British Airways Infant Pushchair (with carry cot) & luggage clarification

[Sunshine011020]

Hello lovely mommas,
Those who have travelled on a long haul BA flight with an infant less than 6 months old - could you please help me understand what the BA policy on luggage actually means.

It says on their website:
_^In addition (to an extra 23 KG checked-in luggage), you can also take up to two of the following items free of charge (as checked baggage):

fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller)
car or booster seat
travel cot
baby back carrier ^_

Obviously as my baby is less than 6 months, I'd like to take the carrycot attached to the chassis while walking and the car seat for when travelling in a car overseas. I also want to be able to take another 23 kg bag as checked in luggage with baby items in it. Is that something I'd be able to do and how? The chassis that I have collapses and folds although one of the dimensions is more than what's allowed up to the gate. Does that mean I will need to check-in the chassis, carry cot and the car seat - does that make it more that what's allowed above?

I'm a little confused as to what the pushchair part means? Is the carrycot attached to the chassis called a pushchair or is it the one used by older babies to sit, that completely collapses and folds?

Just want to make sure I know what I can and cannot take as I'll be travelling alone and don't want to end up paying extra for anything.

Really appreciate any experiences / advices. TIA.

Hi OP, I had the same issue with BA about 2 years ago. Our bassinet and chassis was classed as two items as it was not collapsible without removing the bassinet. It's the strollers that are used for older children that was classed as one item.

Sorry hit send too soon!

We therefore only took the car seat and chassis, and used a sling in the airport. I had really hoped to push the baby to the gate in his pram but it wasn't possible.

Yeah we had this problem too and bought a cheap stroller to take (plus didn't. Want my expensive oram being chucked around the hold.

We got one in Lidl of all places, mii babii I think it's called, was like £60 and lies flat so suitable from birth. It's fab! Came with a carry bag for it when folded, rain covered and drinks holder. LO loves it.

Right pain the rules though!

It’s classified as one piece of you can fold into one bag and hold check still. So for you I would collapse it all and package into hold. Car seat into hold too. Then use sling at airport

Or buy another smaller pram for travel. We are flying ba soon and I need pram, car seat and travel cot, so x3 items. Getting around it as bought babyzen yo-yo as pram so that will go as hand luggage, then car seat and travel cot as the two baby items in hold. You can attach baby car seat to yo-yo also but ours is 16 months when we go so in larger non attachable seat already.

The yo-yo is probably suitable without newborn bassinet from 3-4 months tbh if you add a liner for temporary use ( even though officially says 6+). If combined with car seat when needed and using sling it could work.

I never bothered taking the car seat, such a pain to drag through the airport. If hiring a car, you can hire a car seat from the car hire company. If staying with friends/family, get them to borrow a seat from someone or you can buy one for you to keep there if you’ll be regular visitors.

Get a pushchair for travelling that will collapse in one piece. Then you can have the carseat as well.
And yes to a sling, whether or not you get the pushchair to the fate, a sling is invaluable in an airport. DS spent most of his first long haul flight in a sling.

I have done this before and checked the carrycot at bag drop, then put the car seat on the frame to push through the airport and dropped them at the gate. So technically I checked 3 separate items but they were perfectly ok with it and didn’t charge extra. Alternatively put the carrycot and stroller frame in one bag, drop at bag drop along with the car seat, so it’s 2 items. Navigate airport with a sling.

The suitcase will need to come out of your baggage allowance, if you don’t have it spare then you will need to pay.

But do consider a YoYo if you’re going to travel a lot. Love mine.

Thank you ever so much for some really brilliant suggestion ladies! I think I'll take the carry cot in one of my 23 kg allowance,.(possibly add some more items to make it 23 KGS) to check that in at the baggage counter. And take the carseat and the chassis to the gate. Totally taking the sling along. Lo doesn't like to be in a single position for too long so will need to move her around. Thanks again for all your lovely inputs.🙏🙏🙏