Checking BOTH Carseat and Stroller at the gate with Southwest

[mellvswdw1]

Good afternoon! I have a quick question. I have done some google searches and I found one really old thread from 2009ish about this question. Can I check both at the gate and pick them up at the gate when we land?

Some background why I am asking. We flew with SW in January and March and both times when we landed in MCO we had issues with the wait times of our luggage and our carseat. in January we waited almost 2 1/2 hours for our carseat. We were renting a car so we had to wait. In March we gatechecked our stroller(we used ME so we didn't need our carseat) and somehow it ended up underneath with checked luggage even though it had the gatechecked tag.

We are planning a summer trip and will be renting a car. We are flying with SW again and I didnt know if anyone had recent experiences with checking both at the gate. I don't want to wait 2 1/2 hours for her car seat as we are just doing carryons(quick trip).

TIA!!

Melissa

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Was there a reason provided why the delay?
I can share that is you check the car seat, bag it, label it well and send it through, if something happens with breakage they will cover it. If you gate check a stroller or car seat and it breaks you most often stuck with no repair/replacement. I've seen peg Prego damaged and only because the family had trip insurance was the stroller replaces. The airline had no liability with gate check.

Why not check if airline safe and use it on the plane. Sure it's a bit of hassle, but it's in your control.

 

[mellvswdw1]

Both times the reason given was something was wrong with the luggage carriers that transport the luggage. I wonder if we just landed at a really busy time for SW...mid morning. I was excited the second trip because we were just gate checking the stroller.

I understand the risk, I watched them load the strollers. That is why we have a travel bag for both the stroller and car seat(we have the britax b agile set). My thought was why tempt fate a third time and have a grumpy daddy, a stressed mommy, and a restless baby waiting yet again for well over an hour or two for a carseat.

That is why I was wondering if anyone had checked both with success in the last few months....thanks so much for the reply!

Melissa

 

[snoopy5386]

Yes I have gate checked both multiple times. No problems.

 

[mellvswdw1]

Thanks Snoopy5386....quick question....what type of car seat(infant or toddler) and did you use travel bags for both? Thanks!

Melissa

 

[Heidi K]

In March we gatechecked our stroller(we used ME so we didn't need our carseat) and somehow it ended up underneath with checked luggage even though it had the gatechecked tag.

Did you have to wait a long time for the stroller as well? Getting curious as we will fly SW with a stroller in August.

 

[mellvswdw1]

Did you have to wait a long time for the stroller as well? Getting curious as we will fly SW with a stroller in August.

Yes...1 1/2 hours....the lady from oversized luggage apoligized to us when we finally got it.....she saw the tag which clearly said gate check on it. She said it was a huge mistake that it ended up as checked. That is why I'm wondering if because it was in a travel bag they thought it should have been checked. There was no way I was going to let our expensive stroller be tossed around without a little protection. I will be like a hawk when we fly again to make sure that ouritems end back up at the gate. Other then that, we really like flying with SW...they were great with our little girl!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Was there a reason provided why the delay?
I can share that is you check the car seat, bag it, label it well and send it through, if something happens with breakage they will cover it. If you gate check a stroller or car seat and it breaks you most often stuck with no repair/replacement. I've seen peg Prego damaged and only because the family had trip insurance was the stroller replaces. The airline had no liability with gate check.

Why not check if airline safe and use it on the plane. Sure it's a bit of hassle, but it's in your control.

If your car seat is damaged when checked, whether at the gate or the ticket counter, it's almost certain that the airline will not reimburse you. They'll say it's normal wear and tear. Gate checked or counter checked, the rules are the same.

I think it's unwise to travel by air with a very expensive stroller. Buy a less expensive one for travel.