Well, I traveled back and forth to Denver in May alone with DS for a family wedding (so DH dropped us off at the airport and family with car seat picked us up. Like you I could not manage bringing a car seat on top of everything else). I made do with just the airline safety belt but I will tell you it was not completely pleasant. It took DS approximately 0.8 of a second to figure out how to undo said seat belt. For some reason he behaved on takeoff both ways (watching a DVD) but was in absolutely no mood to sit down when the captain requested for landing etc no matter what tricks and treats I tried. Without a proper restraint, I got yelled at 3-4 times from the stewardesses for him standing on his chair when the seatbelt sign was illuminated and I had to basically hold him down physically for the actual landing, which resulted in 15-20 mins of screaming. Yes, I was the parent with "that screaming child" but at least it was the not until we had started descent so everyone knew it was of limited time duration. Since then, when we have traveled with DH and brough the car seat that he knows he cannot get out of, he has behaved fine. Your sweet DD may not have the same issue and you can indeed make do with the airline safetly belt, but next time, I am getting the Amsafe CARES (its the only one I am aware of). Good luck
