City Mini and Gate Checking on Airplane?

[momof3poohlovers]

I just bought a new City Mini stroller (single) plus the carry bag and the bag looks so big! I was wondering if anyone else has gate checked their stroller when flying and if you had any problems with the airline. We have a Baby Jogger Summit that I thought was way too big so I decided to get the Mini so we could take it to WDW with us but now I am wondering if they will let me gate check it. I may be flying by myself and I need the stroller for our layovers.

 

[deegack]

What airline are you flying? American only gate checks umbrella strollers. That's the only one I know of with a current restriction.

 

[fitgirl36]

I agree with deegack, I think American is the only airline that won't gate check strollers. We checked our city mini in a bag on airtran in October and it was fine.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

We are flying United. We have a Britax Blink that I usually travel with and we always put it in a travel bag as well and never had an issue but the CM seems much larger.

 

[capeseal]

I would just double check the policy on United's website. It should list items that are acceptable for gate check. (Then I might print it out and bring it just in case someone gives you a hard time. I don't expect that they will, but I know sometimes there can be confusion about policies between airline workers and it never hurts to fly armed with information nowadays.) We had no trouble checking our jogger on a JetBlue flight recently but I have heard that several airlines plan to follow suit with American's new policies on stroller size.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree with deegack, I think American is the only airline that won't gate check strollers. We checked our city mini in a bag on airtran in October and it was fine.

American Airlines does gate check strollers, just not strollers over 20 pounds. If you were flying AA, your stroller would be too large to gate check.

You can always check the stroller policy on your airline's web site. United's policy:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1051,00.html

 

[chimommy]

I have gate check a single multi times and have never had a problem.

 

[chimommy]

I have gate check a single multi times and have never had a problem.

 

[brianz09]

We gate checked a City Mini double last spring on JetBlue with no issues, but check with your airline.

 

[chimommy]

We gate checked a City Mini double last spring on JetBlue with no issues, but check with your airline.

did you use the carry bag when you traveled with it? I'm trying to decied if we are going to bring our city mini double or rent one when we get there. I have taken our stroller on the plane before, but one the one we use everyday. Not sure I want to risk my everyday stroller getting damaged.

 

[chimommy]

did you use the carry bag when you traveled with it? I'm trying to decied if we are going to bring our city mini double or rent one when we get there. I have taken our stroller on the plane before, but one the one we use everyday. Not sure I want to risk my everyday stroller getting damaged.

that should read not the one i use everyday =)

 

[msmama]

I've gate checked my Citi-mini several times (though always on Southwest). I've never put it in a bag though I don't think.

Mine is a few years old, but it fits through the scanner at security and everything.

It's just more square than long and skinny like an umbrella stroller.

 

[brianz09]

We used the Baby Jogger bag for when we gate checked the double. It was enormous, but there were no issues. It also came back undamaged- not even a scratch on the bag. TSA at MCO made me put it on the belt to be scanned, which I knew would no way fit through the machine, but they insisted. When it didn't fit, they had someone hand search it.

 

[luckyfin]

We have had no problem gate checking our city mini in the travel bag. Well, one slight problem. On the last leg of one trip the handlers put the stroller with the cargo to go to the luggage collection so we didn't have it, which was very inconvenient. It would have been much worse if we were on a layover though. It doens't look like the conventional bag, I guess.

I do recommend practicing getting the stroller in and out of the bag so you're not fumbling with it at the airport. It only fits well one way and it can be tricky.

 

[Trae13]

I have gate checked a Joovy caboose sit and stand stroller on Continental with no problems, and it is larger than your stroller. I would think that you will be fine.
Have a great trip!