[karlbridges]

My wife and I are hoping to make the move in June. However we had a nasty shock when we went to book our flights with ANZ. Obviously (as I am sure you have all heard) the baggage allowances have decreased (not fair seeing as friends of our actually managed to take double their allowance at no extra cost last year). However the really worrying thing is that we cannot take a stroller on the aircraft at all! If we arrive with a stroller it has to be checked in and we have to hire a stroller at the airport!! Not only do we have to rely on the fact that one is available at the time (how many strollers do they have at LOH) but also what happens during transition at LAX? Do we have to carry my son for 2 hours(my son we probably not be walking when we fly and just to give you some idea of the gravity of the problem he is in the 97th percentile of growth and development in the UK) I went bonkers at the ANZ woman last night saying that this was completely impractical for anyone (like us) taking a child who will be unable to walk. But the woman was steadfast about not being able to take strollers on board. I am seriously thinking of going Air Singapore (assuming they don't have similar ridiculous policies). But I am interested in an thoughts or comments regarding this issue.

[smitjo]

We are flying out to NZ in October and have just booked our flights with ANZ. We have got the full baggage quota of 64kgs per ticket as we booked and paid for tickets before 12 March.

[jim&alma]

Hi Karl,
If you're talking about the small, foldable type of stroller, airlines don't usually allow it for use on board (unless you're in business/first class) but you can have it tagged at check-in, use it and leave it at the gate when you board, and they'll pack it for you. It will be made available to you when you leave the plane. The big prams do have to be checked in because of their bulk.

Maybe ANZ just misunderstood you? We've used different airlines during our travels and all of them do this. Hope this helps.
Alma

[Helsandfamily]

Hi Karl

I have a baby sling, (Huggababy but different makes around) it has been so useful when travelling because you "Wear" the baby on your hip but still have your hands free. The child is supported and is confortable enough to go to sleep in it. When you get on the plane you can just put it in a bag or even loose in the overhead lockers. Its always ready the other end too - i have had so much use out of mine. my litlle one is 21/2 now and i can still get him in it although starting to find that he is a bit heavy!!

Could be worth trying before you fly, good luck!!
Hels

[westies]

Hi There
I agree, any airline we have ever used, tag the buggy at check in then we have used it until we board then they place it in the hold, if they are saying you can't have it again until NZ, may well lose them alot of business, as a huge majority of customers have young families, and I am sure none would relish the thought of a baby/toddler with no buggy. I would ring them again to clarify.

[tigerlily]

I agree that every flight I've ever had (true not to NZ) you could bring your foldable stroller all the way down to the door of the aircraft, leave it there and they would gate check it for you. That way you have it to get through the next airport too. Is there a local number that you could talk to instead of the international reservations?

But actually my favorite way to carry a toddler, who is not walking, is a backpack (and they can't deny you bringing it on, because it's smaller. What is especially nice is that you will then have both hands free to carry other things. We used the backpacks until the twins were 2.

BTW, if your child has a seat (which I think makes everyone much more comfortable) he/she will have a full baggage allowance too, that you could use for your adult sized bags.

Best of luck to you.

[sizzlingbadger]

We had a three wheeler but after reading up before we left we got a very cheap stroller and put the 3 wheeler in the container.

We used the stroller all the way to the gate where it was taken off us and put under the hold. This was with Virgin.

However on the second leg it was with Air NZ. They were fantastic and said as it was a quiet flight they would put it in the overhead lockers ! ! Because at Auckland our flight became internal and we would have not had it to walk between terminals. If I had my three wheeler this wouldn't have happened so I'm glad I took the decision to buy a stroller. My son at the time wasn't walking either and it was hard work carrying on and off the planes with all the hand luggage but a god send when I got his pushchair back.

By the way we only had a 20kg limit each. We're a family of 2 adults, 3 children (all under 5 at the time). We took 4 suitcases (each just over 20kg limit), a travel cot, three car seats and a pushchair, 3 pieces of hand luggage. I did phone before hand and emailed both airlines to let them know we were emigrating. Not sure if it helped but we never had any problems. In fact Air NZ knew who we were as soon as we went to transfer flights ! They looked after us on the second leg 110% much better than Virgin who couldn't care less.

[pineapplehead]

Is this a new policy related to the baggage limit? When we flew Air NZ in Aug. 2005 we did the gate-check for the stroller and it was a necessity. We have a preschooler that wanders and runs, so we belted her in. If it is a new policy, I say rebel!

With a child, Air NZ was really terrific about checking in (they sent us to a fast line at the airport), security, food, and milk. And when we arrived, NZ customs also had a short line for families. So hopefully this is just a mistake. Maybe you could just get a cheapy umbrella-type stroller so they can't complain about the weight.

[veronica]

as far as I am aware the baggage allowance on air NZ has been changed but not by a significent amount. do a search on here as it was covered by a thread a few weeks/month ago.

[Oregonkiwi]

On the subject of checking-in a stroller - I flew Air NZ (Auckland to San Francisco) a few days ago with my toddler, we didn't take a stroller but I did ask the check in agent about strollers (thinking about next time we fly). She said that strollers can still be gate-checked, but only the little umbrella strollers. All other strollers need to be checked in with the other baggage and count as part of the baggage allowance.

[jubjub]

Hmm, glad you guys posted about the three wheelers, looks like we are gonna have to check ours in, bug*er! but he is too small for a umbrella stroller, so will look at back packs I think...

[Hannah]

Just a thought on travelling via LA - if you are flying direct with a short stop off for refueling, ie about 2 hours, you won't need a buggy!! You leave the plane, walk into a small room with a free tea machine and an immigration official wearing a gun on his belt, and you sit down on hard plastic seats while you wait to re-board.

I'd go singapore or any other airline for that matter, if only to avoid this experience. We went malaysia air this time - good service, and great stop. despite stopping only for 3 hours we got to walk freely round the airport and our children played endlessly on the monorail inside the airport. Got to visit a decent tea shop etc etc. Last thing you need after a 12 hour flight and in the company of grizzly kids in the LA experience. Have done it once - never again!

Good luck!!

[Angie and Mick]

HI
We went to NZ in Nov 05 for a month, had our 3 year old daughter, we went with Singapore airlines, fly from Manchester, they were excellent. We took a stroller, you tell them at the desk that you need it, they then put a ticket on it, you can then leave it at the door prior to getting onto the aircraft. At the other end it is left near the door to collect. We had a stop over in singapore the stroller was taken off to use during this time as well. We had to pay for her to have her own seat as she is 3 cost us approx £550. Stroller was a god send as she was able to fall asleep if not use to help with the hand lugage. We did notice on the airoplane for babies that they had a cot. A lot of children on the plane and they all were well looked after and very good.