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Original poster

5 hours connecting at Gatwick, 7 month old and no buggy...

14 replies

MoragG · 14/08/2010 13:08

We are flying to France in 3 weeks time with DD who will by then by 7 months old. As we're flying from Glasgow we have to connect in Gatwick. BA have told us that we can take the buggy to the gate but that at Gatwick we would need to collect it at the baggage carousel. Our problem is that on the way back we have ages to wait for our connecting flight - at least 5 hours - and I don't fancy being without the buggy for this long. I think our only option would be to only check the buggy throught to Gatwick, go through arrivals, collect it and go back through security, but this would be a real pain! Does anyone have any experience of this/suggestions?

OP posts:

KristinaM · 14/08/2010 13:11

sorry if i'm being thick but i dont understand the problem. is it that you want to check your luggage through from glasgow to france? but surely you will be gate checking your buggy at gatwick?

Original poster

MoragG · 14/08/2010 13:53

The problem is that we want to have the buggy while we are in Gatwick. However, if we take it to the gate at either Glasgow or Bordeaux we have been told that we will not get it back at the aircraft - it would go to the luggage carousel at arrivals. To get it back so we hve it during the 5 hours we need to spend at Gatwick I think we would need to go to arrivals get it back and then go through security again which would be a real pain and take ages.

OP posts:

CMOTdibbler · 14/08/2010 13:56

Why not get a sling? Then you can carry your dd around when connecting, and its not bulky on the plane

PrettyCandles · 14/08/2010 14:00

I've never done a connecting flight with a buggy, but every time I have flown eith a buggy it has been taken from me at the door yo the p lane and returned to me as soon as we came off the plane, whether on the tarmac before getting on the bus that takes you from the plane to the arrivals terminal (Israel), in the tunnelbridgethingy (Heathrow), or in the arrivals terminal itself (Washington).

So I'm puzzled why BA can't do the same for you.

The other alternative is of course to use a sling.

hellymelly · 14/08/2010 14:02

We only used a sling until dd was 10m old,and we travelled on longish train journeys etc.Went to Sweden when she was 19m and still only used a sling.Much easier than a buggy,honestly!

Original poster

MoragG · 14/08/2010 14:05

We have a sling and will be taking it. However, she won't nap in it. The problem is not with BA - apparently LHR and LGW are too busy to return your buggy at the gate hence why it goes to arrivals.

OP posts:

noshouting · 14/08/2010 14:11

Hi MoragG I had the same problem flying back into heathrow with two toddlers on my own. My solution was to get a quinny zapp, which does fit in overhead lockers. However on the way out crew kept insisting we put it in the hold, not a big problem as we had to overnight in Heathrow anyway. So on the way back I put the wheels in another carry on bag and wrapped the chassis in a pillow case!
They didn't know it was a buggy so they did not nick it! Worth a try!

mumoverseas · 14/08/2010 16:08

I'd take a sling and a quinny. We bought one last summer and so far have taken it on 3 flights with no problems.
noshouting why did cabin crew take it away? I thought it was (just) within the size allowed

Original poster

MoragG · 14/08/2010 16:21

As we've just bought a Maclaren to take on holiday we don't relly want to buy another buggy :-) We already have an iCandy, so 3 buggies would be a bit excessive!

OP posts:

SofiaAmes · 14/08/2010 16:32

I never had a problem taking a buggy on the plane with me on a BA flight. The staff were always friendly and helpful and found someplace to store it for me (closet in first class, often). I always travelled with a skinny foldup maclaren umbrella buggy which makes a difference because I often saw people with larger fold flat buggies being made to give them up at the gate.
The other airlines were no where near as helpful as BA and almost always put the buggy in the hold.

Original poster

MoragG · 14/08/2010 16:45

This is a domestic flight and a short European flight so fairly unlikely there will be room in the cabin for our Maclaren. And we can't bank on this in case there isn't room.

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 14/08/2010 19:18

Whattype of sling is it? I found that the dc would sleep in a front carrier when facing in but not when facing out. OTOH they would sleep in a back-carrier and lying down in a ringsling. Maybe it was having something warm to lean on that made the difference.

noshouting · 14/08/2010 23:57

Hi mumoverseas they insisted they did not have room for it as the flight was full, I did not push it as I had my DP with me on the outward leg. Coming home I was alone so had to disguise it!I was not risking Heathrow after a long haul overnight flight with two toddlers and no buggy.

13lucky · 15/08/2010 16:26

Hi MoragG, every time we've flown with a buggy, you take the buggy right up to the plane but yes, you don't get it back right when you get off - it comes back out on the carosel (it's worth noting it's sometimes a different one to the cases). I would just do this if I were you - I wouldn't have thought it would take that long to go back through security?? And if you've got 5 hours to kill anyway, you may be looking to kill some time!

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