Back to Basics: Checking & Claiming Strollers at the Gate
Traveling can frequently be difficult, but traveling with toddlers can always be difficult. From managing the little one’s time to managing their “stuff,” there are added tasks to juggle when you have children with you.
Bringing a stroller with you when you travel allows you to get kids through the airport with minimum fuss. It can keep the kids in one place and most allow you to stow a bit of “stuff” on it as well.
But since strollers frequently don’t fit in airplane overheads (depends on the specific aircraft and stroller type), and even if they do, they take up a lot of room, most strollers aren’t brought onboard as it is just one more thing to lug down the aisle.
What happens to the strollers? Most are “gate checked.” This is jargon for checking something directly at the departure gate (usually right at the aircraft door), rather than at the ticket counter. This means that you can keep the kiddies in their stroller right up to the time you walk aboard the plane.
However, “gate checked” does not necessarily mean that you will be able to recover the stroller on the jetway when you get off the plane. Most bags that are gate checked are sent to baggage claim.
If you want to get your stroller on the jetway upon arrival at your destination, you need to confirm that your airline offers a “claim at gate” option. Most do, although not all. And this option is not available for international flights into and out of the U.S.
Remember –
Gate check - you can check the bag at the gate
Claim at gate - you can claim the bag at the gate
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POSTED IN: Air Travel, Travel Tips
3 opinions for Back to Basics: Checking & Claiming Strollers at the Gate
Debbie
Feb 14, 2008 at 11:13 am
A couple of additional notes:
Make sure that you get a claim tag for your gate checked stroller. If the stroller doesn’t have a tag, it might not meet you in your destination.
Make sure that you clear the pockets in your stroller before checking it.
Remember that if you check your stroller on an international flight, you’ll be clearing customs without a stroller to put your tired kids in. If you’re traveling alone, it’s worth making a plea to the steward or stewardess to find room on the plane.
Finally, many airlines do not cover damage done to strollers, so if you’re worried about your stroller, put it in a protective bag before checking it.
Hope this helps!
Debbie
http://www.deliciousbaby.com
Mary Jo Manzanares
Feb 19, 2008 at 9:23 pm
If you have a small, collapsible stroller you can probably get it into an overhead. But if you have the larger kind, they generally won’t fit.
If you’re traveling domestically, probably not a big deal and the airline will bring the stroller up the jetway to the plane. But if it’s international, you’ll need to be prepared to carry the kids through customs and immigration.
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