Just Back, Airline Broke My Stroller!

[goofygal531]

Ugh! Has this happened to anyone? Can anyone help me handle this???

When we got our stroller back from gate check we noticed the piece that makes the stroller recline was hanging off. I went to the baggage claim desk and filed a complaint. She wanted to take my stroller and give me a loner, I declined. First off, I didn't like her loner stroller. I also didn't want to have to return back to the airport for the stroller. They offered me a $50 voucher to fix the stroller. I have to have it fixed myself and they will issue me $50?? I have to call the main claims dept to get the details. But I honestly don't think it can be repaired. It's a plastic piece, not metal. I asked them what happens if it can't be fixed, they said if I can't get it fixed, they will send it off to their "fixery" to see if they can fix it. If that doesn't work, then they'll consider giving me the money for it. The funny thing is on the form it states that they will pay up to $50 and this needs to be completed within 30 days!

I don't even have the contact info on the manufacturer of the stroller. I have an Esprit Sunspeed Duo that I purchased online. I sent an email to the store where I bought it asking for their assistance and I know they will help me. They're a very reliable and customer friendly store.

Has anyone been through this before with the airlines?? What can I expect on their end?

Thanks,
Mare

 

[blessedby3]

Wow, I always felt pretty safe gate checking my strollers. I guess there is still more of a chance of it getting broken handing it over with the luggage, but I have never had a problem at the gate check. $50 is nothing compared to what most strollers cost. I would not be happy with that- maybe you can call the airline and get more satisfaction from a higher manager.

 

[goofygal531]

The stroller cost $299! I doubt $50 will cover the repairs.

As we were gate checking the stroller, I noticed 3 wheel chairs in the area. I have a feeling, one or if not all, of the wheel chairs landed on my stroller!

 

[Carpool Candy]

In case something happened, we just purchased a $15 umbrella stroller (my first one after two other kids!). We figured it was disposable but it has lasted past two Disneyland trips. Of course this doesn't help you now- haha!
If you end up buying a new stroller, here's a tip for you: when we bought our Eddie Bauer one from Babies R US, we paid the small fee for the warranty. It was a stroller/car seat combo and a few months later, a screw fell out of the handle of the car seat (the part you carry on your arm)!!!! We sent in a claim form and they gave us a refund for the cost of the entire thing and DID NOT have us send back in the unit so we just continued to use the stroller part. In the future, I would always get the warranty.

 

[NewRocDad]

A few years ago (when we just had DS) America West broke off one of the two hooked push handles of our MacLaren Techno XT. All attempts to get some real compensation went nowhere. Their first, last, and only offer was a voucher for some $ (I believe it was $50) off future travel with them. Of course, the voucher was useless if I attemped to book tickets online on their website! It turned out that if I wanted to use the voucher I had to buy a ticket over the phone or in person, and we all know what that means--they tack $10 on for the "convenience" of dealing with a human. To make a long paragraph shorter, the voucher expired in one year and I never even got to use it!

Whew! New paragraph, better vibe. In the end, then stroller was OK. DW and I worked some magic and reattached the handle. The stroller worked well after that...
...until the right front wheels just broke off one day!

I wish you better luck than we had!

 

[pyrxtc]

Was this United? I had a stroller broken by them on my way down there and they took it and after mnay phone calls, I was told they do not repair the items, they replace it. i ad to buya new one and send them the receipt and they sent me a check to cover my costs.

I bought it just for WDW and so when I bought the replacement, I returned the new stroller and kept the money both ways. The gyped me out of ever using it so it was only fair that I get the money just like I didn't buy it.

 

[pyrxtc]

On the upside, I now have a stroller bag, maybe I'll see if my neighbors wnt it to use for their trip to CA for the holidays.

 

[peemagg]

We are traveling with 3 strollers this January. We bought bags to put the strollers in, in hopes that they will arrive safetly and clean. I have heard horror stories of strollers coming up after gate checking full of grease or whatever. Don't want to take that chance. The bags that we have are big enough to carry 2, possibly all 3 strollers. They are meant for double strollers.

 

[jel0511]

This happened to me with USAir. It was my Combi Double stroller, part of the handle smapped from the bottom supports, making it almost impossible to use. I took the stroller to the luggage office by bagage claim, and they immediately asked how much I had paid for it, I think it was 250 or so. So, I told them and they told me that they needed authorization to write out checks larget than 200, so if I took 200, they could cut me a check right there. Not bad for a 6 month old stroller I thought. So, I took the 200 and bought a new stroller. I guess I was lucky.

 

[mumom95]

Back in 2000, we were flying Delta back from Boston. When they brought us our stroller, one of the wheels had fallen off (they still had the wheel, and this had originally been a $200 stroller). We made a claim, they took the stroller and sent it off to get fixed. I didn't take a loner, because I had an umbrella stroller I could use at home for the time. Well, somehow in the process of them shipping the stroller off to get fixed, they lost it. So, they had me go purchase a new stroller, and they reimbursed me for the full amount.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Southwest makes you sign that they are not responsible for damage. I took my stroller from the airport to the parks and the back wheels fell off. It was a double stroller...not cheap..

 

[goofygal531]

This was Jet Blue.

They wouldn't give me the cash value at the time of the claim. She wanted to give me a loner and I said no. It was a Graco SBS. I honestly use this stroller in my car on the weekends and don't even use it anymore since my son does not want to sit. I was about to sell it then told the buyer I'd sell it to her upon my return. Now it's broke!

I contacted the stroller manufacturer, GBaby, and they want me to email them a photo of the broken part. I thought it was funny that the first thing they said in the email was have the airline reimburse you $299 - like I didn't think of that!

I have to find out from the company how much it would cost to repair it and then see if Jet Blue will pay for it should it be over $50.

I'll keep ya posted. I can see this is going to be some saga!
Mare