travel booster seat airplane

Taking a booster seat on an airplane? Here’s what you need to know in 2023

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This article about taking a booster seat on an airplane is written by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Melissa Conn and may contain affiliate links.

While there’s plenty to know about flying with a car seat , flying with a booster seat is much more straightforward. As long as your child is big enough and mature enough to ride in a booster seat (often not until age 5 or 6), making the switch can make your travels a heck of a lot easier.

Many parents wonder “can you bring a booster seat on a plane?” There are a few details to know in advance for a successful trip! Be sure to read these quick tips for bringing a booster seat on an airplane before you go:

Flying with a booster seat is easy

Booster seats are generally lighter than harnessed car seats. In fact, there are tons of awesome travel booster car seats to choose from that or ultra-light or even fold up for easy carrying and storage! Some booster seats weigh as little as 1 pound, while others can fit in your child’s carry-on backpack.

If your child is at least 40 pounds but you think he might not be mature enough to ride in a traditional booster seat in the car, take a look at the Ride Safer Travel Vest . It folds up small and doesn’t weigh much, so it’s easy to take in a carry-on but will keep your kid safe.

Can you use a booster seat on an airplane?

A booster seat’s job is to position a lap-shoulder seatbelt correctly on a child’s body. Since airplane seatbelts only have a lap portion, you can not use a booster seat on an airplane .

Even with some of the new premium seats that have lap-shoulder belts, you likely won’t be allowed to install a booster seat.

If you’re thinking about using a combination car seat (sometimes called a harnessed booster seat) on a plane, you’ll probably see a sticker with the following language – which can confuse both parents and flight crews:

When used with the harness system: This restraint is certified for use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft. When used without the harness system as a belt positioning seat: This restraint is not certified for use in Aircraft.

That just means that if you’re using a travel car seat like this one , it’s fine to use it on a plane in harness mode but not in booster mode. That’s an example of “FAA approved booster seats” but only because it has a harness option. If your booster seat doesn’t have a harness mode, it’s not FAA approved. There’s no such thing as an airplane booster seat.

The vast majority of booster riders don’t need a car or booster seat on a plane since they’re over 40 lbs, the weight at which the FAA says airplane seatbelts fit kids well enough. But if it’s a choice between checking your harnessed booster seat or using it on board, I’ll choose using it on board with the harness every single time – find out why .

Want to know all my best secrets? Click here to learn how to travel with your car seat like a pro!

Can a booster seat be a carry on?

Yes, a booster seat can be a carry on! We’ve taken booster seats on airplanes many times… but it depends on the size. If you’re bringing a backless booster, it’s easy to stick under the seat in front of your child or in the overhead bin. For a traditional booster seat, we bring this one thanks to its integrated carry handle and road trip friendly cup holders. If we won’t be doing too much driving, we love this inflatable booster seat that packs down into our son’s backpack. Read my in-depth Bubblebum review here.

If your child isn’t ready for a backless booster seat, your best bet for taking a booster seat as a carry on is to pick up a folding booster seat. Sadly my favorite folding booster seat (pictured below) has been discontinued. The next best option is the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 , which should fit in most overhead bins but perhaps not on the smallest regional hopper planes.

There are plenty of other travel highback booster car seats to choose from, but many of them fold too big to take as a carry on. If need be, you can remove the back of a normal booster seat and check it in a hard-sided suitcase and bring the backless portion as a carry on. Even if your luggage gets lost, you’ll still be able to use the backless portion on its own in a pinch.

Do you need a booster seat bag?

There are a few travel booster seats that come with a “ booster seat bag ” or give the option to purchase one separately. Do you need one? It’s really a matter of personal preference.

If you’re bringing a full-size backless booster seat with you, it may be easier to take it through the airport in a booster seat bag . That’ll give you the option of carrying it with the shoulder strap or putting it over the handle of wheeled luggage. We don’t own one yet, but I might buy one before our next trip! We should be able to fit both our new Graco Turbo GO ( full review here ) and our Ride Safer Travel vest ( full review here ) inside.

Make sure a booster seat is the right choice for your trip

Before you commit to traveling with a booster seat, make sure it’s the right choice for your child and your trip. What exactly does that mean?

Your child should meet the minimum size and age requirements of their booster seat – each seat has its own standards.
Your child should be mature enough to sit correctly in the booster seat 100% of the times, even if they’re tired after a long flight across many time zones.
Be sure that your child meets the booster seat requirements of whatever country you’re visiting. Some of them are much more stringent than in the US. Find more information on booster seat rules for Australia , Costa Rica and Europe .

Booster seat on airplane FAQs

You can take a booster seat on a plane to transport it, but you can’t use a booster on a plane unless it has the option to be used in a harness mode.

You can take a high back booster on a plane to transport it, but you can’t use a high back booster on a plane unless it has the option to be used in a harness mode.

If you are bringing a backless booster seat, the best option is to take it in (or as) your carry-on luggage. If you are traveling with a highback booster seat, the safest choice is to separate the seat and the back; put the back in the overhead bin or pack it in your luggage and bring the seat on board as a carry-on. Alternatively, you can bring a booster seat that folds small enough to fit in the overhead bin .

If you choose to check your booster seat, most airlines don’t count it against your checked luggage allowance. Passengers are generally allowed one (sometimes two) free “baby items” per child.

Usually you can check a booster seat for free, but it’s recommended to bring at least the bottom of the seat on board with you.

In my experience flying a wide range of airlines, flight crews do not count backless booster seats (or folded travel highback booster seats) as a carry-on or personal item. My kids have put them under the seat in front of them with a small back pack on top or next to it, and sometimes we’ve put it in the overhead bin.

2 thoughts on “Taking a booster seat on an airplane? Here’s what you need to know in 2023”

I’m wondering about the width of harnessed boosters in order to use on a plane. I can’t find any that are within the “16.5″ / 17.3″ “ width of Alaska Airlines seats. Can you install a seat with the arm rests up? Can it be wider than the seat? I’m so lost.

Thanks for stopping by! Yes, you generally CAN put the arm rest up to install. It only becomes an issue if you’re putting two kids side by side in very wide car seats. If you share your kid’s age/height/weight I’m happy to help you choose one that’ll work well 🙂

Safe travels,

5 Absolute Best Travel Booster Seats for 2024 (+Helpful Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2024

5 Absolute Best Travel Booster Seats for 2024 (+Helpful Tips)

One of the most asked questions when it comes to road-tripping with kids is what kind of travel car seat is the best. The answer depends on so many different factors – how and where you travel, how old are your kids, and how light you want to travel. In my opinion, packing a high-back car seat on a plane is really not worth the hassle, so in this article, I will only focus on the best booster seats for travel – portable booster seats . Here’s why.

In my opinion, if you are traveling with a baby or a young child, you better just rent an appropriate car seat when you rent a car abroad.

Car seats for that age group cost a lot of money and are bulky to pack, while the price to rent one isn’t that high compared to what it costs.

Whereas if you travel with older kids who can use a booster car seat, it’s exactly the opposite. Travel booster seats are cheap to buy, easy to take with you, and renting one would often mean paying more.

TIP: At the moment of the last update, BubbleBum booster is the most popular travel booster seat choice among our readers in the USA. If I’m not mistaken, you now get an extra discount with this promo code on Amazon : 9DUCE9MT.

Ride Safer Vest is a distant second, on a much higher budget but also quite incomparable to any others safety-wise.

And now back to the best portable booster car seats . Below, you can see an overview of the information you can find in this article, including all the best travel boosters in our selection.

You can jump straight to the product information, but I strongly recommend that you also read practical tips and advice that should help you choose the right child booster seat for travel.

Update: We have done our best to update this article through the years. But there are so many changes all the time! Regulations change, products and companies disappear and new ones emerge. With the last update, we had to remove several products completely since they are not available anymore and there are no similar alternatives. So use this just as a guide to see what kind of different types of travel boosters there are, and be sure to always double-check the requirements and product specifications that are important to you!

Travel booster seats – overview:

Our Experience with Travel Booster Seats

Booster Seat Requirements

Other Things to Consider when Choosing Travel Booster Seat

1. The BubbleBum Booster Seat

2. ridesafer travel vest, 3. trunki boostapak, 4. hiccapop uberboost inflatable booster car seat, 5. belt-positioning backless booster, travel car seats & booster seats – our experience.

We have three kids and have traveled with them overseas ever since they were born. We always rented car seats for our kids when they were young. I just couldn’t imagine adding a big car seat to our travel luggage , not even to mention having to take two or three of them.

To us, traveling light is the best way to survive traveling with young kids.

LEARN MORE: Tips for Traveling with Kids

When our oldest was almost 5, we made a 5-week road trip in Australia . Twins were just 3 years old at that time. With three young children and multiple flights, there was just no way we would pack portable car seats for all of them. So we reserved car seats for the twins when we booked our rental car. With multiple rental cars at 4 different destinations in Australia, we spent a small fortune on those two car seats.

We, therefore, decided to at least look for an alternative solution for our 5-year-old. That’s when we started researching all available booster seats and realized that buying one would save us several hundreds of dollars.

But even a regular booster seat is not easy to pack with you. So we looked for the best travel booster seats – something that would fit all the safety requirements and at the same time would be easy to pack.

This was years ago and in the meantime, we have bought two more travel boosters for our twins as well. I am happy to say that we are still using the same travel booster seats today. We have used them on every single trip ever since and also on a daily basis at home. Buying a quality travel booster car seat was one of the best investments ever.

But before we talk about the specific travel booster seats, we should first cover some things you have to consider before buying a booster seat for your trip. Read on!

Trunki BoostApak is our choice for the best travel booster seat

Booster seats are generally suitable for kids from around 4 years of age when children are no longer required to use a car seat with a 5-point harness. A portable travel booster seat ensures your child’s safety whenever you rent a car or use a taxi away from home.

However, the rules for the use of car seats and booster seats vary significantly from one country to another. So it’s essential to consult an official source for the country that you are traveling to in order to make sure that you have the right car seat for your child. More information about this below.

In some parts of the world – particularly much of Asia and northern Africa, there are hardly any laws requiring car seats or boosters of any kind. However, I’d still advise to rent one or bring your own. After all, you should be more concerned with your child’s safety than the (lack of) local laws.

We have rented car seats in South Africa and in Namibia for our kids and most of the time they looked completely ok to us. If in doubt, ask to change a car seat – quality car rental agencies usually have plenty of them available.

As I said before, the moment our kids were old enough for a booster car seat, we just bought our own and never had to worry about it again. Bringing your own booster seat gives you complete peace of mind and ensures that your children can travel safely wherever you go.

Booster Seat Requirements differ from one country to another - complete travel booster seat guide

If you are traveling abroad, make sure to check the laws for booster seats in the country you are visiting.

Below you can find some links to the car seat and booster seat rules for a variety of destinations. Please note, however, that laws around car seat requirements change all the time , so it’s your responsibility to do proper research for the most up-to-date situation for the country you’re visiting.

Some countries require travel booster seats to carry specific labels in order to be legal for use, so it’s very important to read these regulations carefully.

Children’s car seat rules in the USA (please note that the laws vary from state to state).
Car seat rules in the UK .
Car seat regulations in Canada .
Car seat rules in Australia .
While the rules about car seats and boosters for children are very relaxed across much of Asia , there are some countries that do have regulations. Our advice is to look up your specific destination and check the rules before you travel.
Car seat requirements are now a bit different all over Europe . While in the past you could use a booster car seat for kids from around 4 years, the new law requires a minimum height of 125 cm (4ft1) and weight of at least 22 kg (49 lbs) in order to use a backless booster seat. In most European countries, kids can use a regular adult seat from 135 cm (4ft4) height (e.g. France, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg…). However, some other countries require that kids under 150 cm (4ft 9) or under 12 years use a booster seat as well (e.g. Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia,…).

Since car seat requirements are different in every country and the situation might change again, I encourage you to research the laws of the specific country you’re planning to visit . You may also want to check if the booster you have is approved for use in the country you’re traveling to.

Other Things to Consider When Choosing Travel Booster Seat

In addition to local laws and regulations, there are a few other important things to consider when choosing the most suitable booster car seat for travel. Find out!

High-backed booster seats with ‘wings’ are the safest type, as they provide the best protection for your child’s head and neck in a side-impact crash. Unfortunately, though, it’s not always possible to carry this type of seat with you if you are traveling long distances.

The important thing to remember is that any approved booster seat is better than none at all.

Weight and Size

After safety, weight and size are probably the most important considerations when choosing the right (booster) car seat. Whilst some travel booster seats are ideal for local trips and days out and about, others are more suited to longer journeys where you are restricted on how much you can carry.

That being said, you might find that any extra baggage charges you incur from taking your own booster seat would be less than the cost of hiring a booster seat at your destination. Plus, of course, you will then have a portable booster seat for future use!

If you are traveling with 2-3 kids, consider if you can fit all the travel boosters next to each other (and hope they don’t fight all the time 😉 – see also our tips for how to handle long car rides with kids .

Versatility

Some seats are designed to serve more than one purpose, which is great if you have limited luggage space and want to get the most ‘bang for your buck’.

Important Tips

Wherever possible, we recommend sitting with your child and keeping an eye on them if using a backless booster, as it is a little easier for them to wriggle into an unsafe position.

Try to place your travel booster seat in the middle back seat if appropriate. Experts say that this is the safest position in the car.

Practice fitting the booster seat before you travel. While most boosters are pretty straightforward, some may need a little more expertise!

Complete guide to the best booster car seats for travel

Best Travel Booster Seats: Comparison & Review

There are several good options when it comes to booster car seats for travel. So in order to give you the most complete guide to the best travel booster seats available at this moment , I not only based it on our experience, but also consulted other family travelers, and did extended research.

In the end, I selected portable booster seats that I think are the best options for those looking for a lightweight travel booster that doesn’t compromise on safety. In addition, I also included one high-back foldable booster seat. It’s obviously not as easy to pack as the backless boosters, but if you are traveling with a smaller child and still rather pack a car seat of your own, it might be a good option.

Below is our selection of the best travel booster seats. You can find a short review of each booster seat and a list of the main features that we think make them so useful. Of course, we also included our personal favorite – the travel booster seat that our kids have been using for years. Find out!

Here are the best travel booster seats:

The award-winning BubbleBum Booster Seat is described as an inflatable booster seat. However, it actually contains more memory foam than air, meaning that it will protect your child even if punctured in an accident.

BubbleBum Booster Seat takes just 20 seconds to inflate for use, then deflates quickly and folds to a small size, perfect for popping into your hand luggage or backpack.

The booster is designed for use with a 3-point adult seat belt (not a lap belt). The shoulder belt positioning clip and side lap belt clips help keep your child safe and comfortable.

At just 1.2 lbs it is the lightest travel booster seat we reviewed and it’s also the cheapest. But because it is a little smaller than some other travel boosters, we feel it’s more suited to shorter journeys than long road trips.

Best travel booster seats - BubbleBum Booster Seat

BubbleBum booster seat features:

Suitable for children age 4-11 years, weighing from 40-100 lbs (18-45 kg).
Inflates and deflates quickly.
Lightweight and folds to a compact size and easy to store anywhere.
Comes with its own bag.
Made of a durable material.
Narrow design allows you to use 3 across the back seat.

The compact and lightweight RideSafer Travel Vest is a brilliant alternative to a travel booster seat, but it comes with a much steeper price card. Weighing only 1.5 lbs (800 gr), it takes up very little luggage space and is particularly ideal for small cars, where bulkier car seats and boosters can be a tight fit. Fitting three of these vests in a row on the back seat is no problem whatsoever!

While the RideSafer may seem to offer less protection than booster seats at first glance, it’s actually the opposite. This is one of the safest solutions available!

Its clever design means that it maintains the car’s seatbelt in the proper position at all times. The shoulder belt is held in place, but away from your child’s neck, making him feel much more comfortable. It also positions the lap belt below your child’s abdomen, which best protects the internal organs.

This is the most expensive of the travel boosters we have reviewed in this article, but for the convenience and safety of your child, the RideSafer Travel Vest is invaluable!

Ride Safer Delight Travel Vest is a lightweight alternative to children's travel booster seats

RideSafer travel vest features:

Available in 2 sizes, to fit children from 3-10 years, weighing from 30 to 80 lbs (15 to 36 kg).
Certified for use in cars in the US.
Small, lightweight, and easy to pack in hand luggage or backpack.
Maintains proper seatbelt positioning at all times.

Trunki BoostApak is the travel booster seat that we chose for our kids. We bought one for our oldest son when he was 4 and used it till he didn’t need it anymore (around the age of 8-9). Our twins got the same Trunki boosters when they were 4 and used them until the age of 10.

I can’t even start to count the number of flights and road trips we have taken them on. The kids also used Trunki BoostApak boosters for their daily commute to school. Our high-back booster seats were only in use when we traveled big distances with our own car here in Europe. Since the new law in some European countries requires that booster seats are used till the kids are 150 cm tall, we used Trunki BoostAPak for our twins until the age of 10.

When we mentioned versatility earlier in this article, Trunki BoostApak is the booster seat we had in mind! The Trunki BoostApak is not just a booster seat, it’s also a hand-luggage approved child’s bag, with padded straps for comfort and a generous 8-liter capacity.

This means that you can use it to easily pack your child’s toys, books, games, and snacks for them to carry, then quickly convert it into an EU-certified travel booster seat whenever needed. You don’t need to unpack the Trunki before using it as a seat, as its hard plastic internal shell protects the bag’s contents. The shell is also designed to provide maximum strength in an accident.

It’s very easy to convert Trunki from a backpack to a booster seat, but if you (like many of us!) find some kids’ accessories a little challenging, be sure to practice with it before leaving home!

In addition to using it as a backpack and a car booster seat, the Trunki Boostapak with its wipe-clean cover makes a great booster seat for the movies too! We once even took our kids’ Trunkis to a theater.

The only minor issue we’ve had with this booster seat/backpack is that it’s slightly too heavy for younger children to carry – an empty Trunki BoostApak weighs 3.8 pounds (1,7 kg). So when our kids were just 4-5 years old, we usually had to help them with it at the airport. It’s not a big deal since the Trunki usually stays in the car for the entire duration of our trip.

trunki boostapak is our best buy when it comes to kids travel gear

Trunki BoostAPak travel booster features:

Suitable for children age 4-11 years, weighing from 30 to 80 lbs (15 to 36 kg).
Converts from a backpack to a booster seat in seconds.
The fold-out seatbelt guides and seat belt adjuster help you ensure a perfect and safe fit.
Approved as hand luggage by most airlines.
EU certified for everyday car use.

Where to buy Trunki BoostApak. For some reason, Trunki BoostApak has always been a ‘European’ travel booster. Probably because it’s only been approved to be used in the EU and is not (yet) on the market in the USA. You can buy it on Amazon UK , but unfortunately, not on Amazon in the US.

Similar in principle to the Bubblebum, the Hiccapop Uberboost travel booster seat inflates and deflates quickly, so you can simply roll it up and pop it in your hand luggage, backpack, etc.

It’s cheaper than the BubbleBum, is made of a very thick, durable material and is comparable in weight.

The biggest difference is that – unlike the BubbleBum – there is no foam in the air bladder. Nevertheless, it feels as sturdy as a regular booster seat when inflated.

Travel booster seats - Hiccapop Uberboost Inflatable Booster Car Seat

Hiccapop Uberboost features:

Very compact and lightweight.
Positions seat belt over the lap, not the stomach.
Lifetime guarantee.

Update: The model reviewed below is not available during our last update, so check out these popular alternatives that offer pretty much the same functionality. Since this is the most popular portable booster design, there are so many brands selling similar models and they change the colors and the looks all the time.

Chicco GoFit Belt-Positioning Backless Booster is the only backless booster seat we reviewed that has dual cup holders, which are a huge plus on long journeys. The cup holders fold away, which is handy if you need to fit several car seats across the back seat. They can easily be removed and are dishwasher safe.

A little more expensive than other backless boosters, the Chicco GoFit feels very robust and well-made, whilst providing a lot more padding for your child’s comfort than many other seats of this type.

The seat has lap belt guides and a shoulder clip, which is attached to the back of the seat by a fabric strap. In some cars, you can fit three of these seats in the back – but you should only do this if you have a 3-point seat belt in the center seat, not a lap belt.

At 5 lbs it is heavier than the other travel booster seats in this selection and would also take up more luggage space. Nevertheless, it is still light enough to carry around and easy to move from one vehicle to another.

The only downside to this seat is that it doesn’t have latch connectors. Whilst this is a bonus in terms of travel, as it can quickly be moved to any vehicle, it does mean that it may shift a little during your journey and will also need to be stowed safely away when not in use.

Best travel booster car seats - Chicco GoFit backless booster

Chicco GoFit booster seat features:

Suitable for children age 4 and up, weighing from 40-110 lbs (18-45 kg).
Double foam padding.
Armrest covers and seat pad are machine-washable.
Built-in carry handle.
Smooth underside to protect vehicle seats.

So this is our complete guide to the best lightweight portable travel booster seats. I hope it helps you to find the best-suitable travel car seat for your kids.

Have you used any of these lightweight booster seats or have a favorite portable travel booster? Feel free to share your experience – you can leave a reply below.

9 Best Car Seats and Boosters for Air Travel

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: December 22, 2022

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I’ve been on over 200 flights with my kids, and there is one question I still always have trouble answering before a flight: what car seat or booster should I bring? My travel priority the last decade plus has always been to transport my kids safely, but I know doing do can sometimes be a major pain! Car seats and boosters are awkward, bulky, and add a lot of logistics to air travel.

Car Seats and Boosters for Air Travel with Kids

I’ve written a pretty comprehensive guide to common questions about car seats and air travel . But sometimes you can solve some of those problems simply by investing in the right travel gear in the first place. Quite a few new car seat and booster products have come onto the market the last few years. Products are more compact and designs are more innovative. Taking a car seat on a plane and being able to use it at your destination grows ever easier. It’s about time!

So, what are all these must-have innovative products that are revolutionizing family air travel? If you are planning to fly with a baby, toddler, preschooler or older child, this guide has car seat and booster recommendations for every age and stage. Note that not all of the products in this guide can actually be used on planes. Instead, they are child restraint devices for use in getting to and from the airport in cars that are also small enough to bring with you successfully during air travel. So check the specs carefully to make sure you buy the product that makes sense for your travel needs.

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Infants

Chicco keyfit 30.

Car Seats International Travel - Baby in Infant Car Seat

For infants, the classic bucket-style car seat is ideal for airplanes. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is a reasonably priced option that also works for everyday use, so there’s no need to buy a special additional product for travel. It can be used on the plane if you’ve purchased a seat for your baby. It’s also lightweight enough to carry down an airplane aisle, even with a baby in it. Then it can be used in a car at your destination without the base, by installing it with a regular seat belt.

We used a Chicco Keyfit 30 on planes with both of our kids when they were babies very successfully. We combined it with a lightweight stroller frame that we gate checked so we could easily push the baby in the car seat through the airport.

Important Specs for the Chicco Keyfit 30

Recommended Age: newborn, infant (use weight/height limits as guide)
Weight Limits: 4-30 pounds
Height Limits: Up to 30 inches tall
Dimensions of Seat: 27.5″ x 17″ x 24″
Weight to Carry: 9.6 pounds
FAA approved for use on a plane?: Yes
Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: No

The Doona came onto the market just a bit too late for me to use it with my younger child, but it has been pretty game-changing for parents of babies on the go. The Doona is the first product of its kind that is both infant car seat and stroller in one. The stroller wheels pop back and fold up under the seat, turning the product into a bucket style infant car seat. This product works so well for travelers who are going to be in and out of cars and then who need a stroller when they arrive at their destination. It can also be used on the plane, so it has a lot of versatility.

With a list price of $550, the Doona is an expensive product. As a result, it probably only makes sense for frequent travelers or for city-dwellers who would use it a lot for taking ridesharing services or taxis.

Important Specs for the Doona

Recommended Age: 0-18 months
Weight Limits: 4-35 pounds
Height Limits: Up to 32 inches tall
Dimensions of Seat: 28.5 x 18.3 x 16 folded (40 x 17.3 x 32.3 inches unfolded in stroller mode)
Weight to Carry: 16.5 pounds

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Cosco scenera next.

Taking a convertible car seat on a plane is one of my least favorite things about flying with kids. They are big and bulky but oh-so-necessary. So going compact and light is essential. One of the most lightweight convertible car seats on the market is the Cosco Scenera NEXT . Luckily, it’s also one of the cheapest on the market too (it’s sold only at Walmart and costs about $49-59 depending on color).

The Cosco Scenera NEXT was my go to airplane car seat during the toddler and preschooler travel years (see my full Cosco Scenera NEXT review ). We flew with this car seat with our son after he graduated from the infant bucket seat until he was ready to graduate to a booster. It’s lightweight enough to balance on top of a roller bag or carry down an airplane aisle. We also loved that if and when we did choose to check it (instead of using it on board), it was cheap enough that we could afford to replace it if an airline damaged it. And when we weren’t traveling, the seat worked well as an extra for grandma’s car or anywhere else we needed one!

The Cosco Scenera NEXT is approved for infant use as well, so you can definitely start using it earlier. We found though that using the bucket-style seat with a stroller frame was easier than dragging a convertible car seat and a separate stroller through airports for a baby.

Important Specs for the Cosco Scenera NEXT

Recommended Age: 0- 4 or 5 years old (use height & weight limits)
Weight Limits: 5-40 pounds
Height Limits: Up to 19-40 inches tall rear-facing, 29-43 inches forward-facing
Dimensions of Seat: 17.63 x 15.75 x 30.25 in
Weight to Carry: 10.4 pounds

WAYB Pico Car Seat

For anyone who hates the convertible car seat balancing act, there is a new option on the market for 2-5 year olds as of just a few years ago. The WAYB Pico is a car seat with a 5 point harness that folds up small enough to put in a backpack and fit in an airplane overhead bin. It also can be used on the airplane! I have a complete review of the WAYB Pico in all its MacGyver awesomeness. We tested it out with our son on a trip to Hawaii and were totally sold.

To be sure, the Pico is expensive, retailing at $380. Like the Doona, it’s probably a seat that works only for a speciality audience. But if you can justify the price, the product solves a lot of usual the air travel car seat dilemmas with toddler and preschoolers.

Important Specs for the WAYB Pico

Recommended Age: 2-5 years old
Weight Limits: 22-50 pounds
Height Limits: 30-45 inches tall
Dimensions of Seat: 11.6″ x 14.5″ x 18.9″ in
Weight to Carry: 8 pounds
Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: Yes

Ride Safer Travel Vest

One child restraint option that a lot of travelers don’t know about isn’t a car seat or a booster at all – it’s a vest! The Ride Safer Travel Vest is approved for kids ages 3 and up and retails for $169. The vest helps position a regular shoulder and lap belt in a proper spot that is safe for smaller passengers. In addition to being good for travel, this compact option also helps squeeze three kids across in back seats that would not accommodate multiple car seats.

This vest comes in three sizes. But since most families probably won’t purchase multiple items just for travel given price tag, I’d probably recommend the small which is good until about 60 pounds and 47 inches tall (around age 6). This would cover most younger kids until they get to be of an age where a less expensive travel booster (see below) would be a viable and safe alternative.

One word of warning – please, please be careful in purchasing vest-like child restraint devices on sites like Amazon. There are a number of fakes sold from overseas that are definitely not approved and not safe. If the price looks too good to be true, it’s probably is. Be sure to only purchase products from the companies “Safe Ride 4 Kids” or “Safe Traffic System Inc.”

Important Specs for the Ride Safer Travel Vest

Recommended Age: 3-6 years old (small), 5-11 years old (large), 9-14 years old (XL)
Weight Limits: 30-60 pounds (small), 50-80 pounds (large), 80-110 pounds (XL)
Height Limits: 35-47 inches tall (small), 45-57 inches tall (large), 55-64 inches tall (XL)
Weight to Carry: 1.5 pounds
FAA approved for use on a plane?: No
Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: Yes

Best Boosters for Air Travel for Older Kids

BubbleBum Review - Child Installing Booster in Car

The BubbleBum is an inflatable booster that is just ideal for air travel. Small enough to fit in a backpack or purse when deflated, parents can just throw this in a carry on bag and have a safe child restraint upon landing at their destination. Retailing at $34.99, it’s also a very affordable.

The BubbleBum is the travel product our family has used most, hands down (see my complete BubbleBum review ). We’ve had one since my daughter reached booster age and height. She used until her 10th birthday on all of our travels (when she finally hit 4’9” and could now go without!). My son has used the newer design of this very same product regularly when we rent cars or take Uber/Lyft at our air travel destinations.

Important Specs for the BubbleBum

Recommended Age: 4-11 years old
Weight Limits: 40-100 pounds
Height Limits: 40-57 inches tall
Dimensions of Seat: 12 x 4 x 12.25 in
Weight to Carry: 1.2 pounds

UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat from Hiccapop

Hiccapop UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat

Very similar to the BubbleBum is the UberBoost Inflatable Booster from Hiccapop . It’s a tad more expensive than the BubbleBum (usually about $2 more) and serves exactly the same function so most families won’t need both.

So what are the key differences to keep in mind when selecting between these similar products? The UberBoost has two features that some families may prefer: a wider seat that may be comfier for older or larger kids and a non-skid bottom that can help prevent slipping. But it also relies on a pretty bulky shoulder clip to position the shoulder belt that a lot of kids find uncomfortable.

Important Specs for the Hiccapop UberBoost

Weight Limits: 40-110 pounds
Height Limits: not listed
Dimensions of Seat: 14.5 x 4.5 x 14.5 in
Weight to Carry: 1.3 pounds

The biggest competitor to the inflatable boosters like BubbleBum and Hiccapop UberBoost for a super-compact booster option is the mifold . Basically the size and depth of a clutch purse, this child restraint is as small as it gets for squeezing into a bag or backpack. Instead of lifting a child up (like a traditional booster), it positions the seat belt down into the proper place.

My kids found the mifold a bit uncomfortable for sitting for long periods of time because it doesn’t have much padding. We also struggled to get the right belt fit a bit more than compared to the BubbleBum. But I know many families prefer it because it’s even more compact. The mifold can be a smart choice for shorter rides when space is really at a premium.

Important Specs for the mifold

Recommended Age: 4-12 years old
Dimensions of Seat: 1 x 13 x 7 in
Weight to Carry: 1.7 pounds

hifold Highback Booster

Many parents prefer the safety and security of a highback booster seat, even for older kids. But highback boosters are mostly just as big and bulky as convertible car seats. No longer! The makers of mifold came out with a folding highback booster seat a couple of years ago that is ideal for taking on a plane – the hifold .

A lot of traveling kids technically big enough for a lowback booster aren’t really ready for one, especially those in the 4-6 year old age ranges. The hifold bridges this gap, offering a highback option small enough to fit in backpack or also in an airplane overhead bin.

We tested out the hifold recently with my sister’s 4 year old and it worked really well. When folded, it’s really not that much larger than a typical hard shell low back booster. It does have a bit of a learning curve with all the moving pieces so take time to learn its quirks before a trip by using at home first.

Important Specs for the hifold

Recommended Age: 4 years old & up (subject to weight/height max)
Weight Limits: 33-100 pounds
Height Limits: 36-59 inches tall
Dimensions of Seat: 9.8 x 13.5 x. 13.5 in folded, 29.7 x 15.6 x 18.9 in unfolded
Weight to Carry: 10 pounds, 2 ounces

Have you used any of these car seats or boosters in travels with your kids? Share your favorites in the comments!

Flying with kids and worried about safe transport at your destination? These 9 car seats and boosters are compact, travel-friendly products perfect for Uber and Lyft rides, taxis, rental cars and more. Plus, many of them are FAA approved for airplane use or small enough to fit in the plane overhead bin! #carseat #airtravel #travelwithkids

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Wednesday 10th of May 2023

Hi! How old is your child in the picture with the Cosco Scenera NEXT? I'm trying to decide whether to use my Chicco Keyfit 30 or grab a cheap upgrade for my upcoming flight. My daughter will be about 1 year old.

Leslie Harvey

Friday 12th of May 2023

He was a few months shy of turning 2 in that Costco Scenera NEXT photo. About 1 you could probably go either way between the bucket style seat or the convertible.

Baby and kid

The Best Travel Car Seats

By Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale

Let’s face it: Traveling with little kids can be a slog. But a lightweight, compact, easy-to-install travel car seat is one tool that can make trips a bit easier.

We’ve tested 17 travel car seats for infants and up, and we examined how they performed in various circumstances, including during air travel and in rental cars. The Chicco KeyFit 35 , one of our picks for the best infant car seats , is an excellent choice for both travel and everyday use. For an affordable and easy-to-use convertible car seat for toddlers and preschoolers, we recommend traveling with the Cosco Scenera Next , which fits kids up to 40 inches tall for rear-facing or 43 inches for forward-facing. For kids bigger than that who still need a seat with a five-point harness, we recommend the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 , which also converts to a high-back booster. The backless, lightweight Cosco Rise is great for booster-age kids.

If you’ll be hopping in and out of taxis or ride shares with a baby, the Doona is a unique but expensive infant car seat that converts to a stroller. And instead of purchasing a dedicated convertible car seat for travel, another option is to bring yours along with the Britax Travel Cart .

Everything we recommend

Chicco KeyFit 35 ClearTex

The best infant car seat for travel.

If you’re a frequent traveler, the Chicco KeyFit 35 is easier than most infant car seats to install securely without its base.

Buying Options

An infant car seat and stroller in one

This unusual car seat has integrated wheels that pop out to turn it into a stroller. It’s best for parents who frequently need to move their car seat in and out of different vehicles.

Cosco Scenera Next

The best convertible car seat for travel.

This affordable and easy-to-use car seat weighs 6.8 pounds and can be used rear- and forward-facing. But kids can outgrow it quickly.

Cosco Finale 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat

The best harness booster car seat for travel.

This no-frills seat converts from a forward-facing five-point harness to a high-back booster. It weighs just 12 pounds.

Britax Travel Cart

A travel cart for lugging your own seat through the airport.

This sturdy, smooth-rolling travel cart helps you transport your own convertible car seat—and avoid buying a standalone travel seat. You can even strap your child into their seat and use it like a stroller.

The best backless booster seat for travel

This basic booster seat weighs only 2.2 pounds and can work for children as small as 40 pounds. But it has a rather large footprint and will be too big to fit in most carry-ons.

How we picked

A seat that’s lightweight is more manageable to carry between multiple locations. A more compact seat is also easier to pack.

We considered the seat’s comfort and ability to adjust straps and buckles.

Ease of installation is paramount, as the easier it is to do, the more likely it will be done properly.

We looked at crash-testing scores and ease-of-use ratings. Our infant, convertible, and harness booster picks are FAA-approved for use on a plane.

The Chicco KeyFit 35 is a great all-around infant car seat—and one of the ones we recommend for everyday use. But for travel it stands out: It has a European belt path that makes it easier to get a secure install without the base than for many car seats, and it’s cheaper than other seats that have this belt routing option.

Weight of seat: 10 pounds Orientation: rear-facing only Weight range: 4 to 35 pounds Height limit: 32 inches

Parents who can’t leave their infant seat base installed in a specific car but instead need to travel by taxi or rideshare frequently may find the innovative Doona to be a convenient option. This sleek infant car seat has integrated wheels and converts to a stroller that maneuvers easily, plus the seat is FAA-approved for use on an airplane. But the versatile Doona is much heavier and more expensive than a regular infant car seat.

Weight of seat: 14.3 pounds Orientation: rear-facing only Weight range: 4 to 35 pounds Height limit: 32 inches

The Cosco Scenera Next is a notably lightweight, affordable convertible car seat that is simple to install and carry on an airplane. It receives strong safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is FAA-approved for use on a plane. But many kids will outgrow it before they reach the height or weight limit because of the low position of the shoulder straps.

Weight of seat: 6.8 pounds Orientation: rear- or forward-facing Weight range: 5 to 40 pounds rear-facing; 22-40 pounds forward-facing Height range: 19-40 inches rear-facing; 29-43 inches forward-facing

For children using a forward-facing five-point harness, the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 is a lightweight and affordable travel option that is FAA-approved for use on a plane (in harness mode only). It also converts to a high-back booster. However, it has lower height limits than some boosters, so kids may not get as many years of use from it, in comparison with pricier options.

Weight of seat: 12 pounds Orientation: forward-facing only Weight range: 30 to 65 pounds for harness mode; 40 to 100 pounds for high-back mode Height range: 32 to 49 inches for harness mode; 43 to 52 inches for high-back mode

Bringing your own car seat to the airport has one big advantage—you don’t have to learn how to install yet another seat. But your own convertible car seat is likely to be heavy (our picks in our guide to convertible car seats range from 19 to 33 pounds). The Britax Travel Cart is compatible with most convertible seats, and when your car seat is secured to it with LATCH, you can use it like a stroller to push your toddler through the airport. The cart can then be stored in an overhead bin during your flight.

Weight of cart: 7.6 pounds

If you need a cheap, no-frills booster seat, we recommend the Cosco Rise . It’s a bit too large to fit into a carry-on suitcase or backpack, but it’s easy to attach with a bungee cord to a carry-on for plane travel. It’s also a great option if you just need a spare booster for carpools or to order ahead for use at the grandparents' house.

Weight of seat: 2.2 pounds Weight range: 40 to 100 pounds Height range: 43 to 57 inches

The research

Why you should trust us, who should get this, the best infant car seat for travel: chicco keyfit 35, an infant seat and stroller in one: doona, the best convertible car seat for travel: cosco scenera next, the best harness booster seat for travel: cosco finale 2-in-1, a great car seat caddy: britax travel cart, the best booster seat for travel: cosco rise, other good travel car seats, should a kid sit in a car seat on the airplane, what about checking a car seat, the competition, care, use, and maintenance.

The authors of this guide have collectively interviewed 40 industry experts, safety authorities, and physicians. Among them were certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) such as Lani Harrison, who installs more than 300 car seats each year; Dr. Aditya Belwadi, a biomechanics research scientist who previously led the child passenger safety research team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and now works at Tesla in Crash, Safety, and Occupant Protection/Biomechanics; and Bill Horn, head sled testing engineer at Calspan , one of the country’s top crash-testing facilities. The authors also talked with dozens of parents and representatives from leading car seat manufacturers.

The original version of this guide was written by Rebecca Gale, whose reporting on policy and parenting has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Slate, and The Washington Post. Rebecca has also been certified as a CPST, completing a 40-hour training program through the Safe Kids Worldwide organization.

In 2022 and 2023, this guide was updated by Christina Szalinski, a science writer whose reporting on health and parenting has appeared in The Atlantic and Kaiser Health News . In addition to writing the most recent versions of Wirecutter’s infant and convertible car seat guides, Christina is responsible for Wirecutter’s guides to the Best Baby Formula and kids face masks .

Few people strictly need a separate car seat for travel as you can gate- or baggage-check any car seat for free with most airlines. But lugging your regular (likely heavy and bulky) seat in and out of the car and through the airport can be a major hassle. Investing in a smaller, lighter-weight option may be worthwhile, especially if you fly or use ridesharing services or taxis frequently.

Infant car seats for travel

If you’re traveling with an infant or baby, bringing along your usual infant car seat without its base (to cut down on weight and heft) is typically the best option. Our top infant car seat pick, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX , is relatively lightweight and, like other infant car seats, can be safely strapped in with a seatbelt only and no base.

There are two possible ways to install an infant car seat without a base: either with the belt directly across the top, called “American routing,” or with the shoulder belt placed around the back of the seat in addition to the top, called “European routing.” It’s easier to get a secure fit with European routing, and two seats we recommend in our guide to infant car seats, the Chicco KeyFit 35 and the Clek Liing , are designed to allow for that type of install. If you know you’ll be traveling with your infant often, it may be worthwhile to choose one of these as your baby’s first car seat.

Many infant car seats are compatible with easy-to-fold stroller frames, such as the Chicco KeyFit Caddy , which turns an infant car seat into a stroller and can be convenient for travel. Most infant seats are FAA-approved for airplane use, should you decide to purchase an airplane seat for your infant.

Convertible car seats for travel

When your child has outgrown their infant car seat, deciding on a car seat for travel can be trickier. Alisa Baer, a pediatrician, CPST, and co-founder of the website The Car Seat Lady , recommends bringing your own convertible car seat and using a travel cart . That way you have a seat that you’re already comfortable installing. But some people will prefer a dedicated travel car seat, as they can be significantly lighter than regular seats—as little as 7 pounds versus 20 to 30 pounds.

If you do buy a dedicated travel seat, it’s a good idea to practice installing it before your trip—you don’t want to be figuring it out for the first time when you, and your kid, are potentially jet lagged and feeling extra cranky. Installation can be the most time-consuming and frustrating part of using a car seat—and particularly a convertible car seat—and is often the point of failure for using a car seat correctly.

Booster seats for travel

If your everyday booster seat has a removable back (as with our top pick and runner-up pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus and the Graco TurboBooster LX ), you may prefer to simply bring that seat for travel, leaving the bulky back at home. But like with convertible seats, it’s also an option to get a dedicated travel booster that may be significantly lighter and smaller than the one you rely on every day.

Jessica Jermakian, vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, offered several tips for bringing along a backless booster, especially if it’s not one that’s compact: “I bungee cord them to my luggage while traversing the airport. On most flights, my kids could shove them under the seat in front of them and still have room to throw their backpack on top. On some flights, I’ve put them in a tote in the overhead compartment.”

Travel car seat alternatives

If you’re headed to a familiar destination, you could look into borrowing a seat from friends or relatives. Or, you may be able to rent one through a baby equipment rental service.

Many car rental companies also offer car seats for a daily fee, but it can cost up to $15 a day—adding up to much more than the cost of a travel car seat, which can be less than $50. And though you can reserve one in advance, rental car seats are subject to availability, so there’s no guarantee that one will be available when you arrive. The car seat provided may also be difficult to install properly, especially in an unfamiliar car. That said, you may be able to find discounts or other benefits through programs such as AAA, which offers one free car seat rental for members when they book a car through Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty. Ridesharing and airport and town car services may also provide a car seat with advance reservations.

There are hundreds of travel car seat options for infants, toddlers, and older kids. We began the whittling down process by examining online customer reviews and existing media coverage, which included going to Car Seats for the Littles , Lucie’s List , and the Car Seat Lady . We found the travel car seat category to be sorely lacking in an abundance of great options, so we also considered some “regular” car seats and alternatives.

We knew from our expert interviews that proper installation is generally a far bigger problem than the level of protection that a seat inherently provides, so we searched the NHTSA ease-of-use installation database to help determine which seats offer easy installation and come with clear instructions. We also relied on the personal experience of Wirecutter staffers, volunteer testers, and car seat techs who had used the car seats in the past.

Our research led us to conclude that the ideal travel car seat should be:

Lightweight and compact: A travel car seat will likely need to be carried between multiple locations, sometimes with a baby inside (if we’re talking about an infant). The less the seat weighs, the easier it is to deal with when combined with children and carry-on items. A more compact seat can also fit more readily in a wide variety of vehicles.

FAA approved: For parents who want to use their infant seat, convertible car seat, or harness booster on a plane, FAA certification is crucial.

Easy to install: As with all of our car seat recommendations, ease of installation is paramount, as the easier it is to do, the more likely it is to be done properly.

Easy to use: Straps should be simple to adjust to get a snug but comfortable fit in a five-point harness. The buckles should be easy for parents to clip and unclip but difficult to impossible for children to mess with. We considered the experience of both parents and kids in using the seats, as well as how easy each seat was to clean.

Safe: When it comes to travel, convenience can trump a minor safety advantage; a seat that you can bring along with you is vastly superior to no seat at all. Still, we did take the relevant government safety data from NHTSA into consideration.

Over the past five years we’ve tested 17 car seats with travel specifically in mind.

Our pick for the best infant car seat for travel, the Chicco KeyFit 35.

If you’re shopping for an infant car seat with travel in mind, we recommend the FAA-approved Chicco KeyFit 35 , one of our picks in our guide to infant car seats . It is lightweight and easy to use, and it can be installed securely without its base using the European belt path, a method that generally provides a superior install. (Any infant seat can be installed without its base, so if you already have an infant seat, using what you already own is likely the easiest choice.)

You can save on weight and bulk by leaving a car seat base at home when traveling. There are two ways to install an infant seat without its base. The most common is American belt routing, in which the seat belt goes over the top of the infant seat and the baby’s knees. We’ve found that it can be very difficult to secure an infant seat in the car securely using this method.

A few seats also offer the option to rely on the European belt path, the method we prefer, in which the lap belt goes over the top of the infant seat and the shoulder belt goes around the back. It’s easier to get a secure install with the European belt path, but it’s only found on a few car seat models. Of the four infant car seats we recommend, only the Chicco KeyFit 35 and Clek Liing offer the option of using the European belt path.

Beyond the advantage of the European belt bath, the Chicco KeyFit 35 has everything we love about the more popular Chicco KeyFit 30 with a few bonus features, such as an anti-rebound base as an added safety option. The KeyFit 35 can also accommodate a slightly larger baby (up to 35 pounds) than the KeyFit 30.

The KeyFit 35 strapped into the backseat of a car with a seatbelt threaded across the lap of the car seat.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The KeyFit 35 is about $50 more than our top infant car seat choice, the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX . It probably doesn’t make sense to buy this seat just for travel if you already own a similar infant car seat. But if you plan to be jet-setting with your baby, it may be worth the additional $50 or so to get a better on-the-go install from the start.

An infant sitting inside the Doona secured in car rear seating.

The Doona is an FAA-approved infant car seat (rear-facing only) with built-in wheels that allow it to convert to a stroller. For travel, this is about as convenient as it gets, allowing caregivers to rely on a single piece of equipment to accomplish two goals: avoid gate-checking a stroller—assuming an airline seat is purchased for the infant—and hop in and out of cabs without having to stow anything in the trunk.

The canopy of the Doona extended over the head of the smiling infant sitting inside the stroller.

Compared with a regular infant car seat, the Doona has some drawbacks. For one thing, it did not perform particularly well in Baby Gear Lab’s crash testing (there are no government crash tests available yet for this seat). For this reason, and because it’s tricky to install without its base (as most infant seats are), one of our car seat experts does not recommend this seat. At 14.3 pounds, it’s heavy and bulky to carry and maneuver when in car seat mode. The Doona also has the steepest price of any of the car seats (including infant, convertible, and boosters) that we’ve reviewed. It does come with a traditional infant car seat base that allows for an easy click in and out of a car, but the extra width means it could be impossible to fit three across in a backseat. And it would defeat the point to use that base for travel.

Switching the Doona from car seat mode to stroller mode and back requires “both hands and concentration,” said one tester, as well as “quite a bit of practice for me. It takes a rather specific, subtle motion to collapse it back and tuck the wheels.” It’s harder than taking a regular infant car seat off of a stroller with an infant seat attachment. Plus, once your child outgrows this seat, you’ll have to buy another stroller.

As a stroller, the Doona maneuvers easily, and the brake is intuitive and easy to use. But though it comes with an attached storage bag, the Doona lacks a storage basket.

Our pick for the best convertible car seat for travel, the Cosco Scenera Next.

The inexpensive Cosco Scenera Next weighs just 6.8 pounds, is relatively easy to carry and install, and can be used rear-facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward-facing from 22 to 40 pounds. It’s FAA-certified and easy to install on an airplane (using the plane’s seatbelt).

The Cosco sells for $60, which is a bargain compared with many convertible car seats (the Graco Extend2Fit , our favorite convertible seat for everyday use, is a little over $200). The seat gets strong safety ratings from NHTSA, and given its low weight and heft and easy-enough install, we think it’s the best option available for an on-the-go or backup car seat. We strongly prefer the (heftier) Graco Extend2Fit for everyday use. That’s because it’s easier to get a safe, secure install with that seat and to adjust it to fit the child. Plus, it can be used forward-facing until a kid is 65 pounds and 49 inches tall—a much longer usable life than the Scenera Next.

Several Wirecutter staffers use or have used the Cosco Scenera Next, appreciating its low cost, low weight, and small size. They’ve found that the seat’s slim profile makes it a great option for smaller cars (specifically, a Prius or Renault Scenic). Senior editor Courtney Schley found that the Cosco allowed her to get three seats (two Coscos and one infant car seat) across in her family’s car.

The Cosco car seat secured in rear car seating.

The Scenera Next’s low shoulder straps mean that a child may outgrow this seat well before they are ready for a booster. ( Shoulder straps should hit at or below the shoulders when a child is rear-facing; when forward-facing the straps should hit at or above the shoulders.) The low straps mean that many 3-year-olds with longer torsos may outgrow the seat in forward-facing mode, even though the seat’s height and weight limits indicate that it should fit an average-size kid up to age 4. With a long torso, the straps end up hitting below the shoulders, a situation that can compromise safety.

Though the Scenera Next is simple to install compared with other lightweight convertible car seats we tested, some of our testers still found it difficult to get a tight, secure install. It has hook LATCH straps that aren’t particularly easy to use—you really have to tug on the LATCH straps to get a tight fit, and getting them off can be an even bigger challenge. We preferred installing the seat with a seat belt in unfamiliar cars, which was an easier way to get a tight install (try the inside/outside trick with the shoulder belt), and made it much easier to uninstall.

Our testers also found that the chest clip on the harness wasn’t as responsive or easy to use as those on more expensive seats. The Scenera Next also has less padding than many seats, though Baer points out that the padding on most seats is highly compressible, meaning that just because a seat looks fluffier doesn’t mean it provides much more cushion.

This seat also has a few downsides if you bring it on a plane. Like most convertible car seats, it’s wider than the aisle, so you have to carry it awkwardly down the plane to get to your seat, which can be quite a challenge if you’re on your own and have other carry-on items (plus your child). Additionally, the plane’s seat belt buckle is going to be pushing into your child’s back if the seat is oriented forward-facing. Alisa Baer, co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, recommends installing any seat with this issue rear-facing, even if a kid is used to forward-facing. Or you can put a diaper or other soft item over the buckle to make it a bit more comfortable.

The Cosco Finale 2-in-1, our pick for best harness booster seat for travel.

The Cosco Finale 2-in-1 is a solid option for kids who are no longer rear-facing but still benefit from a five-point harness. It’s affordable, weighs just 12 pounds, and is relatively easy to install using the car’s seat belt while in harness mode (it also comes with LATCH straps, though we didn’t find these as easy to use). Like other boosters, when in booster mode, this seat relies on the car’s seat belt to secure the child, so there’s no need to install it.

This bigger-kid seat can see a growing child through years of travel: It can be used as a forward-facing five-point harness booster seat from 30 to 65 pounds and then as a regular (harness-free) booster from 40 to 100 pounds (up until a child is 52 inches tall).

As a five-point harness, it’s FAA-certified and easy to install on an airplane using the plane’s seatbelt. However, when it’s in booster mode, like all boosters, it cannot be used on an airplane.

In harness mode, the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 performed well in an NHTSA crash test. And several Wirecutter staffers use or have used the Cosco Finale 2-in-1 while traveling after their child outgrew the Cosco Scenera Next—they liked the price and straightforward install. Converting the seat to a booster is fairly straightforward , and the seat has storage for the harness, crotch buckle, and chest clip. Once the seat is in booster mode, your child can’t use it on an airplane, but many airlines will allow you to check a booster seat for free (you may wish to check with your airline in advance).

A more expensive version of the Cosco Finale 2-in-1, the Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 , is also available. The only difference between the two is the fabric—the DX has a tiny bit more cushion and a slightly less slippery texture. We asked several children to try each seat and then report their favorite (they wore blindfolds, to remove color preference as a factor). There was no clear winner between the two seats, and our adult testers could hardly distinguish a difference in the cushioning. For this reason, we don’t think it’s worth the extra $20 for the DX.

A closeup showing the five-point harness of the Cosco Finale 2-in-1.

When using the Finale 2-in-1 in harness mode, you first have to install it in the car, which you can do either with the seat’s LATCH straps or with the car’s seat belt. We found the Finale 2-in-1’s hook LATCH straps difficult to use—it’s hard to get a tight fit in the car, and getting them off can be a big challenge. As we did with the Cosco Scenera Next, we preferred installing the harnessed seat with a seat belt; this was an easier way to get a tight install (try the inside/outside trick with the shoulder belt) and also made it much easier to uninstall. (When the harness is removed and the seat is in booster mode, you do not need to install it in the car, since the car’s seat belt holds it in place and secures the child.)

Our testers also found that the chest clip on the harness was a bit more difficult to open compared to those on more expensive seats like the Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 . The straps have to be manually threaded through the car seat, which isn’t particularly difficult or time consuming, but you have to remember to do it before you install the seat. It also has less padding than many seats, though our child testers didn’t complain (however, we didn’t take it on any long road trips).

This seat won’t have as many years of use as other travel options, like the Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1, because the Cosco has a maximum height of 52 inches (most boosters go to 57 inches) and does not convert to a backless booster.

If you need to travel with a convertible car seat, you can bring the one you already have to the airport and onto the airplane with the Britax Travel Cart . The main benefit of bringing your own is that you’ll have a seat that you (and your child) are comfortable with, and that you know how to install confidently.

There are a number of similar travel carts out there, but we think this one offers the most for the price. We like that when the car seat is strapped onto the cart using the car seat’s LATCH clips, you can use the whole thing like a stroller and push (or pull) your child through the airport. The frame is also studier than other models—it can hold a total of 100 pounds of car seat and child. Plus, when it’s time to get on the plane you can fold the cart to stow it in an overhead bin.

A person pulling the Britax Travel Cart with a bulky convertible car seat on it.

At about $100 for the cart, it is cheaper to purchase a budget convertible car seat like the Cosco Scenera Next. However, depending on your circumstances, the Britax Travel Cart may outlive the expiration of many car seats (which are between six and 10 years), and could be used for future car seats, or passed along without as much consideration as a used car seat.

Our pick for the best booster seat for travel, the Cosco Rise.

For a cheap, no-frills booster seat, the Cosco Rise is a reliable option that weighs only 2.2 pounds. It’s simple to use: Like other backless booster seats, it does not need to be physically attached to the vehicle; a child simply sits in it and fastens the car’s lap belt over their knees (under the seat’s sides).

The Chicco GoFit Plus is our overall top pick for the best backless booster seat because it’s cushy, made with easy-to-clean materials, and includes two cup holders and a LATCH system to anchor the seat to the car. But it’s bulky, heavy, and not great for travel. The Cosco Rise has fewer bells and whistles, but it offers a key safety feature: Unlike many other boosters, this seat has a strap that attaches to a car’s shoulder belt to adjust the belt’s position for smaller riders (the shoulder belt should always rest on a child’s collarbone, and not against their neck).

The Cosco Rise can accommodate children as small as 40 pounds, as long as they are also 43 inches tall, meaning it will work for most kids 5 and up but may not accommodate some 4-year-olds.

A view of the Cosco Rise booster seat showing the strap that attaches to the vehicle's shoulder belt.

This seat is a bit too large to fit easily into a carry-on suitcase or backpack (it takes up almost all the room top-to-bottom in a standard-sized carry-on, with only a little room left on the side). There is also almost no padding on this seat, merely a polyester cover, but for short rides, our testers didn’t complain.

If you want an upgraded infant seat that’s great for travel : We recommend the Clek Liing , one of our favorite infant seats . Like the Chicco KeyFit 35, the Clek Liing can be installed without its base using a European belt path, which is much easier to get secure than the standard American belt routing found on most infant car seats. And when you’re at home, we love how easy it is to install the Liing’s base, which includes an added safety feature: a load leg .

If you want a high-end infant seat and don’t own a car: The lightweight, easy-to-clean Clek Liingo is similar to the Clek Liing but without the base. In general, we think installing a seat with the base is an easier and more secure option with infant car seats. But if you don’t own a car, the Liingo can be installed without a base in several ways. It has the same European belt path that the Liing has, which routes the lap belt over the top and the shoulder belt around the back for more security than an install that just goes over the top of the seat. The Liingo also comes with a LATCH strap that routes in the same spot as the lap belt—though we found this was not nearly as secure as the European belt path routing.

If you want a longer-lasting five-point harness seat for older kids: The Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 is a good choice. This forward-facing-only seat has a five-point harness that holds kids from 22 to 65 pounds and up to 49 inches tall, and it can be adjusted without rethreading it, so it is easier to modify as your child grows. When your child is ready for a regular booster, you can remove the harness and crotch buckle, converting the seat to a high-back booster that can hold a child from 40 to 100 pounds and up to 57 inches tall. Finally, you can remove the back and convert the seat to a lightweight backless booster that can also be used from 40 to 100 pounds and up to 57 inches tall.

First off, a car seat must be FAA-approved—as all of our recommended infant and convertible seats are—for a kid to ride in one on an airplane. (Booster seats are reserved for older children and not intended for use on airplane seats.)

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and CPSTs believe it is safer for kids under 2 to ride in a car seat aboard a plane rather than in their parents’ arms. In the event of turbulence or rough air, a child is much safer if strapped in. Being injured in turbulence , though very unlikely, does affect a handful of American flyers each year, and recent research indicates that turbulence is on the rise due to climate change.

Many parents find that air travel is easier when their child has their own seat (though of course you have to pay for that additional seat). Children are allowed to sit on caregivers’ laps on planes until age 2, but few toddlers can sit still for a long period of time, and that extra harness and recline (as well as familiarity) provided by the car seat may keep a child seated comfortably longer, especially once they are mobile but still too young to fully understand how to sit still in a lap belt.

There are a number of challenges to bringing a car seat, especially a convertible seat designed for a toddler, onto a plane. Some smaller planes may have seats that aren’t wide enough for many convertible car seats. And even if the car seat is narrow enough for the plane, not many seats are narrow enough to easily fit down the aisle. The Clek Foonf , one of our convertible car seat picks, is one of them, but it is pricey and heavy. (The Clek Fllo , Graco SlimFit3 LX , and Graco True3Fit also fit on an airplane seat, but we did not test them.) You’ll generally have to lift a car seat above the seats to carry it to the rear of a plane.

Finally, unlike a car seat buckle, which sits on your hip, a plane’s seat buckle sits right in the middle of your lap. That means for many car seats, once you install them on the plane, there’s going to be a large metal buckle below your child’s legs or behind their back (the Clek seats are among the few without this issue). Alisa Baer, co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, recommends using convertible seats with buckle-in-the-back issues rear-facing, even with a larger child—they’ll likely be more comfortable if their feet have a place to rest, plus they won’t be trying to rest their feet on the passenger’s seat in front of them. You can also put a diaper or spare T-shirt over the buckle to make it a bit more comfortable.

Some parents may find it simpler to use a CARES harness (Child Aviation Restraint System) to help keep kids in their seats on a plane (and their kids may prefer sitting in an airplane seat over a car seat); you install this four-point harness around the child’s seatback and under the tray behind it.

Most airlines allow at least one car seat to be checked for free but doing so has several potential problems . The luggage can be handled roughly and tossed, damaging the car seat in the process. Seats, like any piece of luggage, can also be lost or misplaced in transit. Ultimately, the main reason you may want to have your child use a car seat on the plane is so that you are absolutely confident you’ll have the car seat when you arrive at your destination.

For people who do check in their car seats, Harrison recommends—ideally—using the original box and styrofoam that the seat came with if they are available or using Bubble Wrap and a garbage bag if not. Examine the seat for visible damage when it comes out at baggage claim, and be prepared to replace the seat if it’s broken or bent.

Infant travel seats

The Chicco Fit2 can accommodate infants as small as 4 pounds and toddlers as large as 35 pounds or 35 inches. Like the Chicco KeyFit 35 we recommend as the best infant car seat for travel, it can be installed with a European belt path. But because of this seat’s large size, some seat belts are too short to route over the car seat securely.

Convertible travel seats

We previously recommended the lightweight, foldable, forward-facing WAYB Pico (rhymes with “baby”) as a good travel car seat for kids who are too big for the Cosco Scenera Next but still need a five-point harness. Its adjustable seat back allows it to accommodate taller kids, and its slim design means it takes up less room in the backseat than other car seats. The 8-pound seat is exceptionally convenient to install, uninstall, and carry around, including through airports and onto a plane. In September 2019, however, WAYB announced it was recalling 4,558 Pico car seats manufactured between March 1 and May 12, 2019, due to reports of breakage in the aluminum tube connecting the headrest to the seat. You can read NHSTA’s report (PDF) for details about the recall, how to identify your car seat’s date of manufacture, and how to inspect your car seat for damage. Since the recall, there have not been further reports of problems. Like all car seats sold in the US, the Pico was self-certified by WAYB to pass NHTSA standards (PDF) for safety testing.

The EvenFlo Tribute is a lightweight seat (9 pounds) similar to the Cosco Scenera Next and also has a weight limit of 40 pounds, but as our convertible car seat guide testing showed us, it’s not as easy to get a good install with this seat. CPSTs like Harrison recommend using a towel or pool noodle when using the Tribute to address this. It’s also more expensive than the Cosco Scenera Next.

Booster travel seats

We previously recommended the BubbleBum , an inflatable, portable backless booster seat for older kids. However, in February 2022, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety raised concerns about the safety of inflatable boosters. A study using a computerized model determined that an inflatable booster may not have the stiffness required to keep a child from sliding out from under the lap belt upon impact in a car crash.

The backless Cosco Topside is too large to fit into a carry-on or a backpack. Unlike the Cosco Rise , our favorite backless booster for travel, this booster seat also doesn’t have a belt-positioning clip, which can help the shoulder belt fit better on a smaller rider.

We liked the Graco RightGuide booster seat because it was small enough to fit inside a carry-on or backpack. But it was recently discontinued.

The Immi Go is a booster car seat with a five-point harness that folds conveniently into its own carrying bag. Due to low sales, it is no longer for sale in the US, but you may see this seat if you travel abroad.

The MiFold backless booster seat (currently unavailable) is small enough to fit into the back pocket of some pants and weighs less than 2 pounds. It works by moving the seat belt down to fit the kid (as opposed to raising the kid to fit the belt, as other boosters do). However, our testers found its hard plastic shell uncomfortable to sit on for long periods of time and said that the seat was complicated and unintuitive to set up. Also, a car seat safety expert we consulted noted that the design of the seat may encourage a child to use bad posture while they’re sitting in it—in an effort to find a more comfortable position, the child may tend to scoot forward, moving the slick-bottomed seat along with them, which could pose a safety concern.

Travel carts

The Torevsior Car Seat Travel Cart is about $25 less than the Britax Travel Cart we recommend, but it’s also less robust—the frame just doesn’t feel as sturdy. The weight limit is also lower than the Britax’s, at 70 pounds versus Britax’s 100 pounds. Like the Britax travel cart, the Torevsior cart has hooks for LATCH straps, to secure a car seat onto the cart so that your child can ride in it as you’re moving through the airport. It’s 6.4 pounds (Britax is 7.6 pounds), and extends up to 46 inches (Britax to 42 inches).

All of the guidelines for car seat care, use, and maintenance in our other car seat guides apply to travel car seats as well.

This guide was edited by Ellen Lee, Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.

Jessica Jermakian, vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety , email exchange , August 1, 2022

Alisa Baer, pediatrician, nationally certified child passenger safety instructor, and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady , phone interview, July 15, 2022 and January 9, 2023

Lani Harrison, CPST, Car Seats for the Littles , email interview , January 28, 2019

Meet your guides

Christina Szalinski

Christina Szalinski is a freelance science writer with a PhD in cell biology.

Rebecca Gale

The Best Booster Car Seats

by Rebecca Gale

After researching over 50 booster car seats and testing 13, we’ve concluded that the convenient Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is the best overall choice.

The two travel strollers we recommend, the Uppababy Minu V2 and the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller, standing next to each other.

The Best Travel Strollers

by Elise Czajkowski

After testing seven travel strollers on various trips and excursions, we’re confident that the Uppababy Minu V2 is the one to get.

Highway sign indicating meltdown ahead in half mile.

Traveling With Little Kids Can Be Tough. The Right Gear Can Help.

by Kerry Davis McGuinness

From compact car seats and cribs to portable blackout shades and white noise machines, the right tools for travel can lead to less fuss—and more fun.

Two infant car seats side by side, with baby toys.

The Best Infant Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski

After extensive research and field testing, we found that the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX is the best infant car seat for most families.

The 10 Best Travel Car Seats In 2024 (For Airplanes & Transfers)

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Our process involves independent research, testing (by using it whilst we travel), reviewing, and recommending the best products. Click here to learn more.

It can be so tricky to find car seats for airplanes.

Deciding which car seat is in actual fact the best travel car seat can be even more challenging.

Did you know that you can only use a portable car seat for travel on an airplane if it is has been FAA certified?

Now take into consideration that we need to find the best lightweight car seat for travel so we can easily port it around and lastly that we also need to find a car seat that is slim enough to fit on the narrow airplane seats.

It is no easy feat to find to find the best car seat for flying, and that fits all of those criteria!

Don’t have time to go through the entire list?

THE BEST CONVERTIBLE LIGHT CAR SEAT FOR TRAVEL

Our pick: Safety First Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

It is lightweight
Slim design for airplane seats
Suitable for weights from 5 - 65 lbs

See the Safety First Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat for travel reviews

Below you will find a list of best airplane car seats for 2024.

We also share some food for thought about whether you actually need a car seat as well as ideas on how to make it easier to actually travel with the car seat.

PS. Here is our guide to the best baby travel gear and the best travel gear for toddlers .

Best Car Seat for Travel Guide & Top 10 Compact Travel Car Seat Reviews

In this airplane car seat buying guide, we suggest you check out our comparison chart of the best car seat for air travel and then read our portable baby car seat reviews of the seats that best suit your requirements.

The below reviews are of the best convertible travel car seats, so if you are shopping for either:

the best travel car seat for 1 year old,
best travel car seat for 2 year old,
best travel car seat for 3 year old or
the best travel car seat for 4 year old,

we got you covered!

Click Here to See Our Pick for the B est Convertible Car Seat for Travel

FAA Approved Car Seats Comparison Chart

Below is a helpful airline approved car seat list of all the top rated car seats for travel, which are mentioned in this article.

You can then read my reviews below featuring the best car seat for airplane travel that 2024 has to offer.

Best Travel Car Seats Sorted by Age

We also thought it might be helpful to have a FAA child seat chart that is sorted by age.

Let's take a look at some options of the best travel infant car seat for babies from birth to 1 year of age and travel toddler car seats options that are perfect for little ones from 1 - 4 years of age.

Also, let us show you our recommendation for a car seat for travel on airplane for 3 - 4+ year old.

Before you choose which is the best car seat for plane use, we do recommend that you read through all of the reviews to get a clearer picture.

Top 10 Best Travel Car Seat Reviews

Below you will find the list of the best FAA approved car seats and best FAA approved convertible car seats. We will have a close look at the top air travel car seats.

I will outline the features, the pros and cons of each in detailed travel car seat reviews, which should help you choose the best travel car seat 2024 has on offer for you.

1. Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat Review

What We Love About It: It is only 18" in width - so it fits nicely on plane seats. The arm rests are low so we could use the plane tray table for eating.

Important to Note: For a car seat to be light, it has to compromise on comfort and quality, so we only keep this seat for travel purposes but have a better seat for when we are home.

This is one of the best selling travel baby car seat because you can use it straight from birth all way through to 65 lb.

It is cheap enough to take on a trip without worrying if it got dirty or banged up a bit.

It is lightweight (14 lb) and slim (18"), but still offers some cushioning for little babies.

Tip: There are also 2 removable cup holders on each side, which will save more space and make it more compact.

This safe travel car seat is certified for aircraft use in both the rear- and forward-facing positions

Is the Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat FAA approved

Lightweight

The Safety 1st car seat might not be the lightest car seat on our list (the WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat is), but it is still light enough at 14 lbs to carry with ease and offers more cushioning in comparison to the NEXT car seat.

It is important that your little one is comfortable which is why we prefer this car seat.

Convertible Car Seat

The seat is convertible and has a weight range of 5lb to 40lb when using rear-facing and a weight limit of 22lb to 65lb for forward-facing position.

Some Negatives

Whilst you can use this seat from 5 lb, we prefer the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX for infants. The straps are a bit hard to adjust and the padding slips around a bit.

Keep in mind this is a basic car seat (which is great as you won't mind if it gets knocked about on a trip), but a newborn baby, I prefer to spend more and get more protection for their necks.

Overall Opinion

The Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Car Seat is one of the best cheap baby car seats for travel. It is lightweight and slim enough to fit on airplane seats.

It has a wide weight limit so that you can use the seat for many years.

The seat is definitely one of the best car seat for traveling on an airplane and, in our opinion it is one of the best car seat for airplane 2024 options.

This is our pick for the best cheap car seat for travel and/or the best convertible car seat for air travel.

2. Cosco MightyFit 65 DX Convertible Car Seat Review

What We Love About It: It’s light weight and you can use it in a plane rear facing and front facing.

Important to Note: It could have more padding where the airplane buckle goes.

This travel-friendly car seat is a lightweight car seat for travel that is also a FAA certified car seat.

It has high safety ratings and it a bit taller in comparison to other cheap car seats, which means that the seat will last that bit longer before your little one hits the height limit.

It is FAA-Approved and can be used only on forward-facing positions on the plane.

The car seat is lovely and light at 12.76 lbs, which is the ideal weight for a car seat for aircraft use.

The seat is convertible and has a weight range of 5lb to 40lb when using rear-facing and a weight limit of 22lb to 65lb for the forward-facing position.

Whilst you can use this seat from 5 lb, we prefer the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX for babies and infants as it offers more support and protection for their necks.

The Cosco MightFit DX 65 Car Seat is a brilliant buy for older kids. The seat is cheap as chips and lightweight.

It is a great option as a portable car seat for 3 and 4 year old's, as the seat is nice and roomy.

It is also a fabulous car seat for home-use. You can fit 3 of these car seats in most cars, which is brilliant!

We love this car seat and I'm sure you will love it too.

3. WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat Review

What We Love About It: It folds! This is the narrowest and lightest car seat on our list.

Important to Note: This seat is so innovative, but it comes at a premium price.

Looking for a travel car seat for 2 years and up to 4 year old kids? This is a fabulous seat with extra room for growing kids.

The WAYB Pico travel car seat is super lightweight (8 lb) and lovely and slim (14.5"). It is such a great car seat that I would even recommend it for the car at home as well.

The car seat is lovely and light at 8 lbs, which is the ideal weight for a car seat for aircraft use.

Slim Design

The baby travel car seat is lovely and slim and at 14.5" it should fit comfortably on most airplane seats.

When folded the Pico car seat can fit into overhead bins and is easily carried while walking through the airport or to-and-from the car!

Forward-Facing ONLY

Because this seat is designed for older kids, you can only use it in the forward-facing position and it doesn't recline.

It is suitable for toddlers and kids older than 2 with a weight range of 22 - 50 lbs. It is roomy and lovely and tall for kids with height up to 45".

The WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat is a brilliant buy for older kids.

The seat is our most expensive travel car seat however if you are looking for a super lightweight and lovely slim travel car seat this is a great option for 2 - 4 year old's.

It is also a fabulous car seat for home-use and due to it's lightweight you can easily move it from car to car and it will fit in most cars, which is brilliant!

Tip: Check out our blog post on best portable car seat for 2 year old here.

4. Evenflo Sonus 65 Convertible Car Seat Review

The Evenflo Sonus 65 is ideal for use as a travel seat on the airplane. It is a FAA approved child restraint seat, it is lightweight (only 11.5 lbs.), and has a perfect width of around 19".

The Sonus is a lovely light 11 lbs. It is the second lightest car seat on our list and is the perfect seat to cart through an airport, you might even get away with carrying it if you have to.

The width of the car seat is 19", which means that the seat should fit comfortably on all plane seats, although you might have to lift the arm rests on the very narrow 16.5" seats.

Convertible

The seat can be used in rear-facing position from 5 – 40 lbs. and in the forward-facing position from 22 – 65 lbs.

You can find out how to install this seat in rear- and forward-facing positions on the plane in the manual here .

The Sonus 65 is a great convertible lightweight travel car seat.

It is suitable for babies and toddlers from 5 to 65 lbs. and offers 6 harness positions for a better fit. The seat is lightweight and slim.

We also love that the seat features a revolutionary air flow ventilation system that provides a temperature-regulated, which means that your little one will be comfortable no matter what the season or temperature is of your destination.

Read our review of this seat here.

5. Graco Contender Slim Convertible Travel Car Seat Review

Graco Contender Slim Convertible Car Seat

What We Love About It: It is light and compact. It is also a bit more comfy in comparison to the seats listed above.

Important to Note: If you need to use the seat in rear-facing, it will mostly likely be a very snug fit (and it might not even fit). It is better in forward-facing.

This Graco travel car seat is a great portable car seat that is FAA approved with a good safety ranking.

Despite it having a fixed base it is still lightweight (16 lbs.).

It is slightly more expensive than many of the other car seats on our list, but it is more cushioned and comfy.

The Graco Contender Slim Convertible car seat is a lovely lightweight car seat despite the fixed base, weighing in at only 16 lbs.

It is slightly heavier than other car seats so we do recommend you invest in a car seat carrier.

The Graco car seat is compatible with the Baby Trend Snap N Go car seat carrier.

It is a convertible car seat which means that you can use it in rear-facing to forward-facing positions.

It has a rear-facing weight limit of 40 lbs. and a forward-facing weight limit of 65 lbs.

The car seat is a bit more pricey in comparison to the cheap infant car seats such as Cosco, Evenflo and Safety 1st.

It also has a lower height (24.75") in comparison to Safety 1st (29.75"), which means that your little one might grow out of it before they hit the weight requirements.

As with many other car seats on the list, it can be tricky to install on planes.

The Graco Contender Slim is a great seller due to being able to use it from infants up to toddlers.

If you don't mind the slightly higher price tag, then this might be, in our opinion, the best travel convertible car seat for you.

It ranks high on our list as one of the best travel convertible car seat 2024 options, after all.

6. Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Car Seat Review

The Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 is a great portable car seat FAA approved and with a good safety ranking.

It is slightly more expensive than many of the other car seats on our list, but it offers better comfort from the cushion and padding.

The Graco SlimFit slim design makes the seat 10% slimmer despite the dual integrated cup holders.

It is a convertible car seat which means that you can use it in rear-facing to forward-facing positions. It is also used as a high-back booster seat.

It has a rear-facing weight limit of 40 lbs, and a forward-facing weight limit of 65 lbs. When used as a booster seat it has a weight limit of 100 lbs.

The Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 is a great car seat for air travel.

Although it is more expensive than the other car seats we have recommended, this car seat will provide value for money as you can use it from infants right up to the booster seat stage for your child.

It is also a great car seat to use in your car at home.

7. Graco TriRide 3-in-1 Car Seat Review

The Graco TriRide 3-in-1 car seat is not the best lightweight car seat for travel. It is a bit on the thicker and heavier side, but it is still an FAA certified car seat.

This car seat weighs just over 17 lbs (it is not the lightest car seat on our list!) which means that you should consider using the following to carry it with you through the airport.

We still do recommend that you put it in a car seat backpack or a car seat roller like the Baby Trend Snap N Go to make life easier.

Thicker Design

The Graco TriRide is not the slimmest with a width of 19" compared to other car seats we have recommended.

It will still fit through the security scanners and it should still fit on most airplane seats with the armrest up.

Please do check with the airlines to make sure that the size of this seat is allowed before you go.

Rear-Facing

The Graco TriRide car seat is a travel convertible car seat, which means that you can use this car seat in the rear-facing position for babies up to 40 lbs. and forward facing for little ones up to 65lbs.

When using the booster seat option, the seat can take a wight limit of up to 100lbs.

It is important to note that this seat can only be installed on the plane in the forward-facing position.

The Graco TriRide 3-in-1 is a very popular travel car seat because it offers value for money through the various weights and stages so can be used for a long time, but it also has high safety ratings.

The car seat is convertible and will last your bubs up until 100 lbs.

8. Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Travel Car Seat Review

The Evenflo Tribute LX is a favorite because it is such an incredibly lightweight infant car seat.

The Evenflo Tribute LX is the one of the lightest car seats on our list. It is compact and weighs only 12 lbs. which is pretty incredible!

The seat has been designed to fit on plane seats. It measures 22" so you might have to have the arm rest up on smaller seat planes.

I would also suggest you check the width of the bulkhead seats as they tend to be slightly more narrow than normal seats.

This car seat is convertible which means that it is suitable for newborns up to a weight of 30 lb when used in the rear facing position.

It has a weight limit of up to 40 lbs for forward facing.

The Evenflo Car Seat is a great car seat for travel. It is compact and lightweight and at a width of 22" it will fit on most seats with the arms rests down.

The seat will fit through the baggage security scanners. A great car seat with high safety ratings!

Find information on how to install this seat in rear- and forward-facing positions on the aircaft in the manual here.

Read our review of this car seat here.

9. Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Review

If you have a little baby, the best way to travel is with a capsule. Little babies sleep a lot and the last thing we want to do is to disturb their sleep by having to wake them up when we need to transport the seat.

Capsules are fabulous because you can leave your baby sleeping and simply grab the handle to carry baby through the airport.

Another fabulous things about this specific capsule is that it has the silent shade canopy which will help to block off the harsh plane lighting.

The capsule is suitable for infants from 4 - 35 lbs.

We also highly recommend that you can get the stroller frame that accompanies this capsule.

Graco SnugRider 3 Elite Car Seat Carrier

This travel system is ultra-lightweight at 16 lbs and is the perfect travel accessory for the capsule.

It also folds up great which is fabulous as it won't take up loads of room in your boot when you have to fit other luggage as well.

Grab the Graco SnugRider 3 Elite Car Seat Carrier here.

The capsule is lovely and lightweight at 10 lb. Important to note that you cannot use the base of the capsule on the plane (this is across the board with all capsules, not just this brand).

So best to pop the base in the overhead locker.

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX for airplane use

This capsule measures at 15.5 inches in width, which means that it definitely fit on all airplane seats.

Infant Travel Car Capsule

The Graco SnugRide is great for newborns babies up until 35 lbs.

It is a capsule style infant travel car seat which means that you can easily cary it around with the adjustable carry handle.

We absolutely love this baby capsule with the combination of the Graco stroller frame.

Both pieces are affordable, lightweight and small in size, which makes it perfect for vacations with your baby.

10. Graco Size4Me 65 Convertible Car Seat Review

The Graco Size4Me is a great and lovely cushioned seat for travel. T

he Graco car seat is FAA approved and whilst many people assume you can't travel with it due to its widest width being 22", you can actually still fit it on most plane seats with the arm rests down due to the narrow base and the way it is shaped.

The car seat is heavier than many other car seats on our list.

It weighs 19 lbs. so do ensure you have a car seat trolley or car seat backpack to port it around the airport.

Whilst the seat measures at 22" at the widest point, it does have a narrow base.

Which means that the seat should fit beautifully (with the arm rests down) on the larger plane seats, but you will most likely have to fly with the arm rest up on the slimmer seats.

This car seat is great for 4-40 lbs babies in rear-facing position and 20-65 lbs. in forward-facing position. Which makes it a great travel toddler car seat.

Be aware that it is on the heavier side, so don't try to carry it around the airport.

Due the width, you might also have to lift it up over the seats when you walk down the aisle in the plane (although friends have reported that it does fit down the aisle of some planes).

The Graco Size4Me 65 is a great portable toddler car seat to take along on trips. It fits beautifully on seats due to its narrow base and shape.

It is also really easy to install and adjust.

Important to note that it is slightly on the heavier side, but if you prefer a seat that is cushioned and super cozy for your baby, then we do recommend the Graco Car Seat.

Best Car Seat Travel Cart and Transporters for Airports

No matter how light the car seat is, I still suggest that you invest in either a car seat travel stroller or a backpack car seat bag to get around the airport.

Even with a trolley it might be slightly challenging to get your baby, luggage and car seat to the plane. Here are some great car seat cart options:

1. Britax Car Seat Travel Cart

The Britax Travel Cart is, in our opinion, one of the most popular travel carts for Britax car seat owners.

It is a great car seat roller cart that allows seats to attach effortlessly using the car seat latch connectors.

The one-hand telescoping handle is great as it adjusts to fit any height. It will fold down compact enough to fit into most airplane overhead compartments.

The Britax car seat travel cart will work with all Britax convertibles and harnessed booster seats, as well as with most other brands.

The cart is a lot heavier (20.8 pounds) in comparison to the Go-Go Babyz cart (5 pounds) down below.

>>> Check pricing of this cart here .

2. Go-Go Babyz Kidz Travelmate

The Go-Go Babyz Car Seat Luggage Cart is a great cart for USA car seats.

It works with both infant travel car seats as well as toddler convertible car seats. It has an additional fold down plate that you can use for larger car seats.

You can adjust the handle, which is great as you can make it shorter when stored and lengthen it out to make it easier to push (it has 4 positions).

It has wide-set 3" roller blade wheels which makes it easy to push along in the airport.

The Travelmate can be checked with your baggage, rolled to gate and checked, or rolled all the way on the plane to be used in flight or stored in the overhead compartment.

Folds to 28 x 17 x 5 inches. Weighs 5 lbs.

3. BRICA Roll ‘n Go Car Seat Transporter

The Brica Sar Seat Roller Cart is great as it fits most major brands of convertible and forward-facing car seats.

The best travel carseat stroller must have a lightweight design.

It has fold flat wheels as well as an adjustable telescopic handle which allows the cart to fold up in order to fit in an overhead locked on the plane.

Weighing just 5 pounds, this transporter folds flat (2-1/2 inches thick) for easy storage.

4. Car Seat Travel Accessory

For a small alternative, you can consider this car seat travel strap. Simply connect your car seat to your rolling carry-on suitcase and off you go.

Easy, although I would probably suggest you only use this option for the lightweight car seats.

Best Car Seat Travel Bag, Carts, Transporters and Protective Covers for Travel

I hope you managed to find a car seat for your next trip from our FAA approved car seats list, the next step is trying to figure out how to transport the car seat around the airport.

If you wish to check in your car seat, we highly recommend you purchase one of these top car seat bags for air travel.

Some airlines might give you a thin plastic car seat cover for travel, but they offer no protective.

The first time we traveled with our car seat, it got damaged so we never go without a protective car seat cover for travel now.

Here are some of the best infant car seat travel bags that we can recommend:

1. JL Childress Padded Car Seat Travel Bag

The JL car seat travel bag is a great option. It is durable and comes with a lifetime warranty. It is adjustable, has padded backpack straps and a lifting handle.

The interior of the travel car seat bag is padded. It has dual and lockable zipper openings and an ID card pocket to pop all your details.

>>> Check pricing of this bag here .

2. Flightjoy Travel bag

The Flightjoy Car Seat Bag for Travel is another great option. It has adjustable straps. The material is heavy duty, durable and will last. It is compatible with most baby car seats.

These infant car seat travel bags are also airline approved so you can carry it through the airport terminal gates when you want to use the seat on the airplane itself.

3. Britax Car Seat Travel Bag

The Britax Car Seat Airplane Bag is great for Britax car seats. The brilliant thing about this bag is that it has built-in wheels.

The car travel bag is light and has several straps to make it easy to carry. It is waterproof and comes at a pretty affordable price tag.

4. Jeep Car Seat Travel Bag

The Jeep Airplane Car Seat Bag is a great universal car seat travel bag. It is nice and large in size to fit even the bulkiest of seats.

It has shoulder straps and made from quality durable fabric. it is also waterproof and lightweight.

You can also choose to invest in the Jeep car seat travel bag with wheels if you prefer.

5. JL Gate Check Car Seat Bag

After a simple, no-frills car seat gate check bag that will get the job done? Then the JL Childress Car Seat Check Bag is for you.

It’s lightweight and easy to carry. It is large enough to fit most car seats. Simple, but effective and affordable.

Does My Child Need a Car Seat on an Airplane?

Ultimately the answer to this question comes down to safety and how important your baby or toddler's safety is to you.

The American FAA does strongly recommended that you use an approved child restraint device when travelling with infants less than 2-years old.

Ultimately car seats are the safest and most comfortable way for infants to travel on a plane.

Plus a toddler travel car seat for airplane use really comes in handy as your child know that they are expected to stay put in the seat.

But, in saying all of that, you are not legally required to use a car seat on the plane, so it does come down to your own decision.

Of course, you would also need to purchase an additional seat in order to use the car seat on as well, so keep that in mind.

A convertible car seat on airplane can be an easy option, allowing for use both rear and forward facing. We prefer a convertible travel car seat over an infant travel car seat.

You will also need to ensure that the car seat has FAA approval. Not every car seat can be used on the plane!

More information and the best infant car seat for travel below.

FAA Baby and Toddler Car Seat Regulations for Airplanes

In order to be allowed to use your car seat on the plane, it must be FAA approved. How do you find out if your car seat is FAA approved?

Have a look at the sticker on the side of the seat and see if it says “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraf t .”

If you are located in Australia , the car seat must be approved to Australian Standards AS/NZS 1754. So make sure your seat has an AS/NZS 1754 approved safety label.

FAA Requirements

For a child less than 40 lbs. : Secure your child in an FAA approved car seat for the duration of the flight. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This would typically be in the rear-facing position.

For a child 22lbs – 44 lbs. : For babies and toddler at this age, you could either use an approved car seat or you could choose to secure them in the airplane seat in an Airplane Child Safety Harness .

The harness restraint is the only FAA approved child airplane harness system that is allowed to be used during takeoff, landing as well as in flight.

More about this device below.

More than 40 pounds: Kids can use an airplane seat belt, however many parents typically keep their child in a car seat till around 4 years.

FAA-Approved Child Harness Device

The Airplane Harness Child Safety Device is the only FAA approved harness restraint for children weighing between 22 and 44 lbs (kids 1-year and older).

The benefits of a this harness is of course that it is small and portable enough to carry in your carry-on bags.

The negatives are that your child will be required to sit up pretty straight on the airplane seats and the harness is really uncomfortable to sleep in.

So we do still prefer a toddler portable travel car seat as they are more comfy for kids.

>>>Learn more about this FAA approved child restraint or check out the airplane harness here .

You can find a list of 7 other great car seat alternatives for travel here.

Travel Car Seat Buyers Guide

Things that you should look out for when purchasing a car seat for travel use.

1. Weight of Seat

Ultimately the best car seats for travel should be lightweight, compact and portable. The weight of the seat is important for your own sanity.

We prefer a car seat that is around 10 lbs. (Slightly over is still okay).

You will be required to lift the car seat in and out of the car, on to trolleys, port it around the airport as well as potentially have to lift it over peoples heads on the plane to carry it down the aisle. Stick to a lightweight car seat. Trust me!

2. Width of Seat

The width of the seat is another important consideration. Just because the seat has FAA approval does not mean that it will fit on the plane seat.

Plane seats can be anywhere from around 16" to 22". Most are around the 17 or 18" mark.

You can check to see if your plane is list on the SeatGuru seat chart table to see what size your seat will be ahead of time.

We find that child care seats around 18" or under fit on all airplane seats. Although you might have to lift the armrest on the 16" seat planes.

Another important consideration with slim designs is so that the seat will fit through the security scanner.

If the seat won't fit, the will need to hand inspect the seat and it would slow down the whole checking in process.

3. FAA Approval

As mentioned above, you will need to ensure that you purchase a FAA approved infant car seats or FAA approved toddler car seats.

You can do this by checking the sticker on the side for this saying: “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraf t .”

3. Convertibility

When you are shopping for the best car seat for international travel, make sure to get the best convertible car seat for travel option there is.

Buying a convertible car seat means that you will save money in the long run.

Convertible travel car seats can accommodate your child from infant to toddler with ease, from approximately 5 lbs. to 65 lbs. comfortably.

Most of our seats on our list are convertible airline approved car seats.

With that in mind, please make sure to check out the convertibility features carefully and choose the travel car seat that suits you best.

Tips for using a Car Seat on an Airplane

Here is a list of some tips to make life easier when it comes to using your car seat on an airplane.

1. Booking Seats

Important to note that you will need to use the car seat in a seat that won't block anyone's exit, so for example a window seat.

You will only get away with using your car seat in the bulkhead seats if your car seat is really narrow. Bulkhead seats have fixed armrests, thus reducing the amount of width available for a car seat.

You won't be allowed to use the seat in exit rows or where it could block anyone's exit path.

2. Rear-Facing Car Seats

Another consideration is that if you use a rear-facing seat, the person in front of the seat might not be able to recline at all. So consider booking one parent to the right of your baby and one in front.

3. Notify the Airline of your Intent to use a Car Seat

Do take the time to make a call to the airline in advance to notify them that you intend to travel with car seat.

As extra precaution we also recommend that you request to have this noted to your booking and also ask for written confirmation of approval that you can bring out and take with you on the plane.

4. Infant Capsule Seats with a Base

Another tip that might be useful is that the base of the capsule style infant travel car seats are NOT FAA approved and you would need to check-in your base or pop it in the overhead compartment (if it fits). You can only use the seat part on the plane itself.

5. Booster Seats and Plane Travel

According to regulations, booster seats are not permitted on-board.

Some airlines might let you use the booster seat for flying, but it will need to be stored for take-off and landing, but realistically speaking they can tell you that you are not allowed to use it at all as there are NO FAA approved booster seats. Sorry!

If you use a combination car seat/booster car seat, you can use the car seat with the internal harness, but the booster seat is not acceptable because there is no shoulder belt to use with the seat.

Tip: Here are the top 10 best travel booster seats .

6. Getting Around the Airport with your Seat

Making your way through the airport with a child, luggage, and a car seat can be a challenge.

Fortunately there are ways to make your life easier and easier means better! Last thing you want on the airport is an added struggle.

You could choose to invest in either a car seat trolley or choose to carry it around on your back with a car seat backpack.

You will find different recommended products for both of these options at the bottom of the guide.

>>> Click here for more helpful information on using a car seat for plane travel .

Answers to FAQ

1. should i bring a car seat on the plane.

Flying with a car seat is your safest option when flying with a baby or toddler. This is because the seatbelts on airplanes are not designed for their little bodies.

The general recommendation is for children under 40lbs to fly in an FAA-approved restraint which can either be one of the car seats for planes or an airplane harness.

The great thing about taking your car seat with you is that when you reach your destination you have a car seat to use when traveling either in the taxi or in your rental car.

Most airlines will allow you to check a car seat into the hold for free in addition to your baggage allowance.

This applies to toddler car seats and booster seats as well as baby car seats.

So yes, you should purchase one of the best car seats for airplanes so that you can keep your child safe.

2. Can you rent a car seat from an airline?

No you cannot rent a car seat from an airline. Most airlines will allow you to check a car seat into the hold for free in addition to your baggage allowance.

3. Are all car seats airline approved?

The short answer is no, not all car seats are airline approved. We always recommend that you check if your airline does allow car seats and if it does, it must normally be an FAA or TÜV-approved seat.

This means it is approved for use in an aircraft. To find out if you have an airline-approved car seat, check to see if it is marked "For Use In Aircraft".

Most car seats will have a sticker near the base of the car seat and it should have in red letters that it is approved for airplane or aircraft use.

4. What car seats can be used on planes?

Nearly every car seat in the US is approved for aircraft use - but not all are. But it is important to purchase car seats approved for air travel, so make sure it says it is FAA approved to avoid any issues with the flight attendants.

The only car seat that you cannot use is a booster seat as you require a seat belt that goes over the shoulder and lap when securing.

We suggest using a high-backed booster seat as they are allowed on planes if they have a 5-point harness.

5. What is FAA approved?

FAA approval means that the car seat has passed a standard airworthiness test and therefore allows you to travel with the car seat on a plane.

6. How do you pack a car seat on an airplane?

If you are checking in your car seat when flying we would recommend that you pack the car seat in a car seat travel bag. This will help prevent your travel car seat from being spoiled or damaged.

If your airport does offer baggage wrapping service we would also recommend this as it will add an extra layer of protection to the car seat.

7. Is it better to gate check a car seat?

Gate checking your car seat might not be as convenient as checking your car seat with your baggage when you check in, however the advantage to checking your car seat reduces the time and handling of your car seat by someone else.

This means less opportunity for your car seat being lost or damaged!

8. How do I check my car seat at the airport?

When you check in you can check your car seat at the same time if you wish it to go into the hold with the usual luggage.

First you will need to get it checked and tagged at the counter where you get your tickets and then you will most likely have to drop it off to the oversized luggage counter.

When checking in your car seat to the hold this is not counted as a part of your baggage allowance and most airlines will allow you to check a car seat into the hold for free.

This applies to toddler car seats and booster seats as well as baby car seats.

We always recommend checking with your airline first to be sure of the rules and what they will and won't allow.

9. Do airplanes damage car seats?

Unfortunately, any item that is checked into the hold is at risk of being damaged or even lost.

We would recommend that if you do plan to check in a car seat, purchase a cheap FAA approved car seat for the flight.

This way if it is lost or damaged, it is not your expensive car seat that you use in the car at home.

10. Can I take my baby in a taxi without a car seat?

A child can only travel in a taxi or private hire vehicle without a child car seat if he or she sits in the back.

However, even though this is allowed we would always recommend that a car seat is used when traveling in a vehicle as this is the safest option.

Children older than three years old must use the car's adult seat belt and it is advised that children under three should not use a seat belt.

11. Do airports provide car seat bags?

No, airports do not provide car seat bags as each car seat is different in size and there is not one size fits all car seat bags available.

We have at times grabbed a normal thin plastic bag from the counter to use, however it didn't add any protection for the seat so is not recommended.

Verdict on Our Pick of the Best Travel Car Seat

Your baby's safety will of course top priority when it comes to choosing a car seat for travel. You may also take into account the style as well as your preference, needs, and budget.

If you want a travel car seat that will work for both travel and home use then our top pick would be the Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat . It is also great value for money as you can use it from birth up to 65 lbs which means you will get a good few years of use.

Although the Safety 1St Jive 2-in-1 can be used from 5 lbs, we do prefer the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX for babies and infants as it offers more support and protection for their necks.

If you prefer to travel light and with minimal fuss then the WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat is perfect. It folds up small and compact and does not take up much space when not in use or you have to transport it when not using. It is perfect for ages 2-4 years old.

If you want to travel super light and not have to worry about a car seat for when you arrive at your destination, a great option for children aged two years or older who have their own seat and do not need much support is the Newroutes Airplane Safety Harness .

If you opt for the Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 car seat we suggest investing in the Britax Car Seat Travel Cart as it will make transporting the seat around the airport so much easier.

We also recommend the Britax Car Seat Travel Cart for the WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat. Although this travel cart is made by Britax it works with most other brands of car seats as well. If you want to check this travel seat in then we recommend the smallest of all check-in bags, the JL Gate Check Car Seat Bag .

To give your Cosco Might Fix 65 DX travel car seat the best protection when you check it in when not using it on the plane, be sure to get the JL Premium Backpack travel bag .

We hope this article has helped you decide on the best travel car seat for flying. Have a safe and comfortable trip.

Why Trust Wanderlust Storytellers

Jolene Ejmont is an author with almost a decade of experience in researching and writing about travel and lifestyle products.

Additionally, she is a mother to 3 kids. She has experience traveling with a baby, toddler, preschooler, tween and teenager.

In the process of creating this list, Jolene delved into the research of numerous products, scrutinizing crucial specifications such as dimensions, weight rating, and reviews, both positive and negative.

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7 Best Portable Car Seats for Babies, Toddlers and Big Kids

We prioritized lightweight car seats for travel by plane, rental car and rideshare.

7 best portable car seats for traveling with the whole family

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Portable Infant Car Seat

Doona car seat stroller.

Best Value Portable Booster Seat

Graco turbobooster 2.0.

Best Portable Convertible Car Seat

Cosco scenera next.

Best Portable Foldable Booster Seat

Peg perego viaggio flex 120.

Best Portable All-in-One Car Seat

Graco 4ever dlx.

Best Lightweight Portable Car Seat

Wayb pico travel car seat.

Best Portable Travel System for Babies

Nuna pipa urbn + trvl stroller.

Aside from requiring a lot more gear, traveling with kids can be quite stressful, and in between packing your luggage and investing in a travel stroller , there's little mental energy for anything else. Fortunately our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab have been testing car seats for decades, including the best convertible car seats and the best booster seats . We test based on safety features, functionality, ease of use and value. Our picks are based on tests done in-Lab by our experts, evaluations from our consumer testers and extensive research.

Head to the end of this guide to find more information on how we test, whether or not you should use a car seat on a plane, what to look for when shopping for the best portable car seats and more. Looking for more to make traveling with kids as easy as possible? Check out our favorite outdoor-ready stroller wagons , good diaper bags and the winners of our Family Travel Awards .

The Doona car seat is our pick for the best overall car seat and stroller combo and it's one of our past Parenting Award winners. A dedicated fan following backs it up; see its more than 12,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The Doona makes it easy to switch between car seat and stroller mode in seconds even with your baby strapped inside. In short, you don't need a separate infant car seat and a stroller, because this is both.

"It's the easiest stroller to maneuver through airport security and around an airport terminal," says one tester who's a mom of two young kids. It goes into a rideshare vehicle using the seat belt (no stroller to put in the trunk!). It's also FAA-approved for use in an airplane cabin and fits on most economy airplane seats, which are often about 17 inches wide.

Rachel Rothman , the Good Housekeeping Institute's former Chief Technologist and a mom of three, is a fan of this for travel. But it's important to note that, as well as being pricey, the Doona is only for rear-facing use and for toddlers up to 35 pounds. Toddlers outgrow it typically at age 2. But if you'll travel a lot in those first two years — even if it's just catching Ubers around town — you'll be grateful for the Doona.

Big kids need a bit of help ensuring that the seatbelt is hitting their body just right, so this backless booster gives them that extra height. It's also exceptionally small, lightweight and easy to travel with; you might even keep several in your car's trunk for when you're carpooling other kids.

Because it's backless, it doesn't offer as much support as a highback booster (for that, see the Peg Perego on this list). It is okayed for ages 4 and up as long as they weigh at least 40 pounds and could be great for a quick trip when you don't want to lug something large. This fits into a tote bag!

With its two hideaway cupholders, machine-washable seat cushions and padded armrests, this tucks a lot of features into a (really!) affordable seat. It's no surprise that it has more than 59,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. While it isn't airline approved — all booster seats require a shoulder belt, which you won't find on an airplane — its compact size makes it incredibly simple to slide into your overhead bin to later use in taxis, Ubers or other vehicles once you get to your destination.

For a little more money there's a TurboBooster LX version that works with LATCH; nice if you'll be keeping this in one car for a length of time.

Got enough to carry already? At 10 pounds, this is the best lightweight convertible car seat for traveling and it won't break the bank. Five harness heights and three buckle locations help customize the seat to your baby or toddler's size, though it's the kind of harness you have to rethread each time you need to change it.

The Scenera can be installed rear-facing for babies and toddlers and forward-facing for preschoolers up to 40 pounds but lacks the cushioning and other comforts, like a recline mechanism, we've come to enjoy in an everyday toddler car seat . Still, with its deep bucket seat, this will keep your tiny passenger comfy enough and car seat compliant when you're traveling and in and out of other people's vehicles. It's especially great as a rear-facing travel option for 2- and 3-year-olds who have outgrown an infant car seat.

You can remove both the cupholder and seat pad for washing. The seat pad can even go in the dryer. The brand claims that three of these seats fit across a back seat and our tests were able to validate that in certain vehicles. It can be installed with the LATCH system or a seatbelt. It's approved for airplane seats and like our best overall pick it fits on most economy seats.

Kids who are at least age 4 and who weigh 40 pounds or more will appreciate the comfort of this belt-positioning booster seat just as much as parents will appreciate its ability to fold down to a fraction of its size.

The Flex 120 has an exceptionally large weight range, functioning for kids up to — you guessed it — 120 pounds. While it's a bit pricier than some other booster options, its ability to compact down makes it perfect for folding up and storing in a bag that you can then gate-check, or even fit into the overhead bin while in-flight. Note that no belt-positioning booster is certified for use in an airplane cabin because they're meant to be used with a car's shoulder belt, not an airplane lap belt. The big kids who fit this are good to use the airplane belt anyway! This is perfect for use in a rideshare, taxi or a far-off relative's vehicle when you land.

Customize this booster to your child by adjusting the headrest, upper backrest, side wings and seat. In addition to being an easy portable car seat, this is another great choice for grandparents or other caregivers who only occasionally drive big kids around because it so easily fits into a car's trunk when not in use.

This is larger and heavier than any of our other choices. However, this is the most portable all-in-one car seat that grows with your little one from a rear-facing infant car seat to a backless booster, from 4 to 120 pounds .

Its versatility means that it may be the only car seat you ever have to buy, and if you travel infrequently, you could manage to tote this on a few trips and avoid buying something separate just for travel. It is certified to work on an airplane seat with the harness (so, up to 65 pounds), but it's about 3 inches wider than many economy airplane seats so the fit isn't great; one Reddit user said they put it in the window seat and then just accepted squeezing themselves into the middle-seat position.

While testing, we appreciated how easy this car seat was to install and use, making it pretty difficult to mess up due to user error. We also love how highly adjustable it is, with a six-position recline and a no-rethread harness with 10 possible heights. The easy-to-remove washable seat pads make it simple to clean up after your little one. If you're taking it with you into a rideshare and can't use the LATCH installation system, there's an integrated belt lock off on the back of the seat that helps make seat belt installation as simple as possible.

This is a pricey option that has a fan following with frequent travelers who travel with a preschooler. It folds down into its own carrying case, which can be worn as a backpack, so you can easily get it through the airport and store it in a hotel. It's got a five-point harness and is meant for kids up to 50 pounds. The brand says it's for kids as young as 2 but because rear-facing is safest and this only faces forward, we would not recommend using it for a child until they are at least age 3, preferably 4.

The Pico does not have side-impact protection and other safety features we want on an everyday car seat, but for travel we agree that this has portability appeal. It also gets knocked in reviews for not being comfortable for long car rides if your child likes to nap, but again, we're putting it on this list for on-the-go families who are in "something is better than nothing" mode, even for short train, bus or van rides.

Our experts appreciate how lightweight this seat is (8 pounds), and that it easily fits even on the smallest economy airplane seat (it's FAA-approved). The seat can either be installed using the LATCH system or the seatbelt in a car or airplane.

If you're a city family that doesn't even own a car, there's a big reason to love the PIPA portable infant car seat: It's built to be installed without a base and is exceptionally easy to move between vehicles, including rideshares like Uber.

It's got a built-in rigid LATCH system or alternatively you can use the back seat seatbelt. Plus, the PIPA urbn only weighs 7 pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats we know of and an easy one to carry from place to place. The stroller, too, is lightweight at just under 14 pounds and can be folded down using just one hand. The car seat is built to ride on top of the stroller, for instance to get them both through an airport, and we named it our favorite lightweight travel system .

The infant car seat does not have a high weight limit, however. Your baby will outgrow it when they hit 22 pounds or are 29 inches tall, whichever comes first. For some that can mean by their first birthday. But the stroller will stay useful through the preschool years since it has a weight limit of 50 pounds. The car seat is airline-approved and will fit on most economy cabin seats.

How we test the best portable car seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute's engineering and parenting pros have reviewed dozens of car seats over the past five years, including portable car seats . Our Lab experts work with parents to test these car seats on a variety of vehicles of different brands and sizes to ensure that you can find the right car seat for your family.

Each car seat we consider has passed Federal Safety Standards. We perform tests both in the Lab and at home to evaluate each product's safety, ease of installation, stability, ease of adjustments, stroller compatibility and portability. To accomplish this, we set up each car seat in a variety of vehicles and strollers. We evaluate how easy it is to secure the harness as well as how difficult it is to install the car seats. For portable car seats we pay special attention to whether they can be installed without a LATCH system and to whether they are approved for use in an airplane cabin.

What to look for when shopping for a portable car seat

Whether you're going on a trip or often take your child places in a rideshare vehicle, if you need a portable car seat you should consider these things:

✔️ Height and weight limits : All car seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seatbelt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges. Once they meet the maximum in either height or weight, it's time to switch. If you have an adjustable car seat that transitions to a booster look at the labels on the car seat, check the user manual or contact the manufacturer so you know when it's time to switch modes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can help you determine the right kind of car seat for your child based on their age, weight and height. That will help you figure out if you can use an infant car seat or if you need a convertible car seat and if you're ready to move on to a booster car seat for travel.

✔️ Weight : The lightest car seats are often the most portable. We get especially excited when we find any that are less than 15 pounds, though a few on our list are heavier than that.

✔️ Easy cleaning : Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many other car seats, most portable seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.

✔️ Design : Traditional car seats have a ton of padding, robust side-impact protection and extra features that are important for everyday but might be overkill for short trips. The best design for a portable car seat is a slim, streamlined one.

✔️ Ease of installation : Since you will be re-installing the car seat each time you put it in a new car or aircraft, it's important to find a car seat that is so easy to install it won't take more than a few minutes. The easiest car seats for traveling can be installed without a car seat base.

✔️ State laws : Before you bring your car seat across state lines, check state laws to be sure you'll be compliant. Often children through age 7 must be in a child-restraint seat. But if you're heading to Florida for Disney World, the laws there only apply to children through age 5.

Should you bring a car seat on the plane?

While it is not mandatory to strap your little one into a car seat on an airplane, many parents opt to do so since it can be both a safer and more comfortable for everyone . It's recommended to do so for children under age 2 by the FAA and AAP. Note: For your child to ride in a car seat, you'll need to buy them their own plane ticket so they're guaranteed to have the space. If your baby under age 2 is flying as a free "lap baby" you are not guaranteed space for your car seat.

Before you bring a car seat onboard, check that it has an FAA-approved sticker. It's also a good idea to bring along your car seat manual to help ensure that you're properly installing the seat on the aircraft. There are helpful videos on YouTube, too, that show how to buckle a car seat in with a lap belt. (This one from the FAA shows how to install a forward-facing car seat on a plane .) Watch some before your trip!

The average airline seat is about 17 inches wide and measures 30 inches from the back of the seat to the seat in front of you — but size can vary depending on which airline you are flying. Because of this, it's best to pick a narrow, compact car seat. Infant car seats fit better than most convertible car seats, though we find that the Cosco choice on our list generally fits well.

For those who are traveling with a car seat who don't plan to use it while on the plane, many airlines will check the car seat or booster seat for free at the check-in desk or at the gate. It might be a good idea to purchase a travel bag to fit it in, to help avoid damage.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Lab pros and journalists at the Good Housekeeping Institute provide expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including portable car seats.

This article was overseen by Rachel Rothman , former Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute, who was trained in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics. As a mom to three kids, she personally used many of the products we recommend.

In her former role as Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst, Jamie Spain brought years of experience to the Institute and wrote the first iteration of this story. It has since been updated by contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn who has followed the car-seat market for 25 years, previously for Parents magazine and American Baby magazine. She's also a mom of two.

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People , covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

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Best FAA-approved Car Seats For Airplanes

Updated on: September 19, 2023

Written by: Fatima O. Millers, CPST

This post contains affiliate links. We might be compensated if you buy using our links .

When traveling with children, parents’ first priority should be the safety and well-being of the children. That’s why here at the Car Seat Parent community, we highly recommend using a car seat when fl y ing with your baby.

It’s certainly an additional expense and effort, but the peace of mind that the child is much safer in a properly secured seat is incomparable to her sitting on our laps.

But if you do choose to secure your tiny creature in a car seat, you will have to do a lot of research on the airlines, and their car seat rules, and then find a suitable car seat before you book your tickets.

In this round-up, we will reduce your efforts and list our favorite car seats for airplane travel. Most of these car seats are narrow enough to slide into those cramped economy seats, light enough to lug around the airport, and most importantly FAA-approved .

Let’s begin!

Comparison Chart: Best car seats for airplanes

Top car seats for airplane travel.

Below are our individual car seat reviews, including infant, and convertible car seats (Booster seats are not allowed on the airplane).

Read our reviews if you are looking for:

A car seat to use on the plane for your 1 year old ,
A car seat to use on the plane for your 2 year old ,
A car seat to use on the plane for your 3 year old ,
A car seat to use on the plane for your 4 year old

Doona (Best car seat-stroller combo for airplane travel)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: A great car seat stroller combo that will make transporting your child through the airport easier.

There is nothing better than having a car seat and a stroller in one and the Doona offers you just that.

The Doona is an infant car seat that converts into a stroller in seconds . You just pop the legs out and you are ready to roll.

The best part is that you won’t have to worry about carrying a heavy car seat through the airport.

The Doona is a rear-facing car seat that’s FAA-approved. Meaning, you are allowed to use it on the plane as a safety seat.

It is also sufficiently narrow (17 inches only) to fit on airplane seats and in 3 across installations in your car.

Key Specs:

Dimensions: 23″ H x 17″ W x 22″ D
Fits: Rear-facing only (4 to 35 lbs; up to 32″ in height)
Weight: 16.5 lbs

Read our full review of Doona here

Chicco KeyFit 30 (Best Infant Car Seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: A budget-friendly infant car seat that’s easy to use and install on the airplane. It’s also very lightweight.

Best compact infant car seat for small cars

The all-time popular Chicco Keyfit30 is also suitable for aircraft use. This infant seat measures only 16.5 inches wide and it is one of the lightest infant seats on the market (9.5 lbs without base).

The Chicco Keyfit 30 can be used from 4 to 30 pounds rear-facing and it provides a secure and comfortable fit even for premature babies.

We love the Keyfit 30 because it’s easy to use and install.

This seat is an affordable infant car seat for air travel ( Around $190 on Amazon ). So, you won’t have to worry about getting your fancy $500 car seat banged up at the airport.

And trust me, traveling with a car seat can get things really messy!

Dimensions: 27.5” x 17” x 24”
Fits: Rear-facing (4 to 30 lbs; up to 30″ in height)
Weight: 9.6 lbs

Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX (Best budget car seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: Budget-friendly convertible car seat that can be purchased as a second seat just for traveling purposes. Easy to carry, compact and it costs less than $100.

If you are looking for a dedicated travel car seat that can last you a bit longer, we recommend the Cosco Mighty Fit.

This FAA-approved convertible seat is both compact and lightweight and it comes at a great price point (Less than $100).

You can use the Mightly Fit for both rear-facing and forward-facing from 5 up to 65 pounds , this gives you a few years of use which is not a bad investment for the price.

It is however not the best car seat to install. It took us a lot of effort and time to get the hang of it. But this is not a superrise. Most affordable car seats are a bit tricky to install and use.

But if you are looking for a more user-friendly convertible car seat, check out our next seat on the list.

Dimensions: D14″ x W18.50″ x H30.50″
Fits: Rear Facing (5-40 lbs, and 19-36″); Forward Facing (22-65 lbs and 29-52″)
Weight: 12.76 lbs

Graco Contender Slim (Best comfortable car seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel : A go to travel car seat that’s easy to install, and comfortable for long trips. It’s lightweight which makes it our favorite convertible car seat for airport travel.

Frequent traveler families love the Graco Contender slim . It’s a popular travel car seat for so many reasons. It can be used in both rear-facing and forward-facing, cozy, compact, easy to use, and affordable.

It’s equipped with a No-rethread harness so it’s easy to adjust the harness height as your child grows.

Plus, when installed on the plane seat, the airplane seat belt buckle goes behind the Contender’s frame and won’t rest against your child’s back. This provides a more comfortable flying experience for you and your child.

Similar to the Graco Contender Go, the Contender Slim has ditched the fixed cup holder that the original Contender 65 had and replaced it with a clip-on cup holder.

Both the Contender Slim and Contender Go have the exact same features of the original model but they are slightly slimmer thanks to the removable cup holder feature.

Dimensions: L21.5 x W18.9 x H24.75 inches
Fits: Rea-facing 5-40 lb and your forward facing 22-65 lb
Weight: 16 lbs

Safety 1st Jive 2-in-1 (Best user-friendly car seat for Airplanes)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: It’s super light weight allows you to easily transport the Safty 1st Jive through the airport. It’s also well priced for the long use period it offers.

Safety 1st Jive is another great car seat option for travel. It’s not too heavy to carry in a car seat backpack or strap it to your carry-on-suitcase, and it installs super easily on both planes and cars.

For around $100, the Safety 1st can be used from 6 months up until your child is 6 or 5 years old which is a worthwhile investment to be honest.

We also like how compact it is when installed rear-facing in the car, so if you have a small car, it’s definitely a win.

Dimensions: 18.13 D x16 W x 29.75 H
Fits: Rea-facing (5-40 lb); Forward facing (22-65 lb)
Weight: 10 lbs

WAYB Pico (Best portable car seat for air travel)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: Wayb Pico is a foldable car seat that’s easy to handle when traveling through the airport, taking Taxis and Ubers. Plus, it comes with its own premium travel bag.

WAYB Pico is a forward-facing only car seat that fits kids 22-50 lbs. The special thing about this car seat is that it can actually fold and be carried in a bag that comes with it.

The best part is that it weighs just 8 pounds. With the WAYB Pico , no more backbreaking heavy lifting!

It has a 5-point harness to keep your child safely strapped in the car or plane (It’s FAA & NHTSA approved)

You can easily install it using either the LATCH system or seatbelt.

Dimensions : 15.2“L x 14.5”W x 27.8”H
Fits: Forward-facing only (22-50 lbs, 30” up to 45” tall)
Weight: 8 lbs

CARES (Best Airplane harness for kids)

Reasons to consider for airplane travel: If your child is 1 year old or more and for some reason you cannot use a car seat on the plane, consider the CARES safety harness as your plan B. Cares insures that your child is safely strapped in aiplane seat.

While CARES is not a car seat, it’s an aviation restraint system for kids. It’s designed specifically for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds to use on the airplane.

It’s basically an FAA-approved safety belt that attaches to the plane seat to support the regular seatbelt.

We love this brilliant solution because it’s easier to install than a car seat. It literally takes a minute to install it on the airplane seat.

And this is what CARES set up looks like when installed on the airplane.

Good to know: CARES is an Aviation only harness system and cannot be used for cars.

Key specs:

Dimensions: Can be folder to fit in a 6” pouch
Fits: 1 year old or more (22 up to 44 pounds)
Weight: 1 lbs

Buyer’s Guide: How to choose a car seat for Airplane travel?

Car seat must be faa/caa -approved.

Depending on the airlines you are using, the car seat must adhere to the rules imposed by the international airlines association (FAA-Federal Airline Association in the USA) or (CAA-Civil Airline Association in the UK).

Once you know which regulation your car seat must follow, check for the label. The car seat must clearly state that’s allowed to use on aiplanes. Generally there is a sticker/label on the frame of the car seat that says: THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED TO USE ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCARFTS.

If you are not usre where to start, check our car seat recommendations listed above. These are all FAA-approved and accepted on American airlines and several other airlines as well.

But, make sure to read through the airlines guidelines bout car seats before you go a head and purchase. Car seat regulations very from one airlines to another and they may have other requirements/rules to consider.

Check these airlines rules about flying with a car seat:

American airlines car seat rules
Southwest Airlines car seat rules
Frontier Airlines car seat rules
British Airways car seat rules
Cathay Pacific car seat rules
Delta airlines car seat rules
JetStar car seat rules
Emirates airlines car seat rules
Qatar airlines car seat rules
Ryan Air car seat rules
Singapore airlines car seat rules
Virgin Australia car seat rules
Virgin Atlantic car seat rules

Car seat must be compact

Airplane seats are tight, and you need a car seat that’s narrow enough to fit in most seats on the plane. Ideally a car seat that’s 16 inches wide.

Not too many seats are 16 inches in width but check the airlines seat dimensions and find a car seat that’s suitable for their requirements.

Car seat must be lightweight

Lighweight car seats are easy to transport throught the airport. You can use a car seat strap to attach your car seat to the suitcase, a car seat backpack or even a car seat trolley.

There are so many ways to go about carrying a car seat in the airport but when the car seat is heavy trust me it’s not gonna be fun.

That’s why we love the Doona car seat-stroller combo. You can easily switch your car seat to a stroller when you need to.

If you are going for a regular car seat make sure it weighs 10 lbs or less.

Can you bring your car seat on the plane?

Yes, you can bring an approved car seat on the airplane if you choose to do so. Using a car seat for your child on the plane is not a requirement but the FAA advises that a child weighing up to 40 lbs (18 kg) use a certified, harnessed child seat while traveling on an airplane.

What is an FAA-approved car seat?

An FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) approved car seat is a child safety seat that has been certified to meet the specific safety standards set by the FAA for use on airplanes.

Do car seats count as checked bags?

No, a car seat is not counted as a checked bag if you are flying with an infant. Most airlines allow you to bring a car seat and stroller in additional to your normal baggage at no extra charge.

Do you pay to have a car seat on the plane?

Yes, you do have to pay the regular price of seat to have your child in a car seat.

Can I use a Booster Seat on an Airplane?

No, all airlines do not allow booster seats to be used as a restraining system in an aircraft. Only infant and convertible car seats can be FAA approved.

Do crew members install the car seat for you?

While this depends on the airlines, crew members are generally not responsible for installing your car seat on the aircraft. If they do help install it, don’t expect them to be an expert in car seat safety.

Will the car seat fit on any seat on the Airplane?

Airplane seats vary not only from premium class to economy class, but the seats within the economy class also vary from each other. Generally, if an airline accepts FAA-approved car seats (and yours is), they have to provide a seat that fits your car seat.

About Fatima O. Millers, CPST

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Fatima delivers insightful car seat reviews and recommendations. Combining her CPST expertise with an engineering background, her advice is both safe and practical.

Best Travel Booster Seats: For Kids Of All Ages

Are you planning a trip with your child, and need a good booster seat? Preferably one that’s portable and that doesn’t weigh 25 lbs? Lucky for you, you’re in the right place! You’ll only see the best travel booster seats here.

Ones that are used for travel by hundreds of parents just like yourself. All of the booster seats featured in this review are lightweight, portable, and most importantly, safe for your child.

At A Glance: Our Top 3 Picks for Travel Booster Car Seats

Best With Harness Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat Jump To Review
Best With High-Back Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat Jump To Review
Best With Backless BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat Jump To Review

I found several different types of boosters, which are suitable for children of different ages. Including travel harness seats that are perfectly safe for babies and young toddlers. So, I am pretty sure you will be able to find something that’s a good fit for your child in our detailed review!

Top Product Overview

The best travel booster seats for kids of all ages, best harness booster seats.

Harness booster seats are best suitable for babies and young toddlers. If you’re traveling with a child that is 2 or younger, we recommend one of these travel booster seats.

Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat

This Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat is definitely one of our favorite harness boosters. It is very lightweight, so it’s fairly easy to carry around the airport. Also , it’s FAA-approved, so you won’t have any issues using it on the plane – so long as you purchased a booster seat for your child. If you didn’t, you can just check it with the rest of your luggage.

This car seat comes with a cup holder, which is pretty convenient for a bottle . But it is also removable, in case you don’t need it, or if it takes up too much space.

You can use this as both a forward-facing and a rear-facing booster car seat. However, if you use it as a rear-facing seat on an airplane, the seat in front of it won’t be able to recline, which might be an issue. But if your child weighs less than 22 lbs, the manufacturer strongly recommends that you use this as a rear-facing booster car seat.

Another thing I have to mention is the price point – this is without a doubt one of the more affordable harness boosters you can find. Because of that, even if you only use it 2 times, you will pretty much get your money’s worth.

We wouldn’t really recommend this as an everyday booster seat – the harness is nowhere near as elaborate as it should be, and the booster car seat is not too comfortable. There’s not a lot of padding on the seat, and that could be an issue with prolonged use. But it is a really good option as a lightweight and portable seat.

Very affordable
Lightweight and small
FAA approved
Not a lot of padding in the seat
Doesn’t restrict movement as well as a regular car seat

Product Information

Recommended Age Range: Less than 18 months
Min/Max Weight Recommended: Up to 40 lbs
Product Weight: 10.4 lbs

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat

Evenflo Tribute LX 2-in-1 Lightweight Convertible Car Seat, Travel Friendly (Saturn Gray)

The Evenflo car seat is a good choice for traveling with babies and young toddlers. It is FAA-approved, so you can use it in an airplane if you have purchased a seat for your child. It can be used both as a rear-facing and forward-facing seat. But, if your child weighs less than 30 lbs, it can only be used as a rear-facing seat.

This is one of the lightest high back seats in our review, at only 9.29 lbs. It is also one of the more affordable options, so it’s great for parents on a budget. You’ll get good value for your money, but don’t expect too much for some $55.

The straps on this booster seat are not the best, and that’s one downside. They don’t feature any pads, and there’s a good chance they’ll cut into your child’s skin – not the most comfortable feature of the chair. However, you can contact the manufacturer and ask them to send you shoulder pads – several customers did this.

This booster car seat is suitable for children that weigh 5-40 lbs, which is about 4 years old max. And it is a very safe booster seat – it meets all applicable Federal Safety Standards, which is one of the main reasons why we recommend it in the first place. Plus, it has a detachable cup holder, which is always convenient in a travel booster seat.

Lightweight and affordable
Detachable cup holder
Harness doesn’t have pads
Plastic edges are somewhat harsh
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 5-40 lbs
Product Weight: Approximately 9.29 lbs

Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat

This Chicco car seat is definitely one of the best options out there. It is extremely versatile – it is a harness seat that transforms into a regular high-back booster car seat, so your child shouldn’t outgrow it for several years. And it’s also a really good option for an everyday seat, and not just for travels.

There is a slight issue of weight – this is one of the heavier travel car seats. But not by too much – it weighs 12 lbs , which I think is still lightweight enough that you can use it for family travel. And the extra weight means extra features and more ways to use the booster seat. Perhaps the main reason for the extra weight is the steel frame inside the side, which significantly improves its impact resistance.

The harness mode is suitable for children that are at least 2 years old or weigh at least 25 lbs. This travel booster seat is also FAA-approved, but only in harness mode. As your child grows, you can easily transform the booster car seat to accommodate them.

Chicco MyFit features two dishwasher-safe cup holders, EPS energy foam around the head and torso, latches, dual-density padding, and a contoured design. It is comfortable, safe, easy to install, easy to clean, and pretty lightweight for everything it has to offer. But all of that Chicco goodness comes at a price – and it’s the highest one in this entire review.

Very comfortable and secure
Versatile – harness mode and booster mode
FAA approved (in harness mode)
Pretty expensive
On the heavier side
Recommended Age Range: 2y+ (harness) / 4y+ (booster)
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 25-100 lbs
Product Weight: 12.1 lbs

Best High Back Boosters (No Harness)

One thing to keep in mind about these boosters is that they are not FAA-approved. They don’t have a harness and airplane seats don’t have lap-shoulder straps that will keep your child safe. These boosters are a good option if you plan to check them at an airport, and not use them during the flight.

Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster

One thing that’s pretty cool about this travel booster seat is that it transforms into a backless booster easily. So, maybe you can use it as a full booster at home, and as a backless booster when you travel.

But because of its lightweight, it’s also perfectly fine as a high-back booster for travel. It is a bit bulky, so we recommend it only if you’re renting a car, and not hopping in and out of taxis and Ubers.

This booster features DuoZone side impact protection (head and shoulder) and latches attachment for the safety of your children. It can also be adjusted in 10 different positions, to accommodate for the growth of your child. The booster car seat is Ergo Boost with double foam padding, and it is actually very soft and comfortable.

There are two cup holders on the booster seat, which are removable, flexible, and dishwasher safe – just like on the Chicco backless booster I’ll show you a bit later. This booster seat is very easy to maintain since both the arm covers and the seat pad are machine washable.

The manufacturer recommends this booster car seat for children that are at least 4 years old. But, we don’t recommend this for younger children that move around a lot, because this type of booster doesn’t restrict their movement, as well as a harness, does. If you’ve only used harness car seats so far, consider whether or not your child is ready to graduate to this type of booster.

Comfortable and safe
Can be used as both a high back and a backless booster
Machine washable
Not FAA approved – no harness
On the pricier side
Recommended Age Range: 4y+
Min/Max Weight 30/40-110 lbs
Product Weight 10.2 lbs (high back mode)

Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat

If you’re looking for a budget high-back booster, consider getting this one . It costs less than $40, and it weighs about 8.5 lbs. This is why it’s a good booster for travels – you will easily get your money’s worth even if you only use this on one trip. And it is light enough that you can carry it for hours without dislocating your shoulder.

This is not an FAA-approved high back booster, because it does not have a harness. So, you cannot use this during the flight, and you will need to check it at the airport because it is pretty bulky.

The height of this booster car seat is adjustable to 6 positions – as your child grows, the booster adjusts to accommodate them. And when they get really big, you can remove the back and transform this into a backless booster.

This booster seat has two elastic cup holders, but they don’t make it too wide. In fact, this is a pretty narrow seat (about 15”), and it is a great option for smaller cars. The booster also features seat belt guides on both sides, to ensure the safety of your children.

But the padding in this seat is pretty disappointing. Also, there’s no padding in the armrests – they’re just plastic. The booster is not comfortable enough for really long rides, and that’s why we don’t recommend this as an everyday car seat.

Very lightweight and affordable
Transforms into a backless booster
Height adjustable to 6 positions
Not FAA approved
No padding in armrests
Seat has little padding
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 30-110 lbs
Product Weight: 8.45 lbs

Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat

If you want a reliable brand, Graco is always a great option . The Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat features seat belt guides on each side, for the safety of your kids. It doesn’t have a latch system – the seat belt keeps it in place.

And that makes it super portable – there’s no messing around with buckles and latches. Just grab the seat and go. Which will be pretty easy, since the seat weighs only 9 lbs.

The booster seat is not padded too thickly, but it’s still pretty soft. And it should be comfortable for your kids even on longer rides. The adjustable headrest also helps keep your kids comfy.

There are dual cup holders on the booster seat, and they are great for regular bottles. Not so much for water bottles – the cup holders are a little shallow, and the water bottle might fall out when you’re turning.

The seat converts into a backless booster seat for longer use. But also for better portability and versatility. Actually, this is one of the few booster seats that is suitable both for traveling and for daily use. And it’s also pretty cheap, so you will get great value for money with this car seat.

But it’s not FAA approved, so you won’t be able to use the high back version inside an actual airplane. You can use the backless version though, provided that your child is old enough for it.

Comfortable for the kids
Lightweight and portable
No latch system
Recommended Age Range: 3-10 years old
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 30-100 lbs
Product Weight: 9 lbs

Trunki BoostAPak

Surely there’s a way to trick your child into being delighted to carry around their booster seat? Yes, there is, and it is called the Trunki BoostAPak .

It is a children’s backpack that doubles as a booster seat. So, even though it’s not FAA-approved as a travel car seat, you can still bring it on a plane as personal luggage. The backpack part of it has a capacity of 8 liters, which is enough to hold some of your kid’s favorite in-flight toys!

Just remember to take out any snacks or toys your child will need during transport. Once you strap them in this travel car seat, you don’t have access to the backpack.

The internal shell of the BoostAPak is hard, for maximum safety. It also protects the contents of the backpack part, and it is light enough that children can comfortably carry it. Trunki also has armrests and backrests, as well as seat belt guides. In terms of functionality, it does the exact same thing that a regular booster seat does. But it’s about 10 times more fun for the kids.

A downside to the Trunki booster seat is that it is not padded too much, so it won’t be comfortable on long rides. Also, it’s a little bit when it is in backpack mode. Consider the dimensions of the pack, to see whether or not it will be too big for your child.

It can be your kid’s personal item on an airplane
Fun for the children
Versatile and portable
A bit big in backpack mode
Not heavily padded
Recommended Age Range: 4-11 years
Dimensions: 15.75” x 14.17” x 6.3”
Product Weight: 3.75 lbs

Best Backless Booster Seats

A backless booster seat is without a doubt the most portable option. They’re a lot smaller than high-back car seats, and a lot lighter. But they only work with kids who are a bit older – at least 4-5 years.

Backless booster seats don’t do a lot, in terms of restricting the movement of your children, so they are not a good option for kids that move around a lot. But if your child is able to sit still, then this might be the best travel car seat option for you.

Chicco GoFit Belt-Positioning Backless Booster

Chicco GoFit Backless Booster Car Seat, Travel, Portable Car Booster Seat for children 40-110 lbs. | Shark/Black/Grey

This Chicco backless booster is a very comfortable option. The seat is very padded, and your children will stay comfortable even on longer rides. Actually, it features an Ergo Boost countered seat with double padding. Therefore, I think that this is a decent option not just as a travel seat, but also as an everyday seat.

This travel car seat is suitable for children that are older than 4, and weigh between 40 and 110 lbs. At least, that is what the manufacturer recommends.

It features armrests with pop-out armrest covers. The covers are machine washable, as are all the other fabrics on the car seat. And the cup holders are also dishwasher safe, so the entire booster seat is very easy to maintain.

One thing I really like about this portable booster seat is that the cup holders are flexible and removable. So, in case you’re a little bit tight on space, you don’t have to stress about the cups poking out.

As for portability, I’m a little bit torn. On the one hand, it’s definitely more portable than a high-back booster. It is lighter, it has a carry handle and it is fairly small. But then again it’s still a little bulky, and it’s nowhere near as portable as the inflatable booster I’ll show you a bit later. So, this one is up to you.

Double foam padding
Flexible and removable cup holders
Easy to maintain (machine washable)
Not the most portable option
No latch connectors
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-110 lbs
Product Weight: 5 lbs

BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat

bubblebum Inflatable Booster Car Seat - Blow Up Narrow Backless Booster Car Seat for Travel. Portable Booster Seat for Toddlers, Kids, Child - Black

As far as portability goes, this is a great booster car seat . When deflated, this can easily fit into your purse or backpack, and that’s pretty great . That’s why we recommend this for taxi rides and Uber – you don’t have to carry a booster seat in your hand when you’re walking around the town with your little one . Just deflate it and put it in your purse!

This inflatable booster seat is suitable for children that are 4-11 years old and weighs from 40 to 100 lbs. However, we do not recommend this booster seat if your child moves around a lot even in a high back booster seat – there is the issue of safety.

Another thing worth mentioning is that you can easily fit three of these in the back seat of pretty much any car. They don’t have plastic edges, so that makes it easy to fit three travel car seats even in some really narrow cars.

The booster seat has a valve that’s covered with plastic, and it inflates somewhat when you unscrew the valve. You only need a few breaths to fully inflate it, which is great. And when you are not using the travel car seat, you should always close the valve – unless you want it to partially inflate inside your bag.

This booster seat is great for short uses, or as a backup seat for impromptu playdates. But it’s not something your child will want to sit in every day, because it’s not too comfortable. It is lightweight, portable, and very affordable, so it’s worth trying out for your upcoming trip.

Exceptionally portable – fits in your purse
Fits in small and narrow spaces
Easy to inflate and install
Not comfortable for long car rides
Some safety concerns
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-100 lbs
Product Weight: 1.2 lbs

mifold Grab-and-Go Car Booster Seat

mifold Original Grab-and-go Car Booster Seat, Perfect Pink – Compact and Portable Booster for Travel, Carpooling and More – Foldable Child Booster Seat Fits into Glove Box and Backpack

Curiosity won me over with this one – a car seat that folds into a wallet-sized pouch? And that fits into your kid’s backpack? Sign me up!

Seriously though, the mifold seat is so innovative and practical that everyone should try it out. Because, if it turns out your child likes this, it could actually change your life.

In terms of portability, this is the best booster seat available . It’s lightweight, small, and fits into every carry-on bag . This is also a great seat for narrow spaces since you can easily fit three of them on the back seat of a car. It is also good as an extra seat to have in your car, just in case.

But how does it work, since it is so thin and small? Well, a regular booster seat lifts your child to the position of an adult, so that the seat belt is safe for them. The mifold does the opposite – it lowers the seat belt with the belt guides on each side so that it accommodates the size of your child. And it’s just as safe as a regular booster.

There’s one downside to that – a plain booster seat allows your child to see out the window. This one does not. Also, this is a very thin seat, so it’s not too comfortable. Because of that, I wouldn’t really recommend it for longer rides. But for running around the town on a trip, in and out of taxis and Uber’s with your little one, this is one of the best things you can spend your money on.

Innovative design
Extremely portable and practical
Just as safe as a regular booster
No lift – kids can’t see out the window
Recommended Age Range: 4-12 years
Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-120 lbs
Product Weight: 1.7 lbs

Finding The Right Travel Booster Car Seat

If this is your first trip with your child, you probably need some guidance. And we some tips on how to choose the right booster car seat for travel!

Why Not Your Everyday Booster?

Because they are heavy. When you have to manage your child, a stroller, a diaper bag, your own bag, and a booster seat, weight plays a big part.

That’s why you want to get a booster seat designed specifically for travel. It is much easier to move around the airport with a 10lb booster than one that weighs two or three times more.

Backless booster seats would be the obvious choice if we were concerned only about the weight. But, we are also concerned about your child’s comfort, safety and age – you can’t really put a 3-year-old in a backless booster seat.

So, we found some lightweight high-back booster seats that you’ll love. Most of them are pretty affordable, weigh 10 lbs or less and you can bring them on an airplane without any issues.

And then we’ll also show you several backless, foldable, and even inflatable booster seats that can pretty much fit in your carry-on.

How Will You Use The Booster Seat?

Do you need a seat just for the airplane ride, or do you plan to use it multiple times a day while you’re traveling? While you are in and out of taxis or do you plan to rent a car? Do you expect your kid to carry their booster seat, or will you do that?

Those are all questions you need to consider if you’re not sure which type is right for you. If you’re renting a car and you’ll be driving around a lot, then I think you will be fine with a high-back booster seat. But if you’re going to take taxis, then definitely consider a backless booster seat – think of going sightseeing with your little one, and lugging around a high-back booster seat while trying to take cute photos.

Obviously, that only applies to children that are actually ready for backless boosters. And that is really an individual thing – most manufacturers recommend their backless booster seats for children that are at least 4 years old.

But is your 4-year-old really capable of sitting still and not fidgeting around while you drive? That’s another question that should help you choose between high back and backless travel car seats.

Car Safety Laws

Most countries have pretty different car safety laws. That’s something you should always check before you travel. Maybe the country you are going to requires a specific type of car seat, and maybe they don’t require children your age to be in car seats at all.

Did you know that the European Union prohibits rear-facing car seats in the passenger seat unless the airbag is deactivated? While only two US states have the same law. Anyway, here are som e useful links that could help you prepare yourself for your next trip:

UK Car Seats Laws
European Union Car Seats Laws
USA Car Seats Laws (For Different States)
Australia Car Seats Laws

And if you’re traveling to a completely different country, Google is your best friend! :>

Travel Booster Car Seats: Our Favorite Choices

All of the car seats featured in this review have very high ratings and are highly recommended. You’ll be okay whichever one you get. But, I still loved some more than the others, so here are my top three recommendations – one in each booster category.

For a booster seat with a harness, it was either the Chicco MyFit or the Cosco . I decided to go with the Cosco Scenera because it is the lighter and more affordable option . And ultimately, better for travel. This car seat is FAA-approved, meaning you can use it inside the cabin.

It is suitable for children that weigh up to 40 lbs, so you could get several years of use out of it. Especially because you can use it with babies as a rear-facing seat as well .

When you’re considering if an object is portable, its weight is one of the first things you look at. The Evenflo Booster Car Seat is the lightest high-back booster we featured, and so it is our favorite . It’s also the cheapest one, and it actually costs less than some backless travel car seats .

The affordability, portability, and ease of use are definitely reasons enough to get this car seat for your upcoming trip. And it will keep your child safe in case of a crash, which is more important than everything else .

2 seats in 1 removable back for easy transition to a no-back booster
One-hand, 6 position height adjustment to accommodate growing children longer

For me, it was a close call between the mifold and the BubbleBum boosters . But I think the BubbleBum is the better option because it is much more comfortable to sit on. It is an inflatable booster, so it’s super portable.

When you deflate it, it can easily fit in your purse, and you can carry it everywhere. And it inflates super quickly when you want to use it. It is definitely one of the best options for children that are old enough for backless booster seats.

The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat - Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a patented system to guarantee stability and comfort on every journey.
Safety You Can Count On – BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes with a seat belt positioning clip for optimal seat belt fit and comfort.

Head over to Amazon to see what other traveling parents are saying about these booster car seats, and check out their prices!

BEST TRAVEL STROLLERS

GB POCKIT (TRAVEL) STROLLER REVIEW

HOW TO PACK A CAR SEAT FOR CHECKED BAGGAGE

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How to Bring Booster Seats on Trips

by Kathryn Walsh

Published on 27 Apr 2018

Even when it pushes back bedtime and includes daily ice cream cones, vacation shouldn't interfere with your child's safety. A booster seat is an essential travel item for a kid who's too big for a car seat but not yet big enough for a car's seat belt to fit properly. Booster seats are significantly easier to travel with than bulky car seats. Opt for a backless version, which is more portable than a high-back seat, and hit the road.

" id="prepping-for-travel- " class="title"> Prepping for Travel

No matter the destination or mode of transportation, travel with the booster seat inside a protective bag. It will make contact with any number of dirty, germy surfaces during the trip, and keeping the seat in a bag protects your child from coming into contact with those germs. Just as important is that putting the booster seat in a bag makes it easy to carry – a major bonus, because these seats can be unwieldy. Buy a bag intended for this purpose, or put the seat in a nylon tote bag or a clear plastic garbage bag. If the bag doesn't have handles, pack a bungee cord and strap the seat to a suitcase while moving luggage from place to place.

Flying With a Booster Seat

The TSA and the airlines have no objections to passengers traveling with booster seats. They can't be used on the plane, which shouldn't be a problem; a kid big enough to need a booster seat is big enough to use a plane's seat belt. Luckily, major airlines will generally check a booster seat at no cost to the passenger. Check it at the ticket counter upon arriving at the airport to pick up on the baggage carousel at your final destination, or carry it all the way to the plane and ask a gate agent about gate-checking the seat. The airline may allow you to bring the booster seat into the cabin as a free carry-on, provided it fits into the overhead compartment – but airline policies differ.

" id="buy-when-you-get-there " class="title"> Buy When You Get There

If the trip itself doesn't require the use of a booster seat – if you're flying to a destination and taking public transportation to reach the hotel – it might make more sense to pick up a cheap booster seat in the destination city than to haul it there with you. High-quality backless booster seats are available in many stores for as little as $20. Donate the seat to a women's shelter when it's time to go home.

Booster Seats on the Road

Because a booster seat doesn't have to be attached to the seat at all, it's easy to pop into the back seat of a rental car, taxi or ride-sharing car. As long as it goes in the back seat and the child can be belted in properly (with the shoulder strap across the shoulder instead of the neck, and the lap belt fitting low and tight across the lap), you're good to go. Routinely remind everyone in the group to help make sure that the booster seat doesn't get left behind in a taxi or other car; it can be easy to make this oversight while rushing around in an unfamiliar city.

How To Travel With A Booster Seat On Airplane?

If you are flying with your little baby or toddler that is too big for a car seat , a booster seat obviously is an essential kit that needs to come with you.

The good news is with standard economy fares, most airlines allow you to take a booster seat or a car seat and a stroller per infant / child flying with you.

This is in addition to your standard baggage allowance and without additional charges.

However; you can’t use the booster seat on the airplane.

Keep reading to know more about taking booster seats on planes, and how to properly pack them for your flight.

Let’s dive right in.

BOOSTER SEAT AS CARRY ON LUGGAGE

Are Booster Seats Allowed On Airplanes?

Flying with booster seats are allowed on airplanes; The FAA and almost any major airline have no refusal for parents who want to travel with a booster seat; they can’t be used at the airplane ;because your child will use the airplane seat built.

Getting Your Booster Seat Through Security

You will need to put your booster seat through the X-ray machine at the airport security screening checkpoint; if its foldable you will need to fold it up before it’s your turn because we all know the TSA line is stressful as it is; usually some airport have designed lines for families to eliminate some of the pressure from the process.

Traveling With A Small Booster Seat Is Better

Knowing which booster seat to carry on board the airplane can be a cautious venture for most parents.

However, if it comes to infant booster seats; it is always preferable to choose something small enough and compact that will fit your child needs and will Take very little space .

Storing Your Booster Seat On The Aircraft

You can travel with a booster seat on board the Aircraft if it is small enough and the flight isn’t full; you’ll need to store it in the overhead bin with the rest of the carry-on baggage.

This will allow you to have easy access to the booster seat and not have to wait for it after leaving the plane.

This will also reduce the chances of it getting lost in your connecting flights.

CHECK IN YOUR BOOSTER SEAT

What if you want to check in a booster seat at the airport.

please check with the airline you are flying with before your trip, to know more about the airline booster seat allowance, an if count as one of your free luggage allowance, do a research on the official website of the airline you are flying on or speak with an airline customer service representative before your flight to know more information on check-in policies of a booster seat ; print the page to present it to attendants when checking your booster set.

Can You Check A Booster Seat For Free?

All major airlines allow you to check your kid booster seat free of charge; you can check at the ticket counter when arriving at the airport; but don’t forget to pick it up on the baggage carousel at your final destination.

You can also check at the gate,by asking the gate agent about gate checking the seat.

Traveling with a booster seat is much easier and stress free (especially a foldable booster seat ) compared to a car seat.

Just ensure that you follow your airline luggage policies and the booster seat can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat info of you.

We hope this helps.

Happy travels.

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Best portable booster seats for travel in 2024 {buying guide}.

Why your preschooler needs a portable booster seat for car travel

You’ve planned every aspect of your family’s trip down to the last detail. Each child has their allotted luggage space and you’re prepared to lug every last bit of it to the ticket counter or pack it in your vehicle’s trunk. Hotels are in order, rental cars are booked, and it’s almost go time.

Then you realize it: You don’t have a portable booster seat for your kiddos. How are you going to obey safety laws without one? How are you going to lug around your normal car seat to every rental car and bus on your itinerary?

Let’s wake up from this nightmare together, shall we? There’s absolutely no need to panic. We’re here to help you find the Best Portable Booster Seats for Travel without adding a significant burden to your luggage count.

Features of Good Portable Booster Seats

Booster Seat Safety Laws by Country
Best Portable Booster Seats for Travel on the Market

This post is part of our tried & tested family travel product review series

Why use a booster seat.

You may be wondering when your child is ready for a booster seat, and there are several indicators. Most school-age children over the age of 4 can ride in a booster seat, although ideally they would be used for children age 5 and older.

Booster seats are a necessary next step up from an infant or toddler car seat , and required by law in many countries once your child has outgrown the height and weight requirements of their forward-facing car seat.

Booster seats elevate your child’s position so that they can safely and effectively use your vehicle’s seat belt straps. A portable booster seat is an essential travel companion to ensure that your young one is safe and secure.

What to Look For in a Portable Booster Seat for Travel

Portable booster seats vs. regular booster seats.

The key differences between a portable booster seat and a regular one is that many portable seats are able to be folded for more compact storage and easier transportation, and they are also lighter. While this may mean a little less padding, safety standards are never compromised.

High Back vs. Backless Boosters

The two main types of portable booster seats are high back and backless boosters. Let’s take a look at the key features of each type:

Backless Booster Seats

These are essentially a specialized cushion that your child can sit on to enable them to use a seatbelt. Many backless boosters have armrests that act as seat belt guides, or the guides are built into the seat. We definitely recommend backless boosters for air travel, as they can be easily stored and changed from one mode of transportation to another.

High Back Booster Seats

High back booster seats offer increased back and head support and can be much more comfortable on a long car ride than backless boosters. Many portable high back booster seats also fold down for compact storage or separate so that you can just use the bottom cushion as a backless booster.

These are an excellent option if you’re going to be using a rental car for travel and don’t want to pay the added fees to rent a car seat.

Safety: It’s essential that you look at the safety ratings of your portable booster seat and ensure they comply with the country’s laws you’ll be traveling in. Many travel booster seats are compliant with most major countries’ safety guidelines and recommendations, but it’s best to double check.

Size and Weight: Unless you’re only traveling to a few different locations on your trip, two of the highest selling points of your portable booster seat should be the size and weight. If you’re going to carry the travel booster around an airport or even to the ticket desk, I can tell you from experience, they get heavy pretty quickly.

Portability : It’s important to choose a portable booster seat that is, well, easily portable. Bulky or hard-to-break-down booster seats may not fit easily into overhead luggage, and you don’t want to spend an hour trying to unfold the thing in between taxi rides. Trust me, they charge you for that time.

Washable: Portable booster seats WILL get disgusting and dirty. It’s a fact of life. Look for a travel booster with a removable cover or one that can be easily wiped clean. We all know that children will demand snacks five minutes into the journey, and they will more than likely end up wearing some (or all) of them.

Child Weight and Size Requirements by Country

Best travel booster seats.

$ = Under $30 USD; $$ = $30 to $60 USD; $$$ = over $60 USD

Best High Back Travel Booster Seats

Best overall: graco affix highback booster seat with latch system.

Why We Love It: This travel booster seat can be installed quickly and easily with its signature one-hand, front-adjust Latch system. This comes in handy when time is of the essence or you need to switch it between vehicles.

You also get the best of both worlds due to the fact that you can remove the back and use it as a backless booster as well. The price point is reasonable for all that you’re getting, and the safety rating is unbeatable.

Possible Cons: The seat belt guide at the top doesn’t hold the belt in place as securely as some would like.

Key Features:

Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 16.5 x 26.75 inches
Min/Max Requirements: 30-100 lbs
Product Weight: 9.8 lbs
Comfort Features: Multi-layer headrest, full-coverage back support, fully adjustable headrest, integrated cup holder and storage compartment
Cleaning: Machine-washable seat padding

Most Versatile: Hifold Fit-and-Fold High Back Booster Seat

Why We Love It: This incredibly adjustable portable booster seat can be adjusted to 243 different settings and folded down for quick and easy storage. It adjusts with your child as he or she grows, and is regulated for global use, so you can take it just about anywhere.

mifold hifold fit-and-fold Highback Booster Seat, – Adjustable Narrow, Foldable Booster Car Seat for Everyday, Travel, Carpooling and More – Racing Red

Possible Cons: Not regulated for use in Australia, a higher price point may not make it worth it for occasional travel.

Want to get your hands on the Hifold with 10% off? Buy direct from Mifold here and use the code GLOBETROTTERS at the checkout!

Product Dimensions: 14.60 x 13.40 x 10.70 inches
Min/Max Requirements: 33-100 lbs
Product Weight: 10 lbs
Comfort Features: Sections can be adjusted separately to accommodate your child’s size, 6 advanced impact protection zones and 4-layer design for optimum comfort and protection, comes with convenient carry strap, can fit three across back seat
Cleaning: Surface can be wiped clean

Best Value: Evenflo Big Kid Amp High Back 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster

Why We Love It: This 2-in-1 portable high back booster seat has an integrated belt guide and six height position to not only grow with your child, but off versatility in travel as well. It easily separates so that you can use the backless booster on its own, and an energy absorbing foam liner guarantees a comfortable ride every time.

Evenflo Big Kid Amp High Back 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster, Sprocket

Possible Cons: Seat base is wider than other booster seats, so it may block the seat belt buckle

Product Dimensions: 16.50 x 19.00 x 33.00 inches
Min/Max Requirements: 40-110 lbs
Product Weight: 8.10 lbs
Comfort Features: Comfortable padding around head and body, elastic cup holders, one-hand height adjustment
Cleaning: Machine Washable Seat Pad

Best Backless Booster Seats

Best overall: graco turbobooster lx backless booster.

Why We Love It: This shockingly affordable, highly rated backless booster seat is a steal by any standard. Not only is it top-rated by leading consumer magazines and publications it also exceeds US safety standards. Dual cup holders and padded armrests aren’t bad either.

Graco TurboBooster LX Backless Booster Car Seat with Latch System

Possible Cons: The seat padding may not be the most comfortable for long car trips.

Product Dimensions: 15 x 16 x 8.5 inches
Min/Max Requirements: 40-100 lbs
Product Weight: 5.10 lbs
Comfort Features: Dual cup holders, padded, height-adjustable arm rests, deluxe seat cushion
Cleaning: Machine washable seat cushion

Most Versatile: Bubble Bum Inflatable Backless Booster Seat

Why We Love It: This is one of the most compact and lightweight backless booster seats on the market. It can easily be deflated, folded, and put in a nappy bag or purse, and meets or exceeds US and EU safety ratings. The patented memory foam technology in the seat ensures a comfy ride every time.

Bubble Bum Inflatable Travel Portable Booster Seat, for Kids 40-100 lbs - for Car - Backless, Foldable & Narrow Slim Fit - Perfect for 4-11yrs Old - Black

Possible Cons: Some customers said that the strap that brings the shoulder strap down can come loose if the child moves around a lot.

Product Dimensions: 11.00 x 4.50 x 11.00 inches
Product Weight: 1.2 lbs
Comfort Features: Air bladder contains memory foam for added comfort, Cover surrounding air cushion made of energy absorbing material
Cleaning: Spray, wipe, and allow to air dry

Best Value: Cosco Topside Backless Booster Car Seat

Why We Love It: Sometimes basic is best, and this no-frills booster seat not only fits the bill, but it comes in several vibrant colors as well. The extra-comfy plush pad and covered armrests make for hours of comfortable travel, and the booster’s ultra-lightweight design allows you to transport it with ease.

Cosco Topside Backless Booster Car Seat, Leo

Possible Cons: Only approved for use in the US

Product Dimensions: 16.00 x 15.00 x 3.00 inches
Product Weight: 2.20 lbs
Comfort Features: Extra plush seat pad, designed to leave seats unmarked
Cleaning: Hand wash only

Providing safe travel options for your older children has never been easier or more affordable with the Best Portable Booster Seats on the market. You can rest easy on the eve of your next adventure with the knowledge you’ve got everything covered.

Want more handy guides for travelling with your kids?

We have travelled across the continents with our kids for the past 10 years. Some bits of baby and toddler travel kit are definitely more useful than others! Here are just some of the pieces of travel gear we recommend you invest in:

A cover for your car seats if you’ll be checking them into the hold on a plane to keep your valuable gear protected
A carrier for your toddler , especially if you are travelling in busy places where strollers could be more hindrance than a help
A portable travel cot – to make sure everyone gets a good nights sleep when you travel
A durable and adaptable diaper bag -cum-backpack for fitting all your family gar from diapers to snacks and everything in between. Invest well at the start and this bag could last your family years

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Flying with Car Seats and Booster Seats

flying with car seats, clek oobr, oobr booster seat, oobr highback booster, oobr booster, clek booster

What You Need to Know About Flying with Car Seats & Booster Seats

So I felt pretty good about our trip and the Oobr was great to travel with in spite of its size and weight, so then I wrote about it and the nice folks at Clek posted my review on their Facebook page .

And then I learned that I was doing it wrong.

Quite wrong..

I also learned that when flying with car seats that a checked seat is considered a crashed seat. That makes sense, I guess, considering the rough treatment our bags get. Have you ever seen this video?

So this means you shouldn’t check your car seat as luggage.

According to to a document prepared by the CPSTs and CRSTs in the Car Seats for The Littles Facebook Page :

If you must check a car seat, put it in its original packaging with padding in the box. Or maybe another box with padding. And then gate check it (it’s far more convenient to use the seat on board than to drag a big box to the gate). All too often I see parents check their car seats at the ticket counter, wrapped in nothing but a plastic bag to keep the cover clean. The cover being clean at the other end is the least of their concern. The worst thing that can happen is that a car seat arrives at the other end with damage that cannot be seen. The only way to find out that there’s damage is during or after a crash when the seat has failed.

I don’t think I know anyone who still has their car seat box. Or who is willing to drag a giant box through the airport in addition to their children, stroller, carry-on bags, etc.

What About Gate-Checking Car Seats?

flying with car seats, baby's first flight, travel with a newborn, flying with a newborn,

But, if you don’t want to gate check, low-back ones easily fit in the overhead bins of most aircraft.

Most CPSTs and CRSTs do not condone lap babies AT ALL. So they won’t give you any advice on gate checking car seats since they believe there is no reason to. However, both my children frequently flew as lap infants when there was no spare seat on the plane.

The reason the FAA won’t ban lap infants is because they fear the cost will inspire many families to drive to instead. In spite of a properly installed car seat, driving is statistically less safe.

What About Renting Car Seats?

I’m not going to sugar coat it and say it’s super easy to install a car seat on a plane . It’s not.

Probably the easiest, peasiest option is to rent a car seat at your destination. But NOT from a car rental place. Try renting from a baby equipment rental business that will meet you with it at the airport. Or borrow one from a friend or connection you make via social media. Or else plan exclusively to take public transit (babies and toddlers actually LOVE that!). But then you should still make sure your baby is safe on the plane.

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44 Responses to Flying with Car Seats and Booster Seats

I am SO relived that you now realize the immense dangers of putting such a young child in a booster seat. It is absolutely not only about the weight of the child. My average weight and height daughter is 7.5 and will remain in her harnessed car seat for at least another year. With the huge variety of seats available with harnessed limits at 80lbs in the US and harnessed height limits at 62 inches there is little need to rush a booster. Harness as long as you can! Don’t scrimp on safety!

I still don’t know what I should do when I fly with my daughter’s car seat. Do I wrap it in bubble wrap and stuff it in a giant back pack? I need the car seat for the rental car we are using during our trip. I have heard that rental car companies car seats are hit or miss for quality and cleanliness.

Hey Andrew – the bubble wrap and giant backpack sounds about right to me, and would cost less than the special bag above. Although at less than $40, that bag doesn’t seem too outrageously priced. And I would definitely try to gate check it.

Agreed on the car rental car seats, unless you can locate one of those agencies that will rent you a car seat and meet you at the airport…

The rented seats are not recommended by CPSTs either bc of their Unknown history.

Wow. I didn’t realize I should plan to have my car seat packed in something to gate check it. Thanks for the heads up. I was just going to give them the car seat.

I always just checked it in a plastic bag. Now I believe I should have gate-checked it in protective packaging and will do so from now on. Good luck!

Traveling with our daughter next week and just bought the carseat cover wheelie bag after reading this…after previously buying the GoGo Babyz Travelmate, which I’m sure we’ll use once she turns two and we have to buy her a seat. Also bought the Scenera (our third carseat) just for travel. So much for trying to keep our baby gear to a minimum. But better safe and prepared than sorry, I say. Thanks, Corinne!

We use the brica cover and then load her clothes and some soft toys inside for extra padding, but still no guarantees. I will plan on using a CARES harness when she is old enough.

I’m glad you wrote about this – it’s something that is easily forgotten.

Great advise about traveling with a carseat. It really he;ps to know all of this before flying.

I can’t believe that video! Seemed like that guy was putting on a show he was so careless!

I’ll be flying next March with my just turned 2 year old. Should I be installing her car seat on the plane or is she old enough to just sit in the seat? I’ve only done one short flight on a very small 15 seater plane where she sat in my lap at 8 months old. I’m trying to get info to prepare for a big family trip with a 2 year old! We are doing all inclusive so I’m not sure if we need the car seat at the other end or not…

If you are doing All Inclusive you will likely transfer to your hotel or resort via a coach-style bus, so a car seat is not necessary. They may not even have seat belts on board for you to install anyway. If you think you will be doing any day trips by taxi or rental car, I do recommend bringing along her seat and installing it on the plane if it is airline approved. If you don’t plan on doing any excursions when you’re there, she is legally allowed to be in her plane seat with the seat belt fastened. If you’re concerned she won’t stay put, or want her a little more securely fastened, you can buy or rent a CARES harness, which is approved for use on most airlines. Have a fantastic trip!!

Thanks for the reply! That is really helpful.

Are the car seats you refer in the blog, scerena and chase, airlines approved? I couldn’t find it stated anywhere in the Amazon listing

Hi Joanie! Yes, these seats are FAA/Airline approved. More here: https://havebabywilltravel.com/tips-info/baby-travel-gear/faa-approved-car-seats/

Thank you so much for this post (I know I am a few years late!) We are travelling in 4 weeks with our toddler (she will be 20 months old then)…The only car seat we have is her Recaro Proride…large car seat. I was wondering what you recommended for flying. I was planning on holding her on my lap until I thought about it a lot and she is very squirmy…does not like sitting still…and wants to constantly get down. So, we may be better off strapping her in?! We need advice!! Thanks so much!

Hi Ashli! For travel I recommend the Cosco Scenera car seat – it is less than 10lbs and super easy to install. It is also very inexpensive. I have flown with my kids as lap infants at that age, and at the time would’ve paid anything to get their own seats!

Just wanted to say thanks! Because of your blog, I was able to quickly figure out how to fly with our little one for the first time. (We bought the JL Childress bag via your link so hopefully you’ll get a little of that.)

Great to hear, Chris – happy travels to you and your family!

Wow! What do you do when you’re planning to fly with 3 kids and 3 car seats?

Flying with a car seat is quite risk because car seat and plane seat is different so if you travel in plane so i suggest that buy airplane seats.

Many airlines charge extra per piece of luggage, and extra for “over size or over weight” baggage. However, a car seat is a “no charge” piece of luggage. Use this to your advantage!! Buy a “car seat bag” put your seat in and fill it with clothes. This pads and protects your car seat and allows you extra weight and baggage free of charge. I have traveled internationally (several times a year) this way with 2 kids for the past 5 years. My car seats come out the other end safe and in one piece and I escaped added baggage fees by airlines!

Great tip, Laura–thanks!

Unfortunately, this is not the case for Airbaltic airline (european).. I would love to be able to free gate check my car seat!

Oh that’s a shame, Kristina! How is AirBaltic otherwise?

Recently flew with China Southern on CZ351 Guangzhou to Singapore July 15th 2015. We bought a ticket for our two year old and schlepped the car seat to the gate. The infant seat (an Evenflow with an FAA sticker) was confiscated, put in a giant garbage bag and tossed somewhere in the belly of the plane. We tried talking to the Captain but were not allowed to.

Never fly China Southern Airlines with children!

Wow, Malki–thanks for sharing your story. Did you get in touch with the airline after your flight?

“And probably the easiest, peasiest option is to rent a car seat at your destination from one of those places that will meet you with it at the airport.”

Maybe easiest and peasiest but contrary logic to your entire article in regards to safety…

For one it’s stupid costly to rent car seats, in my experience rental places want upwards of $15/day or more to rent a single car seat (I have been quoted $25 a day) after a few days you can exceed the cost of simply purchasing new… Meaning you could have purchased a brand new in the box car seat and checked that at the luggage counter complete with all it’s factory packing that should allow it to arrive undamaged and you now have a backup or travel car seat complete with packaging… Second you have no idea about the condition of that rented car seat, as you imply, unseen damage is well unseen regardless of claims of ‘inspection’ by the rental company, there is no way they can’t tell if it’s damaged if the damage is unseen, they are only doing visual checks nothing more… In the end there is nothing to assure you that your ‘rented’ car seat will be in any better condition then one you brought with you or that it wasn’t in an unreported ‘accident’ from the previous renters or mishandled by the previous renters… If safety is you end goal, renting a car seat at your destination is not inline with that goal…

HI there do you happen to have any tips on how to protect our stroller?? We have a bigger double jogging stroller that we paid alot of money for…and I would hate to have it broke when we get to Disney.

Hi Alyssa! There are carrying bags that you can get, although I don’t know if they come large enough for a double jogger. But I think that if it’s properly folded you shouldn’t have any issues. Those things are pretty tough.

How do you get the car seat through security to do a gate check? We have a Graco My Ride 65 and it is kinda bulky. What is the best way to package/get it to the gate?

I recommend investing in a travel bag if you’re going to gate check it. This Ultimate Car Seat Travel Bag is the best one and well worth it to protect your seat. Good luck!

FYI, if you plan to take a car seat in a bag through security, you may have to remove it from the bag. If you pad the bag with extra stuff, it makes it more difficult. Now I add my coat to the bag after I go through security.

Great tip, Jennifer–thanks!

Safety and cute! thanks for sharing.

In fact the Manufacturer’s Alliance for Child Passenger Safety issued a statement for CPS Technicians/Instructors on the subject:

Car Seats Gate-Checked or Checked as Luggage Car seats are designed to withstand most motor vehicle crash forces. In general, the MACPS does not consider a gate-checked car seat or a car seat that is checked as luggage to be one that has experienced forces equivalent to a motor vehicle crash. Once the destination is reached, it is recommended to inspect the car seat to make sure no visual damage has occurred and all aspects of the car seat function properly.

(August 2012)

See this blog for more: https://carseatblog.com/18895/flying-with-kids-carseats-the-checked-carseat-controversy/

I appreciate the comment, Lena. Ironically it was the community of the very blog you link to that came down on me like a ton of bricks 🙂

Thank you so much for this post. I didn’t realize I should plan to have my car seat packed. That is really helpful.

I normally carry my son’s car seat whenever we travel overseas, to resolve the hassle of lugging this huge car seat everywhere we go, i bought a premium car seat travel bag https://amt-pro.com/collections/bags/products/premium-car-seat-travel-bag . Does the job way better than expected.

Straightforward and well written, thank you for the info

Traveling with kids brings parents two sides, the good and the bad. The good side is that it is really fun and exciting, on the other hand, it’s difficult to do some baby stuff. This is such a very nice and helpful post. You have got some really nice tips. Thanks for sharing 🙂

This is amazing blog and i must say this can be very fruitful for parents who are travelling with their kids. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful blog.

The FAA urges parents to use FAA approved car seats on the plane during the flight. It is hard. Wish there was more support for this at airports like rollicarts or something that could be used.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

[…] Flying with a car seat is not fun. And since the car seats that come with rental cars are usually filthy or unsafe (or both!) your best bet truly is to rent one from a baby travel equipment company that will greet you at the airport with a shiny, clean, and safe seat. But you still have to keep your little one safe on the plane… […]

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