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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
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 19/02/2019 10:04

My pram got bent on a flight, thankfully it was on the way home so I was able to borrow one.

Good luck with your birth/baby/travels.

AdobeWanKenobi · 19/02/2019 10:30

Another Egg googler. Would never have guessed it was that expensive had I seen it being pushed along the street.

gruber · 19/02/2019 10:46

Can I just point out that there is no guarantee your newborn will actually go in the pram at 5 weeks... I too had all these lovely ideas about a naice pram etc. Ended up with 3 slings and the pram gathering dust in the corner. At 5 weeks my baby wouldn’t be put down and certainly not in a pram! Buy a decent sling & a cheap stroller. Trust the MN collective wisdom here.

ShabbyAbby · 19/02/2019 10:55

I've had two broken flying
Thankfully they were cheap ones
I would never take anything expensive on holiday

Original poster
SenoraSurf · 19/02/2019 10:58

Thanks to those that have given relevant advice and shared experiences. I've travelled many times with surf boards and skis and am yet to have anything damaged (fortunately) and didn't think travelling with a boxed pram as much different.

As to those commenting on it being silly to buy a pram for 'other people' - I'm buying it for my child, for me to use. I don't judge others on their prams nor do I expect them to judge me. I didn't like the cheaper alternatives and I like the one I chose, hence why I bought that one.

Again, to those offering newborn advice, I'm sorry you struggled in your experiences. Fortunately, I'm preparing for all instances and have stated previously that we have a sling and I also want to take the carrycot on the chassis. I will not be taking a cheap buggy, as stated in the original post.

For what it's worth, I have had a response from the airline. I can take the pram boxed and they have given me threshold measurements that if exceeded, will require an extra payable charge either in advance or on check in. As expected, I'll have to check it in properly on arrival and will use the sling in the airport (as I have previously said).

I've had my answer now and have had a lot of relevant experience from people regarding costings and travel bag/ packaging options so thanks to those few.

OP posts:
HedgehogGirl · 19/02/2019 11:05

If you want to take the pram and don't mind paying, I think I would be putting it in a big suitcase and paying for that. I think it would provide more protection than a box. I am not sure how many cases EJ allow you to pay for, or how long you are going for, but I would have thought you could manage with pram suitcase plus one big suitcase and two hand luggage-sized suitcases (which I think you can also pay extra to check in on EJ).

Ohnonotuagain · 19/02/2019 11:42

I still don't understand why you can't explore with a cheap stroller? I bought one of those £35 ones from Aldi for holidays (it can lay flat so fine from birth) and have taken it to 3 countries so far and DEFINITELY explored with it.

Absolutely no way would I take my normal pram which cost more than my first car!

Snowflakes1122 · 19/02/2019 11:51

I’m so glad I purchased a cheap umbrella fold pushchair for my holiday. I watched from the airport window as it fell off the back of the vehicle that transports the luggage to the plane, and hey chucked full force back on! Shock

I have purchased one that fits within cabin hand luggage size, so it won’t leave my possession this year.

Babyzen yoyo, silver cross jet are good options for this.

You can take your Egg if you want, it’s up to you. But yes, I think you’d be silly to.

happydays00 · 19/02/2019 11:58

I bought a travel bag for my bugaboo and took this when we went on holidays for the first 6 months of my DC's life. Are you planning on boxing the pram up with some sort of protective packaging? If you are planning on going back to Spain it might be worth investing in a protective travel bag.

www.mothercare.com/pushchair-travel-bags/bugaboo-comfort-transport-bag/638558.html?cgid=pushchair_transportbags#start=2

This is the one we have.

UnicornRainbowsRain · 19/02/2019 12:17

welshweasel excellent point. It's the car seat that really should be boxed up here. That's the most delicate item.

Alsohuman · 19/02/2019 12:26

Anyone else want to put money on no boxing up happening? Tiny baby, sleep deprivation, etc, it'll be anything for an easy life: "Can't be arsed with this, we'll leave it behind and buy a cheap stroller when we get there" is my bet.

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 19/02/2019 12:29

FWIW we (naively?!) took our Bugaboo chassis on a flight recently, completely unpackaged (but with BA Wink), and it was absolutely fine. But this:

Again, to those offering newborn advice, I'm sorry you struggled in your experiences. Fortunately, I'm preparing for all instances

Is hilarious! I hope it was unintentionally patronising rather than on purpose!

PCohle · 19/02/2019 12:33

I really don't understand why buying a £35 stroller is a waste of money, but paying far more than that in oversized baggage charges is super cost efficient? I got lots of use out of a lightweight stroller for days out, leaving at grandparents etc.

To be fair my family wouldn't recognise a £1k pram if it jumped up at bit them - it's hardly an impressive fashion accessory is it?

Jenniferb21 · 19/02/2019 12:40

I went on holiday when my little boy was a baby out £30 buggy from Aldi was horrendous after the flight there. Don’t do it !

Contraceptionismyfriend · 19/02/2019 12:40

Have you used your parents address on Facebook Marketplace?
I bet you could get a travel cot and from birth stroller for next to nothing!
Ask a relative to get it before you arrive.

I was abroad recently a bit bored and thought I'd have a nose. There was loads. I'd be really surprised if you couldn't get the necessities sorted.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/02/2019 12:43

"Again, to those offering newborn advice, I'm sorry you struggled in your experiences. Fortunately, I'm preparing for all instances...."

Do you honestly think, @SenoraSurf, that you are the only expectant mother who has prepared, in advance of the birth, for all instances? Do you think the rest of us just wandered into motherhood without a second thought about what life with a baby might be like? As @BlairWaldorfLovesShopping says - that does look a tad patronising!

Do you not think it is a little arrogant to dismiss all the advice you are being given by people who actually have babies, and have travelled with them and their prams?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/02/2019 12:45

I do also wonder how well an Egg pram will cope with a poonami? I hope it is washable. For £1,000, it damn well ought to be.

Contraceptionismyfriend · 19/02/2019 12:52

Best pram I ever had was a mothercare zoom for £50 on marketplace.
Carry cot and toddler seat.
It hands down beat my friends £1K Prams.

Mainly because it did exactly the same shot but I wasn't terrified of it getting a stain or scratched 😂
By DC #2 Id learned that children have no respect for expensive stuff. They will shit and puke in anything

LivLemler · 19/02/2019 13:08

Something I haven't seen mentioned - babies have so much bloody stuff! My parents live two hours away, and the amount of stuff in our car for a couple of nights is insane. The buggy takes up the boot (Uppababy Vista, so I think a similar size to an Egg). DD and I in the back seat with her changing bag and a bag of toys because she haaaaaaates the car.

Suitcase for all of us wedged in passenger footwell. Over Christmas we had bags of presents etc to add as well.

Get a pram you like and leave it at your parents' place. Honestly, it will save you so much hassle in future whether you fly or drive. If you want something for the journey, you can get a cheap umbrella stroller and then you'll have something nicer waiting at the other end.

I love my pram, I think I'd cry if it got damaged or lost.

gamerchick · 19/02/2019 13:28

Ah the OP will learn like the rest of us. You know we were all mega competent and could handle everything to do with babies before we had one. We were experts Wink

INeedNewShoes · 19/02/2019 13:36

SenoraSurf - what are you doing about a car seat for the baby while you're in Spain?

babysharkah · 19/02/2019 13:39

Get the travel stroller FGS.

If not op will be back wondering how to get easyjet to pay for the damage to the egg!

Rockbird · 19/02/2019 13:40

I was a pushchair addict so I get it. However, just to let you know, keep the box it came in because that beautiful pram will be the bane of your life by the time your child is about 6 months old and it's really handy to still have the box for when you sell it on eBay.

Incidentally, when you get fed up with the pram, (and you will), the Baby Jogger City Mini GT is The Best Thing Ever. Believe me, I tried 'em all.

PCohle · 19/02/2019 13:50

I had forgotten what an expert I was on babies before I had one.

TriciaH87 · 19/02/2019 13:54

You sound like your set on taking it. If you box it you will have to check it in and pay. If you put in a travel bag or not it could still be damaged. Its simple really would you rather pay say £100 max for a pushchair and a place for baby to sleep or risk your expensive one being damaged which for all you know could result in say a wheel coming off which i have known to happen resulting in you needing to buy a new one asap anyway?