Lap seat flying for nearly two year old

[Misty9]

We're currently planning a road trip to California for next spring (yey!) and need to decide whether to squeeze it in before dd turns two in mid April so that we can avoid full fare on flights for her seat.

Is it feasible to fly long haul with an almost two year old as a lap passenger? We will also have ds, 4.5, so they can share that seat during the flight for some of the time.

And relatedly, are we better off doing the trip in April/May for better weather etc anyway? There's about £500 saving if we travel before dd is two...

they don't escape from the car. They just howl and whine if they don't like being in the seat for long periods.

she'll be two. She can't read a book or watch a DVD for ages.

At 2 they can listen to story tapes, look out the window, or nap! It's a 2 year old child in a car, not a wild lion

I think If the OP has decided on a road trip then that's up to her and that's not what is up for debate. She was asking about whether or not she should book a plane seat not whether or not she should go on a road trip.

I'd still go for the almost 2 year old on my knee. We're going to take a trip to South America or fhre Caribbean at Christmas when my dd will be 21 months and we probably won't get her a seat.

of course. Hope it goes well and that everyone enjoys it.

Are you nuts? Book the seat!!!!!!

Thanks all - I did start a thread asking for others experience of doing road trips with young children and very interested in hearing stories of those who've done it.

Still torn on the seat issue as £500 is a lot of money - about as much as we'd need to reserve our seats probably I'm also not sure how dd would sleep in her own seat...but can definitely see meals etc would be tricky with her on a lap. Will probably book one.