Flying with strollers

[Anonymous]

We just got back from a major international trip and now have to replace our stroller. We hadn’t had any issues with gate checking it previously, but it got wrecked this time. I’m hesitant to buy another pricey stroller and have the same thing happen again. My son has almost outgrown the car seat that works for the travel system anyway.

Should we get a smaller travel stroller that fits in the overhead compartment? A cheap stroller that we don’t care about? What do others do to avoid stroller and car seat damage when flying?

[Anonymous]

We got a Maclaren Volo for travel and it held up wonderfully. We just threw it in a cheap gate check bag and dropped it at the end of the jetway. They don’t make them any more though. But yes I’d get a decent quality umbrella stroller with a tall height limit so your child doesn’t outgrow it early.

[Anonymous]

Gate Check Bag, is that provided by the airline? np here

[Anonymous]

I would just roll the dice again, personally. I’ve never had a problem gate checking our stroller and I’ve never put it in a bag.

I think this is like lost luggage. It doesn’t happen that much, but it’s so annoying. But I still check a bag if I need to.

[Anonymous]

I also would roll the dice again tbh. Damaged luggage really doesn’t happen that often. Did the airline reimburse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gate Check Bag, is that provided by the airline? np here

No.

https://a.co/d/8eqkDwD

They make one for bigger strollers too. But we never had an issue flying for about 8 years with the same umbrella stroller, flying 3-4 round trips a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gate Check Bag, is that provided by the airline? np here

Idk about others but I’m not f$&ing with anything extra like that in an air travel situation. Being stuck on the jetway trying to get a stroller out of a bag with people bumping by and tired kids melting into demons? No thank you. Ideally, I just start running past the jetway guy and he tosses me the Minu, then I catch and flip it open and toss a child inside in one fluid, mid-stride motion. Im still working on this - I’ve never done it without dropping the child, who is rightly trampled by other passengers like Mufasa because we’re all canyon wildebeests by the end of a long flight.

[Anonymous]

Depending on how much international travel you do, I might get one of those little travel strollers that folds into a tiny bag…Air France horror stories at CDG…would have been avoided…ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gate Check Bag, is that provided by the airline? np here

Idk about others but I’m not f$&ing with anything extra like that in an air travel situation. Being stuck on the jetway trying to get a stroller out of a bag with people bumping by and tired kids melting into demons? No thank you. Ideally, I just start running past the jetway guy and he tosses me the Minu, then I catch and flip it open and toss a child inside in one fluid, mid-stride motion. Im still working on this - I’ve never done it without dropping the child, who is rightly trampled by other passengers like Mufasa because we’re all canyon wildebeests by the end of a long flight.

Funny image. But no, we don’t take it out until we reach the concourse and can step out of the way.

[Anonymous]

We took a City Mini on flights all over the place with no issues.
I don’t want to push an umbrella stroller, they’re not comfortable for taller people.
Why don’t you buy a nice stroller but get a used one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We took a City Mini on flights all over the place with no issues.
I don’t want to push an umbrella stroller, they’re not comfortable for taller people.
Why don’t you buy a nice stroller but get a used one?

Maclarens were super lightweight and luxurious for tall parents and tall children. You could push them one handed. Absolutely perfect in every way. I was shocked to hear they are no longer made.

[Anonymous]

Joolz aer. Fits in the overhead

[Anonymous]

We have a GB PockIt and it’s great for travel. It fits in the overhead and is narrow enough to be wheeled onto some planes (great for traveling solo). The frame is lightweight but has held up well over the past 2.5 years we’ve used it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Joolz aer. Fits in the overhead

This has been our daily driver/travel stroller since DC was 6 months old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a GB PockIt and it’s great for travel. It fits in the overhead and is narrow enough to be wheeled onto some planes (great for traveling solo). The frame is lightweight but has held up well over the past 2.5 years we’ve used it.

Another fan of the GB Pockit. We have the All-City version. It is also our primary stroller at home.

As for traveling with a car seat, we use the Cosco Scenera Next. You can hack it so it straps to the back of the stroller. No need to gate check and child fits in it on the plane.