American Airlines changes rules for gate-checking strollers

On msnbc.com’s Overhead Bin blog, I wrote about the new gate-check rule American Airlines is now enforcing for strollers.

 

 

Beginning June 1, 2011, American Airlines is no longer gate-checking certain strollers.

If you show up with a collapsible or umbrella-style stroller under 20 pounds, you’ll still be able to gate-check your stroller. But under the new policy, large, jogging and non-collapsible strollers will have to be checked at the ticket counter.

The good news is that checked strollers will travel fee-free.

“It is simply a matter of many strollers these days being very large and not being collapsible and easily handled at the gate and on the jet bridge,” said an American Airlines’ spokesperson.

United also requires passengers to check big strollers at the ticket counter, but Alaska, Delta, Southwest and several other airlines allow strollers of any kind to be checked at the gate. “We know that traveling with little ones can be a challenge,” said Southwest spokesperson Laurel Moffat. “We want to make that travel experience as easy as possible.”

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