seat, never an exit row, and never blocking another passenger's way out.
- Not allowed for takeoff and landing: booster seats, backless boosters, vests and baby carriers. The CARES harness is the one approved harness, for children 22 to 44 lb and up to 40 inches tall.
- Security: breast milk, formula and juice over 3.4 oz are allowed in carry-on bags, screened separately. Strollers and car seats go through the X-ray, and your baby comes out of them.
Airline by airline
Every airline below carries a stroller and a car seat free for a child. The differences are in the details, which is where gate agents and parents disagree.
| Airline | Lap infant | Stroller and car seat | Car seat on board | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | Under 2, free on domestic flights | One stroller and one car seat free per child: one at the gate and one at the counter, or both at the counter. Non-collapsible strollers and wagons go at the counter. | With a purchased seat and an aircraft-approved label | Not in exit rows or the rows beside them. Diaper bags do not count toward your allowance. |
| Delta | Under 2, free within the US | Strollers and car seats free at the curb, counter or gate, outside your bag allowance. | With a purchased seat, or an open seat beside you; CARES accepted | A breast pump and its cooler bag ride free on top of your carry-on. |
| United | 7 days to under 2, free on domestic flights (no checked bag for the child) | One car seat and one stroller or folding wagon per child free, at the gate or counter. Large strollers and non-folding wagons go at the counter. A compact stroller that fits carry-on size can come on board free. | In a window seat; CARES accepted | No car seats in Polaris business on the 767, 777 or 787, or in exit rows. Boosters and chest harnesses are not allowed. A breast pump rides free on top of your carry-on. |
| Southwest | 14 days to under 2, free on domestic flights | One stroller and one car seat free per ticketed customer, at the curb, counter or gate. | Buy the seat to guarantee it; CARES accepted | Backless boosters are banned for the whole flight. A lap child has no bag allowance of their own. |
| Alaska | Under 2, free within the US | Free as checked bags or at the gate. Stroller-wagons are free if they fold under 90 linear inches and 35 lb. | With a ticketed seat and the original federal label | With a lap infant, the diaper bag counts toward your carry-on limit. |
| JetBlue | 3 days to under 2, free | One stroller and one car seat free, checked or gate-checked at the jet bridge. | With a purchased seat | No car seats in Mint on the A321neo Mint and A321LR. Playpens and wagons count as a checked bag, and JetBlue does not cover damage to checked strollers. |
| Spirit | 7 days to under 2, free | One stroller or folding wagon and one car seat per child, free. A compact stroller can go in the overhead bin if it fits carry-on size. | With a purchased seat | Not in exit rows, the rows beside them, or seats with airbag seat belts. |
| Frontier | 7 days to under 2, free (add the baby to your booking) | Strollers and car seats free, with gate-check. A stroller can come on board only if it fits the overhead bin. | With a purchased seat; CARES accepted | Not in the first row or near exits. A breast pump is an extra item on top of your personal item. |
| Hawaiian | Under 2, free within the US | Free as checked bags or at the gate; stroller-wagons under 90 linear inches and 35 lb. | Not stated on a page we could read; ask Hawaiian | With a lap infant, the diaper bag counts toward your carry-on limit. |
| Allegiant | Under 24 months, free; bring proof of age | One stroller and one car seat free per paying passenger, at the counter or gate. | Window seats only | A diaper bag rides free on top of your carry-on. |
| Sun Country | 8 days to 24 months, free | Strollers and car seats checked free. Damage is only covered if packed in a durable case. | With a purchased seat next to a parent | A lap child's car seat must be checked. |
| Breeze | 7 days to under 2, free | One car seat and one stroller or wagon per child free. Strollers taken to the gate are gate-checked. | With a purchased seat | Lap infants cannot sit in exit rows. One infant bag allowed on top of your personal item. |
Policies change: use the linked page before you fly.
Car seats approved for planes
Of the 25 seats in our infant and convertible guides, 25 are certified for aircraft use. Those marked "conditions" are approved only in some modes: most convertibles in harness mode only, several infant seats only without their base.
- UPPAbaby Aria V2
- Clek Liing
- Britax Willow S (conditions)
- Evenflo Shyft DualRide (conditions)
- Joie Mint Latch
- Joie Rue
- Chicco KeyFit 30 ClearTex
- Chicco KeyFit Max ClearTex
- Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Nido
- UPPAbaby Mesa V3
- Baby Jogger City GO 2
- Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX
- Doona Car Seat & Stroller
- Britax Poplar S (conditions)
- Britax One4Life ClickTight (conditions)
- Chicco Fit360
- UPPAbaby Rove
- Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 (conditions)
- Clek Fllo
- Chicco OneFit LX ClearTex (conditions)
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 (conditions)
- Evenflo Revolve360 Extend (conditions)
- Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 (conditions)
- Graco 4Ever DLX (conditions)
- Clek Foonf
An infant seat is the easier one to fly with: it is light, fits most economy seats, and can go straight onto a stroller frame at the gate. See our infant car seat guide, or check any seat's age with our car seat expiration lookup.
Which travel strollers fit the overhead bin
A stroller that fits the overhead bin never meets the baggage handlers. Here is what each maker in ourtravel stroller guide claims. The airline still has the final say on any given flight.
| Stroller | Cabin bag claim | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| UPPAbaby Minu V3 | Yes | 16.7 lb |
| Joolz Aer2 | Yes | 14.3 lb (6.5 kg) |
| gb Pockit+ All City | Yes | 13.2 lb (6 kg) |
| Baby Jogger City Tour 2 | Airline dependent | 14 lb |
| UPPAbaby G-Luxe | No | 16.3 lb |
| Inglesina Quid 3 | Yes | 14.1 lb (6.4 kg) |
| Kolcraft Cloud Plus | No | 11 lb |
| Joie Orzo Mini | Airline dependent | 15 lb |
| Stokke YOYO3 | Yes | 13.7 lb (6.2 kg) |
| Summer Infant 3Dlite | No | 13 lb |
Five things that save the trip
- Gate-check, do not counter-check. The stroller carries your bags to the door of the plane, and spends less time in the hold.
- Bag it. A padded gate-check bag protects the fabric and keeps the parts together. Several airlines will not pay for damage otherwise.
- Read the label at home. Photograph the red aircraft-approval text, so a gate agent can see it without you unbuckling anything.
- Measure the seat. A wide convertible may not fit a narrow economy seat. Infant seats almost always do.
- Feed on the way up and down. Swallowing helps a baby's ears equalize during takeoff and descent.
Flying with a baby: questions
Can a baby fly free on a domestic flight?
Yes. Every major US airline lets a child under 2 fly free on an adult's lap within the US. Some set a minimum age of 3 to 14 days, and fees apply on most international flights.
Do strollers and car seats count as checked bags?
No, on every airline in our table. Each carries a stroller and a car seat free per child, and most let you check them at the gate so you can use them through the airport.
Can I use my car seat on the plane?
Yes, if you buy your child a seat and the car seat carries the label "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." Federal rules stop an airline from refusing an approved seat once you have paid for the child's ticket.
Can I bring breast milk or formula through security?
Yes. TSA allows breast milk, formula and juice over 3.4 oz in carry-on bags, outside the quart bag. Tell the officer at the start of screening and take them out to be screened separately.
Are booster seats allowed on planes?
Not during taxi, takeoff or landing. The FAA does not approve booster seats or vest harnesses for aircraft use. The CARES harness is the exception, for children 22 to 44 lb.
Our buying guides
- Best Travel Stroller: 10 products scored
- Best Convertible Car Seat: 13 products scored
- Best Infant Car Seat: 15 products scored
- Best Travel System: 10 products scored
Browse every guide in Strollers and Car Seats, or the whole Mobility & Travel section.
Sources: each airline's own policy page or contract of carriage (linked in the table);FAA, Child Safety Seats;FAA Advisory Circular 120-87C;TSA, Traveling With Children. Checked October 4, 2026.