When buying a car seat for your little one, there are many things to consider. One of those things is whether the car seat is approved by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
For parents who think they will be flying a fair amount of time with their babies, no other place is safer than using a car seat in an airplane.
If you own a Graco car seat and wish to travel with your child via air, you’d want to ensure the Graco car seat is airline approved before going to the airport.
In this short write-up, we will be looking at whether Graco car seats are airline approved or not. We will look at the list of Graco car seats that are FAA approved and how to know if car seats are airline approved.
Here’s an article on whether Graco car seats are toxic or not.
Table of Contents
Are Graco Car Seats Airline Approved?
Not all Graco car seats are airline approved, however, most of them are. If you own a Graco car seat, you should check to see if it’s airline approved before heading to the airport.
Nonetheless, even though your Graco car seat is approved by Federal Airline Administration, there is a manufacturer’s instruction to adhere to for safety and compliance issues. There is more to using a car seat in an airline than just being approved by FAA.
In most cases, different airlines have their policies pertaining to using a baby car seat. Therefore, even if your car seat is airline approved, it is best to put a call through to the airline to find out about their car seat policy.
Related: Are Graco car seat bases machine washable?
How To Know If A Car Seat Is FAA Approved?
To know if a car seat is FAA approved, there is always a sticker on the back, side, or any other location on the car seat. The sticker will tell you that the car seat has been certified for an aircraft or motor vehicle.
In the case of Graco car seats, you will see a sticker that reads, “This restraint has been certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft,” and it is written in red letters.
Also, it is possible to notice that the car seat shell is airline approved while the base is not. If that’s the case with you, you don’t have to worry because the car seat can be installed in an aircraft without the base. Just ensure you follow the seat manual for specific information.
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Where Is The FAA Sticker On A Graco Car Seat?
If your Graco car seat is FAA approved, you will usually see a sticker that says that. This sticker can be found on the back, side, or underneath the seat. You should see an aircraft image on the sticker to easily identify with it.
In case the car seat or base is not certified for use on an aircraft, you should still see a sticker that clearly states that. You should adhere to the instructions of the car seat manufacturer for the safety of your little one.
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Do I Need To Install A Car Seat Base On An Airplane?
If the car seat base is certified to be used in an aircraft, you can safely install it. However, this is wholly dependent on the airline and whether they want you to do so or not. If the airline gives the go-ahead, then you can do that.
In a case where you have a car seat that is airline approved and a base that isn’t, the car seat shell can be installed safely inside an aircraft. Just follow the seat manufacturer’s instructions and adhere to what the airline directs you to do.
Even if the car seat base is FAA approved, you should call the airline to know if it’s okay to install a car seat base on their aircraft. If they don’t allow that, it would save you the stress of carrying extra luggage (in this case, the seat base).
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List Of Graco Car Seats That Are Airline Approved
Even though not all Graco car seats are FAA approved, most of them are. You can check the list below to see if your Graco car seat is among the list of FAA-approved car seats.
- Graco SnugRide 35
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30
- Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX
- Graco Admiral 65/Contender 65
- Graco SlimFit
- Graco Extend2Fit
- Graco 4ver DLX
- Graco Size4Me 65 Convertible Car Seat
In case you have a Graco car seat that is not listed above, you can check the sticker on the car seat to see if it’s approved by FAA.
Must You Use A Car Seat For Your Child When Traveling By Air?
No, it is not compulsory to use a car seat for your little one when traveling by air. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that babies should travel by air in an FAA-approved car seat or airline harness device.
Therefore, nobody will force you to use a car seat for your baby, but for safety reasons, you should consider getting an airline-approved car seat when flying.
If you would be flying often and would wish to be doing so with your child, you should buy a car seat that is airline approved. Most car seats in the marketplace are airline certified, so it shouldn’t be stressful to find one.
Find out the differences between Graco car seats.
What To Know About Using A Car Seat In An Airplane
- For your convenience, you should always consider the weight of a car seat. Avoid using a bulky car seat for travels because it would only make the trip burdensome to you. Getting a car seat of around 10 lbs should be your best choice.
- Another important thing to consider when traveling with a car seat is the width of the seat. Typically, plane seats have widths of between 16″ and 22″. They are mostly 17 or 18″. Car seats with a width of 18″ and below tend to fit all airplanes.
- And lastly, the car seat must be FAA approved before you can use it on an airplane.
Do You Have To Pay To Use A Car Seat In An Airplane?
There is no payment whatsoever to use a car seat on an airplane. All U.S. airlines allow parents to check their car seats for free when traveling with their little ones.
The checking can be done either at the airport baggage counter or wait and check at your gate. Therefore, don’t expect to pay any money if you are planning to use a car seat for your child on an aircraft.
Conclusion
If you are planning to buy a Graco car seat or own one already, know that most Graco car seats are airline approved, but not all. You can check the sticker on the car seat to know if it is airline approved or not.
If you are planning to buy a Graco FAA-approved car seat, you can choose from any of the Graco car seats listed in this article.
