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As joyful as the experience can be, globetrotting with a baby can also be rife with stress. Not only are there practical elements to consider, like what to pack and how to entertain your baby, but there are also some very real logistical challenges to navigate, especially when it comes to your pushchair.
Many parents are unaware of how and even if they can travel with a pushchair in tow. Luckily, we’re here to tell you that yes, you absolutely can take your pushchair on a plane. But, you can’t simply jump into this manoeuvre without any thought. Keep on reading to find out about the best ways to manage the task ahead.
1 – Know Airline Specifics
All airlines have different rules when it comes to pushchairs, which means that your experience is going to vary depending on your airline of choice. Researching pushchair policies in advance is essential for ensuring a smooth ride. Mostly, you’ll want to look out for size restrictions, additional costs, and whether or not your pushchair will need to be in the hold or can be counted as a carry-on.
Here in the UK, a few different airline expectations to keep in mind include –
- EasyJet: Passengers get two free baby items. Light compact strollers are allowed as hand luggage, but larger prams must be placed in the hold.
- Ryanair: Passengers get two free baby items, but may face fees for additions. Pushchairs must be placed in the hold and tagged at check-in, but can be used right up to boarding.
- TUI: Passengers are allowed one free pushchair per child, but it must be checked in at the gate.
2 – Choose An Easily Foldable Option
Compactness and ease of use are key when taking a pushchair on an airline, meaning that you want to avoid big, fixed, or awkward pushchair designs. Instead, seek frames with the one-handed collapse that you get from options like the Silver Cross Reef 2. As well as easy folding, seek the smallest pram you can find, as the ability to take it as hand luggage will make life significantly easier. As well as enabling you to keep your pram safe nearby, a compact design is especially important for parents of young babies, as it ensures you can easily unfold and get going as soon as you touch down.
3 – Take Steps to Protect Your Pushchair
If you have a large pushchair, you’ll probably need to place it right in the hold. As such, it’s also vital to take steps towards protecting your travel system, such as investing in a travel case, and removing anything that could get lost, caught, or otherwise damaged. It’s also generally worth taking pictures of your pram before it goes in the hold, so that you can instantly spot and seek compensation for any damage that you notice later.
Taking a pushchair on a plane with you can make travelling with a baby significantly easier. Just make sure to consider these vital tips before you go.