Infant & Child Seating

We want to be sure your kids are safe. If you decide to use a child restraint aboard the airplane, there are certain safety restrictions and guidelines you'll need to observe.

Aboard the Aircraft
Approved Child Restraints

Aboard the Aircraft

If the seat next to you remains unoccupied, you may place your infant in the seat using an FAA-approved child restraint. However, we can't guarantee that a seat will remain open. You will need to pay for the seat to be sure that it's available.

Where to Sit with a Child Restraint

When you're using a child restraint, do not select seats in the following areas:

• Emergency exit rows
• Any seat one row forward or one row back from an emergency exit row
• Aisle seats
• Bulkhead seats when the car seat is a combination car seat and stroller

If a child is placed in a restraint occupying the middle seat of a single-aisle aircraft, the accompanying adult has to sit at the window seat, unless the window seat remains vacant throughout the flight. This is so other passengers can easily access the aisle.

Similarly, if a child is placed in a restraint occupying the middle seat of a dual-aisle aircraft, the accompanying adult has to sit next to the child in such a way that other passengers can easily access the aisle.

A row may contain more than one child restraint device if the children are from the same family or travel group.

Take-off and Landing

An adult (12 years or older) may hold an infant or place the infant in a FAA-approved child restraint during take-off and landing.

Child Restraints & Adults' Responsibilities

The accompanying adult has the following responsibilities when using a child restraint during take-off and landing:

• The adult has to make sure that the child restraint seat meets FAA guidelines (see Approved Child Restraints).
• The adult has to make sure that the child restraint seat functions properly and is free of obvious defects.
• The adult has to secure the child according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• The adult has to make sure the child does not exceed the restraint's weight limit.
• The adult has to make sure the child restraint is secured to the aircraft seat using the aircraft seat's safety belt.

Our flight attendants will check with the accompanying adult that the child is properly restrained and the child's seat is properly secured to the aircraft seat. However, the ultimate responsibility falls to the accompanying adult.

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Approved Child Restraints

All child restraints have labeling that shows whether or not the restraint meets certain safety requirements. The label has a circle surrounding the letter "e" followed by the distinguishing number granting approval, and will indicate the seat's category and mass group.

Labeling Specifics

If a restraint was manufactured within the U.S. between 1/1/81 and 2/25/85, it needs to have the following labeling to be approved for Delta flights:

• Conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle standards.

If a restraint was manufactured within the U.S. after 2/25/85, it needs to have the following labeling to be approved for Delta flights:

• Conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle standards
• Is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.

If a restraint was manufactured outside the U.S., it needs to have the following labeling to be approved for Delta flights:

• Has the approval of a foreign government
• Was manufactured under standards of the United Nations (UN).

Restraints that are Not Permitted

We do not permit the following types of car seats:

• Booster seats-even if they bear labels indicating they meet U.S., UN, or foreign government standards.
  
  
• Vest and harness-type child restraint devices other than the FAA approved CARES restraint device.

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