tips on getting through the airport with a 20 month old - push chair has to go in hold!

[tiredfeet]

Hi I've just booked flights to go out and see family only to then find out that, according to my airline, Heathrow make you check the pushchair in as hold luggage, so you can't take it all the way to the gate. I've flown quite a bit before from other airports /airlines but always been able to take the pushchair to the gate / plane. I'm flying on my own with him so not relishing the idea of trying to get from check in to the gate without a pushchair. Especially as I'll have to have a heavy bag of carry on stuff as he has a lot of medication etc that we need to take with us. Plus it will be roughly his nap time when we're waiting at the airport so I was half expecting him to nod off in his pushchair at some point.
has anyone got any tips / suggestions?!

Heathrow definitely let you take your pushchair to the gate, so maybe it is something imposed by your airline (although I'd be surprised if that was the case).

Which airline is it? Maybe someone else will have flown with them and can give their experience?

Double check about the pushchair, and ask if it can be taken to the gate.

If they really can't let you then I recomend the little life back packs, they have a rein on the back that you can hold, and he can have some special toys in it to carry around. Loads of people say how well their DC walk when they have this on.

It won't solve your nap problem, but will hopefully help you negotiate the walking part.

That's a bit crap of them. Might be worth a double check to see does it really apply to light foldable pushchairs (as opposed to bulkier travel systems etc).

Otherwise: a friend gave us one of those hiking style rucksacks with a seat, which you can carry the baby in on your back. DD (also nearly 20 months) really loves it and is happy in there for quite a long time, as long as you're moving. Downside will be that it's a bit of a faff when you are lifting it on and off on your own. Doable though and you can easily push a trolley/pull a case with your hands free. Dunno if you still use a sling/carrier (we don't any more) but these would be the same obviously.

Maybe one of those Trunki things? Would it be more trouble than anything else? Kids seem to like them, but no experience.

I'd also say worry about the nap once you are actually on board. With a bit of luck and lots of hairstrokes, maybe he'll drop off on the plane. That would be the best outcome really.

Good luck! Have travelled with DD on my own a few times and it's generally tiring but worth it.

I'm past the pushchair stage now, but always checked it in at the gate. You have to tell them at the check-in so they give you a tag for it, though.

I had mine in a ergo carrier on my front, she could nap in it too. Much less faff than a push chair.
It is suppose to be up to 3 yo, but mine is a giant so already out before 2.

If you can't bring the chair through after checking with airline, and DC is not yet ready/interested in a trunki, you could look at the carry-on sized bags with wheels that also have backpack straps. We have 1 that is quite small (which has a cover for wheels to avoid dirt on clothes!!) and another that is officially over regulation size but we even get away with it on Ryanair as it is puffy and we don't overfill so it fits into the width of the yoke to measure, and it is short enough (just) to still go lengthways into the overhead bin and not have to go "wheels to tail, handle to pilot" ways (IYKWIM).

thank you for all your replies!! I was a bit suprised too as I fly a fair bit with ds and never had this issue before, but I don't think we've flown with this airline or from heathrow since he was born. When he was younger I always used to take his car seat with the wheels it fixed to up right up to the gate / aircraft and never had any hassle.

We're flying with Aer Lingus. Their website says they normally allow you to take pushchair to gate before it goes in the hold but the exception is at heathrow because the airport don't allow it. I have (since my initial post) checked on heathrow's website and (confirming what several of you have said) they state very clearly that they do allow pushchairs up to the gate!! I rang Aer Lingus and they just said they could only go on what their website said and they refused when I asked if they could check out the position with Heathrow and get back to me.

I think I'm just going to try and and take a print out from the heathrow website with me in case there's any trouble.

Sounds like a good plan. Have flown home with them many times and in fairness they are usually very nice and helpful. Bring the printout and go for it I'd say. I can't see why there would be any problem.

thanks SSW, that's good to know.I've been put off them quite badly by their call centre staff, but hopefully the staff on the day will be better. Generally when I have flown alone with Ds airline staff have been very friendly and helpful so I think thats why I was so suprised to get such an unhelpful response. I would cope without the pushchair but it would be a lot harder and more stressful