Strollers and Airplanes - Gate Checking Bags

[email_shell]

Alright I know there have been a lot of questions regarding strollers on the boards and I have decided that we need to use one. Bear with my lenghthy explanation.

I have DDs 5 and 7 for the trip and we are going to use a double. My friend has a Sit-N-Stand she said we could borrow rather than rent. I was going to rent from Orlando Stroller Rental because of the good reviews on this board (Thanks!). I am wondering about strollers and airplanes. I have heard about the process of a gate check in where you check it at the gate and then get it back when you depart the plane.

Does anyone have experience with this? We are making 2 transfers of planes during the trip and I am a little concerned about the stroller making it through if we use DF's stroller. Does Gate Checking count toward baggage (we are flying NWA/Delta)? I guess I am just unfamiliar with the whole process because I never fly anywhere.

Should I just rent from OSR and not bother with the plane check in? I dont want her stroller lost in the shuffle, one because it is not mine, and two, I dont want to be without one at the parks.

Thanks!!

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Gate-checking is so simple. You just take the stroller with you through the jetway and leave it just before you board the plane itself. A baggage person will stow it under the plane for you until you land. When you get off the plane, the stroller will likely already be waiting for you on the jetway where you left it. If not, you may have to wait a couple of minutes.

We have never had any trouble with gate-checking a stroller. We have a double Maclaren and I do put it in its storage bag before gate-checking, mostly so the cupholders don't get snagged on something and broken off. It is really a fairly easy process, and having the stroller in the airport is so valuable to us that we wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[email_shell]

If you do gate check a stroller, do you need any sort of bag or something of that nature to contain the stroller? I see places online where they sell "gate check" bags and I was wondering if I would need one of those? Again this is my first time travelling with kids and I don't have any idea of how to go about this.

Thanks!

 

[2shortpeopleruleme]

Gate checking a stroller is so easy! We did it when we went to bring our ODD home from Guatemala. At that time we just had a little umbrella stroller, but did fly with others who had bigger ones. We didn't use a bag or anything and it was just fine. More then likely you will see where others have left thiers just before the door opening to the plane. When you get off just wait there and someone from the ground crew will bring it to you there.

We are taking our big-momma double stroller and gate checking. It really does make life SO much easier with little ones!!

 

[bratmomma]

Thanks for asking this question OP! I am flying for the first time with a stroller and even though it is only a small one that might fit under the seat, I was still planning on gate checking it. I got a lot of questions answered here, so thanks again!

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Saturn23]

If you gate check your stroller, make sure you put your name and phone number on it. I would also suggest your flight numbers. I gate checked mine in a black stroller bag on my last flight and when I arrived at my connection the stroller wasn't there. It either didn't make it onto the flight, or it left with the regular luggage and went to baggage claim. They found it by the time I arrived at my destination and it came in on the earliest morning flight the next day. If I hadn't put an ID on the bag it may have been totally lost because it didn't have a bar code like the regular checked luggage does.

One theory I have is that the flight was overweight and they figured they would leave my bag off since it was so big. If I had left the stroller out of the bag and they had seen what it was, they may have put it on the flight.

 

[todzwife]

Just a little FYI, you may want to try your DD's in your friends sit and stand before you go. They aren't the easiest to push, and with 2 large kids, it may be really hard. The weight limit (per seat) on the sit and stand is like 40 pounds, so you all may be more comfortable renting a city mini double or buying a couple of Mac. Volos off ebay for cheap.

I just wanted to warn you before you lug that thing through the airport only to find that it won't work for your children once you get there.

 

[email_shell]

Thanks everyone for all your tips and information.

I am planning on trying out that Sit-N-Stand. My daughters are about 38 lbs and 42 lbs or so now so I am hoping that will still be ok. (They are pretty skinny ) I would like to save as much as I can and that extra $100 for a rental would surely make nice spending $$!

As time goes on before this trip I am sure I will have other questions! It is very nice to have a board that is so great.

 

[FunkyDuck]

Gate checking is as easy as all the pp's have said. We checked our last year and had no problems...and having that stroller in the airport...was a must for us. We also used a gate check bag...I bought it at ToysRUs...and this is what it looks like...

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15133589

It protected our Maclaren extremely well...as it was brand new and this was its first usage...

Don't have any worries regarding gate checking...smooth as silk!!!

 

[Tumblwd501]

If you do gate check a stroller, do you need any sort of bag or something of that nature to contain the stroller? I see places online where they sell "gate check" bags and I was wondering if I would need one of those? Again this is my first time travelling with kids and I don't have any idea of how to go about this.

Thanks!

You don't need a bag or container. But it can help to protect them from getting dirty or what not. But it's certainly not required. We've gate checked strollers and booster seats before without any bags or containers and they were fine.

 

[CLR4321]

I am sure everyone gave you good reviews about gate-checking stuff. Yes, it is 100% simple! You may want to check with your airline to see if there is a fee for gate-checking stuff, as some airlines have started charging for this. Just an FYI.

 

[Aya]

My son is almost four and I've flown with him many times; we've always gate checked his stroller. It's really simple; take the stroller through security with you. When you get to the gate, tell them that you want to gate check and they will give you a tag for it. When you're boarding the plane, fold up the stroller as you get to the door of the plane and leave it. When you get off the plane you'll pick up the stroller at the same spot. It couldn't be easier!

Ann

 

[all4fun]

I have also heard that the Sit & Stand strollers are pretty hard to push with bigger kids in them, so definitely give it a good test run before hand (maybe borrow it and take it to the mall for a good trial run one day). You may decide that renting will be a better option for you. Keep in mind that you'll be pushing this thing around with 80+lbs in it practically all day for several days so a good stroller that is easy to push is a must IMO. I am just saying this because I have a friend who bought one for his trip to WDW and decided after spending a day at the zoo with it that it would not work for them. His kids are 3&5yrs old.

We have gate checked ds' jogging stroller a few times and we just get a gate check tag which they write the flight # and your name on, and you should get a copy of it to carry as proof. I also have a "smart tag" luggage ID tag on it with our name, address, and contact info as well, just in case. We've never had them lose a stroller though, not even on flights with a connection. We request the stroller be brought up at the connection and we take it to the next flight ourselves (usually do not need to get a second gate check tag as long as they put both flight #'s on the first one).

We just got back from DL, and this time, we also gate checked ds' booster seat as well. These items were not counted against our total baggage count. It isn't necessary to bag gate checked strollers. It will only protect items from getting dirty and possibly other cosmetic damage. I would recommend removing items from the stroller that are not permanently attached, and putting them in a checked bag.

hth!

 

[krystalleigh1]

We always gate checked any time we flew and it was always simple . . . . . until our last trip.

On the way to MCO they lost our stroller. We gate checked it and had one connection and somewhere between that connection and MCO it didn't get on the plane. They thought that maybe it was accidentally put with the checked baggage so instead of going straight to ME when we arrived at MCO we had to go to baggage claim and wait for an hour. No stroller. Luckily they had a "loaner" umbrella stroller that they let me use for our first few days at WDW. It was a piece of junk, but at least we had something.

On our second day there they found our stroller and brought it to our resort.

When our vacation was over we gate checked our stroller again. After our first flight our stroller was waiting on us at the gate so we could stroll to our connecting flight. However the whole right handle (and the supporting beam that supports the stroller) was broken completely off. Mangled. DS couldn't even ride it it because it was unsafe. It would collapse when any weight was put in it. Useless.

And of course not apology from the airline and no one took responsability for anything. Strollers are considered "fragile" and if they are damaged or lost it is not the airline's responsability. RIP Maclaren Quest.

So, needless to say, I'm VERY hesitant to gate check a stroller now. I'm still debating whether or not to rent from OSR, or to bring a stroller that I don't care so much about. It would be nice to have the stroller at the airport but I don't want to go through that again. Not a fun way to start or end a trip.

 

[michygoomy]

I've gate checked strollers many times, with no bag. The only suggestion I have is to remove the snack tray (if there is one) and take it on the plane with you. On one flight the snack tray came off and got lost in transit, which led to an hour in baggage claim trying to work it out. They had a big Box O' Snack Trays that they pulled out of offer to us a replacement--must happen A LOT. Ultimately, they found ours, then wanted us to come to the airport to pick it up! Yeah, an $80 cab ride for a snack tray. Disney was nice enough to help us and get it delivered on a Magical Express bus.

I know in the coversations with baggage claim there is no protection or reimbursement for your stroller--I probably wouldn't bring an expensive one that would be a big loss. We have a cheap-o hand-me-down that has worked great through four trips.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Advice from Personal Experience...be on top of that stroller! They left it at the gate when boarding. I eventually got it but it was a nightmare at ATL trying to get some one to call the desk at DAY. It was delivered to my resort the next day. My little girls legs were so tired by the end of that first day at WDW!

 

[TheLadyTremain]

Just a little FYI, you may want to try your DD's in your friends sit and stand before you go. They aren't the easiest to push, and with 2 large kids, it may be really hard. The weight limit (per seat) on the sit and stand is like 40 pounds, so you all may be more comfortable renting a city mini double or buying a couple of Mac. Volos off ebay for cheap.

I just wanted to warn you before you lug that thing through the airport only to find that it won't work for your children once you get there.

I would definitely second this. My oldest DD is about 41 inches and I have a difficult time fitting her in the seat. With the snack tray on, she definitely cannot fit. She is a bit leggy though so that might be our problem. Fortunately for us, she prefers to sit/stand on the back so her little sister gets the front seat. And it is very difficult to push when both of my girls are on there. Their combined weight is about 63lbs!

 

[chipscinderelly]

we've gate checked our baby jogger city mini several times and the first time we did not use a bag and our stroller came out with lovely black marks on it (it's red and black). Now we use the bag that baby jogger sells and don't worry about the handles, wheels, marks as it's protected. It takes us less than 5 mintues to collapse down and carry and they put the gate claim tag right on the bag.

 

[jpeka65844]

I've also gate checked many many times. Follow much of the PP's advice. Here's some other thoughts:

1. SWA always gave me a tag to fill out with pertinent info when I checked it. No need for a separate ID tag on your stroller if you choose.

2. Take ALL items out of your stroller. Empty all cubbies and pockets and make sure all items are out of the carrier underneath. I'd bought a cool Maclaren stroller organizer to hang over the back of the stroller. When I gate checked it, I stuffed it in the bottom, thinking it would be protected by the "fold" of the stroller. Nope. It was gone when I picked it up. Who knows where it went???

3. Think about how fancy of a stroller you want to bring. Our stroller is a Combi knock-around that's of little real value. I would think twice about bringing a Peg Perego or Bugaboo.

4. They might even make you do this already, but fold up the stroller when you go through security. The checkpoints at our airport are so tight, crowded, and busy, that it's easier to get through if I'm not trying to maneuver bags, kids, AND pushing a stroller. We throw ours on the conveyor belt and send it through with the rest of the luggage. It also has a carrying strap that makes it easy to pick up and carry when we're done.

Hope this helps!