flying US Airways & checking umbrella stroller

[antsss]

I have a question that I don't know the answer to and you very smart and well-traveled folks might know the answer...We'd like to bring our umbrella stroller with us and we're flying US Airways from Philly to MCO. Their guidelines say you can bring a stroller without an extra charge if you're flying with an infant, but our youngest is 6.

We bring the stroller not for DD, but for our stuff. We're 8 people (3 kids, 5 adults) and we use it for snacks, waters, jackets, ponchos, etc.

So I'm fine with paying the $15 fee to check it (we booked the flight before the current checked baggage fee increase and I plan to pay online as I check in) but am I allowed to bring it through security and hand it over at the gate? Or do they take it from you where you hand over the checked bags?

Thanks!!

 

[Keri]

huh, I've never had an issue gate checking a stroller, and no one ever checked on how old my kids were. We gate checked ours 2 years ago when DD was 4 without a word. I imagine worst case you'll get it through security & to the gate and they'll check it with bags and charge you there. But my guess is, they will do it without any questions -- just walk it over to the desk and say you need to gate check it. They usually just hand you the ticket & put one on the stroller.

 

[wmharley]

I normally suggest folks search on an airline's contract of carriage document as that is what spells out what is allowed.

Seems though US Air isn't very specific (much more vague compared to SW, JB and AA), and just states "infant." However, looking around, they judge an infant as under 2yo..

What I'd normally do would ALWAYS gate check a stroller, and if they say I have to pay, calmly explain that you saw online that you are allowed a stroller. they might let it go, if not, then oh well...

another reason to not use US Air..

 

[mom2serena]

I had the same question! My girls are 6 & 4. I know that we won't need it during the day but when we are at the parks late -- it sure would be nice to have. The stroller rental price just seems outrageous to me, especially since we will only be using it half a day at most.

 

[strmtroopr96]

We had no problems or mention of fees when gate checking our stroller in September. It was for our 3 yr old and actually, you couldn't even tell it was a stroller because it was always already bagged up before getting to the gate.