Buggy for 5 hour stopover in Gatwick airport

[seaweed74]

Hi. We're flying from Edinburgh to Sicily in 2 weeks time with a 5 hour stopover at Gatwick. My dd's are 3.4 years and 6 months. The baby will be carried in a sling whilst stuck at Gatwick, but ideally we need a buggy for dd1 as she is autistic and hypermobile (only been walking for 6 months). The thought of managing for 5 hours without a buggy for her is horrifying! We have thought about reclaiming a buggy but think we may need to reclaim everything and then recheck everything in!

Anyone got any advice/knowledge on this?

Can you speak to the airline and see if they can help you to arrange something? I know it's not quite the same, but they do arrange wheelchairs and mobility carts for elderly passengers, so they might be able to do something similar for your DD?

Have a lovely holiday!

When I've flown (at least a couple of years ago now, but may help), they let me keep my buggy until the gate and then took it off me just before walking up the steps to the plane. And it was first thing off as well.
If I were you, I wouldn't take my 'best' buggy but get a £20 from ebay (or even something free from freecycle etc) just in case it gets lost.
Don't risk going without one. The 5 hours might turn into 7 and a tired child can be pushed to sleep in a buggy much more easily than trying to keep on the plastic chairs in the airport lounge...

Thanks for the replies. Think we'll phone BA and explain situation and see whether they can bend their own rules under the circs and return buggy to us at aircraft door. You're right pookamoo whilst it's not the same, it's similar :).

You will need to get the point over to the airport that this isn't just a buggy but a "mobility aid" and that your child has to have it back on disembarking (as if it were a wheelchair.
I've just had to arrange this with BMI Baby for a flight to Alicante in the summer, ds 4 has ASD and would not cope in the airport without his Mclareen Buggy.

Post on specail needs and you may find others with more experince of this.

It's not a case of asking BA to bend their rules - as your child is disabled they have to provide appropriate help. Don't be fobbed off.

Thanks cwtch4967 I'll post on special needs too.

Decided to buy quick smart backpack stroller as it's small enough to go in cabin as hand baggage. Hopefully we can fold/unfold successfully whilst travelling!

Seaweed74 would be interested to hear what you thought of the Quicksmart stroller. Hope the trip goes well.