Heads Up on gate checking large strollers.

[SueM in MN]

I stand corrected.

Since that is the case, then, I just don't get it. I fly freuqently for work, and I've never seen a problem with congestion or anything else re strollers. (And I know, just because I haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but I do fly about once a week.)

And despite what folks on here are saying, it will be a HUGE inconvenience for people with young children. It's not like I couldn't manage without. Of course, I could. And it really isn't just about getting from point A to point B, we can carry the baby and our oldest can walk. BUT, it is the inevitable airport delays where the stroller is extremely valuable.

Airlines just seem so irrational with their rules. Customer service has been steadily declining, however, so this shouldn't be surprising. The best was the $125 "expediting fee" that I had to pay for AA the other day.** What exactly are you "expediting"? Everything is electronic these days -- its not like the old days when somebody would actually have to do extra work to get me the ticket on time.

**And yes, they can make whatever rules they want. They want to charge me a $125 for the hell of it? Fine. Just don't insult my intelligence by calling it an expediting fee, when you aren't expediting anything.

I think the "fly for work" is the reason you don't see lots of strollers.
When I fly for business, there may be only a few families with young kids on the plane and only a few strollers. That doesn't make the big strollers any lighter or easier to move around.
When going to places like WDW , where there are many families with small children, you see lots more strollers. I imagine that would be the same whatever tourist attraction city you pick if it's a destination for people with children.

 

[AnrynKewkel]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Disneyliscious View Post
Wonder how people survived before there were monster strollers? I guess no one flew back then.

Carrying their children in their arms? Small, cheap, 5lb, $10 Wal-Mart strollers? I just dont know how they did it. God forbid a 3 or 4 year old have to walk.

Personally, I can completely understand this policy (outside of children with disabilities). Not trying to be rude or harsh, but surely those of you with these strollers can see how much space they take up. These strollers are not a 'must have'. They are a choice. People managed for years without them. Sure they may be a convenience, but you pay for convenience. Just how it is.
Obviously you don't have children either, so I don't know what makes you an expert on traveling with them

Why is it someone who speaks with some common sense is deemed a person without kids? There ARE parents out there who do have common sense and respect for others.

 

[deegack]

Why is it someone who speaks with some common sense is deemed a person without kids? There ARE parents out there who do have common sense and respect for others.

And because some one has a full size stroller they want to travel with or who thinks this is a stupid rule that is just going to cause mor headaches for people and employees they are rude and must be a parent.
That makes sense

 

[Colleen27]

I don't have a problem with it at all. I was just on a trip from Boston to Atlanta with my one year-old and took my Mac Volo with me since it is easy to steer with one hand as well as compact and light. I really had to shake my head at some of the parents I saw in the airport with giant jogging strollers; especially those who had an infant in an infant seat in the stroller. Really?

I take my Peg Perego to Disney because it reclines and has a bigger storage area than the Volo, but that's under the weight limit, too.

Read the rule, though. It isn't actually phrased as an affirmative (ex: only strollers under 20lbs are permissible). It states that "large, non-collapsible, OR heavy strollers" cannot be gate-checked and we've had one poster on this thread report that is being interpreted as "umbrella strollers only". My friend's experience was the same; her Peg Perego was deemed a "large" stroller at the ticket counter and she had to check it, even though it folds just as compactly as an umbrella stroller and is under the 20lb limit.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I am so glad my kids are past stroller age. This would be such a hassle to deal with. My boys are not twins, but they are only 12 months apart in age. We used to bring our double stroller when they were infants and toddlers.

We had the Graco duo glider. It didn't seem like a big deal to me to quickly fold it and get it out of everyones way. I had lots of practice, and could fold that thing in about 2 seconds. I am really aware of the people around me, and I don't ever want to block someone else from exiting or entering the plane. I could also unfold it in about 2 seconds and be on my way without holding people up. We then would arrange the boys, and their things into the stroller when we were back in the airport.

I wouldn't have wanted to deal with taking 2 little boys, and all the stuff through a large airport without the help of our stroller. It would have been really hard to do. Especially in a large airport.

 

[Sheepdog23]

I would just like to say again that Europeans rarely have the luxury to bring strollers to the gate and most airports provide them. You could all make a stink and see if the airports in the US would provide them as well. We also do not use large carry-ons and I still manage to travel alone with my kids, even when they were newborns. I took my newborn and two year old across the atlantic, without a gate checked stroller and with 2 carry-ons. I know it is an inconvenience, but maybe you all should try to minimize carry ons and realize that many umbrella strollers on the market do work for infants and are extremely sturdy! I am an american who was used to gate checking and now that I am in europe, I hate it because I have realized that it means I have too much to worry about when I have to get off the plane. I have found a stroller that I can carry on and store in the overhead (the regular quinny zapp) and that is what I use. I think the policy is very generous and still being able to check a monstrous stroller for free is great. I have also flown alone with two sleeping children and many flight attendants are willing to help you get off the plane if you politely ask.

 

[ldhr2005]

I understand what you are saying about cheap umbrella strollers. However, if researched well enough, there are smaller full-size strollers that are under 20 pounds and fold just like a cheap umbrella stroller. Sure, you may have to buy an extra sun shade for it. But, it'd do the same job as any truly full-size stroller that's over 20 pounds. My stroller of choice has been, always will be is the Graco Ipo. I had my research cut out for me when I was pregnant with my son 4 years ago (I was driving a 2 door hatch back honda civic and there was no way a traditional full size stroller was fitting in the back). So, I researched and found the Ipo; I could hook his carseat to it as an infant as well. And it folded compactly like an umbrella stroller. Once he was out of his infant seat, it even reclines for napping. Plus, the handles are tall enough that my 6 foot husband had/has no issues pushing it. The only thing we had to buy extra for it was a stroller shade (shadybaby.com). Add all the prices together and I have a stroller that costs as much as a regular full sized stroller, yet travels easily without hassle.

Just because YOU liked this stroller, does not mean everyone will. I had an IPO and hated it with a passion. The wheels never were smooth, the canopy never stayed on...I could go on and on and on...and BTW I researched the strollers thoroughly. I have a double baby jogger now and that will be what comes with me as long as my kids need it.