Airline Travel With a Stroller

Airline travel can be an exhausting, confusing, andfor damage to strollers. Excess Valuation may not be
exasperating experience these days. With rules andpurchased for strollers. If you are traveling with both
regulations on what you are allowed to bring ona stroller and a car seat in addition to the baggage
board changing everyday, and with each airlineallowance, only one of these items is carried free of
putting their own spin on the rules, it can becharge.
impossible to know what you can and can't do.Delta: Strollers will be checked for free and are not
Traveling with an infant or toddler makes flying aboutcounted as part of the standard baggage allowance.
100 times more difficult, it seems. So most parentsStrollers may be checked at curbside, the ticket
choose to navigate the busy airports with the help ofcounter, or at the gate.
a stroller. Traveling with a stroller can definitely makeDirect Air: Strollers may be accepted as Gate Check
things easier, but before you book your next flight,items, if necessary, subject to the Standard Baggage
we've compiled a list of specific rules and regulationsService Fee and counted towards a passenger's
regarding the transportation of your baby's strollerallotment of two checked items.
during your flight.Frontier: Strollers must be gate checked.
Most airlines consider a stroller to be a piece ofHawaiian Airlines: First and second checked bag fees
luggage that, thankfully, is not subject to anydo not apply to strollers with the exception of
additional baggage fees. In other words, you canjogging or large strollers. You may check in your
have your regular carry-on and personal item just likestroller at the gate or at the check-in counter free of
everyone else, and bring the stroller as an additionalcharge when accompanied by a ticketed adult
piece without charge. Most airlines do require thatpassenger. Jogging strollers are not permitted for
you gate check the stroller unless it can fit undergate check-in.
your seat or in the overhead bins. But since mostJetBlue: A lap infant may bring one diaper bag, one
strollers do not fit in those spaces, gate checking isstroller, and one car seat. Infants that are jetting for
the way to go. Some airlines also have restrictions onfree do not qualify for the checked baggage
the size of the stroller. Most either recommend orallowance. Strollers are considered a "special item"
even require that your stroller be a small umbrellawhich can be carried on for free in addition to your
stroller. Hawaiian Airlines specifically does not allownormal carry-on item. It may go on board if it will fit
jogging strollers. Other airlines do not have a specificin the overhead or under the seat, otherwise it must
rule for it, so that may mean it is open forbe gate checked.
interpretation. If you plan on bringing a jogging strollerKLM: A small, completely collapsible stroller may be
or other large stroller, you may want to call the airlinetaken into the cabin. It should be able to fit in the
directly before you travel to inquire if it is ok to dooverhead compartment or beneath the seat in front
so.of you. A stroller can always be checked in as
Here is a list of several airlines and their specificcheck-in baggage at no extra charge.
regulations that we've compiled based on what wasMidwest Airlines: Strollers are not subject to any
published on the official airline web sites onadditional baggage fees.
September 9, 2009. Please be aware that theseNorthwest: One fully collapsible umbrella-style stroller
regulations could change at any time, so before youmay be carried on board in addition to the carry-on
travel be sure to double check with your airline tobaggage allowance. Strollers may be carried on board
make sure the same rules apply. Not all airlines wereif space is available. Otherwise they must be gate
specific in spelling out their rules about strollers, sochecked. There is no charge for either domestic or
we've put what we were able to find. For moreinternational flights if within free baggage allowance.
detailed information, contact the airlines directly.Southwest: Customers traveling with infants will be
Air Canada: One stroller to be checked in at the gate,allowed to check one stroller per infant without
in addition to two pieces of checked baggage.charge (this is in addition to the regular free baggage
Air France: Children under the age of 2 are entitled toallowance). Strollers may also be used as carry on
a special allowance of 10kg plus one cabin baggageitems or may be gate checked at no additional
item, plus one of the following items: foldable stroller,charge.
bassinet, or car seat.United: Strollers may be checked to your final
Alaskan Airlines: Strollers and car seats may bedestination without a fee, in addition to your normal
checked without charge.baggage allowance. United highly recommends using
Allegiant: Each fare-paying passenger is allowed toan umbrella stroller when traveling. Umbrella strollers
take a stroller or car seat to the boarding area. Themay be accommodated on board the aircraft when
stroller or car seat can also be checked at the timespace permits in place of your carry-on bag.
of check-in. If the stroller or car seat is taken to theLarge-sized, non-collapsible, or heavy strollers are
gate, it will be gate checked.awkward and facilities are not designed to
American: You can carry on one bag plus oneaccommodate these types of items. United is not
personal item per passenger. You may also bring anresponsible for damage that occurs to strollers that
umbrella stroller for a lap or ticketed child in additionare not packaged in a box and checked at the
to your two carry-on items.check-in counter.
British Airways: One fully collapsible stroller is allowed.US Airways: If you're paying 10% of the adult fare
Continental: Continental accepts one stroller in additionfor an infant to fly on an international flight, you are
to a customer's baggage allowance. When checkedallowed 1 fully collapsible stroller. On domestic flights,
as baggage, all oversize and overweight charges willyou can have a stroller in addition to the checked
apply. First and second bag fees to not apply tobaggage allowance at no charge.
either a stroller or car seat. Continental is not liable