Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. When used for airline travel the strollers and car seats are placed in gate check bags at the departure gate before boarding. i would say it is simply HUMAN and a crecaution NOT to have a 30lbs carry on (no matter if weight limit by the carrier or not! I don't fly nearly as often as many here, but for European airlines I've only ever seen wheeled bags "spot checked" for weight. As a frequently low-priority boarder, and always with a carry-on that's within size restrictions, I've been told (along with others) more than once that the overheads were full.

I’ve had luggage fall on my shoulder — would have been my head a couple of times if my situational awareness and reactions times were worse — because of the lack of consideration by some other passengers when using bins. The bag sat on the tarmac in the rain for 1/2 hour and when I get it back one of the wheels was broken and it was stained with grease. JL Childress brand Gate Check Travel Bags are designed to protect your prams, strollers and car seats from dirt, germs, scratches and damage, offering extra durability and added convenience to your travel either by air, train, car or bus! With 2 young children it would have been so much easier to have had our buggy back, but I guess I got to the stage where I did expect to get it back until baggage claim. You are charged a fee for this, which is usually more expensive than if you had paid for it in advance.

I had thought this time - if we were to carry on the 22 inchers - that our back packs would also be tucked in them which would add to the weight as well as the volume. Universal stroller and car seats travel bags are usually made of light, waterproof materials and they can be carried to the gate in a normal carry-on baggage. As if that wasn't enough that flight too ended up cancelled and I had to spend the night in the Newark airport wirh nothing but clothes I was wearing and my purse. Qatar allows 15 kg on business class, which must be a nightmare for Sean M but I have never heard of anyone being injured by that policy. This usually comes at an additional cost but it's a sure-fire to avoid getting your bag gate checked.

L. Childress Deluxe Gate Check Travel Bag for Car Seats and Strollers is compatible with ALL car seats, most single strollers and some double strollers.

When overhead bins become full, the flight attendants will notify the gate that we will need to check the remaining larger roller bags that will not fit under the seat," explained a spokesperson for Delta. These airlines put service first and offer spacious cabins with enough room to fit at least one piece of carry-on baggage for each passenger and sometimes more. In the future, if it's not a direct flight, I'm thinking I'll go up ahead of my group and ask to put my bag on the flight. On Delta, if you gate-check a bag you will retrieve it from the luggage carousel at your final destination. But - the only time I've ever lost a bag - was on a domestic flight in the US and the tag was handwritten and went to Dallas rather than Seattle.

Most people don't "need" next pillows or blankets for short flights, and for longer flights the airline gives you one.

So, on a trip to New Zealand, my wife and I went with carry-on only: small daypack and roller board. Try taking significantly overweight bags on European LCCs and let us know if these magic tricks work to prevent your bag from being gate checked. is a perfectly reasonable weight for carry-on luggage, especially if you have an additional personal item.