To Buy a Seat or Not to Buy a Seat?

Buy the seat. In the event of any kind of plane problem, he will be much safer in his carseat. Read the account of a woman who is trying to hold onto her child and he is ripped from her hands. She survives, her child not. That was enough to do it for me. I know you don't want there to be a plane problem, but you never know. The only reason to use carseats ever is to protect your child. Also, I assume your child is used to riding in a carseat in the car. It will be more natural for him to ride in the carseat in the plane. Might be easier to keep your daughter in her seatbelt if her brother is trying to run free. Trying to keep a squirmy toddler in arms for over an hour is no fun for you or the other passengers. Plus you will have the carseat for when you get to FL, and you will need it while in FL. You will be able to load the plane first since you have a small child and can get the carseat positioned then.
Have fun on your trip.
R.

have you contacted the airline because they might have already made the decision for you with their rules. You might also see if they have car seats for the kids to travel in already on the plane or they may not allow car seats except for infants. I would, as much as I would hate it buy him his own seat. He would have his own seat to do things in like play cars and color etc. and you wouldn't be all cramped up with both of you in one seat.It would be a lot less stressfull I would think if he had his own seat also because then he wouldn't feel trapped onto sitting on your lap.

I guess it is all personal opinion, but if the difference on going on vacation or not is wrapped up in the affordability of purchasing a seat for a child on a plane or not I would figure out what it will cost to drive so I don't have to purchase the seat. If the cost is greater to drive then I would purchase the seat, if not I would suck up the extra cost of driving and not have to consider purchasing the seat.

We went to Florida when my son was 18 months old. We ended up buying a seat. I am glad we did. He was able to sleep better in his carseat. I was worried about him wanting down and to walk around. This way, he knew he couldn't go anywhere. Only problem was having to drag the carseat around the airport.