Please recommend a car seat specifically for plane travel

[Boot]

I'm taking my 16 month old on a 27 hour (1 layover) plane trip as a lap baby by myself. My strategy is to try my hardest to get a free seat next to me and put her in a carseat there. Obviously, this is a gamble and I may have to check the seat. I'm not bringing our radian as it is huge and heavy. I want a cheap carseat that is light and small. I will also use it when I arrive. Can anyone give any recommendations? I'm in Canada but I think I can get all the American seats here. 

By the way DD is only around 20lb and still rearfacing. 

[chel]

My dd is also 16 m . I like the scenera. It's around $40. I use it for dh's car and travel. Very light and fits great on top of my rolling carryon with a bungee cord. It comes with a plastic cover that fits well even when attached to the carryon.

[Boot]

I bought the scenera. Sadly, in Canada they are not $40 but I got it on sale for $75 (down from $100) so I feel good about that. It IS super light which is great.

[Boot]

OK, quick follow up question.... I installed the scenera rearfacing in a friend's dodge grand caravan today (back bench). It seemed too upright. Having done a bit of reading, it seems this is a normal problem for the scenera and a lot of people use pool noodles, etc. The thing is, if I'm in taxi's, friend's cars, etc, I may not be able to do that. I presume it is safer to have the seat more upright but still rearfacing than to forward face her. Am I correct? 

[TheGirls]

Why wouldn't you be able to use a pool noodle in a friends car or taxi?  I've installed our Scenera in a bunch of cars (friends, family, rentals, airplanes, carpool, etc - it is our "travel seat") and it usually takes me about 2 minutes, sometimes less.  I use a pool noodle and just keep it with the seat.  If I lose it, I just use a towel or blanket or something rolled up...

While I can't recommend that anyone use a seat outside of the manufacturer's guidelines (ie more upright than 30 degrees) I would personally make the parental decision to break that rule if there were truly no other choice (ie RF more upright than 30 degrees or FF), especially for a child under 2.

[DahliaRW]

Depending on car, you can do it without pool noodle.  Set the seat down at the right angle.  Then when buckling stand behind the seat.  Push with your body forward so that the bottom front of the seat pushes into the back of the car seat.  Push down where the baby's bottom goes when tightening.  Usually works decently.  And your LO can be as upright as 30 degrees, so you have a lot of wiggle room.  If you can't travel with a pool noodle, a rolled up towel, blanket, or even coat can work in a pinch.

[AnnieA]

I keep a pool noodle piece and a small bathmat in the plastic cover that comes with the scenera so I have both with me if I need to adjust the angle in any car.

[jocelyndale]

I thread a pool noodle on a ribbon through the RF belt path on the Scenera.  If I install the seat FF (my son is a small 4yo), the noodle isn't in the way.  If I install it RF, it's right there to pull around to the front.  I use two slide knots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jocelyndale/5512859932/

[Boot]

Thank you. That's really very helpful.