Being a parent has many challenges but traveling with babies tops the list. A compact, durable, and lightweight travel stroller can make your trips a little easier. The thought of wrangling your baby’s bulky stroller might give you anxiety, and you might consider looking into a travel stroller. So, what is the best travel stroller for flying?
If you don’t have time to go through the entire article, you can check out the Maclaren Quest Stroller, which will give you excellent value for the money. Parents have been delighted with this stroller’s overall performance and the additional features it has to offer.
Besides, if you’re a family that needs to travel now and then, you can consider one of these six best travel strollers for flying. In this article, I’ll highlight a few pointers you should look out for when you decide, and I’ll also answer some common questions.
Which Strollers Are the Best for Air Travel?
You’ll need to figure out what kind of stroller you want, the budget for it, and where you can store your stroller when you’re not using it. You’ll want to look for the right for your family while you travel and function well as an everyday stroller. I’ve mentioned six strollers that are excellent for traveling.
All of these are very lightweight and will fit easily into small spaces. To choose the best stroller for traveling, you’ll need to compare the pros and cons of your options and get the best value for your money.
GB Pockit Stroller
Weighing at only 9.5 pounds, this stroller claims to be the world’s smallest stroller (by the Guinness Book of World Records) when you fold it. It doesn’t have any recline and only comes with a small basket for storage. Experts say that the Pockit is the best for those who get it frequently.
You can easily fit this stroller under your seat or inside the plane’s overhead cabinets. Additionally, even a shopping bag or a large diaper bag will successfully store it. If you’re an air traveler, it’s perfect for you. However, this stroller isn’t the best for everyday use and it has a small canopy.
The GB Pockit will give you excellent value if you are on a midrange budget. You can skip the gate checking and the extra hassle of packing and carrying it with your already-heavy luggage. Locking it open may be a bit tricky, but it’s an excellent deal for its compact features.
Specifications
Weight: 9.5 lbs
Folded Dimensions: 12 x 7 x 14 inches
Age: 6 months to 55 lbs
Features
- Unique Compact Design: This stroller is unique and lightweight. Experts score it a 9 out of ten in terms of its weight and folded size.
- Adjustable Harness System: The GB Pockit has a five-point harness system that you can adjust according to your child’s height as they grow.
- Easy to fold in just two steps
- Best for parents who love to travel and explore the city
- Super light and compact
- Small and durable
- Tiny storage basket
- Not best for everyday use
- Doesn’t have a recline
Maclaren Quest Stroller
Maclaren is very popular among mothers who love to have designs and features for their baby’s stroller. The Quest stroller has several contemporary schemes when it comes to color combinations. Maclaren Quest is an excellent solution for active parents who want a lightweight stroller with additional comfort and features.
It comes with adjustable support for the legs, providing your child with the comfort it needs without compromising other features like durability and performance. Weighing at 14 pounds, it’s excellent for children from six months to when they’re 55lbs.
This stroller gives smooth rides and is effortless when it comes to maneuverability. Long walks with your baby will be moments to cherish and look back upon with the Maclaren Quest. The folding may take a few practices, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll notice how several patterns make the mechanism straightforward.
The biggest plus is the recliner seat with four positions, not just two. It also has a five-buckle safety with an upgraded sun canopy and adjustable harness.
Specifications
Weight: 12.6 lbs
Folded Dimensions: 40.5 x 9 x 11 inches
Age: Newborn to 55 lbs
Features
- Easy to maneuver: The Maclaren Quest provides a very smooth ride with effortless maneuverability. The front wheels can lock in place, which will give you a stable ride across bumpy roads and surfaces.
- Four Position Recline: It’s a bonus feature to have a recline. The Maclaren Quest comes with four positions, which will give your child maximum comfort.
- Extendable sun canopy
- Four adjustable positions in the reclining seat
- Extending leg rest
- Excellent buckle system with a five-point safety harness
- Small storage basket
- Inaccessible storage basket once the stroller reclines
- The wheels may touch the canopy when folded
Babyzen YoYo Plus
If you’re looking for a stroller with a premium price tag and high value for the money, the Baby Zen YoYo Plus is the best stroller for you. It has a compact design and fits inside the overhead compartment in an airplane, meeting the luggage size requirements.
This stroller is a new and improved version of the 2012 Baby Zen Yoyo and is perfect for newborns to children weighing 40 lbs. It weighs about 13.6 lbs and also features a very compact design. Additionally, the stroller can recline up to 145 degrees with a popup canopy and a rain cover.
Experts have ranked this stroller highest for general use, making it stand out among many options available currently in the market. The Yoyo plus is straightforward to maneuver, with a unique fold that doesn’t make you feel frustrated.
The design is very premium, and high-end components make this stroller, which will provide you with fluid movements and a modern outlook.
Specifications
Weight: 13.6 lbs
Folded Dimensions: 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 inches
Age: Newborn to 40 lbs
Features
- Multiple Recline Options: The Babyzen YoYo plus offers you multiple recline options with a secure five-point harness system. A strap at the back lets you adjust the seat according to your child’s comfort.
- One Hand Steering: You can easily steer this stroller with one hand effortlessly. It also gives you fluid motion with its lightweight chassis and soft drive system.
- Stores easily inside the overhead cabinets
- Single hand steering
- Strong and durable
- Travel system that’s car seat compatible
- Expensive price tag
- Bassinet is non-removable
- It might take very long to assemble
Bugaboo Ant Complete Stroller
Bugaboo is a luxury stroller brand that delivers a sleek design and all the features that parents love. The Ant is their lightest and most compact stroller ever, which is made explicitly for traveling purposes. It can sneak through tight spaces seamlessly and effortlessly. The Bugaboo Ant Stroller has a portable design with a weight of 15.8 lbs.
Like the other three strollers I’ve mentioned previously, this one also fits inside an airplane’s overhead bin. It also features a trolley mode that you can haul along like a suitcase behind you. The folding mechanism is the most vital selling point, and you’ll undoubtedly have to go through a learning curve.
The seat is one of the best features of this stroller. It’s reversible and rotates, which you won’t see very often in such products. It does have a learning curve to it, but once you get used to it, you’d be using it frequently. The storage is also excellent in this stroller, so if you are not on a budget, it’s undoubtedly one to consider.
Specifications
Weight: 15.8 lbs
Folded Dimensions: 9.1 x 15 x 21.7 inches
Age: 6 months to 50 lbs
Features
- Adjustable Handlebar: The handlebar of this stroller is telescopic in style and flexible according to your child’s height with a wide range of adjustment angles.
- Reversible Seat: The Bugaboo Ant shines when it comes to its reversible seat. It has a rotating mechanism, an upright position, and more reclining options.
- State of the art seat
- Futuristic style and face adjustable handlebar
- Single hand steering
- Durable and sustainable
- Expensive
- Low hood for taller toddlers
- Complex folding mechanism
Pockit+All City
If you loved the GB Pockit stroller that I talked about at first but want a few more features, this stroller will be excellent for you. It’s the highest model of Pockit that features additional functions with an ultra-compact fold.
The Pockit+All City will be the best choice for parents looking for a mid-range stroller with extra features. This stroller features a broader chassis, making it a fantastic urban companion for your child. It is also designed to suit every parent’s needs who love traveling and want a stroller that adapts to their lifestyle.
Additionally, the stroller also features a step-less recline that will provide your child with ultimate comfort. Because it also has a lightweight frame, you can practically take the stroller anywhere without any inconvenience.
The front-wheel suspension makes the rides smooth across city surfaces, and during flights, it’ll fit snug inside the overhead compartments. It is also compatible with car seats and offers you a 3-in-1 travel system.
Specifications
Weight: 12.5 lbs
Folded Dimensions: 18.9 x 13 x 7.4 inches
Age: Newborn to 55 lbs
Features
- Stepless Recline: This feature makes the seat recline at several angles. You can adjust the seat according to your child’s comfort easily.
- 3-in-1 Travel System: The Pockit is compatible with Cot to Go and Cyber car seats. It also fits the luggage requirements of most airlines.
- Deep reclining seat
- Spacious and comfortable
- Lightweight and compact design
- Automatic lock system
- Small wheels unsuitable for rough terrains
- Small storage basket
- Handles aren’t adjustable
Baby Joy Umbrella Stroller
The last stroller I’ll be mentioning is the Baby Joy Umbrella Stroller, the best budget stroller you’ll find on the market. It’s highly functional and will keep your child secure with its five-point harness system.
It has an excellent adjustability range with a recline function. You can use it for newborns to children up to 50 lbs. The stroller doesn’t sacrifice any of the best features besides being lightweight. The wheels in the front are lockable with a robust steel frame, giving you a smooth ride.
The storage compartment also is large enough to house all the things you might need to bring along for your baby. It’ll also protect your child against the hot, humid weather on a sunny day.
Specifications
Weight: 12.5 lbs
Folded Dimensions: 43.5 x 12 x 8 inches
Age: 6 months to 50 lbs
Features
- Large Storage: The storage basket is relatively large and can hold 3 lbs worth of stuff. Additionally, the stroller also has a cup holder and a detachable bottle.
- Large Hood: The hood in this stroller is large enough to protect your child from warm weather and ultraviolet rays.
- Very lightweight
- Lockable wheels
- Large storage basket
- Adjustable hood
- It may not fit the overhead bins of airplanes
- Not a durable frame
- Wheels may break
All the products I’ve listed here will make your flight experience very comfortable. Among these, the Maclaren Quest, Bugaboo Ant, and the Babyzen Yoyo Plus are excellent options. You’ll get excellent value for your money if you choose to pick one of these. However, the Maclaren Quest seems to impress every parent who uses it without failing.
What to Look For In A Travel Stroller?
Travel strollers are also called lightweight strollers and are a balance between conventional and umbrella-style strollers. These strollers fold easily, collapse into a compact size, and should fit inside overhead cabinets in flights. Travel strollers will make your and your baby’s flying experience more comfortable and pleasant.
While deciding which of the above products will be the best travel stroller for flying, you should consider a few things that’ll help you make a better decision. You’ll want your travel stroller to:
- Have an easy folding mechanism
- Be lightweight
- Collapse compactly
- Have a large or sufficient canopy
- Have an adjustable seat with washable covers
- Have a separate case for portability and a built-in strap
It’s unlikely that you’ll find every one of these features in one specific product. You want your stroller to provide your child with as much comfort as it can get. And if you’re frequently traveling by air, the stroller should fit the airline luggage regulations. Make sure you’re getting the best value for the money, and you’ll be good to go.
How Do You Pack a Stroller for Air Travel?
If you’re traveling with your baby, you’ll need to pack several things. A stroller is necessary if you plan on cruising the streets with your child and want your child to be comfortable. So here are a few tips to help you pack a stroller.
Firstly, it’s best to consider your stroller a part of your luggage. As with other luggage, you’ll have to be a stroller inside the plane. For your comfort and a hassle-free experience, all the options I’ve included above can all be inside the overhead cabinets of an aircraft.
But if you have a stroller that doesn’t fit inside one of those compartments, you’ll have to check it at the gate. If you’re unsure about your stroller fitting inside the cabinet, it’s better to call the airlines and check.
If you check your stroller at the gate, airline staff will tag it and ensure it reaches its destination. You’ll want to tie the stroller with twine to keep it closed and use plastic wrapping to coat the entire stroller to keep it clean. You can also label your stroller with your own besides what the airline will provide for you.
These steps will be unnecessary if you have a stroller small enough to fit in the overhead compartments. You can simply put the stroller in a large diaper bag or a small bag. Sometimes the strollers will come with an additional pack for you to put in when you travel. Otherwise, you could buy one individually from any store.
If the airline counts your stroller as one of your personal items, you’ll face no additional cost of carrying a stroller on a plane. Make sure to check with your airline and lack accordingly.
Is It Okay to Bring a Stroller on a Plane?
Yes, you can bring a stroller on a plane. Your airline isn’t likely to charge you extra for your child’s stroller, but to be sure, you should check with them and confirm.
You’ll also most likely find a gate check, where an airline staff may stamp a tag on your stroller and load it with the other check-in luggage. Checking it at the gate will lower the chances of the stroller getting mishandled.
Conclusion
Traveling is a soul-enriching experience that your child should also be a part of. Thankfully, travel strollers exist to make your vacation more memorable and sweeter. I hope you’ve found the best travel stroller for flying for you lovely child from this article. Wish you a safe and delightful journey. Happy vacation!
