gate checking

[minnieluvzmickey]

Hi! I am flying to orlando next wed. with my 3 year old and MIL. My MIL seems to think that if we have just have one small bag and a carry on each that we can just gate check it and it will be easier when we get there to not have to go through all the hassles of getting it from the luggage pick-up place. Is this allowed? ( I never fly)

Also, I will have a car seat and an umbrella stroller with me and it just seems like it would be easier to check my bags at the front so I won't have to carry all my stuff through the airport. What do you think?

By the way.........we are flying Delta.

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

nobody?

 

[Tiffany]

Hi! I am flying to orlando next wed. with my 3 year old and MIL. My MIL seems to think that if we have just have one small bag and a carry on each that we can just gate check it and it will be easier when we get there to not have to go through all the hassles of getting it from the luggage pick-up place. Is this allowed? ( I never fly)

Also, I will have a car seat and an umbrella stroller with me and it just seems like it would be easier to check my bags at the front so I won't have to carry all my stuff through the airport. What do you think?

By the way.........we are flying Delta.

You are allowed one carry on of a specfic size, check the website of the airline you are flying, and one personal item such as a pocketbook, laptop. Everything else should be checked as checked bags when you get your boarding passes.

 

[NotUrsula]

Most of the time, if you gate-check luggage, it will still be sent to the carousels when you land. The only things they will be sure to deliver back to the gate are mobility devices: wheelchairs, walkers and strollers.

That said, US domestic airlines all allow each ticketed passenger one 22" rollaboard suitcase, plus a "personal item" that can be as big as a laptop computer bag. Presuming you could manage to carry them while managing a child, you would technically be allowed to bring on a total of three 22" rollaboard cases and 3 handbag-sized bags, plus your stroller and your carseat. Of those, the only one you would HAVE to gate-check is the stroller, and possibly the carseat if it is not a model that is approved for aircraft use. There is always a possibility of being forced to gate-check the rolling cases if the overhead bins are full by the time you board, but that should not be a problem unless you are among the last to board a really full flight. Personally, I wouldn't try to take more than 2 suitcases; it is hard to manage a lot of small bags when you are dealing with controlling a small child.

 

[cigar95]

One thing to keep in mind is that if you're like most Orlando visitors, you'll be bringing home more than you took with you, so you may end up with an extra bag or two. Your strategy on the way home might be different than it was on the way out.

(PS - Flying to Orlando myself on Delta this Tuesday night, landing Wednesday morning. Looks like we're in for nice weather.)