Mamas and Papas Travel Stroller Review: Is the Airo Worth It in 2026?

By BabyTravel UK Editorial Team · Last updated March 2026

The Mamas and Papas Airo has established itself as one of the more popular compact strollers from a well-known British brand — but at around £379, it sits at the pricier end of the market. This review cuts through the marketing to tell you exactly what it's like to use day-to-day, how it holds up on holiday, and whether there are better options at a lower price point.

Who Is the Mamas and Papas Airo For?

The Airo is designed for urban parents who want something that looks good, handles daily life on pavements and in shops, and folds down small enough to fit in a modest car boot or the luggage hold of a train. It's not a specialist travel stroller in the sense of being ultra-compact or cabin-baggage-sized — it's more of a genuinely good everyday pushchair that also works well when you travel.

That distinction matters. If your priority is having the most portable possible stroller for frequent flights, there are lighter and more compact options out there. But if you want one pushchair that does everything reasonably well — including holidays, city days out, and everyday use — the Airo is a credible choice.

Key Specs at a Glance

Design and First Impressions

The Airo looks the part. Mamas and Papas have always been strong on aesthetics, and the Airo continues that tradition — clean lines, premium-feeling materials, and a handlebar that's noticeably comfortable to grip over a long day's pushing. First-time parents who care about how their pram looks (and there's nothing wrong with that) will be pleased with what they've got.

The frame feels solid without being heavy. At 6.5kg, it's noticeably lighter than a standard everyday pushchair but heavier than truly ultra-compact models. Whether that difference matters to you depends entirely on how often you'll be carrying it up stairs or into the overhead locker of a train. For most parents, 6.5kg is manageable.

The Fold — and What It Means in Practice

The Airo folds with one hand, which sounds like a minor feature until you're standing in a supermarket car park in the rain with a toddler on your hip and a full nappy bag on your shoulder. Press the button on the handlebar, push down, and it collapses. It takes a few goes to get the muscle memory, but after a week of daily use most parents find it becomes second nature.

The built-in shoulder straps are a genuine practical win — you can sling the folded stroller over one shoulder and have both hands free. This is particularly useful in airports when you're also managing hand luggage, boarding passes, and a small person. The Airo gates checks with no issues on most airlines, and the shoulder straps mean the walk from check-in to gate is easier than with many alternatives.

Folded, it fits comfortably in the boots of most family-sized cars, and in the overhead luggage compartments on trains. It won't fit in an aircraft overhead locker — it's not designed to — but for gate-checking it's a practical size.

The Seat — Comfort for Baby and You

The Airo seat is one of its stronger features. The full recline makes it genuinely suitable for newborns without any accessories, which saves money and complication compared to strollers that require a carrycot insert. As your baby grows, the seat adjusts through several recline positions to accommodate nappers and alert sitters alike.

The padded seat fabric is comfortable and holds up well to regular use. The 5-point harness is straightforward to adjust and secure — no fiddling, no frustration. The canopy is extendable with UPF 50+ sun protection, which is a practical detail for UK summers and holidays abroad.

The storage basket underneath is notably good for this class of stroller. Many compact pushchairs sacrifice basket space for a smaller fold, but the Airo manages a decent-sized basket without compromising too much on the folded dimensions. You can fit a changing bag in there comfortably, with room to spare.

Ride Quality and Handling

On smooth pavements, the Airo handles well — it pushes easily, corners smoothly, and the swivel front wheels make navigation in tight spaces (shops, cafés, museum corridors) straightforward. The suspension is adequate for gentle bumps and cracks in the pavement without transferring too much vibration to your baby.

Where it shows its limits is on rough terrain. The relatively small wheels and limited ground clearance mean that cobblestone streets, gravel paths, and beach promenades are noticeably uncomfortable — both for the baby and the person pushing. This is a trade-off the Airo makes in favour of urban performance and compact size, and it's a reasonable one for most parents' lifestyles. But if your holidays regularly involve countryside walks or beach treks, factor this in.

How It Compares to Rivals

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is the closest direct rival and undercuts the Airo significantly. It folds slightly more compactly with a backpack carry option, though it's not suitable from birth in the same way — a point worth considering if you're buying for a newborn. For most parents with babies over six months, the City Tour 2 offers exceptional value and is a solid alternative to consider before committing to the Airo.

The Silver Cross Jet is a strong contender if travel is your primary use case — it's well-regarded by frequent flyers for its reliability and relatively compact fold. The Hauck Sport represents the budget end: not the most refined pushchair on the market, but functional and genuinely affordable for parents who don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on a secondary stroller.

Our Pick

Mamas & Papas Airo Compact Travel Stroller

Birth to 22kg · 6.5kg · One-hand fold · Lie-flat seat · Shoulder carry straps · UPF 50+ canopy

Around £379

A well-built British compact stroller that earns its price tag through genuine day-to-day usefulness. The lie-flat seat from birth is a real advantage over many rivals in this class, and the storage basket is better than you'd expect from something this compact. Where it earns its fee is in build quality and finish — this feels like it will last several years and potentially pass to a second child. Not the right choice if budget is tight or if your holidays involve rough terrain, but for urban families who travel occasionally it's a solid, reliable pick.

✅ Pros

• Suitable from birth without accessories
• Good storage basket for this class
• Shoulder straps make carrying much easier
• Premium build quality; feels durable
• Genuinely smooth on pavements

❌ Cons

• Premium price — Baby Jogger City Tour 2 offers similar features for less
• Struggles on rough terrain and beach surfaces
• Not cabin-baggage sized for flights
• Limited colour options

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Pros and Cons Summary

The Verdict

The Mamas and Papas Airo is a genuinely good compact stroller — well made, practical, and comfortable for your baby. The lie-flat seat from birth is a real differentiator in this class, and the shoulder straps make it noticeably easier to handle in airports and on public transport than strollers without them.

The question is whether it's worth £379 when alternatives like the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 offer much of the same functionality for £150–200 less. For parents who want the best of the category and build quality matters to them, the Airo earns its price. For anyone who's more budget-conscious or primarily looking for a travel-specific pushchair, the City Tour 2 is the better value call.

For more on choosing the right pushchair for your family, see our roundup of the top pushchairs for holidays and our comparison of the Bugaboo Butterfly vs YOYO. If you travel with your stroller regularly, our article on things nobody tells you about baby travel has practical advice on getting the most out of any pushchair on the road.

For independent buying guidance, Which? publishes regularly updated pushchair reviews, and the Mamas and Papas care guide covers maintenance and warranty details if you've already purchased.

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