Stroller damage on airplane?

[shelly3girls]

We have had two stroller broken in the past 4 times we have flown. The first was a double combi and the second was a Mac Triumph. The combi was literally snapped in half so SW paid to replace it. The second was USAir and they basically told me it was my problem. Unfortunately it is a risk you take when flying.

 

[rhiannonwales]

I had a combi that was made specifically to fit in an ovehead compartment.All the wheels locked not only from rolling forward and backward but locked from swiveling too.Although Continental damaged it it is still good for quick trips to the mall etc.I dont think they make it anymore though.Its a shame, as its lasted through 2 kids even slightly damaged.It is the Combi Sport Utility Baby Vehicle, or SUBV for short.

 

[lauritagoddess]

I just got back from WDW on Sunday. I gatechecked our Maclaren Triumph both ways and had no problems at all. They wouldn't allow any strollers in the overhead.

 

[ryanally]

Wow, after hearing all these stories with bad endings I feel pretty lucky. In December of 2004, we flew US Air and our stroller was broken in transit. The front bar that the car seat fits on was cracked. We went down to the US Air desk in baggage claim and the 2 nice men asked if I felt comfortable using duct tape to fix it (I didn't). They asked me what I paid for the stroller and wrote up a claim for my stroller. The whole time they were very polite and professional. They told me to go to any store and pick out a new one and then bring receipt back to get a check cut for me. We went shopping at 3 stores (walmart and 2 targets) before we found one like it. Seemed to be hard to find a stroller in stock in Orlando area. Do most buy one when they get there? So anyway that ruined our first night of our trip, but at least I had a stroller. When we were at airport to return home, I stopped in the same office and they printed a check for the full amount of the stroller and the tools we purchased to put it together.
Sorry that you all have had such terrible results.
Now I have a $5.00 yard sale stroller that I use as my Disney trip stroller.

 

[A M&Asmom]

Last time we went to WDW we flew SW..gate checked our umbrella stroller. Had a layover in St. Louis...they left our stroller in St. Louis. When we arrived in Orlando we had no stroller. Filed the paper work with SW. Three days later it showed up at the Yacht Club destroyed. So not only did we have to rent a stroller for the days they had it...then we ended up still having to rent for the rest of our trip and then I had to buy a new one when I got home. They wouldn't do anything about it either. SW says they won't do anything about car seats or strollers if they get damaged. But even though that happened...I think I will still try again this time when we go in June. I will still gate check it and then if we have a layover...grab it and recheck it again and hope for the best. Good luck!

 

[Vickie46]

yes.. our brand new stroller got damaged.. I was terribly mad and upset.. my baby was only 6 months old.. it was our first child.. so you know the stroller.. was just expensive anyways.. so I was upset.. I made my point clear and we got vouchers for our next flight.. this was southwest.

 

[deedeetoo]

The part that connects the canopy to the stroller on our Combi was snapped on one trip. It was gate checked on Delta. Fortunately it was an old stroller and we were on our way home. We didn't realize the damage until we got home so we didn't try to make any claim. We were never able to put the top up after that.

The trip after that we took a double umbrella stroller that did not lock well in the fold up position and I wound bungee cords around it so all the parts would stay together while the airline guys threw it around. It made it both ways with no damage.

 

[justhat]

Our Maclaren was broken to pieces (it lost a wheel and both handlebars) after a trip to Disney (the wheel) and then Arizona (the handles).

 

[doberlady]

Delta broke our stroller (gate checked) and we received a $200 check 10 days later after faxing them the recipt.

 

[pyrxtc]

Delta broke our stroller too (broke a wheel off). It was brand new, purchased just for this trip because it would hold up to 60 pounds and recline and had a beautiful sunshade. It broke on our flight down. Went to thei roffice at MCO and complianed. they swore it could be fixed and gave me a stroller that they had laying around, I got to pick from all the ones that had been left by other people. Actually got to go into the back room. I wasn't leaving without either cash in hand for the money I spent or a stroller to use in Disney while they "fixed" mine. They said to call in 2 days and if it was fixed (should be they said) they would deliver it to my hotel. I ahted the borrowed stroller. Mine was never "fixed". Took forever to get a check out of them to cover the stroller they broke. I ahd to buy a new stroller and send them the receipt. i then returned new stroller since I no longer had use for it. I'm debating bringing a stroller or not this time. We don't really use them at home anymore and if it survives the trip down, I would donate it to anyone who wants to use it after we go back home. (like the stroller swap, but it would be up to the person who has it to find someone willing to take it from them at the end of the vacation.)

 

[cindybelle]

Our Graco Stroller has been to Disney 6 times in the past 3 1/2 years (I go frequently because I'm a seasonal CM) and it has always been checked at the gate. Nothing has been severely damaged...to where it can't be used....but each time there's wear and tear. The most damage we ever had was the cup holder popped out....so now there's just a hole in the tray area. We've thought about buying a lighter weight stroller....but I think we'll just run this one into the ground. Hopefully it won't be much longer before we won't need one anymore.

But if you have a stroller you absolutely love and it didn't come by cheap. I wouldn't bring it. Buy a less expensive one that you wouldn't be real upset with getting some bumps and bruises.

 

[NotUrsula]

Something to be aware of if you travel with a NEW stroller is that very often, your CC's consumer coverage will pay for a replacement if it has been damaged within a certain time from when it was purchased. Check your credit cards for what they cover, and be sure to buy your stroller with the one with the best coverage.

 

[Rapunsel]

My stroller never got put on the plane.... I gate checked it and they did not put it on. I was livid.. I arrived and had a 3 month old and 2 carry on bags. The baby was in a car seat, but not easy to carry. I then had them call the originating airport and they said. Yep it is still here. Sorry.

I gave them a quick piece of my mind.. It arrived at our house 3 weeks later.. I was not plaesed...

 

[mrsltg]

All of the above are reasons why you should NEVER EVER EVER check your carseat. Damage to the internal area of the carseat isn't evident and it renders the seat useless. Also, bring a cheap stroller and plan to replace if necessary.


Erin

 

[Kahana-ri]

We always gate check our stroller with Southwest. It has never been damaged. We take our large travel system stroller too. My DH also put a tie wrap on the stroller so it won't suddenly pop open on anyone. I understand that it can be damaged, its just a part of traveling. Its great when SW is able to have our stroller at the top of the ramp open and ready to go for us.

 

[justhat]

My stroller never got put on the plane.... I gate checked it and they did not put it on. I was livid.. I arrived and had a 3 month old and 2 carry on bags. The baby was in a car seat, but not easy to carry. I then had them call the originating airport and they said. Yep it is still here. Sorry.

I gave them a quick piece of my mind.. It arrived at our house 3 weeks later.. I was not plaesed...

We had this happen on our way to WDW with our then 13 month old. They told us at our connecting city what happened, but we were lucky, they put it on another airline and it arrived in Orlando before we did. I would have been very upset to get to Disney without a stroller for a 1yo!

 

[loveswdw]

Guess we've been lucky. Gate checked a Graco Quattro Tour first trip--came out fine; Combi Savvy 2nd trip--came out fine. Flew Delta both times on the Embraer small jets. We are flying SW this June and now you all have me worried.

 

[staci]

Guess we've been lucky. Gate checked a Graco Quattro Tour first trip--came out fine; Combi Savvy 2nd trip--came out fine. Flew Delta both times on the Embraer small jets. We are flying SW this June and now you all have me worried.

Our flight was Southwest and we had no problems. We only had to wait a minute or two for it to meet up with us right outside the plane.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

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.

 

[eeyoresfarmfriend]

I made a nice heavy bag for our stroller and we folded the stroller and put it into the bag before boarding the plane. It was fine when we got to Florida. But while in Florida the car seat we were to have with the Van we rented was one that folded down in the seat and the baby was not old enough to sit forward yet. So we had to go and buy a new car seat. Well on the way home we had to use the bag to cover the car seat and checked it and then put the stroller in before boarding without a bag and it came out scratched and really dirty but not broken. So I recommend making a cheap but sturdy bag or borrowing one. Umbrella strollers fit nicely into those folding lawn chair bags.