H.J.
My mother is a flight attendant so I know all about this subject. She gives us passes to fly down to her all the time. Since your child is now 2 years old, you need to purchase a ticket for him. You don't have to have the car seat in the plane, but for me, it is just easier. I mean, you have to take it with you anyways for car rides, so why not take it on the plane. What type of seat do you have? We have the Alpha Omega Elite 3 in 1. It fits perfectly onto an airplane seat. My tip is that you put your child in the window seat. With him being in the carseat, he will be up high enough to look out and see all the cool things. You can even make up a game with him, like counting the number of rivers you see, or lakes. A portable DVD player is a great idea, but make sure you also have headphones. They are required, so it doesn't bother other passengers. Be sure to pack along his favorite snacks as well as some coloring books and crayons, a deck of cards, and a book for you too. I am not sure if you let your child chew gum yet or not, but it does help with take off and landing with the pressure in the ears. Or just make sure he's snacking or drinking something at that time. One more tip for you if you are bringing a stroller. Take it with you all the way to the gate. Get a claim ticket from the ticket agent at the gate. When you are boarding the plane, fold down the stroller and leave it right outside the door of the plane. When you get to your destination and step out of the plane, it will be there waiting for you. Have a great time.