Traveling alone with baby through airport - buggy worries

[DeeLite]

I am taking a short haul flight with my 4 month old this week and am really worried about the buggy.

We don't have a lightweight as we wanted to wait until DS was older and could go in a cheaper stroller type rather than a fully reclinable lightweight pushchair.

So, I'm traveling with our giant P&T and wondering what will happen at the airport scanners. Do I have to fold the buggy up and put it through the x-ray or can I wheel it through? I'm guessing the former. If so, will my buggy fit?! And, will I have to take out the cosytoes and sheepskin and take everything out of the carrier underneath? I am bringing my Baby Bjorn but still struggling to imagine doing all of the above on my own.

Any advice gratefully received.

yes, the buggy needs to be folded and it goes through the scanner. the baby carrier will be scanned as well.
depending on the airport there might be a separate security entrance for disabled people and those travelling with small children.
generally I find the aiport staff really helpfull getting the gear together again, providing a chair etc.
maybe you want to check in the pushchair, you will most probably only get it back with the luggage at the destination anyway...

I fly home alot through Southampton and Belfast. They generally get you or sometimes they carry the baby through the scanner, and then they wheel the buggy through and feel round the buggy snuggle and somehow test the buggy by wiping it. They are generally really helpful. You'll be fine x

Thank you - that's encouraging. I'm flying Gatwick to Dublin. I have flown solo before but didn't bring a buggy as he was tiny enough to take everywhere in his sling but he's heavy now and we're over for a couple of weeks so definitely need the buggy. Maybe checking it in would be the answer but I think I'll limit the risk of it getting damaged if I see it to the airport steps myself.

The staff will wheel the buggy through the scanner as ChimbolyMallows says.

Who are you flying with and where from? You can generally take the buggy to the aircraft door and then collapse it at the door. They will then take the buggy and place it in the hold (make sure you have a baggage tag on the buggy and a receipt). You will then pick your buggy up on the baggage carousel at your destination, so you won't have the buggy from the aircraft door when you arrive.

They won't bring the buggy up as it is against health and safety rules.

You will be fine. Just ask the crew for any help. They are sucker for babies :o

gatwick has a separate security entrance for people travelling with small children :)
im my experience, the possible damage to the buggy is the same if you check it in at the gate or at checkin. it will be put in the hold anyway and go on the belt on the other side. I find negotiating the airport with 2 children easier with just the sling and hand luggage.

Hiya Deelite - only last week I flew Gatwick to Cork. At Gatwick, the buggy had to be folded up to go through the scanner but the staff were super-helpful and did all this then held baby at the other side so that I could put it together again. I have a Quinny & maxi-cosi. The buggy was too wide to go through on the scanner belt thing so they took the wheels off and yes did remove cositoes, pillows etc but they were really kind and playing with baby the whole way through so it wasn't too hard. For me the biggest pain was needing a wee and getting my jacket on and off with one hand whilst holding babu (on the plane itself).

I took the buggy right to the gate where it was then taken fom me and it was waiting at the steps of the plane on the other side.

Christmas in Ireland - enjoy!

Coming back from Cork was much more relaxed, I simply wheeled the buggy through and it was wide enough.

Oh yes also there is a separate entrance for those with buggies so you won't have to queue at all, think it's called special asssitance or something

I am of the service you get at Gatwick. LHR is a nightmare.

Agreed Nancy. You definitely don't get that service at Heathrow. I travel through there every week and you are in the same queue as everyone else!

Enjoy Christmas in Ireland.