We have been lucky with our Maclaren being stored in the cupboard on the numerous LHR-MAN runs we have taken over the last 18 months. I would estimate a 66% success rate.

It pays to approach the gate staff early and get them to ask the crew. On a number of occasions this has led to the crew shifting their own stuff about to accommodate the buggy.

Note, on one occasion it went in the hold because another family had asked and they were given preference on the basis that they had a l/h connection to catch.

As an aside, as a non-status passenger the great trade-off for taking the wriggling (but quiet) monkey with us is the ability to assign seats at any point after booking!