Can I bring a car seat on a plane?

Yes, and any car seat labeled as FAA-approved for aircraft use, which includes all four seats in this list, can be strapped into an airplane seat using the seat belt if you have purchased a seat for your child. All U.S.-sold car seats display a label confirming aircraft certification, so check that label before travel rather than assuming.

Should I check my car seat or carry it on the plane?

Carrying it on and strapping it into a purchased seat is the safest option recommended by pediatric safety groups, since it keeps the child restrained during turbulence the same way they are restrained in a car. If you are traveling with a lap infant and did not purchase a seat, or prefer not to carry the seat through the airport, checking it at the gate protects it from cargo hold rough handling better than checking it at the ticket counter, and a padded travel bag reduces damage risk either way.

Is a lightweight infant seat or a convertible seat better for travel?

For a newborn or infant, a lightweight infant seat like the Evenflo LiteMax 35 is easier to carry through an airport and install in a rental car since it does not require a separate base to be checked or carried. For an older toddler already using a convertible seat at home, bringing that same seat keeps the install familiar, which matters more than shaving a pound or two off travel weight.

Best Car Seats for Travel: Top Picks for Flying and Rental Cars

The best car seats for travel ranked by carrier weight, FAA approval for airplane use, and how easy each one is to install in an unfamiliar rental car, covering infant and convertible options.

Airport security lines and unfamiliar rental cars are not the place to improvise a car seat install for the first time, which is why travel car seats matter more for install familiarity than for any single spec.

The best car seats for travel are the ones that install without a base, since carrying or checking a separate base through an airport adds weight, bulk, and one more thing that can get lost or damaged in transit.

The Evenflo LiteMax 35 is the lightest option here at 8.7 pounds, and its belt lock-off lets it install securely using just the vehicle's own seat belt, no base required.

The Chicco KeyFit 35 carries a bit more weight but has a built-in belt path in the shell for the same base-free install, and its reputation for an easy, repeatable install matters when you are rushed and tired at a rental car counter.

Both seats are FAA-approved for aircraft use, meaning either can be strapped into a purchased airplane seat with a standard lap belt for the flight itself.

The Best Car Seats for Travel at a Glance

Best lightweight pick: Evenflo LiteMax 35, the lightest carrier here, with a belt lock-off for a base-free rental car install.

Best for consistency: Chicco KeyFit 35, a built-in belt path and a reputation for an easy, repeatable install away from home.

Flying With a Car Seat

Any car seat labeled FAA-approved for aircraft use can be installed in an airplane seat using the aircraft's own lap belt, provided you have purchased a seat for your child. All car seats currently sold in the U.S. include this certification, but check the label on your specific seat to confirm before travel.

Carrying the seat onto the plane and strapping it in is the option pediatric safety groups recommend over holding an infant on your lap, since it keeps the child restrained through turbulence the same way a car ride does.

Renting a Car With a Travel Seat

Most rental cars do not come with a car seat base already installed, and bringing your own base adds a large, awkward item to check or carry. A seat that installs directly with the vehicle's seat belt, without needing its base, removes that problem entirely.

Both seats in this list route the belt through the shell itself for exactly this reason, which is a meaningfully different travel experience than a seat that only installs through a separate base.

Check price on Amazon, Evenflo LiteMax 35

Check price on Amazon, Chicco KeyFit 35

Best Car Seats for Travel: Top Picks for Flying and Rental Cars

Our Top Picks

Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat

Pros

Cons

Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat