Can a Stroller count as Carry on?

[mickey mommy]

I just bought a Combi Stroller for our trip to Disney and was wondering if I can bring it on the plane? How does that work? Can I count it as a carry on? I definitely do not want to carry my (will then be) 19 month around the airport, etc. BTW, we are flying Southwest. The Combi umbrella stroller, from what I understand, can fold very small. Thanks for your help!

 

[labst60]

When we've flown SW, we gate checked the stroller, so it didn't "count" as a carryon. We were able to wheel it right to the plane door - and picked it up there once we landed (with a few minutes wait sometimes). The gate attendants will give you a claim ticket and tag for your stroller when you check-in at the gate.

 

[scrapmoose]

From my experiences on Continental it is not a carryon, I used it at the airport, then got a gate check tag from the gate attendant. Left it at the end of the jetway, they stuck it on the plane, it was waiting for me when I got off the plane. I have done this with carryon bags too. Then I just take my kids and carryons on the plane.

 

[mickey mommy]

Great. Thank you so much for the information. I haven't flown in a few years and have never taken the kids on a plane. This should be interesting! Glad to know I can get the stroller to the gate and then get it again once we get off the plane. I want to make sure we have it and we don't have to wait for it to be delivered to our room from ME.

Thanks again!

 

[mommy*RN]

I've always flown Midwest and we gate checked our stroller too! It was terrific...especially since I was flying alone with my 18 mo old! I just found out that I can also gate check a car seat...which saved me lots of $$$ from paying for a seat for my DD on our next trip.

I did have a question though...when you gate checked your strollers, did airport security make you stuff it through the x-ray machine? I had to do that last time and thankfully the thing just fit...but now I am thinking about bringing our Sit N Stand stroller and it is soooo much bigger than the one I took last time...I doubt I will be able to smoosh it down enough to fit through the machine. I also can't see my regular car seat fitting through the x-ray machine either!

TIA!
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[gonemousin']

I've always flown Midwest and we gate checked our stroller too! It was terrific...especially since I was flying alone with my 18 mo old! I just found out that I can also gate check a car seat...which saved me lots of $$$ from paying for a seat for my DD on our next trip.

I did have a question though...when you gate checked your strollers, did airport security make you stuff it through the x-ray machine? I had to do that last time and thankfully the thing just fit...but now I am thinking about bringing our Sit N Stand stroller and it is soooo much bigger than the one I took last time...I doubt I will be able to smoosh it down enough to fit through the machine. I also can't see my regular car seat fitting through the x-ray machine either!

TIA!
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We've always had to put our stoller(s) through the xray machine, but ours have always fit just fine (smaller strollers), so I'm not much help with that! But, we have traveled numerous times with car seats and yes you do have to put those through as well. Ours caused a big commotion because the metal LATCH clips were being flagged by the screener as a potential hazard. It took a different screener (one who had kids and understood car seats) to finally clear us through, but it held us up a good ten minutes. I was starting to panic!! It was the last thing in the world that I thought they'd attempt to confiscate! That was the first and only problem we had with it - had traveled with it 7 months earlier with no problem.

I wouldn't worry too much - just give yourself plenty of time to get through security and let the screeners figure it out.

 

[mommy*RN]

Thank you!!! You're right, I will let THEM figure it out! We'll just leave early enough for the airport that they don't make us late for our flight!

Thanks!
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[NotUrsula]

Carseats often don't fit through the scanner, especially if a carryon sizing template is fitted on the machine. If the stroller or the carseat is really too large to fit through, then you can have it scanned by hand. Expect TSA to insist that you TRY to put them through, however. Just cooperate rather than arguing about it, as seeing is believing, and they won't risk cramming it and possibly damaging the scanner.

When a manual scan is done, you must prep for it just as though the stroller was folded and placed on the belt -- nothing may be left in the basket or hanging from the bar. No toys left sitting in the seat, either. All such items must be removed and put in a bin for scanning. The agent will indicate where to bring the stroller or carseat to turn it over to them (usually whereever the disabled passenger line is), you roll it over, then you go through just as you normally would, and reclaim it from the other side when they have finished inspecting it.

 

[gbrogers]

We've either gate checked our stroller or sometimes we have let it count as one of our child's carryons (after all she has a ticket too) and have hung it in the front hanging compartment that many plains have. This way we have the stroller right when we get off the plain.

 

[goofiecrazy]

I took the stroller right up to the plane and folded it and they will place it right at the plane door for you after you land. It might take a few minutes for them to unload the strollers..

 

[chris Hodum]

We got a combi stroller for our last trip,you will love it. The stroller does fold down rather small and it is very light along with the fact that it has head phones that you can hook up to your mp3 player is great. You ca take it to the gate, they take it from you when you get on the plane and it's waiting for you at the door to the plane when you get off. You will most likely have to fold it up at the metal detectors and send it through the xray machine.you get it back in minutes and it fits with no problem.can't think of anything we did not love about that stroller on our trip.

 

[mickey mommy]

Thanks! I can't wait to get it. I ordered it online based on the rave reviews it got here on the DIS! I'm buying it sight unseen and I'm sure I won't be disappointed because I haven't heard of anyone not liking the Combi Strollers.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I had posted before about making our stroller a checked bag and was told that it could be gate checked-We just bought a small one to use for DD4 in case she gets tired walking around--It being gate checked will save us on checked bags and ours is small enough to fit thru the xray machine. Maybe if there was some way the above poster could get the dimensions of the security xray machine without setting off to many bells and whistles you would know if it would fit--maybe try calling the airline counter at the airport and see if they can help you with the measurements