Traveling w/ a Stroller?

[jrt1176]

Not sure if this is the right place, but I figured some here would know the answer!

I'm bringing a stroller for my niece, a Maclaren.

Should I check it to Orlando? We are going on a straight flight. If I check it, I'm sure I need a bad for it, right?

If I dont check the stroller, in the airports, I'm assuming you have to fold it and let it be x-rayed?

Also, when we check it at the gate should we have a bag for it? And do we have to wait long to get back when we land? Or is it one of the first things the bring up?

Thanks for helping out an uncle traveling on a plane with his niece for the 1st time!

 

[jenb1023]

We always gate check our stroller. No bag needed just fold it up. This works great because you can use it in the airport too. It does have to be folded up and x-rayed. They will bring it up at the gate when you arrive - we have only ever waited a few minutes. Gate checked things are brought up right away.

 

[candielips]

We check our stroller at the gate just as we are about to board. We also like to be able to use it until we board. We have never needed a bag for it.
The only problem we have ever had was going through security for a 6am flight, so it was really early & our DD was sleeping in it, but we had to wake her up so they could check it out. She was not happy after that.

 

[Brer Shay]

Yes - take the stroller through the airport to the gate. it will be put in the same spot on the jetway when you get off the plane. Then you have it the whole way through the airport - and those can be long walks. You'll need a nametag on it, but no bag.

 

[cogero]

yep it will need to be xrayed I had a great TSA agent here in NYC he took the stroller did a hand check of it with another agent and had it set up waiting for me as soon as I got through the metal detector.

Never had service like that anywhere else.

 

[mom2meiko]

definitely gate check the stroller - it will be helpful getting through the airport on both ends of the flight. plus - if you are using dme, you don't want to have to wait for it to arrive with the rest of your luggage.

we bought a bag for ours but it didn't fit so we just went without. there wasn't any major damage that we could see but we may have just been lucky. it's not a requirement though.

when you go through security you will be asked to run it through the xray - not a huge deal though.

also - when you get to the gate - get a gate check ticket right away to fill out so you won't have to delay boarding.

good luck to a fabulous uncle!

 

[jrt1176]

Thanks for all the info!

I dont have a bag for the stroller, but it doesnt sound like i need one!

 

[HGD24]

We bought this bag for our stroller which we gate checked both ways - it was brand new and we were worried about it getting filthy under the plane - plus it made it easy to identify.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5652241

 

[hannah_03]

I gate checked my Volo the first year, last year I bought the bag cover set for it and when I checked it the brand new bag got all kinds of messed up I'll be gate checking it again this year.

 

[candielips]

I gate checked my Volo the first year, last year I bought the bag cover set for it and when I checked it the brand new bag got all kinds of messed up I'll be gate checking it again this year.

Thats too bad. I guess it just depends on the airline crew loading the strollers. We have never used a bag as I stated earlier & we have a Bugaboo, but I guess you never know.

 

[hannah_03]

Thats too bad. I guess it just depends on the airline crew loading the strollers. We have never used a bag as I stated earlier & we have a Bugaboo, but I guess you never know.

I was quite unhappy! Thank goodness I had the happiest place on earth to take my mind off it until I packed it up to leave

 

[AmyBWV99]

We've always used a bag they can come off flithy, since you're traveling with a Mac I would worry about the hood getting gross or snagged. We've flown with ours multiple times on various airlines.

In general we've had very good luck with the exception of our first flight with our first baby (last time we flew United) they destroyed the stroller, inspite of the bag.

 

[mass02703]

We have always brought the stroller right up to the gate. You leave it right outside the plane before you get on. The stroller has always been waiting for us in the same spot when we got off. We have never used a bag and never had a problem. We will be travelling in April and will be doing the same thing. This year even more importantly we won't have to pay Delta's fee of $25 (each way) for any extra checked items.

 

[michael's mom]

We too gate checked the stroller. Thank God we didn't check it with our luggage because it was LOOOOOONG walk to the gate. My only problem was that it was my first time flying with a child and I had the naive thought that I could push him in the stroller through security after I took my shoes off. NO WAY! I was so flustered...had to take his shoes off, fold up the stroller to have it xrayed, walk through the security holding him. Noone was pressuring me, but the 30 people behind us in line just made me so nervous...I was a complete, sweaty, nervous wreck after that!

Anyway, that was sort of off topic. Take the stroller, have it xrayed, leave it at the gate when you board the plane (Delta gave us a claim ticket and we put our complimentary Disney luggage tag on it too). My stroller was there before we de-boarded the plane. It took me about 2 minutes to find the stroller and our carseat, but that was only due to the loads of people with strollers and carseats.