Stroller as checked luggage

[aaronlisar]

Has anyone done this? I was checking info from Northwest for our flight down to WDW in August and it says that we can only bring the unbrella style strollers on as carryon luggage but we can bring regular stroller as checked luggage as long as it meets size requirements. Has anyone done this? How would they attach baggage claim tickets to the stroller and do I just fold it up and call it good or what?

 

[CleveRocks]

What you do with a full-sized stroller isn't the same as checking a suitcase. You do what's called "gate checking" the stroller (every airline does this). You don't have to make any special arrangements in advance. The only people who need to know are the people at the gate where you get on the airplane.

Get in that line (at the desk at the gate) and tell them you will be gate checking your stroller (believe me, they do this many times a day, ESPECIALLY for flights going to MCO!). You will fill out a special tag, they attach one piece to the stroller and you keep the other half as a claim check. You wheel the stroller like normal all the way down the jetway, and only unload your child just as you're about to actually get on the aircraft (just please be sure to step aside so you don't block everyone behind you from boarding). At that point, you fold it up and just leave it there -- a ramper (someone who loads and unloads luggage) will retrieve it before the flight leaves, and load it into the cargo hold (believe me, there will be many strollers, not just yours).

Here's the beauty of it. When you arrive at MCO, when you get off the airplane and step onto the jetway step aside and wait for your stroller to be brought up there to you -- gate checked items such as strollers are loaded last so they're unloaded first. That way, you can then unfold it and wheel your child (and belongings!) up the jetway and into the airport, etc.

It's a great system, it's done everyday, don't feel funny about it. Like I said, you don't need to call the airline, you don't need to tell the people at the ticket counter (where you first check in when you arrive at the airport), you ONLY need to tell the airline personnel at the gate itself.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

-- Eric

 

[aaronlisar]

Thanks, thats what I thought we would be doing with it but they just threw me off when they were talking about only the unbrella type strollers could be carry on. I just don't understand how someone could stuff even an unbrella type stroller into a carryon. Thanks again for your quick reply.

I just looked at it again and it says that the checked stroller is in lieu of on piece of checked luggage.

"Strollers: One fully collapsible umbrella-style stroller may be carried onboard, in addition to the carry-on luggage allowance. Strollers are only allowed on board the aircraft if approved storage space is available.

Northwest also accepts child carrier backpacks and strollers as checked luggage. Each item may be checked in lieu of one piece of luggage included in the free luggage allowance. When these items are checked as luggage, all excess, oversized and overweight charges will apply."

This sounds to me that they would be checking it as baggage, not gate checking it.

 

[CleveRocks]

This sounds to me that they would be checking it as baggage, not gate checking it.

It's still "checked," but checked at the gate. To me, their explanation just sounds like they're making sure you realize that, in total, you're still only entitled to a certain number of checked items per person/party. In reality, however, it's unlikely it would work that way. ANytime I've gate checked they've never asked me how many bags I've already checked. Then again, they could've looked it up in the computer without my knowing.

It still probably doesn't matter, though. Each passenger is entitled to 2 pieces of checked luggage. As long as you've paid for a ticket for your child, remember that your child is entitled to 2 pieces of checked baggage, too, so if it's you and your spouse and your child your party is entitled to a total of 6 pieces of checked luggage. I'm betting you weren't planning on packing 6 suitcases for the 3 of you, so either way it actually goes you should be just fine.

-- Eric

 

[DemoBri1]

The last two trips down we have flown ATA, and have taken two strollers with. The one stroller we bought a stroller bag for, and checked it with the SkyCap. The other stroller we wheeled up to the gate. When you reach the end of the jetway there's usually a door there that ground crew will come up and take your gate "checked" items and place them in the plane. You will need to have a gate check ticket affixed to your stroller.

Once you land, don't rush to get off the plane. By the time a majority of the passengers have deplaned, your stroller should be in the jetway waiting for you.

 

[NotUrsula]

Strollers should always be gate-checked so that they end up on the top of the pile in the hold. A stroller that goes through the bag room might end up under several tonnes of luggage, which is just asking for a bent frame.

BTW, when your leave your stroller at the end of the jetway, be sure that it is already folded and very securely fastened so it will stay folded. Most breakage on gate-checked strollers happens when it comes unfolded while being moved -- the baggage handlers do not have time to figure out the fold mechanism on dozens of different strollers, and will just cram them shut any way they can. Also, any add-on gadgets should be removed and placed in your luggage; IMO, this should include the stroller hood.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

It's been a couple of years, but the last time we took a big stroller we had to box it at the airport and check it with our luggage. This was with Delta. Since then, we've used umbrella strollers when flying. I don't believe I've seen anything other than umbrella strollers at the gate recently. However, I really wasn't looking for those. I'd call the airline and ask again. Being without a stroller in the airport is awful!

 

[aaronlisar]

Yeah, I guess I'll have to give them a call then. I'd rather rent a stroller at WDW than to bring along an unbrella stroller.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I know on other airlines (Jet Blue) you can gate check, so that you have the stroller up until your board the plane and right when you get off - call and ask about this.

 

[NotUrsula]

On US domestic carriers, any standard 4-wheel single seat stroller that folds flat can be gate-checked, regardless of size. You only have to box a stroller that cannot be folded flat without disassembling it into sections, as is the case with some really large joggers and a few of the big multi-seats, such as a Peg Perego Triplette. Specific references to umbrella strollers in policies are usually referring to bringing the stroller into the passenger cabin to store in the overhead bin; only wide-bodies still have bins long enough for that as a general rule, and even then the FA's have the authority to refuse to allow you to do it, because the darn things roll back and forth every time the plane changes attitude, and the noise is annoying.

When gate-checking a jogging stroller that only folds with the wheels removed, you need to bring some sort of sack with you so that you can carry on the wheels and put them in the overhead; note that the wheels will count as your carryon if you do this; perhaps as 2 passengers' carryons, if they are large wheels.

 

[LittleMermaidsMom]

We just flew NWA last week to MCO and I brought my daughter's large stroller (not the umbrella type) and checked it at the gate - we always do this and have never had any problems; there are usually quite a few strollers being checked at the gate for MCO flights. When we got off the plane our stroller was right there waiting for us, already unfolded and ready to go!

 

[aaronlisar]

I called NWA last week and they confirmed for me that I will be able to gate check the stroller with no problem. Thanks for everyones help here.

Only 40 days to go.