Best car seat for traveling by air
If you are travelling with a toddler, you really need some quality air travel products. One of them is car seats for airplanes. They let you provide a comfortable and joyful experience to your children while travelling by air. Some of them come with body pillows and cup holders that make travelling with children a peasant affair!
But there are hundreds of car seats to choose from. How can you decide which one is better and which one is not?
Factors to consider while buying the best car seats for travel on airplanes
Safety
The car seat must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA has specified guidelines for manufacture of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) or car seats for air travel. In addition to that, they must have an impact resistant build to ensure that turbulence does not compromise your child’s safety when travelling by air.
Comfort
Apart from ensuring security, you also want your child to have a comfortable ride while travelling by air. The cushions on the seat should be soft and there should not be any rough plastic edges that could bother your child.
Installation
It must be easy to install the car seat on the airplane. The latches and hooks must be visible and easy to lock. The width of the car seat should be less or equal to the width of the airline’s seat. You can call your airline to confirm this information.
Design
When it comes to buying stuff for your child, you surely want them to look good. The car seat must be sleek and look great. The best car seats for travel on airplanes come in several color options.
Weight
If you travel frequently by air, it would be a good idea to get a car seat that weighs less. This would help to reduce the load that you will be carrying with you. Some car seats have additional features which make them weigh more.
Price
The best car seats for travelling by air are available in the price range of $50-300. Depending upon your budget you can pick one that offers all the features and is also within budget.
The Best car seat for travelling by air:
1) Safety 1st Guide 65 Convertible Car Seat
Safety 1st Guide 65 is a flexible car seat with soft headrest, seat pads and optional pillows. The Guide 65 can be used in both rear and forward facing positions. In a rear facing position you can comfortably place your child weighing between 5 to 40 pounds. In a forward facing position you can place children weighing 22 to 65 pounds.
The compact build of the Guide 65 makes it easy to carry on an airplane. You have an adjustable headrest that can be customized according to your child’s height. An optional cup holder can be attached to store a quick access drink and snack for your child. A point 5 point harness system perfectly secures your child to the seat. The body pillows can be removed to ensure that your child is firmly gripped to the seat.
In addition to that anti-rebound bolsters ensure that the seat remains secured even in times of unprecedented turbulence. The Guide 65 certainly has the best design from the car seats mentioned in our list. You have three distinct color options to select from.
Who is this right for – Frequent travelers with small children
Who is this wrong for – Families that have children older than 18 months.
2) Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat
When it comes to travelling with infants, you have to be extra careful in ensuring their safety. Graco SnugRide SnugLock is the best car seat for air travel for infants. It has an exceptional impact protection design and TrueShield technology that ensures the child’s safety if there is any impact.
SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX can be used to seat children weighing 4 to 35 pounds. The cushioning and padding of the seat makes it pleasant for the infant to rest and relax. You can place the portable SnugRide 35 LX on a stroller and push it around at the airport. Installing the seat on the airplane just takes a few minutes.
The handle on the SnugRide with rubber gripping is a great feature when it comes to frequent travelers. It takes care of the comfort of parents as well. The best part is that it just weights 9.75 pounds, making it one of the lightest car seats you can own.
Who is this right for – Families having infants and young toddlers
Who is this wrong for – If you are looking for a budget friendly car seat
3) Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Combination Booster Car Seat
A budget friendly booster car seat, the Cosco Finale DX 2 in 1 is easy to carry and has extra padding to make your child’s ride comfortable. The booster car seat features a 5-point harness system to completely secure a child weighing between 30 to 65 pounds. The harness converts into a belt positioning booster when the child grows, extending its usability by a few more years.
It has removable seat pads and a cup holder to ensure that you can keep the car seat clean. Three Cosco Finale DX can be placed side-by-side in the rear of a mid size car car. This makes it a perfect buy for a growing family. The car seat is lightweight and safe for air travel. It just weighs 11.5 pounds which makes it easy to carry when travelling by air.
The look of the Cosco Finale DX is incredible and you have four color options to choose from.
Who is this right for – A family with more than one child
Who is this wrong for – Children aged less than 2
4) Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1 Harness Booster Seat
This Graco Tranzitions 3 in 1 Harness truly stands to its name. It features 3 seating modes – Harness mode, High back booster and Backless booster. This helps you to seat children who weigh up to 100 pounds and have a height of up to 57 inches. You can use it to secure your child even if they are more than 2 years old.
The harness and headrest can be adjusted in 8 different height positions, giving you the option to customize the headrest according to your child’s preference. Blow molded plastic used to manufacture the seat results in a durable, yet lightweight car seat. The car seat boasts an impact resistant design to ensure the child’s safety when travelling by air.
Graco Tranzitions car seat comes with soft seat pads and body pillows to provide a cozy ride for your child. It has a narrow form factor which enables you to place another Graco car seat side by side on the plane. The design of the car seat is compact and simple.
Who is this right for – For children up to 5 years of age.
Who is this wrong for – First time car seat buyers. Installation can be a little tricky
5) Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat
Evenflo Tribute is an affordable convertible car seat for children. Priced at just under a hundred dollars, the car seat backs a number of distinctive features. It boasts of both rear and front facing car seat arrangements. In the rear facing position it can accommodate children weighing 5 to 40 pounds and in the front facing position children with a weight of 22 to 40 pounds.
The car seat features a 5 point harness system with 4 shoulder strap positions. This ensures safety and security of your child. It complies with Evenflo’s Side Impact Test Standard and exceeds the minimum safety standards specified by Federal agencies.
Evenflo Tribute comes with removable and foldable cup holders to enhance the portability factor. You will have no problem in sailing through airport security checkpoints with this car seat. However, lack of cushioning can make it uncomfortable for your child when flying for long hours.
Who is this right for – Families looking for a budget-friendly car seat
Who is this wrong for – If you take comfort seriously.