How do I take a stroller on an airplane?

[dsnygirl2006]

Leaving in 6 days....I just bought a stroller yesterday and have no clue... what I do with it when we board the plane? Do I keep it with me? What do I do? It is just a lightweight fold-up stroller...we are flying Southwest??
Thanks
Kristy

 

[all4fun]

When you arrive at your gate, tell the gate agent that you are checking your stroller there. They will put a tag on it for you with your name and flight info. Once you start the boarding process, take your stroller to the airplane door, fold it & leave it there. A baggage checker will take it and put it under the plane. At the end of your trip (and at any layover airports) the stroller will be brought out and put back on the jetway for you.

A few tips I have learned here to help minimize damage during tranport:
1) remove any accessories that are not permanently attached ie. canopy, cupholders. Things can fall or or get snagged so if you take off removable items they are much less likely to be damaged or lost. Put these in your checked bag and put them back on once you've reached your destination.

2) lock the stroller closed yourself. If it might pop open, then a bungie cord is a good idea. Baggage personnel may force an open stroller closed, in an effort to move things along quickly, rather than try to figure out how to close it properly.

Of course you can always buy a stroller bag for it which would help protect it more. I always felt this was a little too much trouble to go through for the kind of stroller we have but I certainly understand with some of the more expensive models out there why someone would want to take the extra effort to do that.

hth.

 

[Luv2CDisney]

Normally when you get to the gate you will tell them that you are gate checking your stroller. They will give you a tag for it. You wheel it down and fold it up just prior to getting on the plane. When you arrive you pick up your stroller at the same spot. Don't leave that area until they give you the stroller. What we would do is one of us stayed to get the stroller and the other would deplane and meet up right off the jetway. Always check with the gate agent when you arrive at at the gate. This way they can tell you if anything has changed. Have a great trip!

 

[glass slipper girl]

If you buy a bag to put it in, be sure to write STROLLER - GATE CHECK on the bag in big letters in addition to attaching the gate check tag to the stroller bag. If it isn't obvious it is gate checked it could end up being sent to the luggage carousel with the checked bags and most of the time the point of gate checking is to have it available for use in the airport right away.

 

[karensi]

dsnygirl, just want to say don't worry . I have done this many times while traveling with my DD and DGS. We have never had a problem. It works just as everyone has said. Wheel the stroller, can keep baby in it until last minute if you want, to the gate, right before boarding plane. Then fold stroller, we always fold our own also, just better to do it yourself, and board plane. When you deplane, like magic, it shoud be right there waiting for you, just as you get off the plane. I am always amazed at how quickly they have the strollers there waiting for you. It should't be a hassle. BTW, we have only flown Jetblue, so can't speak for the other airlines, but believe it works the same with all of them. Have fun , Karen

 

[Kahana-ri]

Its very easy with most airlines, especially SW. Once your stroller is tagged you leave it at the bottom of the ramp as you board. When we get off the plane the stroller is usually set up already.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
We went in Aug. and had an umbrella stroller that we gate checked. We put it in a plastic trash bag and tied it. They put a tag on it and we left it at the entrance to the plane. When we got off the plane, it was there. Really easy. I was worried about it at first since I've never done this before, but there was nothing to it.

 

[MinnieGi]

We've flown SW several times. The gate check attendant has always just come up to us to put the gate check tag on the stroller. We fold the stroller up and just leave it in the stroller gate check pile before we board the plane. Soon after our flight has landed they bring the strollers up to the ramp. Very easy and convenient.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Graco actually makes a travel bag for your stroller. We used it for our stroller for disney!!!! It worked out really great! We got ours at babies r us. You would just check it with your luggage!!!!