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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for your experience taking strollers or prams on planes

49 replies

Amatteroftime · 21/02/2020 11:43

Posting for traffic.

Going on holiday soon with a 1 year old and will be checking the stroller in at the boarding gate, but I'm scared it will get broken. I've found a nice one on sale at half price, not expensive at £40 but I still wouldn't like for it to get broken as I'd like to use it post-holiday. DH will think I'm crazy if I buy this as well as a rubbish £5 second hand one (nothing wrong with second hand but for £5 it would be questionable).

Could you share your experiences? Am I better off only getting a really cheap one?

OP posts:

lalafafa · 21/02/2020 13:12

Never had the buggy when disembarking. Always from the luggage belt.

DappledThings · 21/02/2020 13:12

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

perhaps it is a regional thing, I've not heard it used in my part of the southeast, except by Americans or Americanophiles

I don't think it is regional no. As I said before distinguishes between the umbrella fold, lighter types of pushchair and the sturdier. Attached is the Boots website, definitely British and that is how they are using "Stroller"

To ask for your experience taking strollers or prams on planes

FizzyIce · 21/02/2020 13:20

If you buy a really cheap one it’s likely to get damaged as they aren’t very robust.
A well made one will probably stand more chance of coming out unscathed .
Never had an issue with damaged pushchairs luckily

KittenVsBox · 21/02/2020 13:46

Have a look at the pockit, and take it on the plane with you.
Dont depend on getting the pushchair back at the gate if you put it in the hold. Drop it off, yes. Get it back, unlikely (ime). Yes to sling!

ohnooutofdateham · 21/02/2020 13:49

We've taken our silver cross pushchair on several flights. It's never been broken.
It lies flat for naps and has an extendable uv sunshade. Loved it!
He's 3.5 now and no longer naps / is too big for his buggy. I'll miss it when we go away in June.

f00k · 21/02/2020 13:56

Glad you posted this OP as we're going away in a few months and I was tempted to buy a super cheap stroller but it sounds like it might be better for us to bring our usual pushchair, which folds up pretty small anyway and will be more robust than an Amazon cheapy. I was worried about it getting damaged.

cochineal7 · 21/02/2020 14:13

Definitely take a carrier just in case, as even if they say it will be handed back at the gate it certainly isn't actually done so at all airports. We traveled with our Bugaboo Bee very often without any issues - and without protective bag.

Damntheman · 21/02/2020 14:14

Buy (or hire if you're not planning on travelling semi regularly) a Stokke Prampack, it is SO worth the cost. It rolls up when you're not using it and will fit most prams and buggies. It'll protect it perfectly! AND you can put other things in there like nappies and such that would take up precious suitcase space.

SVRT19674 · 21/02/2020 14:18

I took mine to the gate, they took it off me and gave it back to me as we descended the plane. We did Madrid-Athens-Salonica and back and the pushchair is fine.

Original poster

Amatteroftime · 21/02/2020 16:08

Can I ask what one you’re looking? at as going away soon and need to take one for the youngest all the ones I’ve looked at are so pricey so £40 is a bargain.

It is a Hauck one, looks quite nice and folds up/down with one hand. Meant to be £80.

Buy (or hire if you're not planning on travelling semi regularly) a Stokke Prampack

Thanks, we go away a few times a year so will have a look in to this.

Re the stroller/pushchair debate...just went shopping and everything was labelled as stroller!

OP posts:

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 21/02/2020 16:52

Get a gb pocket. We got one and a rucksack big enough to put it in. They fold down small enough you can take them as hand luggage. Best thing I ever bought!

Littlebluetruck · 21/02/2020 17:07

We use the Silver Cross Jet when travelling. It is lightweight, folds easily and can be stored in the overhead compartment on the plane.

CatkinToadflax · 21/02/2020 17:30

Our buggy once went on holiday to St Lucia. We humans did not go to St Lucia but I hope it had a nice time. We were very relieved when it was returned to us several days later.

marthadearr · 21/02/2020 17:32

We never went abroad until our twins turned 5. Was just too much stress to imagine going through with it. Now we don’t need strollers so makes life easier and more accesssible!

Eddie16 · 21/02/2020 17:38

I found a company who make pushchair/stroller covers specifically for this.
It's called genesis footmuff uk can be found on facebook and they are very reasonable.
We took our silver cross stroller to the Dominican republic,checked in at the airport, told we could use the stroller till we got to the gate, put it in the travel bag and nothing happened to the stroller. They should give you a ticket thing for it and it came off the other end at baggage reclaim.

TSSDNCOP · 21/02/2020 17:47

I had a Quinny and then a lightweight Mothercare stroller and both travelled perfectly. Take your own car seat, the ones the hire car places give out are indescribable or invisible.

SmallPinkBear · 21/02/2020 17:59

Just to say some airports do not return pushchairs/strollers until baggage reclaim - Gatwick didn’t last time we used it. Airports like this often have them borrow from the gate but they aren’t always there.
We had a yoyo as we lived abroad when my dd was little and it was so easy to get her in when we got off the plane, I remember lots of jealous looks from parents struggling with kids in the passport queue at Gatwick.

Original poster

Amatteroftime · 21/02/2020 20:38

We never went abroad until our twins turned 5. Was just too much stress to imagine going through with it. Now we don’t need strollers so makes life easier and more accesssible!

We have already been abroad with her once, had a lovely time and a surprisingly pleasant flight. She stayed in a sling in the airport that time.

Take your own car seat, the ones the hire car places give out are indescribable or invisible.

We are staying with family which is really handy as they have got most supplies for us, car seat included! Makes life much easier.

Thank you all for your advice and experiences, all very helpful.

OP posts:

OnlyLittleMissOrganised · 21/02/2020 20:52

Buy one that folds small enough to go on the plane. We have the silver cross jet. It folds down to the size of a carry on suitcase. So will be taking that when we go.

hattyhatshats · 21/02/2020 23:14

Marthadearr- we've taken our twins away numerous times since they were 4 months old, including long haul. Yes it's not like a holiday without kids but it's been loads of fun. In fact this is the first year we're not going abroad as they've started school and we need to save up for holiday prices.

JR1111 · 22/02/2020 22:23

Joie pact lite. Cheaper than the yoyo and also fits in the overhead locker. We've had it with us on the plane with a few airlines including easyJet. Absolute lifesaver to have it when waiting in line for passport control.

redwinefine · 23/02/2020 16:59

It depends on the airport. Two different ones in UK - on the way out we left it at the gate and the staff put it in the hold and we collected it at the baggage reclaim. On the way back, we had to leave it at the foot of the plane steps. There was one lone mother who was struggling as her child was too young to walk and the staff refused to carry the stroller down the steps for her. One of the other passengers did it for her (we had our hands full ourselves and there were two of us!)

Spaceprincess · 23/02/2020 18:16

My Mamas & Papas buggy was broken so badly as to be un usable on a flight to Marrakech when DS was one, trying to put it up on the tarmac and failing when we landed was not great...also not the best place in the world to try and get a replacement.
Flew to spain multiple times with a McLaren in a bag tho with no problems

Stickybeaksid · 23/02/2020 20:19

We have a babylo stroller that goes in overhead luggage. Comes with a bag and carry strap. Like others have Said i am yet to get a stroller back at the gate and always end up collecting at baggage so if you have a sling it’s a good idea as a back up. Have often traveled with an expensive bugaboo and it’s never been damaged.

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