CARES? Lap belt? SnugRide? on plane

We'll be flying soon with 2 kids and ride in an Accord (don't know year but probably around 2005) at destination.

One son will be 3, around 38-39 lbs, 38-39". He's always flown in a car seat but it would be great not to lug 2 through the airport. He'll need a new seat at destination, so we could have my parents buy it and keep it there instead of bringing it from here. I hope he'll sleep some on flight out (5 hrs, evening). Flight back is daytime so he probably won't.

Do you think CARES would work well for him? He'd probably outgrow it after just one more trip. Is it worth buying? Any chance he could fly with just lap belt? When do you know they're ready? I don't think we'll have problems with him unbuckling seat belt.

Second son will be 6 mos and may outgrow SnugRide by then, but if it still fits him, do you recommend SnugRide without base or Evenflo Tribute? Which would be easier to install and fit better in plane and Accord?

TIA!
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Speaking from experience with a toddler, it is worth it to bring his car seat, I know its a pain to lug it through the airport, but it is a life saver especially on a long flight. My 3 year old is go go go unless hes in his car seat. I know you don't think you will have a problem with him unbuckling it, but just in case. The airplane lap belt probably also wont fit him very well so he will be super squirmy and uncomfortable in the seat. In his car seat you know he is secure and he is familiar with it so he is more likely to fall asleep, not to mention its just more comfortable to sleep strapped into the car seat then on the plane seat.

As for your younger son I would recommend the Snugride, it is so much easier to carry your kid around in the infant carrier. It shouldn't be too hard to install it baseless in your parents car.

To make it easier for you I would suggest renting a luggage cart in the airport (its a few dollars) and you can put the suitcases and toddler seat on it, (maybe the toddler can ride on it too) and push your baby in a stroller in the infant seat if you have a compatible stroller. If you don't want to do that another option is stacking both car seats on a stroller, wearing the baby and having the toddler walk (maybe in a leash depending on how flighty he is?) while your husband pushes both suitcases. Oh and someone also has a super cute video of her then 4 year old daughter pulling her car seat on wheels through the airport.