A taxi for tiny people

Vienna Airport has decided to take its family friendly reputation quite seriously. They have introduced baby pram rental stations for parents who are about to have a breakdown. Traveling with a toddler may easily become a nightmare involving far too much luggage and a child who refuses to walk in the right direction. This service allows you to push your child around in a borrowed buggy instead of carrying them like a heavy sack of potatoes. It is a simple idea that makes you wonder why every airport does not do this already.

The marathon of the terminal

Walking through a major hub like Vienna Airport can feel like a professional sporting event. The distances between the check in desks and the gates are often several miles long. For a small child this is basically the equivalent of climbing a mountain. Most kids will give up after ten metres and sit on the floor in protest. These rental prams mean you can actually reach your gate before the plane leaves without having to drag a screaming human behind you.

How the system works

The rental stations are positioned conveniently so you do not have to hunt for them. You can pick up a pram and use it until you reach your departure gate. The strollers are basic but functional which is all you really need when you are rushing to catch a flight. It is much better than trying to navigate security with your own massive pram that folds into a complicated puzzle. You just grab one and go and then leave it for the next exhausted parent to find.

A rare bit of airport logic

Airports are usually designed to be as stressful as possible so this is a refreshing change. It shows that someone in the management actually thought about the people who use the building. Providing free or easy access to prams is a clever way to keep the terminals moving smoothly. It keeps the children contained and the parents relatively sane.