If you're traveling with an infant or toddler, you should know that proper use of a child restraint system (CRS) enhances child safety on aircraft. For this reason, we and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly recommend that infants and children who weigh 40 pounds or less be secured in an appropriate CRS when traveling by air. The only way to guarantee that you will be able to use an accepted CRS onboard is to purchase an adjacent seat for your child.

Car Seat/CRSs

A CRS manufactured within the U.S. after February 26, 1985 must have the following labels:

1. This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.
2. This child restraint device conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards

A CRS manufactured outside the U.S. must have the following labels:

1. Has the approval of a foreign government
2. Was manufactured under standards of the United Nations

CARES device

You can use a Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) device on your flight instead of a car seat. The CARES CRS is the only harness-type device approved for use onboard.

Backless booster seats are not approved for use during any phase of flight regardless of any approval labels they bear. Additionally, harnesses that secure an infant to your chest, like a papoose, are not permitted for use during your flight.

Using a Child Restraint System (CRS) Onboard

• We prefer that CRSs be placed in window seats. If the window seat has not been assigned to a Passenger and remains unoccupied, a CRS may be placed in the middle seat. If two children are traveling, the CRSs must ONLY occupy the middle and window seats. Never aisle seats.
• CRSs are never allowed on exit row seats. This also means an aisle seat OR the row in front of or behind an emergency exit row.
• Weight limits. Though you’re allowed to place the CRS any way you prefer, here’s what we recommend:
• Children under 20 pounds: CRS faces the back of the plane.
• Children between 20-40 pounds: CRS faces the front of the plane.
• Seatbelts are available. If you feel you need extra help securing a child, just ask the nearest Flight Attendant.

To make sure your CRS will fit properly when you’re onboard, check the widths of the narrowest and widest passenger seats. When booking travel, click on the hyperlinked flight number to find the aircraft series size for a specific flight. While we try our best to utilize the originally scheduled aircraft type for your journey, operational circumstances may result in a swap to an aircraft with different seat dimensions.

Learn more about the seating experience when traveling with children.