Air travel with kids can be a tough process. In addition to all the hassle of keeping children entertained in the air, increased security measures make it more difficult than ever before to get your kids, their carry-ons, and any necessary strollers, booster seats, or car seats through the checkpoints. Of course, safety is an issue, as well, since air travel, like car travel, comes with regulations regarding seat belts and other restraining devices.

Car Seats and Air Travel

Car seats aren’t required for children on airplanes, and children up to age 2 don’t even have to have their own seat in order to fly. However, many parents opt to not only purchase airline tickets for their young children, but also to bring a car seat on board. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recommends it as the safest way to travel, since there are no other restraint options for your child. (Sharing a seatbelt with your child is actually considered more hazardous than just holding the child in your lap during an emergency situation.)

There’s also the added benefit of parental sanity when you bring a car seat on the plane. Holding a child for anywhere between four and fourteen hours can be certainly be a strain on you, the child, and all the people around you!

If you opt not to purchase a ticket for your child under 2, be sure and check a car seat with your luggage if you plan on doing any driving at your destination. Seats are usually bagged up and shipped along with all the suitcases, so they is ready and waiting once you land.

Booster Seats and Air Travel

Older children don’t have the same options as children under 2 when it comes to air travel. In fact, booster seats are not allowed on planes, since the Federal Aviation Administration has determined that booster seats don’t fit their strict regulations. The booster seat safety laws that apply to car travel do not apply to air travel.  Children who would normally ride in a car with a booster seat must have their own airline tickets and seats, and are expected to be restrained with the standard adult seat belt.

As with car seats, if you plan on using a car when you land, you’ll need to either check your booster seat with your luggage, or even carry it on the plane with you. Because of their relatively compact size, backless booster seats can often be stored in the overhead bins, though it’s best to check with the airline ahead of time to determine their policies.