Travel problem

Okay, so we booked a flight back in April for next month with American Airlines.

Effective June 1st they are no longer allowing strollers over 20lbs to be taken to the aircraft they have to be checked with your bags.. Honestly if I had known this policy was going into effect I wouldnt have booked with them. We have a connecting flight with a three hour layover so I really need to have a stroller for my 15 month olds.

Just curious what would you do in my situation ? I know someone that travelled with the same stroller Maclrean Techno and they had to check it with their bags. I dont know if to buy some really cheap umbrella strollers just for the airport and check my maclaren. Has anyone used the connecting device which connects two strollers together ?

So peed that with this new policy. They were not thinking of multiples when they decided to come up with this one.

Anyone also wanted to let you know incase your thinking of booking a flight with them.

Thanks.

 

Can you call them and ask for your money back so you can book elsewhere. They might be willing to make an exception for you.

Yes. They work OK, but the stroller is much wider than a typical double stroller. This may not matter in an airport though.

I saw some strollers for $15 at either Target or Walmart, if that is what you end up doing, that is a pretty good price for cheap umbrella strollers.

 

Personally I'd call them and ream their a$$es out! It's a ridiculous rule, and part of the reason we hate flying anywhere is how difficult it is when you have kids, let alone have multiples! I'd call and give them a piece of my mind, even threatening to take your business elsewhere. Don't tell them you can't afford to buy tickets to a different airline, but threaten to do that. See if they'll reimburse you, or work with you or something. :hug: It's a stupid stupid rule.

 

I recommend the umbrella strollers. They are cheap, light, and can easily be stored on the plane. Calling & complaining to American Airlines can't hurt, but I can tell you from previous problems with them that they don't seem to really care if you threaten to take your business elsewhere. We haven't flown with them in the last 4 years because of problems we had & I will never fly with them again if I can help it.

 

I agree with the pp's about calling. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this!

I would go with the umbrella strollers and I used the connectors from babies r us and they work ok. We had the hardest time with them going up and down hills but in an airport that won't be a problem (hoepfully).

Good luck!

 

We had the connectors and I hated them anytime they turned the wheels they got stuck on each other. I agree see if they can make an exception given that you booked tickets for multiples before the policy was adopted.

 

I have the Jeep double umbrella stroller that I bought for traveling because it is light and folds up small. It's not terribly rugged, but for airports, indoor areas, sidewalks, etc it's great.

 

We had the jeep double umbrella too. It's worked great for trips like that. As they got older, we used it more and more over the heavier strollers.

 

they won't let you gate check it? I'd call and see if they can make some sort of exception...are strollers really over 20 lbs? (its been so long since we used one that I never realized they were that heavy...)

holy crap I just looked on Graco's website and a Duoglider (which is what we had) is listed at 39 lbs!!!!

 

I have a maclaren twin triumph, which is around 20-25 lbs. I would just show up with it at the airport. The security people aren't going to say anything. By the time you get to the gate, they probably will just let you board, or they'll check it then, which would mean only a short time without it. Honestly, I would not worry about it.

You know what's particularly annoying about that? I'm sure people gate check bags over 25 pounds all the time!

 

Well I have tried to call and they have told me that I need to talk to customer relations and the only way to contact them is through, letter, fax or e-mail. Load of BS. I guess I will wait to see if they will reply to me.

I would take the risk of just showing up with my stroller but if they made me check it, it would be a nightmare for the connection.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

Sarah

 

I have gate checked strollers & still had them available for the connection. They are usually waiting for you in the jetway as you get off the plane.

 

For some reason I thought you were saying they weren't allowing you to even gate check the stroller. But, if that's what you're questioning then you shouldn't have any trouble gate checking your stroller. Every time we have done it, we fold the stroller at the end of the tunnel before boarding the plane. There's a tag on it with your info. and then they pull it back out and it's usually waiting for you when you walk off the plane.

 

no you have to check it in with your luggage, thats the problem they will only now let you gate check if its less than 20lbs.

 

Ok, that's what I thought you were saying. That is so ridiculous. But, you may find that you like a lighter double umbrella stroller down the road anyway. It might not be so bad to get one and use that if you have the money now. I would be really irritated too.

 

I wouldnt mind but my stroller is 23lbs...ugh

 

I would hope that they wouldn't be jerks about this for a measley 3lb difference. I doubt they are going to make you weigh the stroller during the check in process, but I understand your reservations about getting to the airport and being surprised if they do.

I've never encountered this with any of the airline we've flown with the girls (never flew American with them). In fact, once anyone sees twins they've been more than accommodating (Southwest agent made sure we had a whole row for seats when we were late boarding; Northwest let us go thru their first class security many times and even bumped us to first class for one flight; JetBlue gave my girls extra snacks and treated them very nicely; etc). I know there is no way for you to rebook your flights now, but I just wanted to let you know that all airlines do not treat parents like this.

 

I had a thought about this in the shower (where all the good thinkin' goes down)- if you're forced to check the stroller you could always ask that they call you a shuttle at each airport. They use them for the elderly, the young, the disabled... I bet you would qualify for a pick-up since you'd be hauling little ones and luggage through the airport!

 

I'm not gonna say they won't let you use one....however...when my sister was flying to our house with her 18 month old, alone, the first time flying, bringing a carseat....when we called the airline they said a shuttle would be NO problem! But, at the airport, they wouldn't let her use it. Even though it was sitting there empty. She ended up having to pay a porter to help her haul her son, the carseat, and their carry on stuff to their connection. They are very very picky about who they let use the shuttle's. They wouldn't let us use one 2 yrs ago and we had 4 kids aged almost 8, 3.5, and twin 10 month olds. :aggressive: But as someone mentioned, different airlines will do/allow different things so they may let you use the shuttle too!

 

I thought the shuttles were airport operated? You might have to check with the actual airport. The shuttle tried to pick me up when my arriving flight was late and there was a risk of missing my connection. If they'd pick me up, I bet they'd help you. And you see them everywhere! Just give yourself plenty of time and keep asking.