Taking stroller up to the plane doors - Emirates | ExpatWoman.com
 

Taking stroller up to the plane doors - Emirates

108
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 14:18

After a bit of advice from anyone that has travelled Emirates with baby recently. I'm flying on my own next week with 3-month old and would like to take my buggy up to the plane doors, as he didn't like being in the Baby Bjorn for so long when I flew with him a month ago. On the website it says that it depends on cabin space, so I wondered how many people had been able to do so recently? And whether it comes out at the plane doors afterwards? Or do I still need Baby Bjorn for that bit of the journey? We have a collapsable Mamas & Papas Sola - and I am travelling Business, although I don't know if that makes any difference.

Also what happens at Xray if you do have the buggy? Would I have to take him out and collapse it, so it can go through X-ray scanners? Or just push him through the body scanner?

504
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 21:24
Its not a problem bringing a stroller to the door and having it tagged there and sent into the hold if there is no space onboard. As its school holidays in the UK there are alot of babies on board at the moment, so not alot of space in the coat closets these days. Only problem with having them in the hold is they can get quite scratched if they are not put in a bag. For anyone reading this that is buying a buggy to travel with I loved my Quinny zapp and maxi cost car seat in the first year, as I brought the whole lot onboard, and could easily fit it into a hatrack if there was no spare seats to strap in the car seat. Also meant I could easily jump into a hire car or taxi and strap it in at the other end. The maxi cosi car seat also balances well on most wheely bags, Incase anyone wants to try it. Also the zia petite star fits into a hatrack no problem. I still take my Ergo baby carrier everywhere, as it gives me an extra pair of hands, so maybe the babybjorn is worth taking. Maybe if you are up trying to settle your little one, it'll stop your arms from getting tired. I'd also suggest wearing shoes and a belt that definitely won't set off the X-ray alarm, as carrying babies whilst removing these items can be a real b*gger. They will make you remove your LO from it's pram. <em>edited by flydiver11 on 02/07/2012</em>
1336
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 20:22
The airline-provided strollers are generally located in a big red box at the arrival gate, you then leave them either at departure gate or in the red box at arrivals (which IIRC is right before the glass doors where you pass through Customs right before the exit) You may get it in Business but to be honest the coat closets are generally heaving with jackets and assorted other stuff, like boxes of water & equipment so it's not a guarantee you'll be able to put it there. Also if a customer has brought a wheelchair onboard that takes priority space as the only place to put it is the coat closet. Also best to have a backup plan as it can and does change as to whether you can have it back at the gate- I know Heathrow has a habit of not letting the prams be brought up to the gate for security reasons- many airports are like this so it may be worth a call to the airport itself since sometimes change take awhile to get through to the airlines.
81
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 19:37
Hi! When flying with EK to gatwick you take your stroller to the gate - (what stroller do you have? If it is a travel system I would recommend checking it IMHO) through X-ray you put stroller through and carry baby (carrier may be helpful here!) at te aircraft door they put you stroller in cargo (make sure it has a baggage tag) on arrival at Gatwick - AND ONLY GATWICK - they very kindly bring your stroller to the top of the stairs just past the air bridge - you may wait a few minutes but they are very efficent! (carrier is useful whilst getting on plane with bags and baby etc) When flying from gatwick - they will tag your stroller at checking - you take it through to plane (take baby out and stroller through X-ray) carrier helpful as it can be quite a wait and a bit stressful - testing milk etc). On arrival to DXB use carrier (you could use stroller by then if baby is sitting up or even to put you hand luggage in) and then collect your stroller at the carousel. Never count on them being able to put your stroller in the main cabin. And gatwick is the only station that offers this service! Hope this helps!
122
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 18:30
I fly to gatwick with emirates regular and never had a problem with my stroller, just did it at the weekend, and my stiller they take at the plane door and it goes in the hold, and I have always got it back when I get off, maybe wait ten minutes or so. Xxx
108
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 14:45
Thanks for your replies, that's really handy. I knew about the Emirates strollers, but I think he's too young to go in them still as he'll only just be 3 months so needs to lie flat. Good to know that it's possible though - and sounds like I need to take the Baby Bjorn anyway, as I'll need it after landing until we get to the luggage reclaim at Gatwick. Now working out the logistics of how to hold baby, collapse buggy, and load bags onto x-ray belt at customs... I need four arms!
283
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 14:34
You will have to collapse it and it will go through the x-ray scanner. You can take the stroller up till the plane doors and then the staff would take it and put it with the checked in luggage and you will get it along with the luggage at the belt after landing. I am not sure if they let you keep it in the cabin, it depends on the cabin space but since you are travelling business they might accommodate it. If they put it along with the luggage then you might want to have a carrier/sling along, it will keep your hands free after landing. ETA: after reading louisedvs reply, just wanted to add you can take your own stroller till the plane door or if you prefer to check in your stroller, EK does provide a stroller that you can use at the terminal but there are quite few of them, I am not sure if you WILL get it. <em>edited by presam12 on 02/07/2012</em>
3863
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 14:28
After a bit of advice from anyone that has travelled Emirates with baby recently. I'm flying on my own next week with 3-month old and would like to take my buggy up to the plane doors, as he didn't like being in the Baby Bjorn for so long when I flew with him a month ago. On the website it says that it depends on cabin space, so I wondered how many people had been able to do so recently? And whether it comes out at the plane doors afterwards? Or do I still need Baby Bjorn for that bit of the journey? We have a collapsable Mamas & Papas Sola - and I am travelling Business, although I don't know if that makes any difference. Also what happens at Xray if you do have the buggy? Would I have to take him out and collapse it, so it can go through X-ray scanners? Or just push him through the body scanner? I think they provide them at the immigration/scanners part. I am sure i have seen emirates ones and have never seen anyone push their own to the plane door. I may be wrong though. Skykitty is good for knoweldge on your query
 
 

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