Bringing a Stroller on a Flight

[KandiB47]

I am flying with Midwest this summer. A lot of people are posting that they bring their strollers to WDW. How do you get them there? Do you check them as a piece of luggage? I'm worried the stroller will be damaged if I check it. Anybody take the stroller as a carry on item? Any tips to avoid damage to the stroller?

 

[maciec]

We have brought our strollers on numerous occassions to WDW. We have always gate checked them prior to boarding the plane.

We pretty much always fly USAir, but I imagine that other airlines do the same. When you go down the ramp to get onto the plane there is a spot at the end where you either stand the stroller up or lay it down. Airline personnel then load it onto the plane. When you get off of the plane the stroller should be there waiting for you. More times than not though, I have had to wait for ours to be broght up.

I haven't had any damage yet to any of our strollers. For my cheapo umbrella stroller I just fold it up and hand it over. For my Maclaren I bought a stroller cover to put it in and then I hand it over. You can't take the stroller actually onto the plane because it's just too big.

 

[ducklite]

You aren't allowed to carry it on--there's not enough room for that...

Anne

 

[Karalynn]

We also did this, and it really worked out great. There were other families that did it too. I would go to the steward at the desk and ask them if you could 'gate check' your stroller. They will give you a tag to put on the stoller. We flew Song, and it was the first time I had brought a stroller and they were really nice and helpful. I would also suggest that you ask them as soon as they get settled at the desk, it can get hairy when they start boarding and such, so the sooner you are all set with this the better. Have fun!!!

 

[budbeerlady]

We also gate checked our stroller without any problems. There were about 4 other families that did this at O'hare. You just wait a moment when you get off the plane so they can bring it out. Usually since it is a bit conjested DD and I headed to the nearest bathroom and dh grabbed the stroller and met us at the bathroom.

 

[my4kids]

I just took a cheap umbrella stroller to get my 2 yr old through the airport. When we got to Disney, I rented a stroller.

1) it was much easier to fold quickly when boarding shuttles, people movers and the ME

2) SW was very rough with it and I needed to sign something saying that I did not hold them resposible for condition of items checked at gate to be stored in front of airplane.

3) I did not need to worry about getting it on and off of boats and busses all week. He walked or was carried until we got to the front gate to pick up a stoller.

This worked great for me because he is 2 and was comfortable in a rented stroller, if you have a small baby that can't sit-up, or is just learning to sit-up, you will need to take your own stroller that baby is comfortable in. But I would make sure it is easy to fold in a hurry....

 

[KandiB47]

Please excuse me ahead of time for the dumb question Is "gate checking" different than checking the rest of your luggage? I never really paid attention. I have just gone to the counter and they take my luggage after they put a sticker on it. The same thing or a different process?

 

[ducklite]

It's a little different.

When you get to your gate, let the gate agent know that you'll be gate checking the stroller. They will give you a tag for it that will tie to the stroller via an elastic band. When they are about ready to begin boarding, get all your stuff out of the stroller and be ready to fold it up.

You'll roll it down to the end of the jetway by the plane door, take your child out, fold it up, and leave it there.

When you get off the plane, they will bring the stroller back up to the same place on the jetway and you pick it back up.

It's generally courteous to wait until most everyone is off the plane if you've got a gate checked stroller because you'll need to unfold the stroller and get situated, and sometimes it can take a few minutes for them to arrive up on the jetway. So if you get off right away your stroller will likely not be there and you could end up blocking the jetway while waiting for it and then getting your kid into it, making it difficult for others to get off.

Anne

 

[KristiKelly]

Please excuse me ahead of time for the dumb question Is "gate checking" different than checking the rest of your luggage? I never really paid attention. I have just gone to the counter and they take my luggage after they put a sticker on it. The same thing or a different process?

With gate checking, you will keep your stroller until you board the plane. At the end of the ramp right before boarding, they will tag your stroller and put it in the storage. Once the plane has landed, they will take it out and bring it back up, you will just wait on the ramp for it. It worked out great for us. We had no problems with both Southwest & American Eagle.

 

[Vickie46]

Southwest has destroyed 2 of our strollers.. and lots of others.. I hear about each time I fly.. now we don't bother!

 

[MeLaNie9]

I have a friend who air travels alot with her 2 young DS and she always gate checks her stroller. She did this for a WDW trip as well and says she has never had any problems or damage. We are planning to do this for the first time for our WDW trip in May.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, a couple of weeks ago I flew with 2 clueless families who failed to fold and secure their strollers when they left them on the jetway. I happened to be sitting in a window seat over the wing, and watched as both those strollers were tossed into the hold still fully unfolded. When they came back out they were pretty sorry looking, as they had cartwheeled all over the hold during flight.

The passenger is responsible for folding the stroller and securing it shut -- do not expect airline personnel to do it for you. If they even bother they will almost certainly break the fold mechanism. Also, remove all add-on gadgets, (including the canopy if you're smart), and put them in your checked baggage. The smaller and smoother it is while stored, the less likely that it will snag on something and end up damaged.

 

[sillyguys]

Has anyone ever "gate checked" a large double stroller. We have a Valco Twin Runabout. I've checked single strollers in the past with no problems. However, I'm curious to how a larger stroller is handled. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.