Gate Check a Stroller

[curlysue82]

So, I am confused and thought maybe someone on this board could help me out. We are flying Southwest in a few weeks and have a connection in Texas before arriving in Florida. I'd like to gate check our stroller. In my mind, this means we would get the stroller back to use in the airport in TX before gate checking it again when we get on the plane to fly to Florida. Is that not right? My husband is saying that we won't see the stroller until we get to Florida. Who is right?

[Brit]

In almost every case we have dropped the stroller just before the door of the aircraft and then picked it up just outside the door when we landed. The few times that we picked up the stroller at the baggage claim were in oddball places like Marrakech and Ulaan Batar. So, I would say you are correct.

[runblondie26]

Usually they'll return gate checked items to you plane side, but not always. It depends on the airport. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it, so I'd call SWA to double check for your route.

[frlcb]

The only time we never get a gate checked stroller back is if we fly internationally. Otherwise we always get it when we make a connection.

[dcn]

I always get it back. If they are checking it through to your destination or to baggage claim, they usually tell you before hand.

[egishere]

If your connection is in Dallas or Houston you will be fine...some of the other smaller cities I'm not sure. I fly SWA pretty regularly to Dallas and see people gate checking all the time.

[pittpurple]

It really is random. I 'usually' get it back but didn't once in... um... Dallas I think? I was on my own with an 8 month old and it was awful. So my advice is always to have a backup plan and bring a carrier just in case of any problems.