Checking (not gate checking) a stroller on Delta - luggage charge?

[KristinU]

Hi All,

Question for you gurus...per the Delta web site they don't charge the baggage fee for checked strollers and carseats. We have a bag for our stroller (a Maclaren umbrella-type) and we'd like to just check it the whole way through rather than mess with gate checking since DS is 5 and we won't need it through the airport.

Do you think that if I put it in the bag they will charge me as luggage for it? I really don't want a hassle at the airport and don't want to end up paying the baggage fee plus an extra $5 surcharge for not pre-paying online when we check in. Should I just pay my $15 for it as baggage and call it a day? Or will they not hassle me and check it for free if it is in its big duffle bag? Or should I just leave it's big duffle bag behind (however, that's the whole purpose of having a bag for it I guess...I've checked it in the past, but that was before worrying about added charges per piece of luggage).

Ugh, I don't know why I'm stressing over this...can't wait to not need a stroller at all!

 

[Jestocost]

The policy is that they don't charge for strollers, so I would assume that they won't charge you to check the stroller whether it's in a bag or not. In fact, I assume they would prefer that it be in a bag since that makes it easier to handle, and harder for them to damage it and be held liable for the damage.

 

[kristenrice]

I can tell you that AirTran's website also says that they do not charge to check strollers. However, if they measure and weigh it and it is considered oversize or overweight, you will be charged the appropriate fee. I have a travel bag for my MacLaren Volo and when I tried to check it, they said it was oversize (which it was) and I would either have to pay the $49 oversize baggage fee or take it to the gate with me and gate check it for free. They waived the "first bag fee", so technically, they were not charging to check the stroller. They were charging a fee because it was oversize. Now, if a Mac Volo is oversize, I cannot imagine a stroller that is within the limits. I chose to gate check it.

I would call or e-mail them with the specific dimensions of your stroller in it's bag and ask specifically if there will be a charge. Then, get it in writing.

Good luck!

 

[KristinU]

Thanks for the responses, guys! Two responses, one on each side of the "arguement" I have going on in my mind.

Kristenrice - that's exactly the scenario I'm concerned about...and if your Mac Volo is oversized, then our Triumph would be (although, different airline, but I'm guessing they'd call it oversized too).

I was rambling at DH this morning about this and he thinks we should just schlep it along and gate-check it. It does have a shoulder strap and we did schlep it through several Smithsonian buildings this past May, so making it through the airport should seem like nothing compared to hours of exploring...

Maybe I'll try to check it and if they hassle me I'll just gate check.

Thanks for the input!

 

[SSRFred]

I can't answer for the stroller, but if this helps, we always check our car seats in a carseat bag (2 in the same bag) and we do not get charged for them.

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for the responses, guys! Two responses, one on each side of the "arguement" I have going on in my mind.

Kristenrice - that's exactly the scenario I'm concerned about...and if your Mac Volo is oversized, then our Triumph would be (although, different airline, but I'm guessing they'd call it oversized too).

I was rambling at DH this morning about this and he thinks we should just schlep it along and gate-check it. It does have a shoulder strap and we did schlep it through several Smithsonian buildings this past May, so making it through the airport should seem like nothing compared to hours of exploring...

Maybe I'll try to check it and if they hassle me I'll just gate check.

Thanks for the input!

Just an FYI....We also have a Triumph which was also considered oversize by AirTran. I agree that carrying the stroller through the airport can be a big PITA, but it did come in handy when the kiddo didn't want to stand...at the gate, in the line for DME, etc. It was nice to have an instant "chair" for her to sit in.

 

[pilferk]

Gate check it.

Last time I had to fly (not to Disney) with the family...we ran into the scenario above with US Air.

We were going to just check our stroller with our baggage, since we didn't really need it on our non-stop flight, or in the airports and like you didn't want to push it through security, etc if we didn't need to. We brought it to baggage check and they said it was oversized (too many linear inches, folded, I think). They wouldn't charge us the baggage fee, but they would have to charge us the oversize fee. They, too, suggested gate checking it, since we couldn't be charged.

That's what we did.

The caveat is: Our is a folding double umbrella stroller. Might be bigger than some standard umbrellas..but still pretty small in comparison to the other rigs I've seen.

 

[Jestocost]

Thanks for the responses, guys! Two responses, one on each side of the "arguement" I have going on in my mind.

Actually, those are two separate questions that are equally important. My initial answer was incomplete in that regard and kristenrice made a good catch.

Yes, a stroller can be checked for free but only IF it complies with the other checked-baggage standards. If it is oversized and/or overweight, you won't pay the standard checked bag fee because it is exempt from that, but you will have to pay any applicable oversize/overweight baggage charges. And those are cumulative, so they can add up quickly and they are much higher than the basic baggage check charges to begin with.

 

[KristinU]

Wow, what a thorough analysis -

I didn't even consider the stacking fees (aside from the extra $5 for not pre-paying online) - man, do they nickel and dime you now.

OK, so there we have it - we'll gate check it and call it a day. Thanks everyone for all of your great input!

 

[ms.ojo]

At gate check-in, can you attach a yellow DME tag and have the stroller then just delivered to your hotel? Last summer we had to wait 3hrs in MCO in a thunderstorm for the luggage to be safely unloaded. Had we not been waiting for the stroller, we could have boarded DME and known our luggage would be following us later. Having to wait for the stroller could be a real pain.

 

[DebbieB]

Note the original post was from August 2009. The prices for checking luggage have increased.

I don't think you can use a DME tag on a gate checked stroller because they are not delivered to baggage claim.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

At gate check-in, can you attach a yellow DME tag and have the stroller then just delivered to your hotel?

No. The stroller will be waiting at the door of the plane. You have to pick up.