One of the times you really need a travel stroller is at the airport, particularly for that long walk to baggage reclaim and the usual snaking queue at immigration. Whilst some airlines do their best to help by providing you with courtesy strollers as you disembark, this is sadly not the norm.
Cabin sized strollers or ‘airplane strollers’ can make a huge difference, especially if you have a tired child to contend with. We’ve found an airplane stroller to be so useful for this stage of travel, as mine inevitably fall asleep just as we are landing!
This guide will help you decide on which is the best compact stroller for you, and even better, they are cabin sized strollers for plane travel – they can fit in the overhead locker or stowage bin.
A carry on stroller the size of hand luggage can make things a lot easier for you when traveling with a baby, toddler or pre-schooler.
What kind of stroller can I take on a plane?
The best option is to know your airlines cabin baggage regulations and maximise them to the hilt by bringing a compact cabin sized stroller as your permittable carry on or hand luggage for the flight. A small pushchair is useful for all modes of transport.
This may mean you will have to sacrifice another travel bag depending on whether there is a lap infant baggage allowance for a diaper/nappy bag or similar. (For flying with a lap infant tips, see here)
The good news is – at the end of this post, I’ve a guide that will help you the allowances.
I’ve spent a couple of days going through over 20 airlines lap infant carry on allowance and the adult cabin baggage allowance, so you can work out which is the best stroller for air travel and which travel stroller could be used as a cabin size stroller.
This will mean you would have to sacrifice your cabin bag to bring this on. However, if you have a potentially long wait in an immigration queue or a transit stop where you can’t access your stroller, then this could be well worth the trade off.
Why you should you trust our reviews
As an ex flight attendant, I know the rules and keep up to date with the industry. I started this website when my baby was a newborn, during my generous maternity leave as we started flying with her since she was 11 weeks old.
We tried and tested a few strollers on flights with each child and found our preferences. As this site has grown and new products have become available, we have reached out to readers who have joined our Facebook groups and asked them what have been the best cabin sized travel strollers for them.
This way, we have real parents offer their personal experiences for a range of strollers under different conditions all over the world.
These strollers have been used on planes, trains and other public transport, packed in cars, brought along for a Disney trip or pushed along cobbled streets in Europe. Whereas others have been carried as a backpack when a toddler refuses to be buckled in!
We’ve carried them, folded them as hand luggage or gate checked them and tested them in everyday situations from newborns to toddlers and beyond.
Secondly, I’ve looked at models of travel pushchairs and compact strollers which can fit as hand luggage. Remember, if you have extras added such as stroller sunshade covers, you will need to make sure they can either fit in the stroller, or your luggage.
Compact and lightweight features obviously make the best and the most practical choice of travel stroller. Airplane wise, double strollers are unlikely to fit in the overhead stowage bins, but will be permitted to go in the hold, so this feature does concentrate on single pushchairs.
I’ve found 7 of the best strollers to bring on a plane, which mostly meet the carry on requirements and on the whole have positive feedback.
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The Latest Compact Cabin Sized Strollers
Jumping on the popularity of trend setters BabyZen Yoyo and the GB Pockit, travel pushchairs and strollers are evolving all the time for families – with new compact pushchairs all vying to be the lightest and smallest with desirable features added like adjustable handlebars, easy one hand folding, multi-terrain wheels with convenient maneuverability, a decent storage compartment and a good recline.
For 2024, here are the latest options of travel strollers, perfect for flights, including the Bugaboo Butterfly which meets most airline cabin baggage guidelines and have a great deal of portability and compactness. (The guide below this will show what size cabin baggage airlines allow and which strollers meet this criteria.)
I have some more really useful ideas, tips and insider info from my cabin crew days – flying over 80 flights in the baby and toddler stages too.
Top Tip: Check what your adult cabin baggage allowance is, as you may be able to bring your compact stroller with you in place of (not in addition to) your carry on allowance.
At a Glance Comparison Table of the most compact cabin sized strollers. For further details of each – see below.
9 of the Most Compact Airplane Strollers Compared
gb Pockit Air All Terrain
The Pockit All Terrain is one of the lightest travel strollers.
The GB Pockit + All Terrain is an upgrade from the original GB Pockit and tweaks have it made it stronger, more robust, and even more practical for travel.
This newer version benefits from a recline function, a UV50 sun canopy whilst still folding up incredibly compactly, making it a fully collapsible stroller
It folds down in 2 simple steps and can be carried via the attached handle. It is considerably heavier at 12.3lbs/5.6kgs than its predecessor, but it is still a very lightweight travel stroller, which can be moved with one hand.
Although there is no travel bag or straps with the compact stroller, some people have bought backpack straps and carabiners to attach to the stroller and wear it as a backpack, as it is so lightweight.
The adjustable recline feature makes it possible for older babies and toddlers to sleep in but it does not go completely flat.
Included are adapters to click onto a CYBEX infant car seat.
Pros
- Really compact, perfect for immigration queues or day trips with a baby
- Reclines
Cons
- It may be hard at times on cobblestones in Europe
- Canopy could be better
What other readers of Flying With A Baby Say:
“So useful for plane travel. We can fit it in our backpack as carryon”
- Weight: 9.5lbs/4.3kg
- Dimensions when folded:11.8 x7.1 x13.8 inches
- Recline: Yes
- Storage Basket: Yes
- Travel Bag: No
- Sun Canopy: Yes,Max Weight Capacity: 55lbs Age: 6 months up to approx. 4 years
- Compatible with Infant Car Seat: Yes – gb and CYBEX
gb Pockit+ All City
Made for city life, crowded restaurants, small spaces on trains, buses and planes, the Pockit + All City stroller is designed for smoother surfaces, (so not ideal for cobbled streets).
It’s compatible with the gb and Cybex car seat and has a much better sun-hood than the original Pockit, it reclines and is an upgrade on the Pockit Plus 2018 model.
- Weight 12.5lbs/5.7kgs
- Folded L19 xW 33 x H48cm (7.5 x 13 x19″)
- Age suitable for: 9 – 17 kg/From 6 months up to approx. 4 years.
This cabin size strollers is available on Amazon world wide and Walmart for US residents
Silver Cross Jet 5
The Silver Cross Jet 5 is an upgrade on the Silver Cross Compact. It boasts a coordinating, fully-extendable UPF 50+ hood with an air-flow ventilation system, rear wheel brakes, front wheel suspension and is very light thanks to the aluminium frame.
The fully extendable UPF50+ hood has an air-flow ventilation system with pop-out sun visor. Expect a full recline and adjustable footrest
Best of all, it folds small enough to fit in most cabin space on an airplane and can even be wheeled like a small suitcase!
The Silver Cross Jet 5 can be wheeled along like a cabin bag and the Jet 5 stands on its own when folded.
What other readers of Flying With A Baby Say:
“It’s been brilliant for travel – super compact, lightweight and great for naps on the go as reclined to fully flat position”
Pros: Full recline and 1 Motion Fold and rain cover included.
UPF 50+ extendable sun protection canopy and pop-out sun visor
- Weight:15.87 pounds/ 7kg
- Dimensions: L33 x W20 x H41.5″
- Folded: L10 x W14.5 x H24.5″ (L25cm W37cm H63cm)
- Age suitable for: Birth up to 55lbs in USA/25kgs in UK
- (Read more about it from Amazon worldwide or Silver cross website)
BABYZEN YOYO2 Stroller
The Babyzen YOYO is another stroller, and arguably the best known – which meets most airlines cabin baggage allowances and can be used as a carry on baby stroller.
It is not as light as the original GB Pockit for plane travel – but it weighs in at a very light 13lbs/6.2kg only a fraction more than the GB Pockit Plus City, but with a lot more functions.
It is consistently rated highly as a contender for the best lightweight travel stroller.
The YOYO comes with a storage bag and a shoulder strap so you can easily carry the BabyZen on board a plane.
Suitable for children up to 48.5lbs/22kg.
It’s narrow enough to fit in most airplane aisles and will easily fit into the hat rack and meet many airlines cabin luggage requirements.
This compact travel stroller feels sturdy and is often used as a daily stroller because of all its features; including multi recline, a sun canopy, rain cover and generous under seat storage.
It is on the pricey end of the market but if it is used daily and used for travel, then it may save you from buying a separate travel buggy.
These compact pushchairs are quite popular in Europe because they fit through narrow doorways and offer a smooth ride. The YOYO, is on the pricier end, but saying that, it does have a lot more functions and could easily be an everyday stroller, not just for travel.
I also have a full review of the original BabyZen YOYO here.
The Babyzen Yoyo2 is an upgrade with these measurements:
- Lightweight for a scalable stroller: 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs) in the 6+ version, 6.6 kg (14.5 lbs) with the newborn pack or 8.1 kg (17.8 lbs) with the bassinet
- Folded cabin baggage dimensions*, dimensions: 52 × 44 × 18 cm (20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in)
- Unfolded dimensions: 106 x 86 x 44 cm (41.7 x 33.8 x 17.3 in) in the 6+ and newborn pack versions, 106 x 96 x 44 cm (41.7 x 37.8 x 17.3 in) with the bassinet
- YOYO² protects your child up to a weight of 22 kg (48.5 lbs)
- Carry over the shoulder with its padded shoulder carry strap
- Supplied with a carrying bag
- Some other accessories available
Pros
Cons
- Like many others the handlebar isn’t adjustable.
BABY JOY Lightweight Baby Stroller (6 months +)
The Baby Joy is a great option if you are looking for a cabin size stroller and comes with a sturdy bag for convenient carrying, making it a backpack pushchair. It doesn’t recline fully but 150 degrees is close.
The Baby Joy is so small in measurements that it meets most airline cabin baggage rules when folded. This compact stroller weighs 15 lbs and measures 20″ x 10″ x 28.5″ (L x W x H) when folded.
Pros:
- 3 seating modes including 150 degree recline
- 3 footrest modes
- This lightweight stroller is suitable for 6-36 months babies and toddlers.
- Weight: 15lbs /6.8kgs
- Folded 20″ x 10″ x 28.5″ (L x W x H)
- Age suitable for: 50 lbs/22.6kg This lightweight stroller is suitable for 6-36 months babies and toddlers.
This cabin size strollers is available on Amazon world wide and Walmart for US residents
Ergobaby Metro
The Ergobaby is sleek, lightweight and compact and makes a great cabin sized stroller as it folds down to fit into most overhead airplane bins with a folded size of 21x17x9 inches.
Rare for a compact travel stroller, it features an adjustable handlebar height and has a good recline function. This travel includes a rain shield and has a UV 50+ sun canopy.
- Weight: 21.6lbs
- Dimensions when folded: 21x17x9 “
- Recline: Yes
- Storage Basket: Yes
- Travel Bag:Available separately here
- Sun Canopy: Yes
- Max Weight Capacity: 50lbs
- Age: Newborn (with the newborn nest) to toddler Metro+ is usable from birth up to 22 kg, or 4 years, whichever comes first.
- Compatible with Infant Car Seat: Yes comes with Graco/Chicco adaptors.
You can get this travel stroller from Amazon and Ergo Baby .
gb QBit+ All-City Stroller
- Super lightweight frame is easy to maneuver, lift and carry
- One-hand fold transforms the stroller into an ultra-compact and free-standing package in seconds
- Breathable mesh seatback helps regulate your child’s body temperature on warm days
- 2-in-1 Travel System using the seat unit and CYBEX infant car seat (sold separately) with the included adapters
- Includes rain cover
- Dimensions Folded : 17 L x 10.4″ W x 22.8″ H,
- Age Range : 0 – 55 lbs., from birth (with infant car seat) up to 55 lbs. (approx. 4-5 years)
This cabin size strollers is available on Amazon world wide and Walmart for US residents
Bugaboo Butterfly – 1 Second Fold Ultra-Compact Stroller – Lightweight & Compact
The stroller has an easy one handed fold using two buttons pressed together and it can be done with one hand. As you flick it open it often goes straight into place, but other times I have to push the back of the seat to click it all into place (I can use my knee so still one handed).
Folding it down is also done with the same two buttons pressed together and pushing down on the handle.
It doesn’t lie flat and therefore is only suitable from 6 months but it lies back enough to look comfortable for longer sleeps (111°-145°). There are two positions, upright and reclined and it can be changed one handed between the two. The seat is only forward facing.
This Bugaboo stroller is designed for children up to 22kg/around 4 years which is bigger than most in the travel stroller category.
My petite 6 year old (21.5kg) has ridden in it on some longer days and it is still easy to push and tall enough in the seat to handle her. At 5 foot 9, I often struggle with stroller’s that don’t have a height adjustable bar, but I find the Butterfly is still comfortable to push.
The basket is a reasonable size and I can fit our changing bag under there.Once folded, the stroller is a very compact 45 x 23 x 54 cm which means it fits in most car boots (we have a Ford S Max 7 seater and with all 7 seats up I could fit in several folded Butterflys).
It it also approved as cabin luggage and can slide into the overhead lockers easily..
We have tried it so far on Air India, British Airways and Vietnam Airlines and it was a comfortable fit in the lockers – something that made a stopover much more comfortable for all of us! It is unusual to be given your pushchair or stroller back for stopovers as you will usually collect any stroller at your final destination. Being able to use a super compact foldable stroller in-between connecting flights was incredibly useful! Read more on the Bugaboo Butterfly here.
- Weight: 7.3 kg
- Dimensions when folded: 45 x 23 x 54 cm
- Recline: Yes
- Storage Basket: Yes
- Travel Bag?: No
- Sun Canopy: Yes
- Max Weight Capacity: 22kg
- Age suitable for: 6 months – 4 years
- Compatible with Infant Car Seat: Yes – with adaptors available separately. Compatible with Bugaboo Turtle One and Air by Nuna & other Maxi-Cosi® infant car seats.
- Dimensions unfolded 92.5 x 45 x 102.4 cm
You can get this travel stroller from Amazon
Joolz Aer +
The Joolz Aer+ is a popular stroller designed for convenience and comfort, ideal for parents who are frequently on the go. With the cot it can be used from birth onwards.
- Folded Measurements: 21.26″ x 17.72″ x 8.86″ (54 cm x 45 cm x 23 cm)
- Weight is 6 kg/13.22lbs
- Recline: The Joolz Aer+ features a near-flat recline, making it suitable for naps on the go. This is particularly useful for young children who need frequent rest.
- Canopy: It has an extended UPF 50+ sun canopy, offering excellent protection from harmful UV rays. The canopy also includes a peek-a-boo window, allowing you to keep an eye on your child.
- Ease of Folding and Unfolding: The Joolz Aer+ is renowned for its one-hand fold mechanism, making it extremely easy to fold and unfold.
What other readers of Flying With A Baby Say:
We used it for a trip to Greece at 6 months old and it was SO easy. Comes with a carry on bag, which was handy for the overhead and also for popping the carrier and a blanket in too!
Really compact and light. The seat can fully recline too which was handy for naps and the sun cover comes a really good way down for shade/protection.
I’ve used it for day trips to London too and can fold it myself with one hand while holding baby, and then just lift the strap to pop it on my shoulder. Raincover included but paid extra for the footrest. Preferred it to the silver cross clic which wasn’t as easy/smooth to collapse/fold.”
Cons:
- Accessories such as the rain cover, bumper bar, and footrest are not included and need to be purchased separately.
Colugo Compact Stroller
The Colugo is light at 7.26 kgs/16lbs and comes with a cupholder, rain cover and carry backpack. As it comes, it’s suitable for 6 months old babies and older. But there is an Infant Kit for 0-5 months.
Folded up it’s 17” x 24” x 10” (fits in an airplane overhead bin) and can take a capacity of 55lbs/15kgs.
The UPF canopy is 50+ and it can be folded ONE handed.
What other readers of Flying With A Baby Say:
“It’s a one handed fold and I legit felt like I could conquer the world holding a baby in one hand and folding down the pram with the other. It’s great for 6m+ and was lighter than my son at that age.”
INFANT BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE GUIDE TRICK
The guide below shows what many airlines will allow as carry on for a standard economy seat if you are flying with an infant. (Infant/child hold baggage is also included)
By looking at the adult hand baggage allowance and measurements, you can see if you can bring your foldable stroller in place of your bag cabin allowance, meaning you can have your stroller with you for the walk to baggage reclaim and passport control and stow it in the overhead compartment bin during the flight.
Just click on the image to enlarge. With the guide above for the best stroller for airplane travel, you can see which one fits these allowances.
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