Strollers that go as hand luggage on planes

[SK28]

I'm looking for a buggy that fits into Ryanair hand luggage dimensions when folded (so 55x40x20cm). So far the only one I have found that fits is the GB Pockit. I prefer the Pockit+ which also fits but it is 13kg, whereas the weight limit for hand luggage is 10kg (the basic Pockit is 9kg). We fly frequently and I have never had my hand luggage weighed....has anyone else? How big a risk would this be?

The new M&P Acro is just a couple of cm too big, as is the Babyzen Yoyo. But it feels more likely they would put it in the sizer and not let me take it on board than weighing it...so these feel probably too risky.

Does anyone have experience of flying with any of these new(ish) super compact strollers as hand luggage, or any other suggestions for models that fit within the 55x40x20 dimensions?

Why do you need it to be hand luggage? It’s free to check in a buggy and you can take it all the way to the gate. Well the tarmac actually. They load it onto the plane for you right as you board.

Will it be in a bag?

What bayleaves said. If you need something to transport your baby onto the plane, a sling might be better.

Sorry, I should have given context. I travel very frequently with my two children without my husband. I have the baby in a sling but when we fly late in the day and land in the evening my toddler struggles through the airport at the destination till we get the buggy back at the baggage carousel. I would like one that goes as hand luggage so that on these occasions I can have a buggy available as soon as we get off the plane. We have a Trunki which works ok when she is awake in the daytime but evening flights mean she is often really tired, if not falling asleep, and we have had occasions of her falling off the trunki she is so tired.

Also, it is true you can take a buggy to the tarmac. But when you are travelling alone with two children, a bag and a Trunki, carrying everything plus a folded Maclaren down the steps at the gate and onto the tarmac is quite a challenge to say the least. A hand luggage stroller would mean I could leave the Trunki at home and just have the compact folded stroller, my bag, baby in the sling and toddler to help down the steps. Seems like it would be easier for me to manage.

I’m not sure about exact dimensions, but I have frequesny used the Quinky Yezz and it can come on as hand luggage as it folds up so tiny!

*Wouldn't have trunki if I had Maclaren of course. But umbrella strollers are hard for me to manage down all the steps anyway whilst holding the other stuff, speaking from experience. Plus as I said above, I don't get it back on the tarmac but have to wait to baggage reclaim to get it back.

Thanks Tefiti - I will check that one out!

Raven I don't really mind if it has a carry bag or not.

Tefiti the quinny looks good but is 67cm when folded so too long :(

I took the city jogger tour on a Ryanair flight with no problems. They didn’t measure or weigh it, we just said it was hand luggage size. I hadn’t even realised it was above their guidelines to be honest.

It’s a great buggy, I’ve been very pleased with it. But it is bigger than the ridiculously small Ryanair sizing!!

Tiffin that's interesting, thanks. That's one that was on my list, it does look good. I just don't know if it is worth the risk getting one that wouldn't fit in the sizers if challenged...we do a return ryanair flight around every 2 months so I don't know if statistically I'm likely to get challenged or whether they'll always go a bit generously on a parent travelling solo with two kids!

The GB pockit does look like exactly what you need. Ive never had my hand luggage weighed by easyjet/Ryanair. If you get the heavier i would try to put it in a bag so it doesn’t draw attention as they might want to weigh it if it looks different to normal hand luggage.

Also do you purchase the priority/plus option so you can guarantee that they won’t just check it at the gate anyway?

I honestly don’t know how you do it regularly with two! I’ve flown alone with one a few times, and even then it can get quite tricky, especially waiting for the stroller back at the other end when they’re tired!

Coffee Needs must... My husband works abroad so we spend a lot of time going between the two places. I have been eased into it flying with one baby, then flying with a toddler and a baby bump, and now with two little people! Yes, if i do buy one I will have to buy priority. It is annoying they've changed their hand luggage rules! But I tend to pay whatever I need to make it easier for myself - always check a bag so I don't have to carry much through the airport, pay for priority if it allows an extra hand luggage item, pay for the meet and greet parking so I don't have to negotiate shuttle buses... Good idea about a bag for that reason, will do that.

I’ve taken a yoyo on board with Ryan Air last year and a quick search shows me that they replied directly to someone asking specifically about the YoYo on twitter and confirmed it could be taken as a carry-on although that was from 2016. In fact the only time I haven’t been able to get a YoYo in the overhead locker was on a Swiss flight where the plane was tiny and the cabin crew just shoved it under some seats in an unoccupied row!

Thanks Lichen - perhaps I will just contact them directly and ask about one or two models. I like the price of the Pockit but if I could get one with some suspension and a better rain cover and canopy that would be more useful.

I have asked once or twice if i can get the buggy back at the gate rather than on the carousel for that reason, and I got it back then. I don't think that was with Ryanair though.

Quincy zap xtra 2

Hi @SK28 I am due to travel soon with my little one and wondered what stroller you ended up getting, whether you'd recommend it and if you had any issues when taking it onboard a Ryanair flight? Thanks!

Hi @JosieK24 - I got the Pockit and have been happy with it. I still fly every couple of months with Ryanair and they have never measured or weighed the buggy. Usually they ask at the check in desk to put a label on it, and I say it folds to hand luggage size so will go on board with me and they just accept it. I then put it into the bag (not the one that comes with it; I use one of those supermarket trolley bags as I find it the right size and easier to carry) at the gate before going down the steps, and it stores easily in the overhead lockers. As they never weigh or measure it, I probably could have got a slightly bigger one to be honest and not had any problems. As a buggy, it's fine - both my girls find it comfortable and have slept in it, it has a raincover that is fine, although the hood is quite small. There is no suspension and it is quite flimsy, but it is just my travel buggy not my everyday one so it isn't really a problem and obviously is cheap compared to others (I already had a 'proper' travel system plus my Maclaren so struggled to justify a higher price option really). If I was starting from scratch now and didn't own anything, I would probably just go for a Yoyo as my only one.

Thanks @SK28 really useful!