Wheel carraige up to plane?

[don8life]

I have heard people wheeled the baby carraige right up to the plane and the stewardess will take it. How does this work? Does it make them mad? Is this allowed? We are flying US air and I am flying alone with my 3 children, one who is 3 and a BIG HANDFUL. So I would like to keep her buckled in the carraige until the last minute.
Thanks!

 

[sgtdisney]

The flight attendant doesn't usually take the stroller, but the gate agents will. What you should do is go to the counter when you arrive at the gate, even if you already have your boarding passes, and tell them you want to "gate-check" a stroller. Ask them if there is anything you need to do. I know a lot of carriers will give you a tag that you put on the stroller handle and a receipt for you to hold. Some carriers will tell you leave the stoller at the door to the jetway. You will have to unload everything there and carry it down to the jetway and board the aircraft. Other carriers will let you wheel the stroller all the way down to the door of the plane. You would need to unload the stroller there and leave it on the side there. They will load it in the plane from there. Make sure you stand aside when you unload the stroller so as not to block the flow of traffic onto the plane.

When you land the stroller will be waiting for you again, either right at the door to the plane on the jet way, or in the terminal right after you exit the jet way. Make sure you check in both places. I have seen a number of stranded (forgotten strollers) over the years when I have travelled.

 

[Boo Mc]

Also, if you have a connecting flight, you have to get it at each stop and recheck it at the next gate. It is not checked through the whole way like your luggage. I'm not sure if you have to do this if you're stying on the same plane for both legs of the trip but I know you have to if you are changing flights.

 

[NotUrsula]

Perfectly acceptable, but you MUST fold the stroller yourself when you leave it at the end of the jetway. To make this easier, I recommend removing the hood and all little gadgets that might be on it, and putting those in the checked luggage before you leave home.

Also, when you head down the jetway, there should be no items in the stroller basket. You would have to take any items out to carry them onto the plane anyway, so you may as well keep them out of there from the time you arrive in the airport. (You would have to remove them to put the stroller through security, too.)