Buggy strollers allowed on airplanes (international flights)

[lindaperuviana]

Hello,

We are planning to visit my home country in South America for the first time with my baby and my husband. By the time we are traveling, my baby will be almost 1 year old.

We will use KLM airlines, I have been reading on their policy that it is accepted to take a buggy/stroller as long as it feets folded under the seat. So I was wondering if any of you have traveled with KLM and what kind/brand of stroller you got.

Any other tips/advice when traveling with a baby would be so much appreciated.

Thank you very much!

[Rip]

I do not know specifically about KLM policy (good idea would probably start by looking at their web page and calling or emailing if you do not find the answer) Using Finnair the experience is that they prefer to take them in with the checked in baggage (traveling with a small child you get that as free extra to the baggage allowance), although at least on the European flights they also allow to take the stroller to the gate where they take into the cargo hold with other large size hand luggage.

[luulio]

I flew from Amsterdam to Chicago with KLM two weeks ago. Had a young family with a baby sitting across the aisle from me.

I witnessed how they tried in vain to squeeze the folded baby buggy under their seats, so the flight attendant volunteered to store it for them in the galley or somewhere. Anyway, clearly it was no problem.

[Xochiquetzal]

Galley storage where the suits go. Or they will check it into luggage if it doesn't fit anywhere else.

Make sure to request a bulkhead seat with a cot - will make your life MUCH easier on the trip, trust me.

[aaron.laslo]

we've gotten a lot of benefit from our Quinny Zapp stroller that folds up super small and fits under the seat or overhead and comes with a carry case... BUT if you are planning to leave from Helsinki airport, for some reason, they don't allow you to gate check a regular sized stroller (unlike every other airport) and you must check it in with luggage. Although thanks to this policy Finnair has had to replace our broken stroller twice. So my advice, be sure to check with the airline and get something in writing to take with you if you plan to take a full sized stroller.

[Idefix]

Flew KLM this last summer, and we were allowed to take the folding stroller to the gate. I would not recommend trying to stuff it under the seat, since you need the leg room just to be able to sit somewhat comfortable. I second the bulkhead seat request tip, although the cots are way too small for a 1 year old that wants to turn while he/she is asleep. The bulkhead seat gives you more room by the legs (no seat in front of you where you can store a stroller), where the baby can stand and move around a little.

Bring cheerios, and other small snacks that can keep baby entertained. Our 10 month old did really great flying from the US to Helsinki, via Amsterdam, there were a lot of interesting things for him to watch on the plane; new people etc. It went way better than I would have thought. He also slept a lot. We brought a kind of foam changing pad that I just stuffed into my carryon, that he could lie on in my lap, since he does not always want to be held when sleeping. When there were no turbulence (signs turned off), I was allowed to lay him on the floor to sleep on this pad.

The gally povides both hot and cold water, so if you need to mix a bottle, bring formula powder. And of course, any food the baby eats. Babyfood can be brought in an exta bag in addition to your carryon.
Some airport bathrooms provide warm water, which can be used when making bottles. Other airports only have those mixers where the water never gets warm, no matter how long you try to get some warm water. So I had an extra bottle I could fill with hot water from the airplane gally and take with me when leaving the airplane, in case baby wanted a bottle on the airport. I could then use it to mix with cold water for a bottle. None of the three airport restaurants I once asked, were willing to warm a bottle up in their microwaves, or provide some hot water for a bottle.

If he/she uses a pacifier, it is a good idea to buy a string of some sort (special onces with velcro for this purpose can be found) that you can attach the pacifyer to so the baby is not able to just, before you have a chance to grab it, throw it a few seats away It can also be attached to the stroller while moving through airports for the same purpose.

Bring some antibacterial wipes, or alcogel, that you can use to clean the babys hands off with after he/she has been crawling around on the airport floor. I had to just try to ignore the feelings of dirtyness, and realise he needed to get rid of some energy in between flights. The antibacterial wipes were at least good for my mind, if nothing else.

I suggest bringing two "sets" of diaper changing stuff, like diapers and wipes, one in your carryon and one in your husbands. I accidently left one of the wipe packages at an airport toilet due to tiredness, so it was good to have the extra one. I also brought a simple sheet I could lay under him, since only Helsinki airport had a padded changing table, all others were hard plastic which he did not like to lay on at all.

If you or your husband smoke, bring some nicotine patches or similar; the travel can be somewhat easier if you don't have to, in addition to taking care of the babys needs, also deal with your own (or husbands, as in my case) added needing-a-smoke irritation

I brought benadryl (allergy medicin, to make baby sleepy) as a last resort in case baby would be too cranky, but never had to use it. I also brought baby tylenol (for fever), eye drops, and teething gel to soothen any teething pain. These things can pop up when you least need it, so just in case it is good to have with you.