Family travel provides its own unique challenges, but some airports and airlines provide facilities which go a long way to ease some of the stress. Here are the airports and airlines that provide complimentary strollers for use and information on where to find them.
Airports
Abu Dhabi ( UAE)
Etihad has free orange strollers in Abu Dhabi Terminal 3, by the gates.
Australia
Qantas website states that, "To make your time on the ground easier, most mainline Australian ports have strollers available for you to use once you have checked-in your own personal stroller. Staff will be on hand at the boarding gate ready to collect the stroller and to further assist you with pre-boarding the aircraft."
When I emailed the airports, Canberra, Cairns and Sydney have confirmed that Qantas do provide them. They are also available in Sydney at the Qantas terminal and in Melbourne.
Copenhagen ( Denmark)
Free stollers available from the transit area.
Doha (Qatar)
Their website states, 'This service is free-of-charge and can be requested as follows:
1.Customers who are transiting or arriving at Doha International Airport: baby strollers can be found at the arrival hall, immediately following your disembarkation of the bus.
2.Customers departing from Doha International Airport: strollers can be requested during check-in and brought to you prior to proceeding to immigration.
Customers requesting to use their own baby strollers during transit at Doha International Airport: Delivery of your personal stroller at the aircraft's door once you disembark is no longer available at Doha International Airport.'
N.B Gulf Air also have a free specialised trained sky nanny on board to help with embarking and disembarking, as well as entertaining your little one(s) whilst you watch a movie or sleep!
Dubai ( UAE)
The Emirates Airline website says "We also offer complimentary baby stroller service at Dubai International Airport (on arrival and transit only) for all of our passengers. Twin baby strollers are also available. "
Incheon (South Korea)
Complimentary strollers can be found on the ground floor.
Kansai ( Japan)
The Kansai Airport site states that, "You can borrow wheelchairs and strollers from each floor's Information Counter (excluding the counter in the International Departure Area) and from the Information Center in the north part of the 2nd floor."
London Gatwick (UK)
The complimentary turquoise strollers are available after disembarking and along the walkway to baggage reclaim. You drop them off at baggage reclaim.
Madrid - Barajas (Spain)
Complimentary strollers are available at several spots around the main airport. They have two types, trolleys similar to shopping carts, with space for a younger baby up to 6 months, or the umbrella pushchair type.
Mumbai (India)
Complimentary baby strollers are available from Domestic terminal 1A and terminal 1B near the entrance gate by departures, and for international departures at check-in counters D and K (Note - *This facility can be availed on submitting your photo ID at the information desk. After your use of the strollers you can get in touch with the Zone 'C' officer on 8879992373 or contact the Information desk to return the stroller in lieu of your ID card.)
Nagoya - Chubu Centrair Intl (Japan)
Please contact one of the 5 information centres for more information. The Chubu CentreAir website states, "Baby strollers are available for rental at the third floor of the Departures Lobby and at the Information Counter of the Access Plaza. Please feel free to make use of this service.
There are two types of baby strollers available, one for toddlers age one - three, and one for infants and babies age one month - two years. There is a limited availability of these.
If you will be boarding an airplane, you can check with your airline company to rent a stroller at the Check-In Counter. For more information, check with the airline you will be using."
I believe the wording is a little misleading due to translation of the word 'rental', but from what I understand these strollers are available for free to use. They also double up as a trolley!
Narita ( Japan)
The Narita Airport website states, "Free wheelchair and baby stroller rentals are available at each information counter inside the terminals (no reservations necessary). Please return it to the nearest information counter after use. Wheelchairs and strollers may be used by departing passengers before and arriving passengers after passport control. Please contact your airline for use in the boarding gate area."
New Delhi (India)
Available inTerminal 1D of Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Paris- Charles de Gaulle (France)
Available from Terminal 2E
Located immediately after the security checkpoint, two self-service pushchair stations are free of use to take to the boarding gate.
Paris- Orly (France)
Terminal South - Hall A
The pushchair station is located immediately after the security checkpoint opening onto hall A, downstairs to the left of the escalator. It only operates during the school holidays.
Singapore
Changi Airport provides prams on a first-come, first-served basis. These are available from the Information and Customer Service Counters.
Airports that charge for rental of strollers.
Frankfurt (Germany)
In the Arrivals hall in Terminal 1 B , Level 1, Strollers are available for a charge of 6 euros a day from the Left Luggage service.
Hong Kong
The airport site says, "Hong Kong airport offers baby strollers for rental. The service can be booked through your travel agent, airline, airline's handling agent or through Worldwide Flight Services, which operates a 24-hour hotline (+852 2261 2727)."
Airlines
ANA- Narita, Kansa, Chubu Centrair Intl and Kamatsu.
Emirates- at Dubai Airport only ( Terminal 3) The red strollers are available at all Emirates gates. Twin strollers are also available.
Etihad- at Abu Dhabi airport only ( Terminal 3) The bright orange strollers are available near the gates.
JAL-Narita, Kansai, Chubu Centrair Intl and Kamatsu
Qantas - see above.
Qatar- At Doha airport only. These burgundy/lilac strollers have disposable covers and can be found in the arrival hall. If you are departing from Doha International airport, you can request a stroller during check-in and it will brought to you prior to proceeding to immigration.
For more practical information and tips on flying with a baby, visit www.flyingwithababy.com or tweet Carrie @flyingwithbaby