Air travel with infants, toddlers, or young children can be very difficult. In this complexity, a stroller is every parent’s best friend. Air traveling or not, it’s a necessity while taking your child anywhere. Since airlines have rules and regulations about everything ranging from luggage to passengers themselves, it is not a surprise that there are some requirements for taking strollers on a plane too.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss what size stroller you can take on a plane and all the relevant factors that concern it. Keep reading to learn all the essentials.
What Are The Size Restrictions on Strollers?
Different airlines have contrasting rules about the carriage of strollers on planes but in most cases, it all comes down to the size. There are different kinds of strollers and once you have read your airline policies, you can make a well-informed decision.
In simple words, airlines allow you to take strollers as either carry-on luggage or checked luggage, depending on the size. Take a look below to see the size restrictions of each.
Bringing stroller as carry-on baggage
If you are thinking about taking your stroller as a carry-on then it must fulfil a predetermined criteria. You can take a flexible and foldable stroller that is small enough to fit in the overhead locker. In addition to that, it should be lightweight and compact. Remember that the maximum weight limit is 10 KG.
Look for dimensions in the range of 22 x 14 x 9 inches and if you want to be careful, specifically ask for travel strollers. They are a lot better because they are designed for this purpose and they fulfill all the requirements. Their design mechanism allows you to fold it flat (without any trouble) and fit it in the overhead bin. You can fit compact strollers in tight spaces and use the quick folding mechanisms to your advantage.
Bringing stroller as checked baggage
In case your baby stroller doesn’t fulfill the specific criteria listed above, you will need to take it as checked baggage. Whether it be a difference in size or weight, you’ll need to have it checked as luggage. A useful tip is to check your specific airline’s policies before getting to the airport. Some companies require you to get larger strollers checked at the ticket counters while others treat them as gate-checked items.
You’ll receive it at the baggage claim once you reach the final destination. In case you have layovers, make sure to ask the relevant TSA agent if the stroller will be made available to you during that time.
Examples
Airline guidance is extremely important but each has its own rules. You can look at some of the examples to get a general idea of how baby gear is dealt with.
Major companies and well-known names like Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines allow passengers to gate-check strollers without more complexity or extra charges. Gate-checking means you can drop the stroller at the boarding gate and get it right after, mostly at the baggage counter.
Some airlines allow you to carry small strollers and travel-specific strollers as hand luggage. You can take them with you on the plane and fit them in the overhead bin. JetBlue is a common example of this but even their rules vary for domestic flights and international flights so make sure to check the size restrictions.
In any other case, you can have your stroller checked as luggage. Especially in the case of double strollers and large models, you need to get them checked at the ticket counter.
How to Measure Your Stroller
Once you have checked the airline’s policies and familiarised yourself with size restrictions, the next step is to ensure that your stroller fulfills those requirements.
If you want to measure your stroller, you can do so by using a measuring tape. Make sure to consider the widest and longest points. A general rule of thumb is to add the wheels and handles as well.
As for compact designs and travel models, remember that the folded footprint of the stroller is the space it will take. Your job is to check whether it complies with the carry-on dimensions, as defined by your airline.
What are Some Size Categories for Strollers
Strollers come in all types of sizes and dimensions, here are some of the main ones.
Umbrella strollers
As their name indicates, umbrella strollers are known for their quick folding (umbrella-like) mechanism. Not only are they lightweight and portable but you can fold them flat and fit in tight spaces. 3d fold strollers are perfect for air traveling, thanks to their collapsible form. You can easily fit them in the overhead compartment.
Standard stroller
These are full-sized strollers that one may use on a day-to-day basis. While they are great for everyday use, they are not highly recommended for air traveling. While you can’t bring them in the cabin, airlines will allow you to have them gate-checked. Their size and weight do not fulfill the carry-on requirements.
Lightweight strollers
Lightweight strollers are one of the best options. They take away less space and are smaller than full-sized standard strollers. You should check your particular airline’s policies to see if the dimensions comply. Typically, their lightweight frame is suitable for air travel.
Travel system strollers
Combining infant car seats and strollers into one, travel system models offer a greater level of flexibility to passengers. If yours doesn’t weigh too much and complies with the size restrictions, you can easily take it with you. The best travel strollers will usually fulfil the criteria but you should measure it nonetheless.
Double strollers
These are some of the best strollers, perfect for twins or close-aged babies. They are certainly preferred by a lot of parents. However, their size and weight require you to have them checked at the ticket counter or the gate.
Are Strollers Allowed on International Flights
Yes, most certainly. Much like domestic flights, the same rules will follow on international travel. However, their strictness will vary in range and you’ll need to comply with more restrictions. You can still take your stroller to a foreign country but there’ll be additional requirements at the specific airline and TSA checkpoint.
Tips for Flying With a Stroller
- Research: if you are traveling with a stroller, the best tip is to research specific policies beforehand. Rather than getting to the airport and navigating through the process in a stressful haze, you should check the baby stroller airline rules beforehand. Not only should you check the size and weight restrictions but you should also where you are supposed to get it checked.
- Protective measures: strollers are not exactly cheap. If you want to protect yours, make sure to take all the necessary precautions and use stroller bags. Airlines do not take responsibility for damage so it’s entirely up to you how you secure your stroller and add extra protection. Consider using waterproof, weather-resistant, and sturdy travel bags to ensure peace of mind.
- Navigating through security: you can streamline the process by preparing the stroller beforehand. You should remove any attachments and fold them while putting items like toys on the x-ray belt. Your stroller will go through an x-ray machine but if it’s too big then the TSA officer will conduct a visual inspection.
Final thoughts
Concluding this simple guide, we can see that you can take any stroller size with you while air traveling. However, when it comes to bringing it into the cabin, your stroller must fulfill the requirements, determined by your specific airline. There are different kinds of strollers and you can easily find travel-friendly models that are foldable and compact alike!
We hope this article helped you understand what size stroller you can take on a plane. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask us and we’d be happy to help.
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