Checking a stroller...

[MommyBryn]

I've never checked a stroller, only gate checked, but since we have a tight layover I'm thinking it might be wiser to just check my stroller and my sisters strollers from the start. That would save us waiting for them to be brought up when we arrive, and getting the tags at the new gate.

I've heard stories of damage from gate checking, so we put our strollers in gate check bags each time. Is the rate of damage higher with checking? (I know they all go to the same place in the "belly of the plane" but it seems that checking would require a lot more handling, for obvious reasons) I know that there's not much I can do about that and it's a risk we take, but we prefer to think about it ahead of time. Also, can I just turn my red gate-check bag inside out for checking it?

We're flying United, I believe checking a stroller is free from what I can tell, but correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[Chippy4]

If you've got a short time between connecting flights, keep in mind there's an increased chance your checked luggage might not make the second flight. If your child is old enough that you don't need it to go through the airport and can live without the stroller for a day in case of delay, then checking it could save a few minutes of waiting for the gate checked items to be returned.

I've checked a stroller many times (in a nylon laundry bag, similar to the "gate check" labeled bags) and it's not suffered any damage. It's also not a very expensive stroller or one that I couldn't live without if something did happen to it (my youngest child only needs the stroller for Disney World). The last time we flew home from Disney World, the stroller didn't make our connecting flight (but our three suitcases and our booster car seat did) so we didn't get it until the next day.

AFAIK, checking strollers and child car seats is free on all domestic airlines.

 

[MommyBryn]

So what timeframe are we considering to be too short for checked luggage to not make the next flight??

 

[Chippy4]

So what timeframe are we considering to be too short for checked luggage to not make the next flight??

I would guess anything less than 60 minutes is risky. Like I said, on the last flight I took home from WDW, four out of five of our checked items made it onto the second flight; we had 75 minutes between our flights.

 

[FCDub]

How long is your layover?

 

[MommyBryn]

We have 55 minutes assuming we land on-time. So not extremely short but definitely not long, and I have waited 10-15 min for my stroller to be brought up in the past, so adding that to 10-15 min to get off the plane (we are in the back half), 10-15 to get to the next gate, they will easily already be boarding and I would still have to get the new gate check tag.

 

[sponica]

Are the strollers small enough to fit in the overhead compartment? I know American allows small umbrella strollers in the overhead.

 

[MommyBryn]

No, they aren't. Especially mine, it's a double stroller (smaller than most, but still, a double). I vaguely recall United saying no carry-on strollers, too.

 

[FCDub]

WHERE you are connecting is also important.

 

[MommyBryn]

Denver. Sorry, I thought I'd mentioned that but I see I didn't! We are familiar with the United concourse there, we fly through Denver every time, so navigating won't be a problem thankfully.