Hi,

we are about to travel back to the UK from Melbourne for Xmas and I am trying hard not to fret about trying to keep my 20 month old toddler entertained for so long. He won't sit still for more than 10 mins on a good day so I have researched long and hard and will at least be fairly well prepared (I think!)

One thing I can't find an answer to though is taking your stroller on as hand luggage. We've got a Quinny Zapp pushchair which folds up teeny tiny and in its own bag and the company claims can be taken on as hand-luggage. I read somewhere else though that pushchairs are not allowed in the cabin?? Does anyone have experience of this?

Also, if it does end up in the hold (i.e. I have to give it up on boarding) how do we go about getting it back off at Singapore? We've decided to time the flights so that we have an 8 hour stop in Changi airport (may be a good idea - may be a disaster!) We're booked into the transit hotel for the duration (even have a cot) so we're hoping that some decent food, a swim and a lie down might make that epic last leg a bit more bearable!

So, does anyone have experience of taking a pushchair into the cabin - particularly the new tiny ones - and anyone have advice on how you get them out during the stopover?

Thanks!

Hello,
I have this pram too, and used it lots on frequent trips from Europe to UK.

However on our move to Australia in July. I could take it on some planes, however one snotty female staff at the entrance to the plane took it off me.
She told me she would speak to cabin crew and implied it would be put on. However I later discorvered she had just put it in the hold after I had already been told I was able to keep it on the plane. This was at Heathrow (got to be worst airport I have ever been too!)

Singapore was fine, we got our zapp as soon as we landed. So used it to travel through the airport. This airport is way nicer and easier to get around.

So althought they may say you can, it depends on what staff are at check in and entrance of plane.

GEMS

Thanks Gems. Do you know what airline she was from? I'm hoping Singapore Airlines will be more reasonable!

Where do you actually get it from when you land in Singapore?

How big is it folded? Can it fit into the normal carry-on bag guide frame at checkin?
General rule of thumb - pushchairs etc would normally be put in the hold at the last minute, because they are normally too big and awkward to put in an overhead locker. You may also have trouble getting it through security in some airports before boparding. Check with them on checkin or boarding at the gate and see what they say.
If you are staying over, you should be able to get access to it, just ask and they would probably be able to retrieve it.

Hi we have the Zapp too, was not allowed to take onto plane as hand luggage, altho staff would have given it to us when reached Singapore if needed. We flew with Qantas. The prams were outside as you exit plane.


Kate

Thanks, it's easily small enough folded and bagged to fit in the guidelines cage and nothing like even an umbrella stroller. I'd be surprised if it was a security problem as we usually take the old style stroller up to the plane anyway so it goes through security ok.

We are not staying over - just stopping at the airport for 8 hrs.

Thanks Kate. Wonder why some airlines will allow it and other won't. Qantas are notoriously grumpy so maybe I'll have more luck with Singapore!

Singapore Airlines are great. They will take it off of you just prior to boarding, however, they will have it at the door of the aircraft as you disembark. I didn't know this prior to flying with them and went out and got a fold up stroller like yours but I found that to be a bit of a pain in the bum cos it has to be folded each time you go through security and as I was travelling alone it was a bit of a mare. Had I have known how good they were with prams I would have taken my 'proper' big one......

I agree -I travelled alone with an excitable 19month old the first time I came out to Oz and never had a problem - took a car seat along too (was an extra to hand luggage and not counted in weight allowance) as he was too big to fit in the bassinet so we booked him a seat. The staff (Singapore Airlines) couldn't have been more helpful and although the pram was taken from me just as I was boarding it always reappeared at the next stop - even used it during short stopover in Singapore. I ended up giving Oliver Phenergan (on the way home) and it worked a treat as for the outward journey he slept all of 2 hours - I ended up going to the pharmacist and asking what I could give him and this is what they suggested (even though in England it says not suitable for under 2's). He slept for 7 hours on the return

I used it this time when we came out (for good) and it worked well then too (phenergan that is) - he's 3 now. A word of warning though for any parents using phenergan (its an anti histamine - with sedative effect) it can make some children hyper so try before you fly!

Lindsey

I believe it can go on as hand luggage as long as it is in its proper carrybag. I took our to the USA and it was okay.

Hi We flew out of heathrow with ethihad airways and we had our quinny as carry on. It fits perfectly in the over heads.

However we flew with emirates and they wouldnt allow it and we had it put in the hold.

Most airports we found had loaner pushchairs available from customer service/info desks for no charge to use while you are waiting for a connecting flight.

we flew to UK with our McLaren stroller (umbrella)and it was taken off us at the gate. It was returned at the gate as we disembarked.

We recently went to Singapore and they had the strollers available just outside the plane on the disembarkation bridge. So even if you have to hand it over they are very good at returning them promptly. There were 9 babies on this flight and we had to wait about 10 mins max- Singapore airlines are very good.

We took a quinny zapp with Singapore airlines. Although we didn't take it into the cabin we took it right up to the boarding gate, and when we disembarked it was waiting for us. This happened for both flights (Heathrow to Singapore and then Singapore to Sydney). Whether you want to take it into the cabin is up to you (if you can get away with it) - for me it would just be an extra thing to carry so I wouldn't bother as carrying a child is more than enough!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hi dont worry.

We have just got back from Australia. We kept our Quinny with us and then handed it in as we were boarding the plane. It was there just as we got off the aeroplane in Singapore and then handed it in again just as we were boarding for the final leg and it was waiting for us as we got off again. We used Phenergan on our little man and he slept half the way back from Singapore. Try it beforehand if you are using it as it can make some kids hyper.

I was panicking about flying with our 3 year old, but it wasnt as bad as I thought.

Good luck

Joex