Airline Stroller Policies
By BestTravelStroller.com Team · Updated November 2026
Most airlines check a stroller free, at the counter or at the gate, and it does not count toward your bag allowance. Only a few publish a size for taking a folded stroller into the cabin: United, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Spirit, Qantas and Singapore Airlines.
This table covers 25 airlines. Every row links to the airline’s own page, which is the final word: rules change and can differ by route or aircraft. To see which strollers fit these limits, see our best strollers for airplanes or the best travel strollers overall.
US Airlines
| Airline | Free gate check | Counts as carry-on | Stroller in the cabin | Car seat on board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Airline’s page | Yes | No | Strollers are on Delta's list of free items you can carry on in addition to your carry-on; carry-on items must fit under the seat or in an overhead bin. No stroller-specific size given. | Free to check; FAA-approved seat usable onboard, window seat preferred; not in aisle or exit rows; booster seats not allowed for taxi, takeoff, landing. |
| American Airline’s page | Yes | No | You may carry on a fully collapsible stroller if it's under 20 lbs. and fits in an overhead bin. | 1 car seat checked free per ticketed customer; onboard use needs a purchased or open adjacent seat and an aircraft approval label; not in or next to exit rows. |
| United Airline’s page | Check with airline | No | Compact folding strollers that fit carry-on size (9 x 14 x 22 in / 22 x 35 x 56 cm, or 9 x 10 x 17 in / 22 x 25 x 43 cm) may go in the overhead bin or under the seat; must be folded before boarding. United names the gb Pockit, BabyJoy Pocket and Silver Cross Jet Ultra Compact. | Approved car seat usable only if child has a purchased seat, or an empty adjacent seat is available after boarding; otherwise stowed. |
| Southwest Airline’s page | Yes | No | None stated; allowance applies to any type of stroller (umbrella, full size, jogging). | 1 car seat/CRS per child checked free; onboard CRS rules on a separate help article. |
| Alaska Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | Stroller-wagons qualify only if designed for children and collapsible to under 90 linear inches and 35 lbs. | Child must be ticketed with a reserved seat to use a car seat onboard; NHTSA-labeled seats only; boosters and vest/harness types not allowed unless FAA-approved. |
| JetBlue Airline’s page | Yes | No | Strollers are treated as assistive devices and may come onboard only if they fit in the overhead bins; otherwise gate-checked. | FAA-labeled seat; window seat (middle/aisle only if adjacent seats empty); not in exit rows; restricted in some Mint cabins. |
| Spirit Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | A collapsible or compact folding stroller that fits within carry-on dimensions (22 x 18 x 10 in / 56 x 46 x 25 cm) may be accepted as a carry-on item if collapsed before boarding. | 1 car seat per child checked free; onboard only with a purchased seat; FAA-approved or CARES; not in or next to exit rows; rear-facing over 25 in tall may not fit. |
| Frontier Airline’s page | Yes | No | Strollers may be brought in the cabin if they fit in the overhead bin. | Child needs a purchased seat; FAA-approved label required; no exit or bulkhead rows; window seat recommended. |
| Hawaiian Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | Stroller-wagons qualify only if designed for children and collapsible to under 90 linear inches and 35 lbs. | Check with airline |
| Allegiant Airline’s page | Yes | No | No published cabin rule; plan to gate check | One car seat per fare-paying passenger checked free; car seat use recommended; window seat only; seats wider than 17.88 in unlikely to fit. |
| Sun Country Airline’s page | Check with airline | Check with airline | No published cabin rule; plan to gate check | Onboard only with a ticketed, reserved seat and if it secures with the aircraft belt; lap child's car seat must be checked. |
Canadian Airlines
| Airline | Free gate check | Counts as carry-on | Stroller in the cabin | Car seat on board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Airline’s page | Yes | No | Gate check only for small strollers: collapsed diameter up to 25.5 cm (10 in) and length up to 92 cm (36 in). Larger strollers counter only. | Car or booster seat checked free for children up to 11; onboard only with a purchased seat; approved labels required; boosters not allowed onboard. |
| WestJet Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | No published cabin rule; plan to gate check | Transport Canada or FAA approved; must buy the child a seat by phone; not in Business, over-wing exit or bulkhead rows; boosters not allowed. |
European Airlines
| Airline | Free gate check | Counts as carry-on | Stroller in the cabin | Car seat on board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | Returned at aircraft door (certain destinations) only if single-piece, fully collapsible, max 38 cm high x 117 cm long x 38 cm deep incl. wheels. | Onboard only with a booked seat; max 43 cm (17 in) wide; no two-part seats; must face same direction as aircraft seat; window seat in economy. |
| Virgin Atlantic Airline’s page | Yes | Yes | A pushchair taken into the cabin counts as part of your hand baggage allowance; it must fit the baggage sizer and you must be able to lift it into the overhead bin. | EASA or FAA certified; Economy with a booked seat; max 43 x 43 cm, own 5-point harness, lap-belt secured; no rear-facing seats; not in Upper Class. |
| Lufthansa Airline’s page | Yes | No | A fully foldable 'Pocket Buggy' no larger than 55 x 40 x 23 cm can be taken as an extra cabin item instead of a hold item. | Under-2 with own seat must use a certified child restraint; car seat can be the free extra cabin item. |
| Air France Airline’s page | Check with airline | Yes | Only fully foldable strollers (e.g. Stokke Yoyo), subject to availability, max 55 x 45 x 25 cm folded, in a carrying case; replaces the child's hand baggage. Not on HOP! Embraer aircraft. | Secured with seat belt; max 44 cm wide (42 cm in first Economy row); under-2s cannot use own seat in La Premiere/Business. |
| KLM Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | On KLM flights a fully collapsible stroller (max 55 x 45 x 25 cm, 10 kg) may go in the cabin if space allows, under the seat or in the overhead bin; otherwise placed in the hold at the gate. Never in cabin on KLM Cityhopper. | Free per child; must reserve at least 48 h ahead; certified for aircraft, fits 42 cm armrests, child needs own seat; boosters not allowed. |
| Ryanair Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | Extra baby items beyond the free 2: max 20 kg each. | Infant needs a purchased seat; forward-facing, air-travel approved, max 43 cm (17 in) wide, 5-point harness. |
| easyJet Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | No published cabin rule; plan to gate check | Infants in own seat must use a forward-facing car seat for takeoff and landing; boosters cannot be used for takeoff, landing or with seatbelt sign on. |
| Aer Lingus Airline’s page | Yes | Check with airline | No published cabin rule; plan to gate check | Car seats cannot be cabin baggage; usable for 6-36 months with FAA or CE aircraft label, max 17 in (430 mm) wide; Regional flights 16.5 in, forward-facing only. |
Middle East and Asia-Pacific Airlines
| Airline | Free gate check | Counts as carry-on | Stroller in the cabin | Car seat on board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Airline’s page | Check with airline | No | One fully collapsible stroller or carry-cot as a carry-on item if cabin space is available and you are not bringing a child seat; otherwise checked in the hold. | Needs a booked seat on a child fare; JAA, FAA, Transport Canada, TUV or AS/NZS 1754 approved; Emirates pages conflict on rear-facing use. |
| Qatar Airline’s page | Check with airline | Check with airline | No published cabin rule; plan to gate check | Car seat free only for infants on a separate seat; usable ages 6-36 months, up to 20 kg; adult 18+ seated next to child. |
| Singapore Airlines Airline’s page | Check with airline | Yes | Cabin stroller must weigh under 7 kg, length+width+height no more than 115 cm, fit in the overhead bin, and be packed in a bag; counts as one piece of cabin baggage. | Under-3s with own seat; FAA, UK CAA or UN ECE approved; max 16.5 in wide x 17 in deep; boosters and vest types not allowed. |
| Qantas Airline’s page | Yes | Yes | May be carried on as a piece of the accompanying adult's carry-on allowance: up to 7 kg and 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in). Not on Dash 8 or Embraer E190. | Paid child-fare seat; pre-approved restraint meeting safety standards; boosters not permitted; book by phone, not online. |
How to Fly With a Stroller
- Check your airline’s page a few days before you fly, using the links above.
- Tag it at the gate. Ask the gate agent for a stroller tag before boarding so it comes back at the aircraft door.
- Bag it. A padded travel bag protects the frame in the hold. Many travel strollers include one.
- Fold it before you board. Airlines that allow cabin strollers want them folded before you step on the plane.
If you want a stroller that stays with you, see which folds meet these limits in our strollers for airplanes table.
Questions people ask
Is it free to gate check a stroller?
On Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian and Allegiant, yes. In our check, every airline with a published rule checks a stroller free, either at the counter or at the gate.
Which airlines let you bring a stroller in the cabin?
United allows compact strollers up to 22 x 14 x 9 in. Lufthansa allows a "Pocket Buggy" up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Air France and KLM allow up to 55 x 45 x 25 cm, and Qantas up to 22 x 14 x 9 in and 7 kg. American allows a collapsible stroller under 20 lb that fits the bin.
Does a stroller count toward my carry-on allowance?
Not on Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue or Frontier. On Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Singapore Airlines and Qantas, a stroller taken into the cabin counts as part of your hand baggage.
Can I bring a car seat on the plane?
On most airlines, only if your child has their own purchased seat and the car seat is approved for aircraft use. Many airlines also check car seats free.