If you are traveling by air with your young child and you want to bring his booster seat, you will need to check the booster seat. A booster seat is not allowed on the plane for your child to use in his airplane seat. The Federal Aviation Administration has certain rules and regulations for Aviation Child Safety Devices, and a booster seat does not fit these regulations. If you are going to rent a car when you get to your destination, then you will need your child's booster seat. Children generally use their booster seats in cars from the age of four years to about eight to 10 years old, depending on the child's weight and height.
Purchase a regular seat for your child on an airline flight. Children who would use booster seats will need their own seat on the airplane as they would not be safe on their parents' laps.
Call your airline or look online for the airline's policy on checked baggage. Most major airlines charge fees for checked baggage. Ask your airline attendant if you will need to check your booster seat or if they would allow you to store it in an overhead bin. When traveling with small children and their equipment, it is important to be prepared and know the FAA regulations as well as your airline's policies. Airline policies differ from company to company if it is not an FAA regulation, so it is wise to check ahead of time about booster seats.
Check the booster seat with the rest of your baggage. Most major airlines, such as Southwest and American, have policies for children's equipment like strollers, car seats and booster seats. For example, Southwest Airlines allows two items of travel equipment for infants and small children, who have purchased a seat, in substitution of the one piece of free baggage for adults with tickets.
Purchase a travel bag for your booster car seat (see Resources). For example, The First Years has a Compass carry bag for a booster car seat, and the booster seat fits nicely inside the carry bag. You can use this to easily bring the booster seat on trips, and it may even fit into a larger piece of luggage or a carry-on suitcase.
Call your car rental place and see if they rent booster seats. This may be an easier and inexpensive way to assure you have a booster seat for your child once you reach your destination.
