Which buggies can I take as hand luggage?

[TheBlonde]

Quinny zapp?

petit star zia?

any other ones small enough?

If you take a teeny tiny buggy as on board hand luggage they won't let you take any other hand baggage yourself.

However if you take it to the gate then put it in the hold they don't count it as hand luggage.

What do you mean by hand luggage? You mean actually put it in the rack above the seats? I've only ever been able to do this once, on a half empty plane with a very small umbrella maclaren.

Every other time they have talken the pushchair off of me just before I get on the plane, sometimes they give it back immediately on disembarkment, other times I've had to retrieve it with my other luggage which is annoying.

I think they'll take it off you unless you can pack it up into a bag small enough before going to the boarding gate and it is still your only bag Limits stated here

Even when I've been entitled to three peices of hand luggage and I've only had one bag (I pay full price for my two children so we can all have a piece of hand luggage)), they have still taken the pushchair off of me (except for that one time when the plane was half empty). So no, it doesn't count as hand luggage even when you don't have any other hand luggage.

You don't need to take it as hand luggage - you can take it right up to the door of the plan and then just fold it up and they will put it in the hold and then have it ready for you as you disembark.

Belgo it does count as hand luggage if you want to take it onto the plane though. But as you say they take it off you regardless!

yes they really don't like you taking a pushchair on the actual plane.

And many airlines won't give it back to you as you disembark, they send it through to baggage and you have to get it there (which totally negates the point of taking it to the gate really doesn't it )

we are flying with Lufthansa and they say max is 55 x 40 x 20cms

the zapp folds to L69 x W26 x H26cm

how annoying!
I have hurt my shoulder so don't want to get stuck carrying my 1 year old for miles if they don't bring the buggy to the gate

that's true sidge - it can be a real hassle having to walk for 15 minutes carrying two crying toddlers to get the pushchair - that's happened to me - can't remember which flight that was though.

A sling particulary a back sling is more convenient imo.

Eurghh Belgo, just read what you said about not getting your pushchair back until you have the rest of your luggage.

Has that happened often?

I'm going away in a week and we have a double for a 20 month old and a 5 month old.
It'll be a real PITA if we dont get it back straight away.

FWIW blonde, When I went away last year to Germany, our pushchair was taken from us at the very last minute as others have mentioned and then it was at the bottom of the plane steps waiting for us as we got off.

Gatwick deliver it to the luggage reclaim hall , and it is a long walk .

we did quite a few flights last summer

got the buggy back at the gate only once

at heathrow the buggy always arrived last after all the luggage

As far as I know you can take ANY buggy up the the gate and they'll put it in the hold while you board. Most companies will deliver the buggy right at the gate when you disembark.

In my experience, all except Air France. As usual, the french always ever so child friendly.

I've just flown gatwick-geneva and back and my buggy was delivered in the main luggage hall in both directions. And it was a bloody long walk too!

Belgo - all passengers have a hand baggage allowance, even if they are babies and don't have their own seat.

spicemonster - yes I know that, I'm saying that my buggy doesn't not get counted as hand luggage.

there was a spare 'not' in that sentance

I seem to remember reading about some new lightweight pushchair that they'd designed to fold small enough to take on board..will try and sift through mags to find ad. Must admit its pants about having to wait til luggage delivered (particularly given how flipping long it takes at heathrow).

Oh hells bells.

This is not good.

Am flying to Spain if that makes any difference.

Does it help if you beg and slip them a tenner?

Sorry belgo - misunderstood you.

Nbg - I don't know whether it's the airline or the airport that make the decision about where the buggies are delivered. You could ring the airline and find out?

I have to admit, I have decided to never, ever fly alone with my DS after my recent experience - even going through security was a total pita

Thats a good idea SM.
I will call them.

Your brave for flying alone too.

It's also going to take a while for me to fly again alone with small children. I've done it loads of times, but it's really hard sometimes. I have friends who have gone on long haul flights alone with small children. That must be really hard.

I didn't fly alone - I had eight members of my family with me and I still thought it was a nightmare

I have a friend who has flown to NZ and back with two under 3s. She has my utmost admiration. I'm only going places I can get the eurostar to until he's old enough to walk long distances!