Checking a Stroller?

[crcurton]

We plan on carrying an umbrella stroller. The last time, I thought that I was carrying it on the plane as a carry-on, but they made me check it at the gate. It took awhile to retrieve it both ways, after the flight. Does anyone have a suggestion as whether to check or not to check??? I may want to use it at the Orlando airport. DD is 3yrs. old.

 

[Kies99]

We plan on carrying an umbrella stroller. The last time, I thought that I was carrying it on the plane as a carry-on, but they made me check it at the gate. It took awhile to retrieve it both ways, after the flight. Does anyone have a suggestion as whether to check or not to check??? I may want to use it at the Orlando airport. DD is 3yrs. old.

Not sure your question here. If you truly "Check" your stroller, meaning at check in and they take it with the rest of your luggage, I can see how you could easily take some time trying to retrieve it.

If you "gate check", you get a pink tag (well ours have always been pink) that you attach to the stoller, roll the stroller down the jetway (or across the tarmac), fold it up and leave it outside the plane.

We always gate check our stroller. That way we can use it in the airport(s). When we get off, the stroller has always been waiting for us outside the door of the plane. I can see a delay if maybe you sit right up front.

 

[MarylandMommy]

At BWI, I check the stroller in with our luggage. They put it in a nice bag and it came out with the other bags.
However, when we checked it in at MCO, the guys at the x-ray machines put it in another group of strollers, car seats, etc. I had a feeling we'd never see it again and I was right. When you pick up strollers and car seats at BWI, they come in on a seperate belt and it never came.
I would definately check it in to be picked up at MCO (we've never had a problem), but I will never again check it in at MCO to be picked up at BWI.

 

[pbharris4]

I would Gate Check it. Like the other poster said..when the gate attendent shows up, tell her you want to gate check your stroller. You give it to the FA before you board and they will have it for you when you get off. That way you know it won't be lost. We'll be doing it again this year and DD will turn 4 the day after our flight. SHe's a trooper, but she does get tired. Plus when you get off the flight and trying to get your luggage and get to your car or whatever..you can strap her/him in the stroller and not worry about where they are running off too. I would never check a stroller with our luggage. I'd be afraid it would get lost.

 

[crcurton]

We "gate checked" and it we never saw the stroller again, coming home from MCO. It wasn't waiting on us when we got to MCO either, and we were close to the back of the plane. Maybe that was just a 1 time incident. I think I'll gate check here in MEM and check it with baggage at MCO. Thanks.