Checking a Stroller at the Gate

definitely cover the stroller - not necessarily with one of those expensive covers - I've used the heavy duty bags that some airlines give out at the counter - but you can use a heavy duty trash bag - just because everything seems to get pretty dirty in the luggage area. (Only problem with a trash bag may be size - I know the Gracos are big strollers - I've only used my travel stroller on the planes)

Hi,

Yes - you can bring the stroller all the way to the gate and they will take it from you on the jetway.
They give it back to you once you get off the plane, but sometimes you need to wait a little bit. I've never used a cover for the stroller - mine folds up. I have used a cover for my car seat.

J.

We always take our huge Graco stroller with us on trips, it works fine. They will take it as you get on the plane and have it waiting right when you step off. They are somewhat rough with them but ours has never been broken. I wouldn't waste money on the covers, doesn't seem worth it to us. The strollers aren't handled much because you are checking them at the last minute. Good luck!

You can take your stroller up to the gate.
When you get off the plane they will have it waiting right outside the plane door.

Never used a cover so I don't have any input on that.

Have fun.

yes you can check the stroller at the gate and then it's right there when you get off the plane. We've never used the bag covers for the stroller. We did for the car seat but that we checked that with luggage, (our daughter was 5 months old so she didn't have her own seat) and we strapped the diapers into it.

Good luck!
Jenny

It is super easy. You can have it up until you actually get on the plane and then they will have it waiting for you when you land. You just have to have someone from the airline tag it. Just take it to the desk at your gate and they will put a tag on it. I was always scared to take the stroller, but then found out how easy it was and we always take a stroller now. We have never received any damage. Good Luck!

I have three kids and wel ahve traveld quite a bit ( my inlaws live in Denver) We always use the stroller right up to the gate. We check it and when you get off the plane they ahve it right there for you. It svery nice.

I never used a cover, so I cant tell you much about that, but I would think if you are gate checking it, its not worth it. I think that is good for if you check it with the luggage.

Good Luck and have a wonderful trip, Say hi to Mickey and Minnie
C.

Hi N.,

First, you may want to reconsider bringing your own stroller. We just returned from Disney last month and you are able to rent strollers there for a pretty inexpensive amount(I think it's something like $12.50 per day). You may not want to leave your own stroller parked outside all of the rides for fear of it being stolen. Some of the stroller carrals are not even right outside the rides. Also, if you rent one there, you avoid the issue of having to travel with your own. You leave it at the park at the end of each day and pick it up again the next one, making getting to and from the park that much easier.

That being said, if you do decide to bring your own, you can use it all the way up to the gate. When you get to your gate, you'll need to see the attendant at the desk and ask for a stroller tag, which you will affix to your stroller. They'll then tell you where to break your stroller down and leave it so it gets loaded on to the plane. This is usually somewhere near the entrance to the jetway.

When you get off the plane at your destination, the stroller will be waiting for you on the jetway as you exit.

Have a great trip!

Hi, we brought our stroller and it was great. As everyone said, you bring it right to the gate, and you get it right when you get off! We bought a cover (for the rain), and we were glad we did, because for 1, baby didn't get wet, and for 2, stroller (and contents underneath) didn't get wet!

We are going again this year though, and we were thinking about just bringing the umbrella stroller this year to and from the gate, and rent one there (a double stroller for my 6-year old and my 2-year old), cuz' she gets tired, and I don't feel like hearing her whine! ha!

Either way is fine! I Never worried about someone stealing the stroller, but I know those things happen unfortunately.... We also brought a big sheet from home to cover the stroller when we were doing something - (that was our cover)!!! Then you didn't know what was inside, kept the sun from beating down, etc..., and we knew which one was ours...

It will be great...have fun!

Yes, you can check your stroller at the gate - and if you're carrying your daughter on your lap, you can check the car seat (or snap-in seat) there too. Very convenient! I never bought a bag/cover for the stroller and never had any issues so I don't think you need the added expense - I did, however, buy a cover for her car seat when she was older and I had to check it. So far so good - I got it from One Step Ahead. It has wheels on the bottom and you can stuff coats or extra things in the space on top of the seat :) Good luck!

We went to Disney when my daughter was 3 months old and we had to take the whole travel system. We were able to wheel it right out to the door of the plane and then it was placed with other last minute items to be loaded. When we got off of the plane, it was right outside the door of the airplane, again for us to use. It was great. We were lucky at the parks, though, that no one took our stroller. My sister's stroller was stolen when they were on a ride and the people left their cruddy old stroller there for her. They had their info and everything on it. (dumb). If I were you, I would invest in a cheap stroller to take along, or just rent one there.

N.,
They will check your stroller at the gate and it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane. I would suggest getting a stroller bag if you plan on using the sun visor on your stroller. My husband and I flew to Arizona and had a double stroller. One of our sun visors was gone off the stroller and it supposedly was never found. If we had it in a stroller bag maybe we would still have it. Its also much easier to get through the airport with the little one still in the stroller. Have a great time in Disney.

We just flew to Mexico with a 9 month old. Take your stroller to the gate. Ask for tags when you get to the gate. They will have it for you when you get off. We didn't buy any bags. Also, they now have special security lines for families. It's really nice. You don't have to panic that a million people are waiting behind you while you get the baby out of the stroller. It's actually a little faster too because the line is not long:0) Have fun.

Hi N.,

We've flown with our Graco travel system a couple of times. You can definitely gate check your stroller. They're usually pretty good (on domestic flights) about getting it right back to you. They'll give you a tag and have you fold it up and either give to them when (or just before) you board. I noticed a little bit of dirt on the infant seat when we traveled, but I'm pretty sure the stroller was okay (since it was folded). I don't think you need to bother with a cover.

Have a great trip!
R.

hi N., I've flown to Europe last May with my kids and didn't have any problems with the gate check. We went on a total of 8 plane rides, from here to Europe, few within Europe and then the flight back home and the stroller was in a great shape. I didn't have any covers for it and didn't have any problems at all. Getting it covered would have just been a struggle, since I was flying by myself with kids-without my husband ....

Checking the stroller at the gate is well worth it! The biggest pain is getting through security. The stroller will have to be folded up and put on that conveyor belt (they have large ones for strollers). That's the toughest part, but well worth. The stroller is taken at the gate and returned as soon as you step off the plane, even before you walk through the termianl/tunnel. Good luck!

Hi N.. I've flown with little ones before and have used the stroller right until I got onto the plane. And, it was there for me after we landed. The only problem I had was that our stroller got a little damaged on the handle (it has a cushioned pad), so looking back, I would have either taken one of our older strollers or put it in a cover.

Good luck to you! And, have fun!!

My husband and I flew from Chicago to Philadelphia back in early November and we had a horrible experience flying with US Airways. I would recommend the bag (even if its a trash bag). It was raining during our departure and we checked both stroller and car seat at the gate. On arrival we received a very wet car seat and no apologies from US Airways. The car rental didn't offer car seat rentals (depends on state regulations I think). So I had to place a few disposable burp cloths inside his seat to protect him from the wetness; thank god it wasn't too cold out. It eventually dried out, but in all I wasn't too thrilled with US Airways and how they carelessly handled our infant car seat.

Well, I am a flight attendant for Southwest, and I know that with us you can absolutely check your stroller at the gate, and if you want a cover, go for it, but just be sure the guys bringing up the strollers dont mistake it for luggage. otherwise it might get thrown in with the checked items and end up at baggage claim. Plus, I find that the covers just add more hassle for families when they are frantically trying to collect all of their items, family, and chase after their children and try to undo a cover in the jetway with a hundred people trying to leave behind you. Our guys take care of the strollers. But either way do what is most comfortable for you
Good luck and have a great vacation!

Babies R Us online sells an inexpensive gate check bag for strollers - it's about $14. We've used it actually to put the carseat in because we didn't care about the Snap And Go at the time getting banged up. I think it's well worth it to protect your belongings! You get "gate check tags" right before you board, put them on your stroller and carseat and leave them at the end of the jetbridge right before you board. They bring it back to the same spot when you land, so it's pretty easy. Have fun!

What has worked great for us when traveling with our stroller is to bring large trash bags to put it in right before it's gate checked. That way you get some cheap protection for it. Have a great trip!

Hi N.,

Just get a gate check tag when checking your luggage--you then leave your stroller at the gate (on the walkway) it will be ther ewhen you get off the plane. Do not buy the bags--if you are on a trip & plan on checking a stroller or car seat all the way thru (I have to Europe) they supply the bags. Save your money on that one. Regarding gate cheking, they do not bag them, but I think they are actually on the plane in the area up front when your flying--not sure, but they would have to be so that you get them upon arrival.

Yes u will get a tag for the stroller..u take it right up to the
Planes door, and when the flight is over it will b at the door for
U. We have 4 year old twin girls....they loved disney..have a great time.

yes if you gate check your stroller, you get it back at the gate when you get off. personally i think the bag/covers for strollers are a waste of money unless you are very phobic about dirt. I don't think many parents use them.

yes they will gate check it and you dont need a bag. youll get it back right when you exit the plane. it will be helpful to have it in the airport but you wont really need it at disney as they have great strollers there. have fun!