Quick answer
In Ontario, children ride rear-facing up to 9 kg, forward-facing from 9 to 18 kg, and in a booster seat from 18 to 36 kg, until they turn 8, reach 36 kg or grow to 145 cm. We provide child seats free on request. For a family of four with luggage, book the SUV. At security, liquid formula, milk and baby food for a child under two are allowed above the 100 ml limit.
An airport run with children carries more of everything: more bags, more gear, more rules, and less room for a late start. This guide covers the parts that trip families up on the way to Toronto Pearson. That means the car-seat rules, what fits in which car, what you can take through security for a baby, and how airlines handle strollers.
Ontario’s car-seat rules
Ontario sets the stages by weight, height and age. These thresholds come from the Government of Ontario’s guidance on choosing a child car seat.
| Stage | Ontario’s threshold |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Up to 9 kg (20 lb) |
| Forward-facing seat | 9 to 18 kg (20 to 40 lb) |
| Booster seat | 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lb), under 145 cm (4 ft 9 in), and under 8 years old |
| Seatbelt alone | Once the child turns 8, weighs 36 kg (80 lb), or reaches 145 cm (4 ft 9 in) |
Thresholds from ontario.ca. A driver convicted of not properly securing a child faces a $240 fine and two demerit points.
These are the legal minimums. Many parents keep a child in each stage for longer, up to the seat maker’s limits. If you are not sure which seat your child needs, the weight usually decides it.
Child seats in our cars
We provide child seats free on request. When you book, put the number of children, their ages and their weights in the special instructions, and we will bring the right seats. If you would rather use your own, bring it along. Many families fly with their child’s seat anyway, and it comes with you in the car to and from the airport.
Tell us at booking rather than on the day, so the right seats are in the car when it arrives.
Choosing a car that fits a family
Children’s gear takes space, and it counts. A stroller and a car seat can take up much of a trunk.
| Sedan | SUV | Executive SUV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | Up to 3 | Up to 6 | Up to 6 |
| Large cases | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Suits | Up to three people, light bags | A family of four or more, with a stroller | The same space, with captain chairs |
| Downtown to Pearson | $125 | $161 | $202 |
Flat fares in CAD from Union Station, airport fee included. Your exact fare appears in the form on this page.
The rule of thumb: count the large cases and the bulky gear first, then the people. If either number is at the limit, take the next car up. A couple with one child fits the sedan’s three seats. If they also bring more than two large cases, or a stroller on top of two cases, the SUV is the safer choice. A family of four always needs the SUV.
Travelling as a family? Price the SUV and the sedan side by side from your address.
Compare the carsWhat you can carry through security
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) makes exceptions for babies:
- Baby food, milk, liquid formula, water and juice are allowed in quantities over 100 ml if you are travelling with a child under two. Take them out of your bag and show them to the screening officer.
- Breast milk is allowed in quantities over 100 ml whether or not the child is travelling with you, again presented for inspection.
- Gel and ice packs are allowed when they are keeping those items cold for a child under two.
Allow a little extra time at the checkpoint for this. It is routine, but it is an extra step.
Strollers and car seats on the plane
Rules vary by airline, so check yours. As an example, Air Canada:
- lets you bring one stroller for each child, on top of your normal baggage allowance
- checks small, compact strollers free at the counter or at the gate
- checks a car seat or booster seat free for children up to 11, on top of your allowance.
With Air Canada, a stroller checked at the gate is returned to you at the aircraft door when you land. That helps on the long walk from the gate to the arrivals hall.
Timing the trip
Aim to be at Pearson 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before a US or international one. With children, add a margin on top for the car seats, the stroller, the extra screening and the inevitable last bathroom stop. Our pickup-time guide gives drive times to Pearson from across the GTA.
On the way home, give us your flight number. We track the aircraft, and your chauffeur waits inside the arrivals hall with a name sign. You get 60 minutes of free waiting from touchdown on international arrivals and 30 on domestic ones. The seats you asked for are already in the car.
