Do you have to put stroller in a "bag" to gate check? Would you recommend it?

[nikjd68]

After reading many posts on disboards re: strollers, I went out and bought a Maclaren Volo Carbon. The decision was made easier by the fact that although we will be using it on our upcoming trip for our DS4, my wife is preganant so we will be getting a lot of use out of it in the future.

My question is this: When you gate check, do you put the stroller in anything? I know Maclaren offers a "buggy bag", but I don't want to spend $49.99 on it:

http://www.amazon.com/Maclaren-Buggy-Bag-Single-Carbon/dp/B000GF2BK6/ref=sr_1_5/102-3754819-1956930?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1186406511&sr=1-5



For $12.99, you can get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Gate-Check-Umbrella-Stroller-Bag/dp/B000QWA9F8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-3754819-1956930?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1186406266&sr=8-1

But do you need it? Any suggestions/help on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Good question I was wondering about this also

 

[Doc CW]

We dont we just push ours around and but bags in the stroller so we dont have to carry them.

 

[Hannathy]

It is up to you and how dirty you want the stroller to get. I never did but I am from the generation that took umbrella strollers not SUV's that are bigger than my first car. After you fold it they will be throwing it under the plane in the baggage hold so if it is wet or dirty it can be exposed to that and a bag would help. A bag would also help prevent dings and scratches. The car seat I always bagged but not the stroller.

 

[zaza]

We took our 18 MO GrandPrincess in May and gatechecked our stroller. It came with a bag, so we used it. I was so glad! I was totally grossed out by how dirty the bag was--that junk would have all been on the stroller otherwise and touching our Princess! Even though our bag came with our stroller, it was a tight fit. I've since found a bigger bag--bright red with huge white GATE CHECK letters on it--at travelingwithkids.com for $15. I think you'd be happy with it. If it wouldn't fit your stroller, you could always return it and spring for the $50 one but I'd try it first. It is really big and would accomodate a lot of size strollers.

 

[lovepooh]

I have four children and have never put our stroller in a bag. You just stroll it down the hanger, fold it up when you get to the bottom and leave it by the door. The airline workers will then take your stroller and store it for you. After your flight as you step off the plane, before you go up the hanger into the airport, your stroller will be waiting for you. It is very convienent. If you want to put your stroller in a bag you can but it will be folded up so it will be fine. Have a great trip!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I bought a new McClaren Triumph for our last trip. We just gate checked it with no bag and it was fine.

 

[tjmw2727]

I never used a stroller bag but I did take off anything extra that could get caught and cause problems like cup holders and toys. I also used a bungee cord to make sure the stroller stayed closed. I guess you could also just wrap the stroller in a large size garbage bag and bungee it.

TJ

 

[kldmom2000]

We've gatechecked our Maclaren on two trips so far w/o a bag and will do so again this upcoming trip
Never had a problem yet-used Southwest and Delta in the past and will be doing SWA again this time

 

[Minniemouse07]

If I were checking a stroller w/ regular baggage, I would use a bag...but not gate checking.

That said, I would never check a stroller w/ regular baggage...so we don't even own a bag for our stroller!

We traveled w/ dd (now 6yo) five times by airplane between 17mo and 3.5yrs and never had any issues w/ gate checking our stroller.

 

[karenTX]

I Love my Mac too much to have it get damaged and dirty!! I bought this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Padded-Umbrel...ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1186412716&sr=1-4

and used Neon fabric paint to write "Gate Check" on the side. It made it stand out from all the others. I saw a lot of the red gate check ones that last time I was at the airport.
HTH!

 

[dunbarfamily]

We've never used a bag for our stroller. It has gotten a few scratches in it, but nothing earth-shattering. We just bought a new Combi Twin Savvy though, at the advice of another DISer, and I will probably get a bag for it. I'm not even sure if they have bags, but I'll look. I just want to make sure it doesn't get messed up since it is a more expensive one. (In my opinion anyways!! I'm known as an el cheapo though! )

 

[donaldduck1967]

We usually gate check ours and put it in a large garbage bag. If you do that just remember to bring one for the return trip.

 

[pednurse]

Have flown many times in the past with a stroller (always the same one too as it lasted through both kids) and never put it in a bag. I did always remove the mesh basket from under the stroller as well as the canopy (both were extremely easy to remove) to ensure they didn't get caught on anything and broken off. I must say I'm so glad I don't have to mess with a stroller anymore (DS is 9, DD is 5)!

 

[sharibrat]

Good question I was wondering about this also

The one time we did put it in a bag, it ended up on the baggage carousel.........and was not at the door of the plane where we needed it.

 

[o2bacelt]

We don't gate check our stroller anymore, we ended up purchasing a gokids attachment for our Marathon so we just wheel her in that now but the one time we did gate check it in the bag it ended up w/ the rest of our baggage at the carousel, they thought they were golf clubs.

I will say that I am very very cautious with the stroller and wrap it in a couple of beach towels, I love my Mac, I don't want it destroyed. I know what my luggage looks like after it's ride on the plane, I like the stroller too much to subject it to an unprotected trip now.

 

[ehrn]

I've had the foam handles ripped on two different strollers and one had many dirt and scuff marks. I've finally learned my lesson and will be bubblewrapping the handles and putting it in the gatecheck bag. They really don't handle the strollers w/ care at all so I will take more precautions. Once we get through security I like to let ds walk all the way to the gate holding my hand to burn off some energy, it's a long flight for a 2yo!!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I had not even thought about protecting my stroller until reading this thread and now there are so many contradicting opinions Im lost as to what I should do.
I have a graco stroller, fairly heavy, has a handle button that "locks" the stroller once collapsed. Do I really have to bring a trash bag and bungie cord to protect it? Is that stuff even allowed past the security gate.

I did plan to buy a bag for my car seat since Im checking that as luggage.