Ever checked "oversized" luggage at the airport??

[chrissiecutie]

Has anyone ever checked luggage that was considered oversize??

I'm traveling with a large jogging stroller that doesn't easily fold down. My plan was to try and check it with our suitcase and NOT take it to the gate.

I just called Alaska Airlines and was told that this would be considered "oversized" luggage and that I could either check it with our suitcase or take it to the gate. Alaska said that I do NOT need to collapse the stroller and that I wouldn't be charged any extra for this, since I'm traveling with a child.

Has anyone ever done this?? How did it work? I'm assuming if I check it with our suitcase then it wouldn't come out at the baggage terminal with all the other suitcases, right??

I think I'm just stressing a little....combined with the fact that we are having a freak snow storm in the Seattle area and now I'm concerned with a flight delay...

 

[aurorae]

Generally, airlines have a window or area for oversize luggage, near the regular bag claim. So, you would probably have to go to that window or counter or doorway (whatever they have at that airport) to claim your oversize item.

When I board airplanes I frequently see people checking strollers at the gate. They tag them at the gate and you leave them at the end of the jet way. So that is an option if you want to use the stroller in the airport.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Generally, airlines have a window or area for oversize luggage, near the regular bag claim. So, you would probably have to go to that window or counter or doorway (whatever they have at that airport) to claim your oversize item.

When I board airplanes I frequently see people checking strollers at the gate. They tag them at the gate and you leave them at the end of the jet way. So that is an option if you want to use the stroller in the airport.

We have gate-checked strollers before, so I'm familiar with doing so. However, this time around we prefer not to. DS really only "needs" the stroller for Disney. He's 6 and has no problem walking, it really is just for Disney. So my hope is to just check it with our suitcase and make it much easier when navigating the airport.

Since I've never checked any oversized luggage before, I'm just not familiar with how it works. I would love to know if any other DISers have checked a large stroller that doesn't collapse, or am I the only crazy person attempting to do this!

I would just hate to check it with our suitcase, only to have some "kind" airport employee attempt to collaspe the stroller and end up breaking it. I'm concerned with this happening if we were to gate check it as well, since I thought all strollers had to be folded down when taking it to the gate. Which is a main reason we are opting NOT to do this....I don't want my stroller damaged!

So if I understand you correctly, I would just pick up my stroller from another location in the airport where all the oversized items go? This sounds easy enough....

 

[blackjackdelta]

Just leave it and get one at Disneyland. Make no sense to me for the hassle.

Jack

 

[DizNee Luver]

Just leave it and get one at Disneyland. Make no sense to me for the hassle.

Jack

I agree, if you don't need it except for the parks, I'd just rent one at DL & then you don't have to worry about it getting damaged or heaven forbid, getting lost!!! The strollers there will accomidate a 6 yr old & you won't have the extra worries!!

 

[aubs04783]

I would leave it home and get one in Disneyland. The less you have to travel with the better. I have checked oversized luggage with Alaska before and it was not cheap!

 

[chrissiecutie]

Sorry everyone...this stroller is SO much better then Disney strollers and totally worth the effort.

For those of you who have found THE most awesome stroller that works best for your family...I'm sure you'll understand.

 

[chrissiecutie]

I would leave it home and get one in Disneyland. The less you have to travel with the better. I have checked oversized luggage with Alaska before and it was not cheap!

The Alaska agent that I spoke with this morning said there wouldn't be a charge.

Folks traveling with children are allowed to check carseats and strollers for free. I did double check with an Alaska rep directly to make sure that my "oversized" stroller would still qualify as "free" and she told me that it does.

I think I've decided to attempt to check it with my suitcase upon arrival. I don't want the hassle of getting it through security. However, I'm just nervous that someone will try and collapse it and thus end up damaging the stroller. I can't be THE only one who has checked and oversized stroller, can I??

 

[uneekstylez]

Although our stroller isn't a double, we've always had it gate checked at no charge (we fly Alaska.) It's a bit of a hassle lugging it through security check but after that, we just put DS in it and roll to the gates. We collapse it right before we enter the plane. I've seen double strollers gate checked w/ours before, so it's been done. The only thing I worry about when checking in our stroller is damage. Because we've checked in DS's carseat before (when he was still able to sit on my lap) and when we arrived at our destination it was damaged. They gave us money to replace it but it was so inconvenient. We've been gate-checking our stuff since then.

 

[DahliaRW]

Why don't you go ahead and collapse it so you don't have to worry. It's an extra step (and time), but if it'll save you the worry and possible damage, why not?

 

[chrissiecutie]

The problem with collapsing it ahead of time is that with a jogging stroller, and this one in particular, it comes apart and pieces actually come out and off of the stroller.

I mainly use it at home for our daily walks around the neighborhood. DS walks off and on and then when I want to get in some actual exercise, he'll hop in the stroller and play on my iphone. The point is, that I so rarely collapse it because it is such a hassle and I'm afraid of losing those pieces.

The only other time we used this stroller at DLR, we drove. So it was a piece of cake, just collapsed it- secured those metal "tubes" that actually come out of the stroller and left it in the car until we got to the HoJo. Easy as pie!

I'm worried that if I collapse it, it becomes more flimsy and easier to damage. I thought about trying to put it in one of those extra large plastic bags that we checked DS's carseat in, but I'm not sure it will fit. In fact, I'm pretty sure it wont...

I guess I will see what happens when I try and check it with our suitcase. If that's a "no-go" then I'll take it to the gate. I'm just trying to avoid having to collapse it. My other concern is taking these metal tubes in my carry-on. I can just imagine getting stopped by TSA for my "terrioriest activities" and trying to smuggle bombs on the airplane! All because of my stroller

 

[chrissiecutie]

Although our stroller isn't a double, we've always had it gate checked at no charge (we fly Alaska.) It's a bit of a hassle lugging it through security check but after that, we just put DS in it and roll to the gates. We collapse it right before we enter the plane. I've seen double strollers gate checked w/ours before, so it's been done. The only thing I worry about when checking in our stroller is damage. Because we've checked in DS's carseat before (when he was still able to sit on my lap) and when we arrived at our destination it was damaged. They gave us money to replace it but it was so inconvenient. We've been gate-checking our stuff since then.

Did they make you collapse the stroller and put it on the scanner?? Or were you able to just walk it through?

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry everyone...this stroller is SO much better then Disney strollers and totally worth the effort.

For those of you who have found THE most awesome stroller that works best for your family...I'm sure you'll understand.

Isn't it funny...the Disney strollers are actually much better than anything we've used on our own, but we don't use them because the main time we have needed the stroller is getting to and from the parks. To me, the Disney strollers are SO easy to push, turn on a dime, and are fabulous. You just can't take 'em to your hotel.

Did they make you collapse the stroller and put it on the scanner?? Or were you able to just walk it through?

If something can't fit through they do extra screening. DS's Nautilus won't go through most xray machines, so they just take it and check it out thoroughly.



I would either put HUGE signs all over the stroller saying "do not collapse, do not fold" etc etc, or I would fold it for them. I can just imagine the damage they can do to an opened stroller while it goes through the airport, into the cargo hold, off the airplane, through the airport, etc....I shudder to think!

 

[fairycat]

Personally I would gate check it, I have heard of people reciving back more broken sttrollers that had been luggage checked they gate checked. They could get thrown in with luggage. I would rather get my stroller back safe and have a little hassle, then a whole lot of hassle fighting them to fix my stroller.

 

[DahliaRW]

I would probably get a bag for it and collapse it with parts all together in there. I cannot imagine a stroller set up surviving being in the belly of the plane.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Sorry everyone...this stroller is SO much better then Disney strollers and totally worth the effort.

For those of you who have found THE most awesome stroller that works best for your family...I'm sure you'll understand.

I had THE perfect stroller for Disneyland... After returning home we went to the baggage claim to retrieve it and it was literally in pieces... 3 to be exact! All United had to say was "Sorry, strollers and car seats are exempt from baggage claims". So we were out $700 on a nearly brand new stroller!

Good luck with your "most awesome" stroller!

 

[DisSarahK]

I really doubt they will let you put an uncollapsed stroller on an airplane--regardless of where you check it. It sounds as though you are hoping that by checking it with your luggage you will be allowed to NOT collapse it. I can pretty guarantee that won't happen. I've traveled to Europe with bicycles and they don't even allow that with a bicycle--I cannot imagine them allowing that with a bulky stroller.

I would plan on needing to collapse it and prepare accordingly.

 

[chrissiecutie]

I really doubt they will let you put an uncollapsed stroller on an airplane--regardless of where you check it. It sounds as though you are hoping that by checking it with your luggage you will be allowed to NOT collapse it. I can pretty guarantee that won't happen. I've traveled to Europe with bicycles and they don't even allow that with a bicycle--I cannot imagine them allowing that with a bulky stroller.

I would plan on needing to collapse it and prepare accordingly.

I'm starting to think that's the way things will go...even though I spoke with an Alaska rep and she told me that NO, I won't have to collapse it, I'm almost positive I'll get a totally different answer once I get there.

I had really hoped to just check it with our suitcase but now I'm seriously worried that it will come back to me in pieces.

So, I think we will just try and gate check it. I'm hoping that I won't have to collapse it, but if we are able to board early- then I will have the extra time to do so if needed. I'm also hoping that if I do gate check it, then the agents will see the metal tubes that come out of the stroller and I won't be hauled in for trying to build a bomb aboard the plane. I just hope they'll let me put the metal tubes in my carry-on!

And to the other poster...it really IS the most awesome stroller! I will be heartbroken when DS no longer needs it....of course that's a whole other issue...officially out of the "little kid" stage....

 

[so_oregon]

Sorry everyone...this stroller is SO much better then Disney strollers and totally worth the effort.

For those of you who have found THE most awesome stroller that works best for your family...I'm sure you'll understand.

I would not baggage check the stroller. We usually gate-check the GS's high end jogging stroller which has its own bag......no problems. HOWEVER, we checked it as baggage and it came out damaged, bag torn, etc. Never again.

 

[sierranevada]

Personally I would gate check it, I have heard of people reciving back more broken sttrollers that had been luggage checked they gate checked. They could get thrown in with luggage. I would rather get my stroller back safe and have a little hassle, then a whole lot of hassle fighting them to fix my stroller.

I would probably get a bag for it and collapse it with parts all together in there. I cannot imagine a stroller set up surviving being in the belly of the plane.

I agree with both posts. I would not trust an uncollapsed stroller in the luggage hold. If you do check it in with your luggage and it does not fit in a bag of any kind, I would wrap it with shipping tape to keep it in the position that you want it to go.