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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To box my egg pram up to avoid airline damage?

422 replies

SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 20:35

We are going to Spain from UK with easyJet when DC1 will be 5 weeks old. We will be taking our beautifully stunning and expensive egg stroller with us. I have read online that you can take it free of charge and it will be put in the hold but naturally, I'm really worried about potential damage.
Would it be ok to box it up and check it in properly when we get to the airport? would I have to pay to do this?

Any experience or advice would be gratefully received!

Before anybody suggests it, getting a cheap one to take is not an option I would like to explore.

Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
EncroachingLoaf · 18/02/2019 21:56

I admit I like nice things and am fortunate than I can work hard enough to buy the things I like

Grin Grin

Sorry yes, I could never afford an egg pram but that must just be because I don't work as hard as you... I have two second hand ones so I guess I'm just a lazy cow... Hmm

Original poster
SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 21:56

@Notasunnybunny YouTube videos are a fab idea. I will have a look and see what's on there  yes, it's more than the fact it's a pram, it's what dc will be in for the majority on the trip so it's important to me to have my pram with us.
@LittleRen I thought I was being over paranoid but judging by the response on this thread it seems I'm more 'careless' than most. I would rather pay the cost of taking my pram (safely) instead of pay for a cheaper one that I have no desire to use. I'm glad a travel bag was suffice during your travels though Smile

OP posts:
drquin · 18/02/2019 21:58

Ok, so on the grounds you don't want to take the collective wisdom above ...... you can package up pretty much anything you like for an aircraft hold (assuming it's not dangerous goods etc .... I've no idea how fancy this fancy pram is!)

A couple of things to consider :

  • it's unlikely to fall within your normal luggage allowance, so how much are you paying for excess baggage or to send it as freight?
  • are you going to package it yourself? If you send it as freight, airline will likely want you to use a shipping agent to ensure it's packaged properly (especially if you're expecting them to accept damage liability) & will want it delivered via freight agent earlier than you need to be at the airport.
  • packaging options are limitless if your budget is. You can get a case with laser-cut foam inserts which exactly match the size and shape of the pram. If it's good enough for the World Cup, I'd assume it'd be ok for your pram. Or a wooden crate built to spec.

I've got contacts for the laser-cut inserts if you need ......

Original poster
SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 21:58

@MidniteScribbler you're wrong, I care Grin

OP posts:
Notasunnybunny · 18/02/2019 21:58

It seems there isn’t an egg equivalent to my bag, there are similar generic ones but they aren’t nearly as sturdy or protective, sorry. I assumed all manufacturers would sell something similar.

fruityb · 18/02/2019 21:58

We have flown with a Mothercare Nanu three times and it’s survived without a mark. It also cost £40 so if it did then never mind.

You sound like you just want to take it so you can go “yes I have a baby but man this is a nice pram isn’t it!”

I also work hard and can afford nice things. I also live in the real world.

Mynotsoperfectlittlefamily · 18/02/2019 22:00

You need to consider if you can afford to go without a pram for a period of time and potentially have to pay £1000 for a new one in an event when it is damaged?? You say you wouldn't afford a new 2nd pram so i doubt you can easily afford the full price. Take the advice get a lie flat buggy. The Baby Jogger Tour folds to cabin size and has a backpack to carry it. Having flown to Spain several times and had damage and seen lots of damage and unfortunately a completely soaked unusable bassinet for a newborn, i would not risk taking such an expensive pram on a plane when they are easier options.

fruityb · 18/02/2019 22:00

And if you’re going to check it rather than leave it at the gate, which is what I assume you mean, what are you going to do with baby in the airport? Carry them around till your flight?

MidniteScribbler · 18/02/2019 22:00

I didn't realise it takes 25 hours to cross a bridge.

SciFiRules · 18/02/2019 22:02

We drove a new born 700 miles using a lay down car cot. I think it was less disruptive to him than flying. Apart from nappies and food he slept almost the whole way. At least then you could drive and take your own equipment as you wish.

Original poster
SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 22:03

@drquin thanks for the detailed info regarding the options. My only experience is taking my surfboard away which generally cost £120 return. I've not gone with easyJet and am waiting for a reply to my email. Laser cut segments sound wonderful but perhaps not necessary in this case. I think bubble wrap and an old pillow or two will be fine Grin

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TitusAndromedom · 18/02/2019 22:04

I have a Bugaboo Donkey, which I love, but have never taken it on a flight because I know it would be destroyed. In fact, a woman on Instagram just flew from NYC to Rome with her Donkey in a travel bag, and now there is a hole through one of the seats. It’s like it has melted straight through, and the bag provided zero protection. I can’t even think how that would be possible on a plane, and it raises some safety concerns about exactly what happened, but her very expensive pushchair is basically ruined.

anniehm · 18/02/2019 22:05

Check if they will even take a carrycot - I had to pay extra as it counts as two items and only one is free. Plus they damaged mine a little bit (had no choice, was relocating!)

greenelephantscarf · 18/02/2019 22:12

cheap buggy & carrycot.
buggies are sometimes dropped down from plane door to the tarmac
you fantastic pram would easily get damaged.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 18/02/2019 22:12

@SenoraSurf The last time I needed to take a pram, boxed was not allowed (it was a new pram, hence being in the box!). It needed to be in quite a small tribal bag. Unfortunately EasyJet damaged it quite a lot on the way out. On try two, we padded the bag, but it was wrecked then too. EasyJet blamed overfull holds and time pressured packers.

The third time it was okay and just scratched, and I have stayed away from flying prams for old friends since!!

Your carrycot might not got free, they often count it as a second item, so check that too.

opinionatedfreak · 18/02/2019 22:13

My wealthiest friend had a McLaren for holidays.

The bugaboo stayed at home.

This isn't about people not being able to afford nice things. It is well meaning sensible advice from people who have had their prams trashed. I'm sure you could box your pram and check it in but that will cost you on both legs of the journey... an umbrella fold stroller will probably work out cheaper.

Do your family at the other end have big enough cars to accommodate all of you, your luggage and the ginormous travel system pram?

whatsnewchoochoo · 18/02/2019 22:13

However you do it please take this advice

  1. Take a sling anyway - my pram was absolutely trashed (unusable - but I still had to take it there and back with me to claim damages) and it was days before I could get to a shop to replace it. Just getting through the airport was hard work with no where to put DS, suitcases and a broken pram. Take a sling and hope you don't need to use it
  1. I assume you do as you're visiting family but make sure you know where to buy a new pram if you need it. It took us days to find one (and then we spent £300 on something that would have been £40 in mothercare)

Ps. Maybe just phone the airline and ask them about this? It's not the done thing but it seems you really want to do it so I'd ask them rather than us

Original poster
SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 22:19

@AnchorDownDeepBreath thank you. I couldn't find anything online about boxing a pram so your experience is gratefully received. I'm waiting for a response to my email from them so will be interested to see what they come back with.

@whatsnewchoochoo thank you. It's my home town so luckily would know where to shop should the worst case scenario occur. We have a sling purchased to take (which I would've used at the airport), but don't want to rely on that alone out there as would rather not dine with a child strapped to me every time. Hopefully when the airline respond to my email then my options going forward will be clearer. I naively hoped there would be more people with experience of taking a boxed/ protected pram.

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katycb · 18/02/2019 22:19

You can use a travel bag and check it in. We've done that lots of times (similar situation in that we visit family in Spain a lot) however, we still brought a travel buggy once they were out of the new born stage.

Notasunnybunny · 18/02/2019 22:22

We’ve obviously been lucky, our donkey comes everywhere, up snowy mountains, Sandy beaches, woodland trails and city sidewalks, we’ve had it years it flys everywhere and it’s still going strong. It would be covered by insurance if it did get damaged though so maybe that’s the answer, insure it and then you’re sure never to have an issue, sods law and all that

Original poster
SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 22:29

@Notasunnybunny another reason I want to take my pram, I can't justify spending money on a second that I like enough nor can I justify not maximising the use of the one I have chosenSmile insurance sounds a good idea and I will also look into that. I don't think it will be covered by standard insurance that I have.

You definitely sound as though you have been lucky which is fab. I'm frustrated that there isn't a specific egg travel bag/case though but hey ho. I have ordered a couple from amazon to try and see what they're like but I'm not overly confident as of yet!

OP posts:
JudgeRindersMinder · 18/02/2019 22:29

Surely I’m not the first to think you could just use an ”egg carton”?

Grin
Original poster
SenoraSurf · 18/02/2019 22:30

@JudgeRindersMinder love that. I find egg holders fab for storing Christmas baubles but don't quite think it'll work for this kind of egg (ha ha)

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Boom45 · 18/02/2019 22:34

Hi. Also (half) Spanish and i get wanting to take the nice stuff when visiting family - all my cousins are very proud of the stuff they have for their kids. I visit quite regularly and I take my sling, its a very hilly place my family come from, but I also bought a cot and a stroller to keep there. I knew I'd be back regularly and was planning on having more children and I figured in the long run it would be cheaper than having to ship my fancy-pram carefully lots of times.
Now i need to find a way to explain to them that just because my daughter doesnt have her ears pieced she is, in fact, a girl....

adriennewillfly · 18/02/2019 22:36

If you can afford a second egg stroller, then go right ahead...