My friend's Phil and Ted's got trashed when she flew long-haul a couple of years ago.
TBH, if you could avoid taking a 'much loved' buggy/travel system, it would be better. I love my Baby Jogger, but always take a beaten up old McLaren puschair when flying.
With buggies, you almost always take them right to the door of the aircraft. They are then loaded onto the plane separately from the luggage, and are usually the first things to be unloaded on landing. They are delivered back to you on the luggage claim conveyor along with all the suitcases. You have absolutely no control over how it is handled in between
Either way, unless it has a REALLY GOOD fold/lock mechanism, I would recommend using luggage straps to tie it into the folded position.
DD was 6 mths when we first travelled abroad, and easily coped with being in a lightweight pushchair (which was actually way more convenient for carrying across the beach anyway). It may be different if your DC is not sitting yet.
I don't think you're being PFB at all. I think the investment of