Um, yeah. That pricing you're stating may be for flights leaving during the Carter Administration, but these days it's roughly 10% of adult fare for a lap infant and 75% of adult fare for kids under two in their own seat internationally. And they don't get miles for that. U.S. flag carriers don't allow lap infants for long-haul international flights at all.

Throw in the way that the airlines have bowed to pressure from status members to not allow those traveling with small children to board early, making securing a car seat that much more aggravating all around, and you have the reasons you don't see a lot of kids in car seats.

If the airline really wanted to solve the problem, they'd give you the option of having a car seat already in place at the kid's seat when you board. For a modest fee of course. If I can order a kids' meal on booking and they can get that right, I should be able to get a car seat.