I researched a lot to find one that was super light and sized well for aircraft. We found an old used 2016 Grace Contender 65 on Facebook Marketplace for $25. The logic here was (1) if we had to check it, it could get bashed around and we wouldn’t care, (2) if we had to trash it at some point on the trip, it had already lived a good life. Lasted well to/from France and on long car rides.

For the older kids we got the mifold hifold seats for the trip (not for use on the airplane). These just collapsed in our checked luggage.