Can You Take A Stroller On A Plane Without Checking It?

Traveling with kids is a special experience, but you’ve got to do a lot of planning to make the trip more enjoyable than stressful. Whether you travel by car or plane or something else, every mode of transportation has its pros and cons—you need to strategize to work out all the kinks! This is especially true if you plan to travel with a baby or toddler who requires a lot more gear than an older child. 

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When traveling with a younger child, a car seat and stroller are usually a MUST. If you’re road tripping as a family, getting your car seat and stroller to the destination is easy and probably doesn’t require any extra planning. However, it’s a whole different story when flying with your little one! 

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We’ve discussed in past posts how to take your car seat on a plane, but we haven’t dived into strollers! So, today we’re going to discuss whether you can take a stroller on a plane without checking it!

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Can You Take A Stroller On A Plane Without Checking It?

Yes! Many U.S. airlines let you take your stroller on the plane with you to store in the overhead bin. American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Hawaiian, and Alaska all allow you to stow it on the plane. (Frontier and Spirit do not.) However, each requires them to fit with a certain size and weight requirement, so not every stroller will do! 

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On all major airlines, strollers can also be gate-checked free of charge. However, there are lots of reasons you may not want to check! Air travel can be notoriously hard on your baby gear. The damage can be significant and often the airline is not liable for damages! So, when you can, bringing everything on board is best. That way you know it gets to your destination and gets there safely! Go ahead and push that stroller across the jet bridge and bring it on board. 

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How to Take a Stroller on a Plane Without Checking It

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Step 1: Check the airline’s policies on stroller size. 

First and foremost, get to know the airline policies. Not every airline is super clear online about whether you can store the stroller in the overhead bin or what the requirements are, so you may need to call them to ask your question directly. Ensure you’re clear on the policy and even have it in writing to ensure there aren’t any surprises on the day of your trip!  

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Step 2: Choose the right compact stroller. 

Next, you need to ensure you choose the right compact, folding stroller for your trip. The stroller you use every day probably isn’t best for traveling in an airline’s overhead bin! Jot down your must-have stroller features, browse travel-friendly strollers, and double-check the measurements and weight prior to purchasing. Remember it has to fit in the airline’s max requirements!

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Step 3: Take advantage of family boarding 

When you’re there at the gate, make sure you take advantage of family boarding! You’ll have time to get situated before all the passengers start filing in, which is very helpful when you’re needing to stow your stroller, stow your carry-ons, and install your car seat(s). That’s a lot to do, so go ahead and board early.  

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Step 4: Store in the overhead bin. 

Of course, then it’s time to store the stroller in the overhead bin. Try to keep it near your other carry-on items and be mindful to take up as limited overhead bin space as possible. If your travel stroller has a travel bag available, we recommend purchasing that and using it! It can make storing and carrying your stroller much easier! 

If not, fear not! Here's our fav stroller travel cart!

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Step 5: Be mindful when deboarding and retrieving your stroller. 

When it’s time to deboard, remember you’ll be carrying your carry-ons, your stroller, and your car seat. Oh, and your child probably! That’s a lot for even two parents. To avoid frustration or stress, consider waiting for others to deboard before retrieving your items and deboarding.

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What Kind of Stroller Can You Take on a Plane?

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Ensure it’s under 22 in x 18 in x 10 in and under 22 lbs.

The stroller you choose will likely have to be under 22 in x 18 in x 10 in and under 22 lbs. This is pretty standard for most airlines! However, double-check with your specific airlines, because there are slight variations between each. 

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Pick something compact and lightweight. 

Of course, the stroller you pick needs to be compact and lightweight. Most travel-specific strollers will be! This will not only help you stay within the airline's requirements, but it’ll also offer the most practical and convenient travel experience. You don’t want to be lifting a heavy stroller into the overhead bins or dealing with anything bulky when trying to fit the stroller in a rideshare. Keep it small and light. 

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Don’t compromise on your must-have features. 

Though you want to opt for a travel-specific stroller, don’t compromise on your must-have features. You don’t want to be frustrated on your trip because your stroller just isn’t practical for your lifestyle. There are jogging strollers that are travel-friendly. There are travel strollers that have plenty of storage, that are part of a travel system and even ones that can fit multiple kids! Make sure the stroller is compact and lightweight while also working for you.

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Consider a 2-in-1 stroller car seat. 

If you have a child in an infant car seat, we recommend making things really easy with a 2-in-1 car seat like the Doona or the Evenflo Shyft DualRide. Both are FAA-approved car seats that convert into a stroller. That way, you don’t have to worry about any domestic airline policies and you have one less piece of gear to stow and carry! 

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Confirm the stroller is appropriate for your child’s age and size. 

Remember not any stroller will do. If you have an infant who isn’t big enough to sit in a stroller without a car seat, you’ll need a travel system or a stroller that has a lie flat function. If you have a toddler on the bigger side, you need a stroller with a larger max weight and height limits. Don’t forget these details! 

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You can gate-check a stroller or store it in the overhead bin! 

Strollers are one of the most practical things you could bring on a trip, no matter where you’re headed! If you have young kids, bringing a stroller to your destination is a must. The best way to travel with that stroller to avoid damage is to bring it with you on the plane. You can do that with a little bit of planning and patience!

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For more on safe airplane travel and essential car seat safety information, head over to the Safe in the Seat blog. And, for all the ins and outs of traveling with kids by plane, take our Wheels Up: Airplane Travel Course that gives you all the information you could ever need on safe and practical airplane travel with your kids!

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