Does Delta allow preboarding with kids?

[kevschickee]

I have never had to fly with young kids so I have no idea. Thanks

 

[crisi]

Most airlines don't bother with flights to Orlando, even if they normally allow it for other flights. They'd board the whole plane anyway.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Delta no longer pre-boards families with small children. I don't know if any US airlines allow this anymore.

 

[crisi]

I just saw it done with an American flight. But not to Orlando.

 

[auralia]

i am to the point where i want nothing to do with delta with children. I have a 2 year old. I always take a rolling carry on w/ extra cloths/food/ etc incase we get stuck as she is very pickey. It can be difficult to get off the plane carrying her and rolling the suitcase w/ the diaper bag. THE DELTA flight attendants laughed at me and told me i didn't know how to handle a carry on because of how hard i was struggling please mind my 2 year old is 30 lbs she was half asleep and i have bad wrists where sometimes they pop and i drop anything i'm carrying. and they just laughed and made fun of me...

rt before we landed they had thanked the soldiers for serving the country so on my way out i looked at them and said the only reason i don't have someone to help me is my husband is in the military and he wasn't alloud leave to bring our daugther to visit her grandparents. And i hoped they felt very bad for laughing at a military wife. i believe i added a few more choice words in, but they all looked really sheapish and the pilot gave them hell i believe (i was the last one off the plane i always wait to be last so i don't hold anyone up.

delta used to be great with children now they are just mean at least every time i've flone them since they merged w/ NW.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Most airlines don't bother with flights to Orlando, even if they normally allow it for other flights. They'd board the whole plane anyway.

1) There are just too many families with small kids going to/from Orlando.
2) To pre-board them would take a lot of time, and delay the flights.
. . . on some flights from Orlando, up to 1/2 the plane is families with kids
. . . when let on as a group, they can take longer
. . . the adults usually rush them faster when boarding later with non-families
3) Even Southwest has altered their pre-board for kids.
4) I see nothing wrong with this.
5) I can see pre-boarding for
. . . first class, they pay more and/or the fly more
. . . elite frequent fliers, they fly more
. . . exit row passengers, as they need to get settled and luggage stowed
. . . handicapped, because they do need extra attention from flight crew
6) But, families with kids should be able to get to the their seats just fine.
7) Just because there are kids, there is no reason for special boarding.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've flown to Chicago with kids a few times, and we've never been asked to preboard. The only reason why someone should be allowed to preboard with kids is if they have carseats, IMHO, because that holds everything up.

 

[kevschickee]

1) There are just too many families with small kids going to/from Orlando.
2) To pre-board them would take a lot of time, and delay the flights.
. . . on some flights from Orlando, up to 1/2 the plane is families with kids
. . . when let on as a group, they can take longer
. . . the adults usually rush them faster when boarding later with non-families
3) Even Southwest has altered their pre-board for kids.
4) I see nothing wrong with this.
5) I can see pre-boarding for
. . . first class, they pay more and/or the fly more
. . . elite frequent fliers, they fly more
. . . exit row passengers, as they need to get settled and luggage stowed
. . . handicapped, because they do need extra attention from flight crew
6) But, families with kids should be able to get to the their seats just fine.
7) Just because there are kids, there is no reason for special boarding.

What about families with young kids and car seats? So then you shouldn't complain if a mother holds the line up because she is buckling the car seat in right?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

What about families with young kids and car seats? So then you shouldn't complain if a mother holds the line up because she is buckling the car seat in right?

I think this is a fair exception.

 

[natnelliesmom]

We always fly Delta- we have small children. We have always been asked to pre-board. We fly out of CT.
Maybe it depends where you are flying out of? I would call the airline and ask specifically if they do this or not. Always good to know ahead of time.
-Sarah

 

[natashag76]

rt before we landed they had thanked the soldiers for serving the country so on my way out i looked at them and said the only reason i don't have someone to help me is my husband is in the military and he wasn't alloud leave to bring our daugther to visit her grandparents. And i hoped they felt very bad for laughing at a military wife. i believe i added a few more choice words in, but they all looked really sheapish and the pilot gave them hell i believe (i was the last one off the plane i always wait to be last so i don't hold anyone up.

Good for you! I would have told them off too and then called later and complained using the flight number and everything!

I also wait to be the last off the plane - with 3 kids it's crazy! I also always try to select or request seats at the back of the plane so that even if there is no preboarding, we're near the front the crowd to get on and a lot of ppl don't have to try to squeeze by while we fight with the car seat.

 

[CLR4321]

Southwest allows families with small children to board right after the business class passengers. I love them and will recommend them to anyone - anytime. They are fair to their passengers and do not charge the horrible fees the other airlines do, fees that should never be charged to a paying passenger such as charging to check bags, charges to check bags at the airport without calling ahead of time to pre-check them, and fees for changing your reservation. As far as I am concerned they are "my" airline, and I won't fly with someone else unless I have no choice.
As far as Delta goes, I used to work for them. I quit after my son was born to be a SAHM for several months, but ended up moving to California where my mom lived, so I did not go back to work for them. I will say, Delta went way down hill right around the time I left (mid-2004). Many airlines do treat passengers with small children "differently", unfortunately Delta became one of these airlines.
As far as the PP who mentioned a flight attendant saying she did not know how to handle a carry-on, I would have asked for help from them. I also would have let them know that I would be letting their supervisor know about their treatment of passengers. I had a run in with a horrible flight attendant on Skywest (they contract with United) once. I made her so mad that she had the ground crew come and talk to me when I got off the plane. The flight attendant refused to let me bring my Britax Marathon on the plane (they said it was not FAA approved despite me showing them the owners manual which I kept tucked in the pocket for the belt lock), and my son who had just turned 2 could not sit well and stay buckled into his seat belt. I assumed it would be best for him to sit on my lap for take off and landing so he wouldn't get hurt, because he clearly was not staying in his seat belt. He was tired and throwing a fit. Children age 2 or over are required to buy their own seat, but if it is in the best interest of the child for safety, they can sit on the parent's lap during take off and landing. So the flight attendant came and told me to buckle my DS in flat on his behind. I explained he would not stay there and he would be safer on my lap. She told me that the airline regulations state the child must be in a seat belt, so I told her I knew what the reg's were as I used to work for Delta. Her eyes got huge and she looked like she wanted to smack me, and she said "sit him down or we will take the plane back to the gate to let you off". I sat him down and tried to buckle him in, and told her if he was hurt during take off or landing that it was on her and on her job. She turned around and walked away and gave me dirty looks whenever she passed me on the plane. My son ended up crying for almost the entire flight because he wanted to be on my lap and he couldn't get comfortable in the plane seat. So when I got off the plane, they were waiting for me, siding with the flight attendant who claimed I was "interrupting the flight crew". It was a mess, and I swore that I would never fly with Skywest again. I haven't to this day, and I did file a complaint with their customer relations dept. They apologized, but no apology could correct the way this evil woman treated me and my 2 year old son. I get mad even thinking about it, and it was 3 years ago.

Good thing for Southwest! I have an option where I do not have to deal with this ridiculous behavior.

 

[drgsjh]

Last time I flew Delta over the summer they did allow early boarding. It was not to Orlando, however.

But, really, do you think I don't need extra time when I am gate-checking my stroller, which I have to remove my child from and fold up in front of the door while holding onto said child and keeping my other child out of people's way with three backpacks and three jackets and boarding passes and a car seat? And then manage to get said carseat, which does not fit down the aisle (and I have a small one) and had to be hoisted over the backs of chairs, three backpacks, three jackets and two kids down the aisle? And then put bags away and hook carseat in while keeping two kids in the seat area and not the aisle so others can get by? And, yeah, I'm doing this alone also because my DH is proudly serving in Iraq.

So when you get behind me when everyone is boarding because I was not allowed extra time and you have to stand there and wait for me, I don't want to hear a word about it since you don't think I need extra time. And I won't make an effort to get out of your way since it's not taking me any longer than anyone else.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Actually... if the child is over 2 and has his or her own ticket he or she is required to be buckled in a seat. Infants and toddlers can become projectiles in the event of an emergency. No wonder people sided with the FA's. You were disruptive and acted like you knew the FARs when, in fact, you did not.

Further, your carseat was required to have the appropriate labeling ON the actual seat, not in accompanying documentation. I would imagine that Skywest is pleased by your decision to exercise your right to fly other airlines.

Ah, the flying public...

Southwest allows families with small children to board right after the business class passengers. I love them and will recommend them to anyone - anytime. They are fair to their passengers and do not charge the horrible fees the other airlines do, fees that should never be charged to a paying passenger such as charging to check bags, charges to check bags at the airport without calling ahead of time to pre-check them, and fees for changing your reservation. As far as I am concerned they are "my" airline, and I won't fly with someone else unless I have no choice.
As far as Delta goes, I used to work for them. I quit after my son was born to be a SAHM for several months, but ended up moving to California where my mom lived, so I did not go back to work for them. I will say, Delta went way down hill right around the time I left (mid-2004). Many airlines do treat passengers with small children "differently", unfortunately Delta became one of these airlines.
As far as the PP who mentioned a flight attendant saying she did not know how to handle a carry-on, I would have asked for help from them. I also would have let them know that I would be letting their supervisor know about their treatment of passengers. I had a run in with a horrible flight attendant on Skywest (they contract with United) once. I made her so mad that she had the ground crew come and talk to me when I got off the plane. The flight attendant refused to let me bring my Britax Marathon on the plane (they said it was not FAA approved despite me showing them the owners manual which I kept tucked in the pocket for the belt lock), and my son who had just turned 2 could not sit well and stay buckled into his seat belt. I assumed it would be best for him to sit on my lap for take off and landing so he wouldn't get hurt, because he clearly was not staying in his seat belt. He was tired and throwing a fit. Children age 2 or over are required to buy their own seat, but if it is in the best interest of the child for safety, they can sit on the parent's lap during take off and landing. So the flight attendant came and told me to buckle my DS in flat on his behind. I explained he would not stay there and he would be safer on my lap. She told me that the airline regulations state the child must be in a seat belt, so I told her I knew what the reg's were as I used to work for Delta. Her eyes got huge and she looked like she wanted to smack me, and she said "sit him down or we will take the plane back to the gate to let you off". I sat him down and tried to buckle him in, and told her if he was hurt during take off or landing that it was on her and on her job. She turned around and walked away and gave me dirty looks whenever she passed me on the plane. My son ended up crying for almost the entire flight because he wanted to be on my lap and he couldn't get comfortable in the plane seat. So when I got off the plane, they were waiting for me, siding with the flight attendant who claimed I was "interrupting the flight crew". It was a mess, and I swore that I would never fly with Skywest again. I haven't to this day, and I did file a complaint with their customer relations dept. They apologized, but no apology could correct the way this evil woman treated me and my 2 year old son. I get mad even thinking about it, and it was 3 years ago.

Good thing for Southwest! I have an option where I do not have to deal with this ridiculous behavior.

 

[Cedarmom]

Further, your carseat was required to have the appropriate labeling ON the actual seat, not in accompanying documentation. I would imagine that Skywest is pleased by your decision to exercise your right to fly other airlines.

Ah, the flying public...

Her seat is labelled appropriately, unless the label has come off. And really. Had the FA allowed the approved car seat on the plane in the first place, it wouldn't have been a problem.


and to drgsjh, I completely agree. If you are not trying to install car seats, preboarding isn't necessary. However, if you are trying to install the seats, especially if you are flying alone with kids, then yes, you should be allowed to preboard. I promise I'm much more disruptive to the boarding process if I have to do everything you mentioned while everyone else is trying to board as well. If you give the car seat users 5 extra minutes, it is more pleasant for everyone...

 

[camlace]

We have flown to Orlando twice and LA once on Jetblue in the last year and they allowed pre-boarding for families with small children on all of the flights.

What we do, since we have two adults and a child in a carseat on the plane.... My husband does the pre-board to install the car seat. I stay in the terminal letting my daughter burn off as much energy as possible...then we get on the plane last Lets her be "free" as long as possible and doesn't impact other people on the plane with us futzing with the car seat.

 

[bavaria]

Most US carriers no longer preboard families, or suspend it on flights to/from MCO due to the large number of families.

United invites families to board with/after Zone 3, which makes a lot of sense, especially based on what many of you have written here. United has a great on time departure record, and many of my flights depart early, even being full of families.

There is absolutely no need for someone to block the jetway because they are gate checking a stroller, and to do so is discourteous to other passengers and may even delay departure. The jetway is large enough for those gate checking to step aside and allow others to pass, yet so often I do see people physically blocking other passengers. Being invited to board early does not mean that you get to prevent others from boarding.

Boarding near the end actually prevents what some of you have complained about - the back log behind you. And most passengers are actually kind hearted and willing to help, unless their fellow passengers display an attitude of defensiveness or entitlement. That is when many of us stop being helpful.

Unfortunately over the recent years there seems to have been a sense that having children trumps all else, and I regularly see parents try and pass by elderly passengers walking slowly down the ramp, or those in wheelchairs. I think that we can all agree that such behaviour is unpleasant and unwarranted, and I can understand why the airlines have stopped offering the perceived benefit.

In addition, many seasoned travellers with children (like the poster above me!) know that boarding last is a benefit because it means the least amount of time spent on the plane, and more time to relax or run off energy in the gate area.

As to refusing to follow the instructions of the crew, or interfering with the crew - for years here I have reminded people that doing so many result in them being denied boarding or off-loaded from a flight or prevented from flying. I see that happen in real life at least once a month, and have read at least two accounts from members of this website in the last few weeks.

Flying doesn't have to be a big drama or headache, if all passengers would follow the instructions and the rules, and if they considered others as well as themselves. Most do, but sadly there are some parents which have given others a bad reputation.

Happy flying, and don't stress over being first to board!

 

[kevschickee]

Most US carriers no longer preboard families, or suspend it on flights to/from MCO due to the large number of families.

United invites families to board with/after Zone 3, which makes a lot of sense, especially based on what many of you have written here. United has a great on time departure record, and many of my flights depart early, even being full of families.

There is absolutely no need for someone to block the jetway because they are gate checking a stroller, and to do so is discourteous to other passengers and may even delay departure. The jetway is large enough for those gate checking to step aside and allow others to pass, yet so often I do see people physically blocking other passengers. Being invited to board early does not mean that you get to prevent others from boarding.

Boarding near the end actually prevents what some of you have complained about - the back log behind you. And most passengers are actually kind hearted and willing to help, unless their fellow passengers display an attitude of defensiveness or entitlement. That is when many of us stop being helpful.

Unfortunately over the recent years there seems to have been a sense that having children trumps all else, and I regularly see parents try and pass by elderly passengers walking slowly down the ramp, or those in wheelchairs. I think that we can all agree that such behaviour is unpleasant and unwarranted, and I can understand why the airlines have stopped offering the perceived benefit.

In addition, many seasoned travellers with children (like the poster above me!) know that boarding last is a benefit because it means the least amount of time spent on the plane, and more time to relax or run off energy in the gate area.
As to refusing to follow the instructions of the crew, or interfering with the crew - for years here I have reminded people that doing so many result in them being denied boarding or off-loaded from a flight or prevented from flying. I see that happen in real life at least once a month, and have read at least two accounts from members of this website in the last few weeks.

Flying doesn't have to be a big drama or headache, if all passengers would follow the instructions and the rules, and if they considered others as well as themselves. Most do, but sadly there are some parents which have given others a bad reputation.

Happy flying, and don't stress over being first to board!

Her husband preboarded with the carseat so technically they still preboarded and I am not stressed but thanks.

 

[bavaria]

But on many airlines preboarding with a car seat is no longer permitted, and many people here (and in airports and on airplanes) do stress.

I strongly suggest reading the Travel with Children forum at www.flyertalk.com

There is a large pool of very frequent (parent) flyers who give advice (although it does tend to be peppered with logic and common sense, and not pixie dust, which may be offputting to some, but is in the end more valuable) Readers may well find tips and strategies which work for other parents, as well as factual information about rules and regulations.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-children-221/

 

[crashbb]

Actually... if the child is over 2 and has his or her own ticket he or she is required to be buckled in a seat. Infants and toddlers can become projectiles in the event of an emergency. No wonder people sided with the FA's. You were disruptive and acted like you knew the FARs when, in fact, you did not.

Further, your carseat was required to have the appropriate labeling ON the actual seat, not in accompanying documentation. I would imagine that Skywest is pleased by your decision to exercise your right to fly other airlines.

Ah, the flying public...

I'm a little confused as well. The poster broke two FAA rules (car seats have to be labeled and a child with a seat needs to be buckled into the seat when the seat belt light is on), but the FA (who is in charge of ensuring that the FAA rules are followed) is the one the wrong