Checked Baggage Policies

[Anonymous]

I will be traveling with my two month old (alone) next month. I will be checking a suitcase and am wondering whether they will charge a 2nd bag fee for my car seat/stroller. Anyone know the deal? I would prefer not to call the airline if I can find the answer here.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they are supposed to charge for carseats and strollers. If it were me, I'd check the policy on the website and print it and be sure to have it in the event they do try to charge you. We normall fly Continental to Texas but this holiday season we're flying Southwest out of Baltimore because I'm so put out with the bag fees! I emailed Continental and told them so too. No reply as of yet.

[Anonymous]

I have never been charged for gate checking a car seat and stroller. If you checked them like regular luggage, they might charge for that.

[Anonymous]

It probably depends on the airline and who you get. The last time I flew US Air they told me there would be a charge to check the carseat (this was checking at the curb).

[Anonymous]

We just roll ours up and through the boarding gate. We leave it with all the other strollers/car seats and step on to the plane. You just have to get a tag for it. No problem and free. (that was Southwest last month and United back in Feb.)

[Anonymous]

I asked American on the phone - no charge for car seat or stroller.

[Anonymous]

You are only not charged if you gate check it when you board. They will return it to you when you get off the airplane. If you check it at the luggage counter/ticket counter, you will be charged.

[Anonymous]

Obviously every airline is different so check the one you're flying on. But the last few airlines I've looked at recently haven't charged for carseat or stroller and there was no distinction made between checking at the gate or at the ticket counter.