stroller through security gate
Mar 15, 2022 | 6:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 54
stroller through security gate
I have the following stroller with me "
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Mod...erce/382035228
I'm wondering if it's easily going to get through the security in the USA. I'll be boarding from BHM AL in American Airlines and then have connecting flight to DOHA via Qatar from DFW.
If not, should I consider buying another stroller?
Graco Modes Pramette Stroller, Pierce"
Link:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Mod...erce/382035228
I'm wondering if it's easily going to get through the security in the USA. I'll be boarding from BHM AL in American Airlines and then have connecting flight to DOHA via Qatar from DFW.
If not, should I consider buying another stroller?
Mar 16, 2022 | 3:31 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: FB, Accor, Marriot
Posts: 458
Having travelled until a few years ago with one or two strollers, I would say that going through security has never been an issue. With our babyzen yoyo+ it would go through the regular security check with the hand luggage. With the big bugaboo cameleon, we would simply take our kids in our arms, and they would manually check the stroller and hand it back. That's our experience both in the USA and in Europe.
Mar 18, 2022 | 3:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 69
We traveled with our daughter in her stroller until she was 11 years old. When she outgrew her first stroller, we ended up buying a Maclaren Major stroller which was (is?) much larger than a regular stroller (it was/is marketed as a special needs stroller but was ideal for our daughter even though she doesnt have any special needs).
We traveled with it through all the major hubs in the U.S. and most major airports in Europe, and like yno and Redhead, we never had any issues at security even though her stroller was much larger than a regular stroller. When folded the Maclaren major was long but compact and so could fit through some scanners lengthwise, but even when the security staff didnt want to put it through the scanner, they just inspected at the side and handed it back to us.
In our experience, wed suggest thinking about three other things which might help.
First, having some sort of a basic plan before you get to the airport can be a big help. Obviously every kid is different, so it could change when you get there, but we always found a simple plan helpful and stuck to it as much as was possible. For us, that meant as soon as we arrived at the airport our daughter would sit the in stroller all the way to the gate until we started boarding (except for going through security). As long as we kept to that routine, we had the peace of mind of knowing that if we had to talk to airline/airport staff, figure out what direction to go, get stuff from our bags, etc., we were able to focus on that knowing she was comfortable and safe.
Second, if you plan to use the stroller throughout the airport (as we did), allow a bit of extra time than you might otherwise. I apologize if this is something you already know, but going through security can become rather pressured with trying to get everything ready and then collecting it afterwards all while supervising your kid(s). We allowed a lot of extra time whenever we could, especially when our daughter was younger and was excited about various unusual things she noticed (such as moving walkways). As she got older and more accustomed to airports and didnt on some occasions want to be in her stroller, having the extra time to explain why she needed to be in the stroller definitely helped make everything easier. We sometimes allowed too much time but, when we did, having a favorite toy, and when she was older a good book, always helped her be perfectly happy in the stroller even though it could be a few hours at a time.
Third, if you choose to use the stroller through the airport, we suggest always properly buckling in your kid(s) before and after getting their stroller through security. We know many never do this, but weve seen a kids jump out of strollers, some strollers tip over having been overloaded with bags and jackets, etc., plus other frustrating and/or dangerous things all of which could have been easily avoided. We had a simple rule that if she was in her stroller, she was buckled in properly without any exceptions. We would always unbuckle her once our place in the queue reached the start/front end of the scanners, and buckle her in again as soon as we had the stroller back. Wed sort out bags, jackets, laptop, etc. afterwards. We were lucky that our daughter always naturally traveled well, and by the time she was 9 years old she would buckle herself in the stroller after security. Having a simple plan and allowing extra time definitely helped with creating that consistent routine which we found especially valuable with things like security which can easily disrupt things and take up more time than is ideal.
Obviously different things work for different people, so what worked for us may not work for you, but we hope this is helpful in some way!
Mar 19, 2022 | 7:18 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 54
It might be worth measuring the stroller and checking with American Airlines, but I highly doubt you need to purchase another stroller.
We traveled with our daughter in her stroller until she was 11 years old. When she outgrew her first stroller, we ended up buying a Maclaren Major stroller which was (is?) much larger than a regular stroller (it was/is marketed as a special needs stroller but was ideal for our daughter even though she doesnt have any special needs).
We traveled with it through all the major hubs in the U.S. and most major airports in Europe, and like yno and Redhead, we never had any issues at security even though her stroller was much larger than a regular stroller. When folded the Maclaren major was long but compact and so could fit through some scanners lengthwise, but even when the security staff didnt want to put it through the scanner, they just inspected at the side and handed it back to us.
In our experience, wed suggest thinking about three other things which might help.
First, having some sort of a basic plan before you get to the airport can be a big help. Obviously every kid is different, so it could change when you get there, but we always found a simple plan helpful and stuck to it as much as was possible. For us, that meant as soon as we arrived at the airport our daughter would sit the in stroller all the way to the gate until we started boarding (except for going through security). As long as we kept to that routine, we had the peace of mind of knowing that if we had to talk to airline/airport staff, figure out what direction to go, get stuff from our bags, etc., we were able to focus on that knowing she was comfortable and safe.
Second, if you plan to use the stroller throughout the airport (as we did), allow a bit of extra time than you might otherwise. I apologize if this is something you already know, but going through security can become rather pressured with trying to get everything ready and then collecting it afterwards all while supervising your kid(s). We allowed a lot of extra time whenever we could, especially when our daughter was younger and was excited about various unusual things she noticed (such as moving walkways). As she got older and more accustomed to airports and didnt on some occasions want to be in her stroller, having the extra time to explain why she needed to be in the stroller definitely helped make everything easier. We sometimes allowed too much time but, when we did, having a favorite toy, and when she was older a good book, always helped her be perfectly happy in the stroller even though it could be a few hours at a time.
Third, if you choose to use the stroller through the airport, we suggest always properly buckling in your kid(s) before and after getting their stroller through security. We know many never do this, but weve seen a kids jump out of strollers, some strollers tip over having been overloaded with bags and jackets, etc., plus other frustrating and/or dangerous things all of which could have been easily avoided. We had a simple rule that if she was in her stroller, she was buckled in properly without any exceptions. We would always unbuckle her once our place in the queue reached the start/front end of the scanners, and buckle her in again as soon as we had the stroller back. Wed sort out bags, jackets, laptop, etc. afterwards. We were lucky that our daughter always naturally traveled well, and by the time she was 9 years old she would buckle herself in the stroller after security. Having a simple plan and allowing extra time definitely helped with creating that consistent routine which we found especially valuable with things like security which can easily disrupt things and take up more time than is ideal.
Obviously different things work for different people, so what worked for us may not work for you, but we hope this is helpful in some way!
We traveled with our daughter in her stroller until she was 11 years old. When she outgrew her first stroller, we ended up buying a Maclaren Major stroller which was (is?) much larger than a regular stroller (it was/is marketed as a special needs stroller but was ideal for our daughter even though she doesnt have any special needs).
We traveled with it through all the major hubs in the U.S. and most major airports in Europe, and like yno and Redhead, we never had any issues at security even though her stroller was much larger than a regular stroller. When folded the Maclaren major was long but compact and so could fit through some scanners lengthwise, but even when the security staff didnt want to put it through the scanner, they just inspected at the side and handed it back to us.
In our experience, wed suggest thinking about three other things which might help.
First, having some sort of a basic plan before you get to the airport can be a big help. Obviously every kid is different, so it could change when you get there, but we always found a simple plan helpful and stuck to it as much as was possible. For us, that meant as soon as we arrived at the airport our daughter would sit the in stroller all the way to the gate until we started boarding (except for going through security). As long as we kept to that routine, we had the peace of mind of knowing that if we had to talk to airline/airport staff, figure out what direction to go, get stuff from our bags, etc., we were able to focus on that knowing she was comfortable and safe.
Second, if you plan to use the stroller throughout the airport (as we did), allow a bit of extra time than you might otherwise. I apologize if this is something you already know, but going through security can become rather pressured with trying to get everything ready and then collecting it afterwards all while supervising your kid(s). We allowed a lot of extra time whenever we could, especially when our daughter was younger and was excited about various unusual things she noticed (such as moving walkways). As she got older and more accustomed to airports and didnt on some occasions want to be in her stroller, having the extra time to explain why she needed to be in the stroller definitely helped make everything easier. We sometimes allowed too much time but, when we did, having a favorite toy, and when she was older a good book, always helped her be perfectly happy in the stroller even though it could be a few hours at a time.
Third, if you choose to use the stroller through the airport, we suggest always properly buckling in your kid(s) before and after getting their stroller through security. We know many never do this, but weve seen a kids jump out of strollers, some strollers tip over having been overloaded with bags and jackets, etc., plus other frustrating and/or dangerous things all of which could have been easily avoided. We had a simple rule that if she was in her stroller, she was buckled in properly without any exceptions. We would always unbuckle her once our place in the queue reached the start/front end of the scanners, and buckle her in again as soon as we had the stroller back. Wed sort out bags, jackets, laptop, etc. afterwards. We were lucky that our daughter always naturally traveled well, and by the time she was 9 years old she would buckle herself in the stroller after security. Having a simple plan and allowing extra time definitely helped with creating that consistent routine which we found especially valuable with things like security which can easily disrupt things and take up more time than is ideal.
Obviously different things work for different people, so what worked for us may not work for you, but we hope this is helpful in some way!
Mar 19, 2022 | 9:29 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 69
Apr 3, 2022 | 11:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: In a hotel somewhere trying to repack everything I brought (and bought) in to a carry-on smaller than my last one.
Programs: UA, Asia Miles, Southwest, IHG
Posts: 1,108
I have the following stroller with me "
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Mod...erce/382035228
I'm wondering if it's easily going to get through the security in the USA. I'll be boarding from BHM AL in American Airlines and then have connecting flight to DOHA via Qatar from DFW.
If not, should I consider buying another stroller?
Graco Modes Pramette Stroller, Pierce"
Link:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Mod...erce/382035228
I'm wondering if it's easily going to get through the security in the USA. I'll be boarding from BHM AL in American Airlines and then have connecting flight to DOHA via Qatar from DFW.
If not, should I consider buying another stroller?
Apr 8, 2022 | 9:55 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 54
https://www.walmart.com/ip/J-L-Child...Grey/191462399
And wondering if they provide any sort of coverage before they gate check-in the strollers?
Apr 11, 2022 | 10:50 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 69
Thanks. One more question. Did you use any sort of stroller cover before gate-checking in the stroller? I bought this one though:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/J-L-Child...Grey/191462399
And wondering if they provide any sort of coverage before they gate check-in the strollers?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/J-L-Child...Grey/191462399
And wondering if they provide any sort of coverage before they gate check-in the strollers?
We did use a stroller travel bag on some occasions, but like all such things, stroller bags vary in usefulness and quality.
We first looked for a stroller travel bag when we bought the Maclaren Major stroller for our daughter when she was older. As her stroller was expensive (being larger than normal strollers), we assumed a travel bag would be available but couldn't find anything which it would fit into. After contacting a few retailers who sold the Maclaren Major we eventually found a travel bag which worked but wasn't specifically made/designed for the Maclaren Major but was actually intended for traveling with drum and drum equipment (cymbal stands, pedals, etc.). It was a fantastic bag which was padded and lined and certainly offered good protection, but the disadvantage was that it was rather hefty and hard to fold. On a few occasions we had to carry it from the jet bridge to the arrivals hall as we couldn't fold it easily and would have got in the way of others if we had spent any more time trying to get it folded up on the jet bridge. That became easier when our daughter was older and would buckle herself in the stroller while we folded up the bag, but eventually we actually stopped using it as it wasn't really practical. It did provide good protection but the only time it got used during a whole trip was for flying and overall it wasn't worth it.
Obviously with regular sized strollers you'll have a lot more choice of travel bags - like the one you've found - but our recommendation is to be aware that you'll have to balance the level of quality and protection with the overall practicality. Something very lightweight might fold up easily and to a small size, but likely won't offer a lot of protection. Equally, something which offers a good level of protection (like the bag we used) might not be that practical and could take up a lot of space when not being used.
One other aspect which you might wish to think about is whether a stroller travel bag provides any additional useful storage. For example, if there are parts which must be detached from the stroller in order to fold it - whether they are part of the stroller or additional things such as clip-on toys - a stroller bag could be a practical place to store them if you don't need them for the flight. Our daughter's Maclaren Major stroller had a detachable footrest which also locked the stroller open so it was vital we never lost it - the bag really helped with keeping it with the stroller (though we later just took it onboard and placed it in the overhead bin).
Overall, it really depends on how you plan to do things and you know best how you wish to do so. Overall, a stroller travel bag can provide good protection and useful storage, but one can also be "just another thing" to carry with you. We suggest thinking about how much the bag will likely be used, how much you would like it to provide protection and storage, and based on that what alternatives there could be - such as buying a cheaper stroller for traveling. As with all such things, it's very much a balancing game, but we hope this is helpful!