Customers frequently ask us whether it’s worth investing in a stroller travel bag. Our response: ‘If you are traveling on an airplane, you definitely want to secure your stroller in a travel bag.’  Check out this site for a few great video examples of why we are so insistant:  Caught on Camera: Luggage Monkeys

Many of us have made a serious financial investment in quality strollers. They were purchased with the intention to use it with one, two or even three children.  When traveling, parents are even more dependant upon the performance and functionality of their stroller. Stroller owners beware, because the airline baggage handler is one of your stroller’s worst enemies. 

Surprise! Your baggage, including your stroller, is usually not handled well by the airline! Whether you check your stroller in at the counter or take it through the terminal and gate check it, airline employees generally are not concerned with the kind treatment of your belongings.  What they care about is getting items on and off the plane, the conveyer belt, and the cargo bins as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately, many travelers arrive at their destination to find their the bags have been tossed, shoved or piled on. Now take a moment to imagine your stroller going through this treatment each time you fly.  It wont be long before you’ll be making a trip to The Stroller Doctor.

Every week The Stroller Doctor encounters strollers that have been trashed by the airlines.  The Stroller Doctor’s proximity to Miami International Airport has helped it to become one of the largest stroller repair centers in the Country, with travelers from around the world stopping in for help. If the customer is fortunate, the stroller can be repaired to a condition safe for continued use with a child. Where the damage is too severe, especially on the frame, the stroller often needs to be replaced, forcing travellers to spend money and time to replace their stroller before moving onward. Needless to say, these customers are usually pretty aggravated. The worst part is that most airlines do not reimburse the customer for the damage caused or a replacement, no matter how negligent their handling of the stroller, unless it was secured in a manufacturer recommeneded travel bag such as this one, made by UPPAbaby for the Vista stroller. 

Many manufacturers design and develop specific travel bags for their strollers. These bags, which usually range in price depending on the brand and model of the stroller, are molded to provide a perfect fit.  Taking a travel bag with you and securing your stroller inside will limit the potential damage that can be caused by baggage handlers.  Some travel bags are designed so that the back wheels of the stroller protrude to the outside, allowing you to tow the stroller inside the bag. Some bags have wheels of their own. Either way, we recommend you purchase and use a travel bag whenever you travel by air.  At Strolling In Style and The Stroller Doctor, we refer to these stroller travel bags as “Stroller Insurance.” Depending on airline policy, if there have been breakage issues while traveling by air, the airline is much  more likely to reimburse you for the cost of your product without a fight.

Some families go so far as to purchase secondary strollers for traveling. Their logic is that if the travel stroller breaks they are not too heartbroken and can replace the stroller at their destination for less money. However, there is the problem with this notion.  Families tend to be more adventurous on their vacations and travels. Would you brave the theme park, beach, outdoor attraction or ski resort with a tiny travel stroller? If you have a comfortably performing stroller at home and are used to taking on any terrain or conditions, using a throw-away quality alternative is going to make you and your child uncomfortable and miserable. As most parents will attest, children who are used to their primary stroller will most likely be more fussy and  less apt to sit in the travel stroller as it is uncomfortable and umfamiliar to them. The bottom line is that happy parents plus a comfortable baby equals a better vacation experience. 

Watch the video above or see more videos of baggage handlers with your items and ask yourself if the cost of a travel bag is worth it. Questions about whether the stroller that interests you has a manufacturer recommended travel bag?  Please email us at info@strollinginstyle.com