Best FAA Approved Car Seats: Top Picks for Stress-Free Travel

Key Takeaways

• While airlines will permit lap children under the age of 2, it’s safest for children to fly in their own car seat.

• Most, but not all, infant car seats are FAA-approved. You can confirm your seat’s status by checking the sticker printed on the seat itself.

• You cannot use a car seat base on a plane. Car seats must be installed using the seatbelt.

• Important: the information in this article pertains ONLY to flights within the US (on any airline) and international flights on a U.S. based carrier. Foreign airlines have their own rules about if and which car seats can be used. If you’re flying internationally on a non-U.S. based airline, check with them for guidelines.

Airline safety experts and pediatricians agree: while airlines will permit lap children under the age of 2, it’s safest for children to fly in their own car seat. The reason is simple physics: if you wouldn’t consider holding your child in your lap in a car going 50 mph to be safe, why would it be safe in a vehicle going 500 mph just because it’s flying? 

Sudden changes in altitude or turbulence can and do occur. Having your child buckled securely in their own car seat mitigates the risks that come with that.

In order to use your car seat on a plane, you must purchase your child their own ticket and use an FAA-approved car seat. While most infant car seats are FAA-approved, not all are. 

You can check the status of your own car seat by looking for a sticker on the seat’s shell (it may be on the bottom of the seat). It’s important to note that car seats must be installed with a seat belt, without their base, so make sure to familiarize yourself with that type of installation before flying to avoid common car seat mistakes.

While most infant car seats are FAA-approved, you might wonder which infant car seats are best for flying. There are several brands at the top of our list; let’s walk through each one and what makes them a standout.

*The Nuna Pipa URBN is only available for purchase as part of a travel system. You cannot purchase the car seat separately. The most inexpensive Nuna travel system includes the Tavo stroller and starts at $599.99.

Orbit Baby G5+: Best for Travel System Prowess

When it comes to airplane usage, it can be wise to consider more than just the car seat itself. Because while yes, the car seat must be FAA-approved and needs to fit in the seat dimensions, you’re also probably not planning to tote that car seat all the way through the airport looped over your arm, right? 

Your best bet for the ultimate ease in traveling with a baby is to use a travel system and gate check the stroller component. And few car seats work as seamlessly and fluidly as part of a travel system than the Orbit Baby G5+

Key features

The Orbit Baby G5+ infant car seat’s best feature is its versatility. It can be installed easily on base or off (a must for airplane travel). 

When used on the base or on the Orbit Baby stroller, its swivel offers you 360 degrees of rotation for the ultimate ease in loading and unloading. It also makes finding the perfect position a breeze. 

Orbit Baby’s stellar safety ratings, outstanding crash test performance, and focus on the importance of head support offer peace of mind, while the superior craftsmanship and luxe fabrics make comfort a top priority for baby and parent alike.

• Versatility: Orbit Baby’s G5+ installs smoothly with LATCH or a seatbelt (a must for air travel).

• Rotation: When used on the base or on the Orbit Baby stroller, its swivel offers you 360 degrees of rotation for the ultimate ease in loading and unloading.

• Safety: Orbit Baby’s stellar safety ratings and outstanding crash test performance offer peace of mind

• Superior Craftsmanship and Luxe Fabrics provide a premium experience

Pricing

The Orbit Baby G5+ car seat is $539. When purchased together with the G5 stroller, the travel system is $1,729.

Where the Orbit Baby G5+ shines

• It transitions seamlessly between usage on stroller and off

• It installs equally well with LATCH or with a seatbelt—an important consideration for airline travel

Where Orbit Baby G5+ falls short

• It’s on the heavy side: Some competitor car seats  are 4-5 lbs lighter.

• It’s pricy: State of the art materials and design land this seat on the higher end of the price scale

Customer reviews

• “It is very well built and I can definitely feel that when moving it around and using it, I have 100% confidence this would last through several kids without even starting to show signs of wear.” - Reddit

• “Seriously obsessed with their stroller system. Most convenient and feels sturdy. With that being said, it is heavy but well worth it.” - TrustPilot

Who the Orbit Baby G5+ Infant Car Seat is best for

• Parents who rely primarily on a car for transport but want the ease of transitioning to a stroller when needed

• Parents who prioritize safety, style, and comfort and are willing to pay a bit more for higher-end features and finishes 

Nuna Pipa Urbn 

At just 7 lbs, the Nuna Pipa Urbn is an ultra lightweight infant car seat. As its name might suggest, it’s designed with urban-dwelling parents in mind. It does not come with a car seat base at all; it installs quickly with built in rigid LATCH or a seatbelt, making it very airplane friendly.

Key features

• Lightweight: at 7 lbs, it’s the lightest car seat on our list

• Designed for install without a base: making airplane install simple

• Made for small babies: a 22 lb weight limit makes it ideal for smaller babies

Pricing

The Nuna Pipa URBN is only available for purchase as part of a travel system. You cannot purchase the car seat separately. The most inexpensive Nuna travel system includes the Tavo stroller and starts at $599.99.

Where the Nuna Pipa URBN falls short 

• Low weight limit: It only goes up to 22 lbs, which is about 10 lbs less than most infant car seats

• Can’t be purchased separately: Only available as part of a travel system 

Customer reviews

• “It’s probably the best baseless [car seat] out there.” - Reddit

• “The URBN only goes up to 22lbs. My babies hit that around 4-6 months so it wasn’t a good option for us.” - Reddit

Who the Nuna Pipa URBN is best for 

• Urban parents who want a lightweight option that installs easily in rideshares and taxis

• Parents of small babies who aren’t as worried about the low weight limit

Doona+ 

The Doona+ differentiates itself by being a car seat and stroller in one. The wheels collapse up into the seat itself, which makes it great for travel in urban environments with public transit or rideshares.

Key features

• All-in-one design: the Doona+ collapses from a stroller into a car seat

• Suitable up to 35 lbs and 32 in: traditionally outgrown in height faster than weight

• No frills frame: The Doona+ lacks the adjustable handlebar, ample storage, and more refined suspension of the travel systems that accompany the other strollers on this list.

Pricing

The Doona+ is priced at $600.

Where the Doona+ falls short 

• It’s heavy. Lugging all 17 lbs of it (plus your baby) down an airplane aisle isn’t for the weak.

• It’s not adjustable. It sits comparatively low to the ground and the handlebar isn’t adjustable, so tall parents may struggle. There’s also zero storage.

Customer reviews

• “Great for travel, especially if you’re going to travel by plane pretty often.” - Reddit

• “It's primarily a car seat which means you have to adhere to the 2-hour rule regardless of whether or not you're using it in the car. That means you can't take it out for long outings and is really best suited for quick trips with short drives.” - Reddit

Who the Doona+ is best for

• Urban dwellers who need an all-in-one solution

• Parents who don’t mind replacing their car seat and stroller when the Doona+ is outgrown (typically around 9-12 months)

see our guide on what stroller and car seat to get after Doona for the best next-step options

UPPAbaby Mesa V3

UPPABaby car seats are known for their ease of install and high safety ratings, the Mesa V3 is the newest iteration of their Mesa infant car seat.

Key features

• European belt routing option makes seatbelt install off base easy

• 25 headrest positions

• Upgraded fabric options

Pricing

The UPPAbaby Mesa V3 starts at $399.99.

Where the UPPAbaby Mesa V3 falls short

• The Mesa V2 had some positioning issues, especially for young babies and preemies. Time will tell if the V3 rectifies these problems.

• It’s heavier and bulkier than many other options available

Customer reviews

Since the UPPAbaby Mesa V3 was just released on July 15, customer reviews are not yet available.

Who the UPPAbaby Mesa V3 is best for

• Parents who want a solid mid-range option; it’s neither the least nor most expensive item on our list

• Parents who want to feel equally confident installing on or off base

Clek Liingo

The Clek Liingo is the baseless version of Clek’s popular Liing infant car seat. Because it comes without a base, its price point is considerably lower than Clek’s other options, but it still comes with the outstanding safety record Clek is known for.

Key features

• Baseless by design: the Liingo comes without a base and is designed for installation with a seatbelt (a perk for airline travel)

• Popular option for urban parents thanks to its rideshare-friendly design

• With separately sold adapters, works with many common stroller brands as part of a travel system.

Pricing

The Clek Liingo is $299.99, making it the least expensive car seat on our list.

Where the Clek Liingo falls short

• Bulky: the Liingo is heavier and bulkier than some other options

• Less Luxe: the fabrics and finishes aren’t as nice as some competitors

Customer reviews

• “I love this car seat. I wish I could find a convertible car seat that was as easy to install and remove from the car as this one.” - Reddit

• “Adjustment for top harness slots requires disassembly of seat parts behind harness slots.” - Consumer Reports

Who the Clek Liingo is best for

For parents who like the reputation for safety that the Clek brand offers, the Liingo offers a budget-friendly entry point.

Cybex Cloud T

The Cybex Cloud T offers more recline options than traditional infant car seats. It also can install smoothly off base for use on an airplane.

Key features

• Innovative recline system: flattens the backrest and leg rest simultaneously, for an ergonomic lying position when used outside the vehicle

• FAA-approved when used off-base

• Color indicators: make it easy to ensure the seat has been installed correctly

Pricing

The Cybex Cloud T starts at $649.95 and is the most expensive car seat on our list.

Where the Cybex Cloud T falls short

• Price: it’s the most expensive car seat on our list

• Weight: it’s heavier than many other options

• Customer service: many customers online complain of difficulty resolving complaints or slow response times

Customer reviews

• “Cloud T is brilliant. No complaints being in it, sleeps in the car all the time. Such a good purchase!”  - Reddit

• “Very poor customer service. No one replies to emails or answers phone calls, even after multiple attempts.” - Cybex Facebook review

Who is the Cybex Cloud T best for

• Parents of small babies: the best reviews for the Cloud T are from parents of very young infants

• Parents whose babies don’t travel well: the recline options and comfort of the Cloud T seem to help

How to choose an FAA-approved car seat for traveling

When choosing a car seat to use for air travel, it’s also worth knowing when to change your car seats so your child remains safe and comfortable throughout their journeys. Most importantly, you’ll want to consider how well the car seat will fit as well as ease of installation.

Car Seat Size and Weight

As we all know, airline seats have shrunk in both width and pitch (the space between rows) over the years. It’s important to make sure your car seat will fit easily in the seat dimensions. Since you’ll be carrying the car seat down the aisle, its weight is also important.

Ease of Seatbelt Installation

You cannot use a car seat base on an airplane, so make sure you know how to install your car seat with the seat belt—and how to do it, if that’s not how you traditionally secure the seat.

Consider One That Works WIth Your Stroller as a Travel System

For the ultimate ease moving through the airport, consider using a car seat that works seamlessly with your gate-checked stroller as a travel system.

Choose Orbit Baby For Your FAA-Approved Car Seat and Travel in Comfort and Style

Orbit Baby understands how to simplify air travel for parents of little ones. Our car seat meets FAA requirements and follows the best practices for new born car safety, installing easily with the seatbelt while maintaining a narrow profile that fits comfortably into the average airline seat.

Our stroller meets airline requirements for gate checking and collapses easily and completely to make storage a breeze. We recommend our travel bag for frequent travelers to keep your stroller protected from damage or debris during travel.

Utilize the two components together for a seamless travel system that allows you to navigate even a hectic airport scene with ease.