which buggy when travelling?

[nicm]

hi

we're off on holidays next week and was wondering if i should take my 3 wheeler (i have a travel bag for it) or should i go and buy a maclaren quest and travel bag for it?

we're going to berlin for a week and ds sleeps well in his pram so don't know if i should just bring this? also if i bring the 3 wheeler do i have to fold it in the travel bag and check it in or can i bring the travel bag to the gate and fold it there and put it in the bag?

hope i've posted this in the right place.

thanks

Most airlines do not include pushchairs, travel cots and car seats with your baggage allowance so you should be ok taking your 3-wheeler to the gate. Just let the check in staff know and they will attach the necessary label. I would think carefully though - given the cost of this equipment imo I wouldn't want my 3 wheeler thrown 20 feet onto a baggage cart (have seen on many occasions and my own loved maclaren was damaged this way)! They will not let you take it on board so it will have to go in the hold, even though you hand over at the door. With my dd3, we bought a quinny zapp as these can be folded up and taken on board as hand luggage (if you are a bit sneaky). Then you have it the second you are off the plane and don't have to cart dc around whilst collecting baggage. However these don't recline so aren't suitable for the younger child. I would check your airlines website to confirm their criteria on hand luggage and baggage. Enjoy your holiday whatever you take

Just had an idea. If he sleeps well in his pram you could perhaps hire one in Berlin? Not sure if possible, just a thought.

We've always taken a 3 wheeler to the gate and then folded it and put into the travel bag (along with all our coats). The bag gets a label at check in.

This summer though we travelled on 2 budget airlines - ClickAir and Sterling - and both charged extra for buggies and one of them wouldn't let you take it to the gate. We checked it through as a prebooked 'bag' and did without at the airport.

It's worth checking up beforehand on the airlines website.

We go away a fair bit, first time with dd was when she was only 10 weeks and had to take mahossive pram, never again. Have had lots and lots and lots of buggies (come and join us on the pushchair thread!!).

Depending on how old your ds is a quest really is great for holidays. Great recline, lightweight, raincover takes up hardly any room in the pocket on the back of hood and pretty nippy. Quinny zapps are great but they do not recline, buy a petite star zia then. I took one where the main way to town was to walk along the beach for 2 miles (I kid you not!!)abroad.

I use a travel bag, when checking in tell them and they can put the label actually on the travel bag, at the foot of the plane then fold up buggy and zip it up in the bag.

Ooh, I just had this dilemma too going on hols to Greece! We took Maclaren Quest in the end (already had it though, didn't buy specially) DD doesn't sleep well in it but we decided not to risk big buggy getting damaged by baggage handlers. We didn't use a travel bag (because we had a transfer and didn't want to cart an extra bag around) and took it right to the gate. It was always waiting for us when we got to the other end or else someone went straight to the plane to fetch it as soon as they saw me carrying DD (except in the UK, of course, where we had the long walk, transit bus and queue for passport control carrying heavy, tired toddler, before collecting it from the luggage carousel )

It was loads easier to transport than the bigger buggy would have been. It was quite hard work persuading DD to sleep in it and I don't like the plastic wheels as it makes for a bumpy ride but I'd still def take it on future hols.

thank you ladies. we have decided to go and buy a techno or quest for holidays. ds is only 6 months so think the techno may be better for him!?

We bought a Techno for exactly these reasons and have flown with it no problem. DD was 5 months when we bought it which was why we went a bit extra for the Techno. Well worth it IMHO.

thanks. got a techno today and the travel bag. hopefully now he will sleep in it!!