It depends on the airline. India’s DGCA has asked airlines to encourage child restraint systems wherever feasible and calls a restraint in its own seat the safest way to secure a child, but it is an advisory, not a rule for passengers. IndiGo says it does not provide infant car seats onboard, and infants there travel on an adult’s lap. Ask your airline before you book.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Parents often ask whether the car seat they use at home can come on the plane. The honest answer in India is that regulator guidance and airline practice do not fully match, so a little checking beforehand saves a lot of stress at the gate.
What does the DGCA say about child car seats on flights?
In February 2022, the DGCA sent an advisory to Indian airlines on child restraint systems, often shortened to CRS. The advisory followed a sub-committee review after the August 2020 Air India Express accident at Kozhikode. It defines a child restraint system as a device, other than a seat belt, designed to protect and restrain an infant or child during all phases of flight.
The regulator described a child restraint system in a dedicated seat as the safest way to secure an infant or child on an aircraft, because a parent cannot physically hold a child during sudden movement, severe turbulence or impact. Airlines were asked to encourage passengers travelling with young children to use such devices wherever feasible, to write their own policies, procedures and training, to consider publishing seat widths on their websites, and to prohibit certain device types during taxi, take-off and landing.
Note the wording. It is an advisory to airlines. It did not make a restraint compulsory for parents, and it did not oblige every airline to accept every car seat.
Is a car seat the same as an aircraft child restraint?
Not necessarily. A car seat is built for a car, with a car’s seat belt geometry. Aircraft seats and belts are different, and aviation regulators elsewhere generally say a device must be approved for use in aircraft and fitted to the passenger seat as the manufacturer instructs. The DGCA advisory itself speaks of devices that interface with the aircraft seat, including ones secured with the aircraft seat belt.
So even where an airline is open to a child seat, expect it to check for an approval label, the seat’s width against the aircraft seat, and where in the cabin it can be placed. Your best move is to ask the airline directly and get the answer in writing, by email or chat, before you buy a seat for your child.
Does an infant need their own seat on Indian airlines?
Usually no. Indian airlines generally define an infant as a child under two years on the date of travel. IndiGo’s own infant page puts it as above three days and under two years. On IndiGo, an infant cannot occupy a separate seat and travels on an adult’s lap, and no extra seat can be booked for an infant. A lap infant usually pays a small infant fee rather than a full fare.
A child who has turned two needs a seat of their own and a ticket, because an infant fare no longer applies. If your child turns two during a round trip, check how the airline treats the return leg, as age is usually counted on the date of each flight.
Because lap travel is the standard arrangement, some parents who want a restraint for their baby choose an airline that clearly allows it. That is a matter for the airline’s own policy, and you should not assume your chosen carrier allows it just because the regulator recommends it.
What does IndiGo say about car seats and bassinets?
IndiGo states that it does not currently provide a bassinet, a baby car seat or a seat belt for infants on board. Read that carefully: it says what the airline provides, and combined with the lap rule for infants it means you should not plan on bringing an infant car seat and strapping the baby into it without written confirmation from IndiGo.
For Air India, Akasa Air and Air India Express, we could not find a clear, current statement on their official pages about accepting child car seats in the cabin, so we are not going to guess. Contact each airline, and if you get a yes, note the exact wording, the size limits and any extra seat purchase it requires.
Can a car seat go as checked baggage?
Many travellers check a car seat at the counter so it is waiting for them at the destination, particularly if they will hire a car there. Whether it travels free, counts towards your baggage allowance or needs a special declaration is an airline-by-airline matter. We did not find a clear published rule for the Indian carriers, so ask before you travel.
- Use the original box or a padded travel bag, as hold handling is rough.
- Label it with your name and phone number.
- Take photos of its condition at drop-off.
- Keep the manual, since some airlines or hire firms ask for proof of the model.
- Ask whether the seat can be checked at the gate, if you want it as late as possible.
Whatever the policy, follow cabin crew instructions whenever the seat belt sign is on. The DGCA’s own reasoning is that an adult’s arms cannot hold a child securely during sudden movement.
Common Questions
Is a child car seat mandatory on Indian flights?
No. The DGCA advisory encourages airlines to promote child restraint systems wherever feasible. It does not make them compulsory for passengers.
Can I use my car seat on an IndiGo flight?
IndiGo says it does not currently provide a baby car seat onboard, and infants there travel on an adult’s lap. Do not assume you can bring your own into the cabin. Get a written answer from IndiGo first.
At what age does my child need their own seat?
An infant is generally a child under two years old on the day of travel and can be carried on a lap. From the age of two a child needs their own ticket and seat.
Is a lap infant allowed to have a bassinet?
Policies vary by airline and aircraft. IndiGo says it does not currently provide a bassinet. Check with the airline you are flying, and ask early, as such requests are often limited.
Does a lap infant need a separate ticket?
Yes, an infant on a lap is usually booked on the adult’s reservation and pays an infant fee, which is lower than a child fare. Check the exact fee with your airline, as it varies.
Where can I read the DGCA advisory?
The DGCA publishes its circulars and advisories on its website, and the February 2022 child restraint advisory was widely reported in the press at the time. Check the DGCA site for the current text.
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Rules and fees change. Verify current specifics with the airline, DGCA or the airport before you travel.
