Thanks wysiwyg and miss e -

Wysiwyg - I am interested in what airlines/car seat your friend used - we may not go this route, but it would be handy to know.

Are the bassinets in the plane clean (the one in your photo looks fine).

Miss e - that's what I'm thinking - buy the car seat online and have it waiting for us at our first destination as this won't be a one time trip to the US.