Stroller damage on airplane?

[justhat]

Just wondering if the folks who had a stroller damaged had it in a stroller travel bag or not? We took our Graco 1x, Peg Perego Aria 2x, and our MacLaren Quest 1x, all on Southwest, gate-checked each time. But we made sure they were in a heavy canvas stroller bag that zipped. A couple of times we put our coats in the bag with it as a cushion, but I had also thought you could put old towels or even bubble wrap in with it if you wanted. The bag has definitely seen its better days (scuffed in many places and even a small hole) but the strollers wound up OK each time. Of course, if you see the baggage handlers literally "throwing" the strollers, even a bag isn't going to save it, but it'd probably help some... Just a thought.

We actually think that using a stroller bag is what damaged our Maclaren. We bought the Maclaren single stroller bag for our Techno Classic and it is always mistaken for a bag of golf clubs, by the security screeners, gate agents, and baggage handlers. It is never brought up tot he plane door, we always have to ask for it and then they go back down and find it, but sometimes it's already on its way to baggage claim. We even have our own tags attached that say "stroller" but no luck. But anyway, since people seem to think it's a golf bag we think it's thrown around more than a regular stroller would be.

 

[skooniebird]

I dont think they put ours in with the luggage, but they did break the clasp that locked it closed up BOTH times we took it on a plane. Silly buggers.

 

[NotUrsula]

I agree that a full bag will often get it sent to the carousels, because the wheels are not visible. Ordinary luggage that gets gate-checked because it won't fit in the bins is not returned to the gate, but sent to the carousels, but mobility devices (strollers, walkers, wheelchairs) are normally always sent to the gate, and they tend to be held out to be loaded last, with nothing on top of them. If they can see the wheels, they know at a glance that it is a mobility device. You still need to check off the "deliver to gate" box on the gate-check tag, though.

What I recommend is a sleeve-style cover, that leaves the handle and the wheels sticking out. This also lets you roll the folded stroller down the jetway to the plane. Really simple to make, just a rectangle of rip-stop fabric with elastic on two sides and a strip of velcro down the other sides. Again, my best padding tip if you are taking a carseat onboard is to roll your carseat bag around the stroller under the sleeve, thus padding it (and also stashing that pesky carseat bag for the flight!)

BTW, my stroller sleeves all have "BABY BUGGY - DELIVER TO GATE" stenciled down one side in big black letters. (I always use neon colored fabric for the sleeves, easier to keep your eye on them that way.)

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Another stroller that will fit in an overhead or under your seat is the Quinny Zapp. BUT, it's not sold in the US.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you really want a Zapp, both lullabys.co.uk and babyworld.co.uk will ship to the US. The stroller is priced at about L130 (Sterling), but that includes the 17% VAT which a shipment to the US would not have to pay. Usually the shipping ends up costing just about what you would save on the VAT, so it evens out.

Quinnys turn up on eBay every once in a while, too.

 

[loveysbydesign]

What I recommend is a sleeve-style cover, that leaves the handle and the wheels sticking out.

Anyone know where I can find one of these??? We leave on Tuesdayand I really want to take our nicer umbrella stroller but I'm afraid it will get damaged!

 

[Fionasmommy]

We always gate check our stroller, I would never trust it in the baggage compartment! Take it with you to the gate and ask the attendant for a gate check tag. You'll fill out the info on that and attach it to your stroller. When you're boarding, you can take it all the way up to the door of the plane, and then you leave it there for a crew member to collect and stow. When you disembark, it will be waiting for you right at the door.

 

[wtpntigger2]

I've checked our stroller with SW four times and never had a problem. The stroller was always returned in the condition in which we left it. It was United, however, on this last trip that bent one of the handlebars on my Baby Trend stroller. They must have put something extremely heavy on it for it to bend as the handlebar is quite sturdy. I complained, but the guy said it's still usable so too bad. My biggest problem was that if something was heavy enough to bend the handlebar then how do I know that the frame of the stroller wasn't also damaged?

I think airlines should be responsible for any and all damage as you are not allowed to bring them on the plane with you, so you have no other option other than to gate check it.

I am debating whether or not the stroller will go with us on our next trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We always gate check our stroller, I would never trust it in the baggage compartment!

When you gate check an item, just where do you think that it is stored in the aircraft? The baggage compartment!

 

[justhat]

I was just thinking that lost in cyberspace! Unfortunately, gate checking did not help our stroller at all as it lost a wheel after a gate check and then both handlebars. We'll be using our free stroller in DL tomorrow, courtesy of our Disney Visa!

 

[Tam1067]

We've gate checked strollers (Combi and Graco) several times on United and never had a problem. I always make sure it's folded up.

 

[jendon1997]

We have always gate checked our stroller. It's nice to have for the child and also rolly things as it came out of the machine broke the tray. On another occasion, while flying delta, we gate checked our stroller. We were on a smaller plane, in the last row. We were looking out the window and saw the man pick up the stroller and throw it into the plane. We heard it slide all the way to the other side of the plane and hit the wall. NOT GOOD!! We were so anxious to get home we didnt stop to tell anyone. I called a few days later and they said it was too late. Problems must be reported within a certain amount of time. oh well.

 

[tictoc]

I go to WDW a lot and I have taken three kids at stroller ages. I have had many strollers damaged some beyond repair. I usually fly Contninetal. Gate checking is just as bad. On our last trip I checked the stroller. In a very crowded Houston airport while traveling alone with my 3 kids, I watched a lady on the other side of the baggage carousel grab my expensive stroller and run with it. I could not leave my kids to go after her and I could not get anyone's attention! I was amazed! When I reported it to the airline they told me that because it did get to its destination they were not responsible for replacing it. Had I just told them that it was not on the carousel they would have replaced it. It would have been considered lost luggage. For my trip in three weeks I have gone to Wal Mart and purchased a $15.00 umbrella stroller!

 

[labst60]

Just curious.. where and HOW is it printed that they (airlines) are not responsibe for damage to strollers??

I looked up on the Southwest Airlines website and read the whole PDF on the terms of travel. It specifically states that each ticketed passenger is permitted one car seat / stroller that doesn't count as luggage or as a carryon. It also states that there are certain "easily breakable" items that they cannot accept responsiblit for. Of course, it doesn't name them, but based on the language in the document, I would expect them to specifically mention that they are not responsible for the condition of the stroller where they specificially mention that you are entitled to bring one.

For a little more info, I called Southwest and spoke with one of the agents and asked about brining my stroller - she said I was welcome to gate check it (which we know). I asked if it needed to be in a bag (thinking, maybe they'll say, if it isn't in a bag, we can't take responsibility), she said, No. Then I asked what happens if it is damaged and she said it is handled like any other piece of damaged luggage. No mention of them not taking responsibility for damaged strollers.

I have no doubt that the SW passengers that posted earlier had trouble - but I just wanted to share what I read/was told which may be helpful ammunition to get some action if someone else is in this position later on.

 

[DebRMN]

Thanks for all of the horror stories!
I have only traveled twice with my twins & gate checked their Sit N Strolls. I guess I now consider myself really lucky!
Think third time will still be a charm???? Except this time I have 2 booster seats (backless, which I have considered packing, with lots of padding such as diapers, clothes ) a sit-n-stroll & a sit-stand stroller.

Note to self.....don't use Delta or SW ......lol

 

[mcrockett1220]

Just got back last week using Southwest. On the way to Disney had no issues with gate-checked stroller. Everything was fine. Very convenient. On the way back home the stroller was given back to us WET. Don't know what it was, nor do I want to. It was just wet.

 

[NotUrsula]

It was almost surely water. This is quite common, especially if it is raining (or has recently rained) when the luggage is loaded, as it will go outside on its trip to the hold.

It is also common for items that are on top of the hold to get wet if there is condensation on the metal bulkheads of the hold. The hold is not climate controlled, and if the aircraft has been sitting in the hot sun for awhile before takeoff, the metal can sweat as it gains altitude, causing water to drip onto the baggage.

As to a sleeve-type cover, the only way to get one that I know of is to make one, but it's really not hard at all. You just need a rectangular piece of rip-stop fabric cut to fit, with elastic sewn on the two short edges, and velcro squares (or a strip if you want to be thorough) on the two long edges.

 

[MeLaNie9]

Wow, all this stroller damage makes me nervous. We leave in a few days with our fairly new stroller that we bought just for this trip. We are planning on gate checking it. I do have a friend who travels quite a bit and always gate checks her stroller and she has never had any damage. However, I am all too aware of how little airlines will cover if things are lost or damaged. I recently had 2 brand new pairs of earrings stolen right out of my checked luggage. I had purchased them in Las Vegas (they weren't remarkably expensive) and never thought to put them in a carry-on. I was so upset to get home, open my bag, and find them gone (the thief had to actually rifle through my things to get them). Continental did absolutely nothing as jewelry is one of the things they are not responsible for in their exhaustive list of things they will not cover if lost or damaged. I would be so upset if this stroller ends up broken - it took us a long time to find one tall enough to be comfortable for us to push.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just a reminder that though the airline will refuse responsibility for lost/damaged items as noted in the contract of carriage, if the item is new it may still be covered under your credit card's loss coverage. This is a really good reason to purchase anything travel-related via CC and keep the receipts.
Any damage to checked items MUST be reported *before you leave the airport*. (Make sure everyone in the party knows that, BTW. We had an airline break a wheel on an arrival flight. DH was pulling it and didn't tell me about the damage, as he was under the impression that we would be able to claim for it on the way back through the airport going home. The broken wheel was a major aggravation for the entire final week of the trip, and $30 to get the wheels replaced after we got home.)

Also, OT, but in regard to new items going missing from checked baggage: it is very common if the tags are left on. The tags are visible on the x-ray, so it is a simple matter to dig in, find whatever it is, and then return the item to the store where it was purchased. NEVER leave store tags on anything you put in checked baggage.