Gate checking stroller with Airtran and NWA?

[tmli]

Has anyone done this with either airline? Taking my nephew and it has been a while since I have had to worry about a stroller!! Recently we did it with SWA no problem. Does it work the same with Airtran and NWA?

 

[imca]

We gate checked a stroller (umbrella) and a booster seat with AirTran and had no problems or extra charges. I did call ahead a few days before leaving just to confirm with them, in case of any policy changes that hadn't been updated on their website.

 

[bradisgoofy]

BEWARE We watched AirTran unload the gate checked strollers, they were in a hold just under the cockpit, and they just DROP them to the ground from the door opening. Didn't see any break but then we didn't see the owners claim them.

 

[tmli]

Thanks for the replies....anyone with a similar experience with NWA?

 

[Jaymie]

I've gated checked with NWA and it wasn't a problem.

 

[Hoopfamily]

Airtran just broke my stroller on the end of our trip. When we got off the plane at home (BOS), the cup holder was off the stroller. I reattached it and when I put my daughter in the stroller I found out the front wheel stem was bent. I talked with a nice girl at baggage claim, and they offered to reimburse me if i returned with a receipt. I declined because I live 45 min from airport and the stroller is almost 5 years old. So she gave us 3 roudtrip tickets instead. A great deal I thought because we were going to trash the stroller anyway.

 

[jekjones1558]

So she gave us 3 roudtrip tickets instead.

WOW! I think I will go to a garage sale and buy an old stroller in hopes that they might break it! Do you need to bring a child to ride in the stroller??

 

[prncess674]

I am sure there are poor baggage handlers on all the carriers. When you get to the gate go up to the gate agent and they will give you a tag for your stroller. You drop it at the end of the jetway and then you wait for it to be returned in your arrival or connection city on the jetway.

Also remember you will need to collapse the stroller and place the stroller through the TSA x-ray scanner so be prepared to move through efficiently.