I've been on long flights like that with babies and toddlers. We stopped having our kids be lap babies when they got to be 12-13 months old, even when both parents were flying. I totally cannot imagine having a toddler as a lap child when on a flight by myself. You might consider for a moment how far your child's feet are going to hang over into your neighbor's seat while she's nursing to sleep...
I try to avoid thinking about what else I could do with the money -- though I will say that usually when I fly, the entire trip is optional, so if I can't afford a seat for the kid, I just don't go.
incidentally, I've never brought a car seat onto an airplane, but I still think the extra seat is worth it.
On the other hand, when I have had a lap baby on a flight, there has usually been an extra seat available. I have found that when checking in at the counter, the agents are often willing to rearrange seating to give me an extra seat for my kid. However, there isn't always an extra seat -- one time I was on a totally packed 8-hour-flight with a lap baby.
I try to avoid thinking about what else I could do with the money -- though I will say that usually when I fly, the entire trip is optional, so if I can't afford a seat for the kid, I just don't go.
incidentally, I've never brought a car seat onto an airplane, but I still think the extra seat is worth it.
On the other hand, when I have had a lap baby on a flight, there has usually been an extra seat available. I have found that when checking in at the counter, the agents are often willing to rearrange seating to give me an extra seat for my kid. However, there isn't always an extra seat -- one time I was on a totally packed 8-hour-flight with a lap baby.
