How many of you have actually kept your buggy with you on a flight?

[BusyBeeWithThree]

If I buy a zia or a zapp buggy - one that folds up tiny will Virgin let me put it in the overhead locker to avoid the dreadful long walk to baggage reclaim? Has anyone had any experience?

You can normally keep your buggy until you get on the plane, you leave it at the bottom of the steps and it is popped into the hold. Depending on the airline/airport you are then given it back as you get off the plane or at baggage reclaim. I flew a lot when the DC were small and never had a problem with it.

I flew Upper with Virgin once and we actually wheeled DS1 on to the plane, and they stowed the buggy in the 'coat cupboard'....

not buggy but child-carrier backpack - we were allowed to keep it with us to and onto the plane (BA to Australia)

It all depends totally on where you are flying to and from. Most times you can take buggy tot the door of the plane. In most countries you get the buggy at the door as you disembark. Not Heathrow though. And not 100% sure of other airports in UK.

I would ring Virgin and ask them tbh. And I would get it in writing!

Well I have never had my buggy back when leaving the plane. I have given it to them as we board and then it is put in the hold. I have then had to wait to baggage claim to get it back which is not fun at Gatwick as it is such a long walk. Last time we also flew in to the wrong terminal so had to bus to the other terminal etc without a buggy!!!

We are flying Gatwick to Orlando so was thinking in buying one of the buggies that fold super small so that we can keep it with us.

Good idea to ring Virgin, will do that

Sorry about the typos 20 month old on my knee and keeps sliding the keyboard shelf away

depends on airline.

Flown long haul with DTs with Emirates - you get the buggy back at the final destination which was a nightmare trying to carry around 5 month old DTs at Dubai and Singapore airport en route to Brisbane.

Flew Singapore Airlines to Borneo and the double buggy was waiting at Singapore airport as soon as we stepped off the plane -(I heart Singapore Airlines).

Only times I didn't get buggy back was in UK. They are not insured to carry them apparently as I was informed by the guy who had to carry mine once as I refused to get off the plane til I got it.

have taken zapp on many times (zipped in bag) as hand luggage... where are you based as we still have one in the loft

Ohhh, I am in West Sussex, half hour form Gatwick in front.

that would be from Gatwick (no baby on lap to blame!!!)

Where have you gone KathG

not taken a tiny buggy but it seems hit and miss with getting the buggy back at the gate

I have e-mailed virgin. They say that the buggies are bot allowed in the cabin and it will be returned at Baggage carousel at both Orlando and Gatwick. Bugger!!! So do I spend £100 on Zapp/Zia and risk them not taking it off me to make life easier or do I just manage with dh and 3dc.... hmmmmm

Anyone got a babystyle quicksmart buggy. Just wondered what it was like.....

what about booking airport assistance? you know the golf cart things?

You'll either get the buggy back at the gate in Orlando or the luggage carousel. What will likely happen is that as it will take some considerable time to get through immigration luggage from the flight and other items like buggies will be placed on the floor next to the carousel in question.

I would suggest you tie something both brightly coloured and inexpensive (e.g a sock, scarf) onto it for easier identification. It should also have a luggage tag placed on it at check in.

At Gatwick you'll be able to take the buggy up to the departure gate.

Not really surprised unfortunately that you cannot take it into the cabin. Virgin's overhead lockers are very small and you wouldn't fit even a tiny buggy in there anyway.

Thanks for all your info, I don't think the airport assistance will be necessary. I will leave that for those who really need it. Good point about the overhead lockers but I have heard of quite a few people who have put zapps in the lockers. Smaller than a roller case that some people take as hand luggage.

I'm glad that next time we go away my daughter won't need a buggy as it always seems to take forever for it to come back through, especially at Gatwick, I've almost abandonned it a couple of times out of sheer frustration!