Apr 28, 2016, 2:07 am
Last edit by: GadgetGal
Arrangements for collection and return of strollers and pushchairs at key airports. May also apply to wheelchairs, but see post 4. Gate: by final boarding pass scan. Door: As leaving the aircraft the stroller is brought close to the aircraft's exit door. Bridge: Often there is a drop point on the airbridge just before boarding. Check-in: check in before security. Reclaim: retrieve at the baggage reclaim carousels, sometimes it will be the oversized item reclaim zone. See general advice in post 12 and when it comes to reclaim in particular it's always good to liaise with the gate agent, or ask the Senior Cabin Crew Member to ask the gate agent on your behalf when the doors are opened.
LHR: Drop at bridge, usually staff member there, retrieve at bridge, note gate A15 exception below, post 7, liaise with gate staff for alternative arrangements well before board.
LGW: Drop at bridge, retrieve at reclaim, loan strollers available see post 3.
LCY: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim.
STN: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim (retrieve TBC)
GLA: Drop and retrieve at bridge
HUY: Drop and retrieve at door
LBA: Drop and retrieve at bridge
MAN: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim
NCL: Drop at bridge, retrieve at reclaim
AGP: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim (oversized items)
ANE: Drop at check-in, retrieve either at reclaim or at door if weather OK.
BEY: Drop at gate, retrieve at door
BCN: Drop at bridge, retrieve TBA
CDG: Drop at check-in, retrieve at reclaim (oversized items)
DUB: Drop at gate, retrieve at door
EZE: Drop at gate, retrieve TBA
GCM: Drop at gate, retrieve at door
JFK: Drop at gate; retrieve at door (post 19; from 2014 and may have changed since)
LIN: Drop after bus to aircraft before taking stairs. Retrieve: after steps off aircraft before bus.
MIA: Drop at gate, retrieve at door.
MCO: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim.
MUC: drop at check-in (bulky items), retrieve at reclaim.
ORY: Drop at oversized luggage check-in, retrieve at reclaim.
OSL: Drop off at gate, retrieve at door
RAK: Drop at gate, retrieve after leaving aircraft at end of steps.
SEA: Drop at gate (TBC), retrieve at bridge
VCE: Drop at gate, retrieve TBA
LHR: Drop at bridge, usually staff member there, retrieve at bridge, note gate A15 exception below, post 7, liaise with gate staff for alternative arrangements well before board.
LGW: Drop at bridge, retrieve at reclaim, loan strollers available see post 3.
LCY: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim.
STN: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim (retrieve TBC)
GLA: Drop and retrieve at bridge
HUY: Drop and retrieve at door
LBA: Drop and retrieve at bridge
MAN: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim
NCL: Drop at bridge, retrieve at reclaim
AGP: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim (oversized items)
ANE: Drop at check-in, retrieve either at reclaim or at door if weather OK.
BEY: Drop at gate, retrieve at door
BCN: Drop at bridge, retrieve TBA
CDG: Drop at check-in, retrieve at reclaim (oversized items)
DUB: Drop at gate, retrieve at door
EZE: Drop at gate, retrieve TBA
GCM: Drop at gate, retrieve at door
JFK: Drop at gate; retrieve at door (post 19; from 2014 and may have changed since)
LIN: Drop after bus to aircraft before taking stairs. Retrieve: after steps off aircraft before bus.
MIA: Drop at gate, retrieve at door.
MCO: Drop at gate, retrieve at reclaim.
MUC: drop at check-in (bulky items), retrieve at reclaim.
ORY: Drop at oversized luggage check-in, retrieve at reclaim.
OSL: Drop off at gate, retrieve at door
RAK: Drop at gate, retrieve after leaving aircraft at end of steps.
SEA: Drop at gate (TBC), retrieve at bridge
VCE: Drop at gate, retrieve TBA
Airports offering stroller/wheelchair drop off and collection at aircraft door
Apr 27, 2016, 8:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Airports offering stroller/wheelchair drop off and collection at aircraft door
Dear all,
I've searched through BA's website and couldn't find a list of airports for which it is possible to drop or collect prams/wheelchairs at the aircraft door, so I'm starting this thread in order to have a comprehensive list.
the Drop below means that it can be dropped on departure, retrieve is for arrivals
LHR: Drop at door, retrieve at door
CDG
rop at CKI, retrieve at Oversized luggage
ORY: Drop at oversized luggage, retrieve at bag belt
ANE: drop at check in, retrieve at bag belt (or straight at aircraft door if the weather is good)
Feel free to add below and I'll update as we go
I've searched through BA's website and couldn't find a list of airports for which it is possible to drop or collect prams/wheelchairs at the aircraft door, so I'm starting this thread in order to have a comprehensive list.
the Drop below means that it can be dropped on departure, retrieve is for arrivals
LHR: Drop at door, retrieve at door
CDG
rop at CKI, retrieve at Oversized luggageORY: Drop at oversized luggage, retrieve at bag belt
ANE: drop at check in, retrieve at bag belt (or straight at aircraft door if the weather is good)
Feel free to add below and I'll update as we go
Apr 27, 2016, 9:43 am
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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My understanding is that LGW is drop off at the gate, collection at baggage reclaim, airport provided loan strollers are available at gates, and you can telephone control for a spare one if necessary.
Apr 27, 2016, 10:34 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Madrid
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 157
When travelling with my Mum who uses a wheelchair, we always ask for the wheelchair to be picked up and returned to the aircraft door. (At LHR T5 it is actually delivered to the 'halfway house' area between the plane and terminal.) This has always worked at Aberdeen, LHR T5, Madrid, Granada and Malaga.
(When using the Ambulift it always is left in or delivered to the vehicle.)
I don't have any experience outside these airports, but I would imagine that BA would have to specifically say they can't pick up a wheelchair from the aircraft door or deliver it to aircraft at an airport and state why.
(When using the Ambulift it always is left in or delivered to the vehicle.)
I don't have any experience outside these airports, but I would imagine that BA would have to specifically say they can't pick up a wheelchair from the aircraft door or deliver it to aircraft at an airport and state why.
Apr 27, 2016, 1:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Programs: Hilton HHonors, BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,204
No idea of the exact policies for all, but can certainly give our recent experiences with a stroller over the past 12 months.
LGW- as per CWS
NCL- Drop at gate, collect at reclaim.
DUB - drop at gate, collect at door.
MCO - drop at gate, collect at reclaim.
LHR - drop at gate, collect half way up airbridge now.
MIA - Drop at gate, collect at aircraft door.
GCM - Drop at gate, collect at door.
VCE- Drop at Gate.
BCN- collect at door.
AGP- drop at gate, collect at reclaim (oversized luggage belt).
LGW- as per CWS
NCL- Drop at gate, collect at reclaim.
DUB - drop at gate, collect at door.
MCO - drop at gate, collect at reclaim.
LHR - drop at gate, collect half way up airbridge now.
MIA - Drop at gate, collect at aircraft door.
GCM - Drop at gate, collect at door.
VCE- Drop at Gate.
BCN- collect at door.
AGP- drop at gate, collect at reclaim (oversized luggage belt).
Apr 27, 2016, 2:49 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
You may want to correct your LHR description:
LHR - EXCEPT T5 GATE 15 (Stand 515) where there is no facility to repatriate you with a pushchair or wheelchair. If a person's own wheelchair is desperately required, it may be brought up to the corridor by Gate 13, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
Whilst on the subject, if you have got a stroller for Return to Door, you may as well relax on the aeroplane and take your time getting your stuff together. It usually takes at least 5 minutes, and often closer to 10, from the aircraft being chocked before your stroller will appear. I'll tell you why........
1. Aircraft comes on to stand, engines power down. Loaders plug in ground power cable and chock wheels.
2. Airbridge (sometimes called jetty or finger) is attached, loaders place cones to draw vehicle drivers attention to wing and engine extremities to prevent damage.
3. First Passengers are already disembarking. Loaders are operating cargo hatch doors and bringing "televator" (the machine that moves containers) and conveyor to the aircraft.
3a. If "Dry Ice" (Carbon Dioxide in solid form) has been present in the hold (Perishable Cargo is often packed in Dry Ice), then the loaders must wait for at least 5 minutes before entering the hold. Dry Ice removes oxygen from the atmosphere and there is a risk of suffocation if the hold is entered too early.
4. Pushchairs are finally brought to the building.
LHR - EXCEPT T5 GATE 15 (Stand 515) where there is no facility to repatriate you with a pushchair or wheelchair. If a person's own wheelchair is desperately required, it may be brought up to the corridor by Gate 13, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
Whilst on the subject, if you have got a stroller for Return to Door, you may as well relax on the aeroplane and take your time getting your stuff together. It usually takes at least 5 minutes, and often closer to 10, from the aircraft being chocked before your stroller will appear. I'll tell you why........
1. Aircraft comes on to stand, engines power down. Loaders plug in ground power cable and chock wheels.
2. Airbridge (sometimes called jetty or finger) is attached, loaders place cones to draw vehicle drivers attention to wing and engine extremities to prevent damage.
3. First Passengers are already disembarking. Loaders are operating cargo hatch doors and bringing "televator" (the machine that moves containers) and conveyor to the aircraft.
3a. If "Dry Ice" (Carbon Dioxide in solid form) has been present in the hold (Perishable Cargo is often packed in Dry Ice), then the loaders must wait for at least 5 minutes before entering the hold. Dry Ice removes oxygen from the atmosphere and there is a risk of suffocation if the hold is entered too early.
4. Pushchairs are finally brought to the building.
Apr 27, 2016, 3:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Posts: 1,657
Few more I can think of
LIN - On departure drop at bottom of aircraft stairs after bus journey from the terminal, collect while disembarking before boarding the bus on arrival
RAK - Leave at gate on departure, collect at bottom of aircraft stairs on arrival
EZE - Leave at gate on departure
LIN - On departure drop at bottom of aircraft stairs after bus journey from the terminal, collect while disembarking before boarding the bus on arrival
RAK - Leave at gate on departure, collect at bottom of aircraft stairs on arrival
EZE - Leave at gate on departure
Apr 27, 2016, 3:49 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Of course, this "Take to and Return to Aircraft Door" service only applies to small strollers/pushchairs. If you pack them into a bag or sleeve, please make absolutely certain there is a handle by which the pushchair can be carried and that the label is clearly readable outside otherwise there is a risk the pushchair may be left behind as "unauthorised."
The BA website asks families to be at the Departure Gate early in bold type for a reason. Please do not leave it until the last minute to rock up - the aircraft hold closes at exactly 10 minutes before Departure Time and any items after this time may be returned to the baggage sort area to be sent as "Rush" on a later flight. It's not to be nasty or awkward that we won't re-open the hold - if the aeroplane misses its departure slot, you may well find yourselves sitting on a remote taxiway somewhere for anything from 20 minutes up to 2 hours waiting for a gap in take-offs to let you go!
The BA website asks families to be at the Departure Gate early in bold type for a reason. Please do not leave it until the last minute to rock up - the aircraft hold closes at exactly 10 minutes before Departure Time and any items after this time may be returned to the baggage sort area to be sent as "Rush" on a later flight. It's not to be nasty or awkward that we won't re-open the hold - if the aeroplane misses its departure slot, you may well find yourselves sitting on a remote taxiway somewhere for anything from 20 minutes up to 2 hours waiting for a gap in take-offs to let you go!
Apr 28, 2016, 12:47 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2010
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I recall being one of the first off a 744 at SEA only to watch several hundred walk past me as I waited 20 mins for the stroller/pushchair to make its way from the hold to the jetway.
Apr 28, 2016, 2:14 am
#14
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I have added a wiki to this thread. It needs more work on it, and in particular if you are at LBA, EDI, ABZ, BHD, JER, IOM in the next few days it would be good if you could ask the gate staff, or even better anyone supervising boarding, what the arrangements are locally, for both drop of and return.
If you are looking at this on a mobile device the wiki may not be visible, but if you either switch to Full Site (bottom of the screen) or go on to the full PC version you should see it.
I think the situation with wheelchairs is likely to be complex due to both the size of the retracted chair, the arrangements for assistance and the ability of the passenger. So I think post 4 gives some general pointers.
I notice the places we do have listed could be suggested to be kid friendly.
If you are looking at this on a mobile device the wiki may not be visible, but if you either switch to Full Site (bottom of the screen) or go on to the full PC version you should see it.
I think the situation with wheelchairs is likely to be complex due to both the size of the retracted chair, the arrangements for assistance and the ability of the passenger. So I think post 4 gives some general pointers.
I notice the places we do have listed could be suggested to be kid friendly.
Apr 28, 2016, 2:44 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Madrid
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 157
Some additional comments on wheelchairs:
There may be a difference on treatment for manual versus electric models. BA always ask re dimensions and weight and, understandably, are very particular about asking if the wheelchair has batteries. I don’t have experience of electric wheelchairs, so can’t advise.
Going slightly off topic you need to be careful about the tagging of wheelchairs as luggage. There does not appear to be a seamless process for handling this, especially if the trip involves different airlines. On a recent trip MAD>LHR on IB and then LHR>ABZ with BA, at check-in with IB they didn’t put a luggage tag on the wheelchair. I specifically asked for one, but at the gate the IB agent took it off saying “if there is a tag on it, it will not be delivered to the door.” (BA have always put a tag on the chair.) At LHR the chair was there at the bridge when we arrived, and then we dropped it off again at the bridge for the LHR>ABZ sector. On arrival in ABZ, lo and behold BA had put a luggage tag on the wheelchair at the bridge in LHR.
As I understand it (at least for BA): No tag, no go on plane, so beware. I would imagine the same applies to pushchairs.
There may be a difference on treatment for manual versus electric models. BA always ask re dimensions and weight and, understandably, are very particular about asking if the wheelchair has batteries. I don’t have experience of electric wheelchairs, so can’t advise.
Going slightly off topic you need to be careful about the tagging of wheelchairs as luggage. There does not appear to be a seamless process for handling this, especially if the trip involves different airlines. On a recent trip MAD>LHR on IB and then LHR>ABZ with BA, at check-in with IB they didn’t put a luggage tag on the wheelchair. I specifically asked for one, but at the gate the IB agent took it off saying “if there is a tag on it, it will not be delivered to the door.” (BA have always put a tag on the chair.) At LHR the chair was there at the bridge when we arrived, and then we dropped it off again at the bridge for the LHR>ABZ sector. On arrival in ABZ, lo and behold BA had put a luggage tag on the wheelchair at the bridge in LHR.
As I understand it (at least for BA): No tag, no go on plane, so beware. I would imagine the same applies to pushchairs.