How to transport a baby stroller on a plane?

Yes, traveling with children is not for the faint of heart. Dozens of bags, toys, disapproving glances from unhappy passengers, and a stroller too! This text is all about it. We help parents and tell them what to consider if they decide to take it on a plane.

Can you take a baby stroller on a plane?

Airlines do not prohibit taking baby strollers on board, but whether you need to check the item as luggage or can keep it with you in the cabin depends on both the specific company and the size and type of the stroller.

If you are going on a vacation with a child, be sure to study the rules for carriage on an airplane — they may differ depending on the airline, but there are also a number of general rules.

• The main criterion by which an airline determines how to transport a stroller on a plane is its dimensions.

• As a rule, airlines prohibit taking a cane stroller into the cabin — it will need to be checked into the baggage compartment. However, this type of stroller is often allowed to be used right up to the aircraft steps.

• If you are flying with a child, the stroller is not considered excess baggage for the fare and is transported free of charge, regardless of its weight. For example, if you bought a ticket with 23 kg of luggage, this should be understood as 23 kg + stroller.

• If you are traveling with several children, you can take a stroller for each child. All child transport means will be in addition to the baggage allowance.

• If you are transporting a stroller but traveling without a child, you will not be able to take it into the cabin or transport it free of charge beyond the fare allowance — it will only be registered as regular luggage.

• If you are flying with a layover, clarify how your luggage will be checked: directly to the final destination or if you will need to collect it at the stopover point.

Rules of major airlines

It is best to find out about weight, size, and stroller type restrictions immediately after purchasing tickets, or even before, if there is an opportunity to choose the most convenient option.

Some airlines allow you to take your child to the boarding gate and then check the stroller as luggage. Sometimes airports provide free temporary strollers — also to transport the child to the gate or even to the aircraft steps. Let’s look at how different airlines handle flights with baby strollers.

Turkish Airlines

Cost: free.

Where to carry: in checked luggage, but the airline provides the option to take the baby to the aircraft and then hand over the stroller to staff.

Pegasus Airlines

Cost: free.

Where to carry: taking it into the cabin is prohibited — it will have to be checked as luggage. A cane stroller is allowed to be used until boarding and collected immediately after landing at the aircraft steps.

Air Astana

Cost: free.

Where to carry: in the cabin, if the stroller is foldable and does not exceed 34×32×14 cm in size.

When do you need to check a stroller as luggage?

Let’s summarize and list the cases when a child’s transport means will have to be checked into the baggage compartment:

• it exceeds certain dimensions or does not comply with other carriage parameters;

• the airline completely prohibits their carriage in the cabin.

Child transport is usually checked as luggage at the check-in counter or handed over to airline staff after you have taken your child to the aircraft. Upon arrival, you can collect the stroller at the aircraft steps or on the baggage carousel. Occasionally, they are placed separately, for example, at the oversized baggage counter.

Main tips

Traveling with a small child is a feat. And it’s worth preparing seriously for it:

• to eliminate the risk of loss, attach a tag to the stroller with your first and last name in Latin letters, and below that, write your address and phone number;

• if you need to reduce the stroller’s weight, remove some parts and accessories from it;

• to avoid damaging the stroller that is flying in the baggage compartment, wrap it in film or place it in a special cover;

• do not take an expensive stroller with you — anything can happen on the road, and a simpler means of transport is not as scary to lose, break, or get dirty.