Does Delta allow preboarding with kids?

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Had her carseat been labeled appropriately she wouldn't have needed to bring the manual/literature, would she? If the label has been removed or is no longer on the seat, it is not within the FA's authority to ignore a FAR that could and would violate her employer's operating certificate. If the woman is toting the manual around she's certainly encountered this issue before.

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.

 

[crisi]

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

I suspect that for some airlines its at the discretion of the flight crew or gate agents on whether they choose to pre-board families - where as some of the other early boarders (first class passengers) are perks of the ticket or program (club members).

Although I agree with Bavaria's point, there are some big advantages to getting on later, particularly with kids, where the seats are assigned. But we don't risk THAT on our Disney trips with small kids either, as we tend to fly Northwest (now Delta) and people often end up with families broken up on the plane - then they board early and seat assignments get thrown out the window (and I've done it - ended up with two together in a row of three, and grabbed the third boarding early - asking the gentleman whose seat my four year old was sitting in if he didn't mind trading once he boarded. Fortunately, he was a good sport about it - and my seat was just one back and an aisle - it was more or less an even trade for him). Now that my kids are old enough to fly without me needing to sit next to them, boarding them late means less time they need to be sitting....an important criteria.

 

[kevschickee]

I suspect that for some airlines its at the discretion of the flight crew or gate agents on whether they choose to pre-board families - where as some of the other early boarders (first class passengers) are perks of the ticket or program (club members).

Although I agree with Bavaria's point, there are some big advantages to getting on later, particularly with kids, where the seats are assigned. But we don't risk THAT on our Disney trips with small kids either, as we tend to fly Northwest (now Delta) and people often end up with families broken up on the plane - then they board early and seat assignments get thrown out the window (and I've done it - ended up with two together in a row of three, and grabbed the third boarding early - asking the gentleman whose seat my four year old was sitting in if he didn't mind trading once he boarded. Fortunately, he was a good sport about it - and my seat was just one back and an aisle - it was more or less an even trade for him). Now that my kids are old enough to fly without me needing to sit next to them, boarding them late means less time they need to be sitting....an important criteria.

Oh no now I am confused I have my seat numbers already but people can take them if they want to?

 

[crashbb]

Oh no now I am confused I have my seat numbers already but people can take them if they want to?

People can try, but no they cannot actually take your seat. You do not have to board early to ensure you get your assigned seat.

It is generally recommend (by frequent flyers) that, rather than sitting in someone else's seat, you take your assigned seats and then ask the person sitting in the seat you would like, if they would mind trading. Generally, if offering like-for-like (i.e. aisle-for-aisle in roughly the same area) or asking them to move to a better seat (i.e. move from middle to aisle, or aisle-to-aisle, but more to the front or to an extra leg room seat), most people (if flying alone) will be willing to move if asked nicely. I know that many people report that they will move if asked (again, assuming they are not moving to a bad seat) but will refuse point blank if the person is already in their seat (for them, it is the principle of the thing).

If you find someone in your seat (and they won't leave it), show the FA your boarding pass. There are occasions (very rare) where two people do end up with the same seats on their boarding passes, so obviously someone will have to move. Also, occasionally someone will accidentally misread the seat rows (and sit one in front/back) of where they should be. I've seen this domino where everyone just sits one back/front, until someone ends up separated from their flying companions and notices the problem. I tend to assume accident (or double booking) before I would assume someone is trying to steal your seat.

 

[ccgirl]

I always fly with small children and I really don't see the need to pre-board when you have assigned seats. Why would you want to "rush" on an airplane with small children and make them sit there longer than they have to? As to gate checking the stroller...I have mine all folded up while boarding so I can just step aside to drop it off. As a PP stated, there is no need to take up the entire aisle and hold those up behind you. I would think having those with children board last rather than preboard would actually make the boarding run a bit more smoother. Having children is a blessing not a disability and should not give us parents more "rights" than those flyers without children.

Sorry about the rant. To answer the OP, I do not believe that Delta allows pre-boarding of families with small children but I would call the airline directly to ask.

 

[kevschickee]

I always fly with small children and I really don't see the need to pre-board when you have assigned seats. Why would you want to "rush" on an airplane with small children and make them sit there longer than they have to? As to gate checking the stroller...I have mine all folded up while boarding so I can just step aside to drop it off. As a PP stated, there is no need to take up the entire aisle and hold those up behind you. I would think having those with children board last rather than preboard would actually make the boarding run a bit more smoother. Having children is a blessing not a disability and should not give us parents more "rights" than those flyers without children.

Sorry about the rant. To answer the OP, I do not believe that Delta allows pre-boarding of families with small children but I would call the airline directly to ask.

I would like to preboard so I don't hold up the line while conecting the CARES harness for the 1st time. Since I will be having to hookup 2 and have 2 little ones to watch it would be a little easier even if the kids stay with my DH in the seating area while I preboard and prepare them. Plus bringing our stroller and all of our carry ones. Nobody is making having children a disability it is all about not holding up the other passengers.

 

[Hannathy]

I would like to preboard so I don't hold up the line while conecting the CARES harness for the 1st time. Since I will be having to hookup 2 and have 2 little ones to watch it would be a little easier even if the kids stay with my DH in the seating area while I preboard and prepare them. Plus bringing our stroller and all of our carry ones. Nobody is making having children a disability it is all about not holding up the other passengers.

You can still do this without pre-boarding. You or DH who ever is quicker hooking things up goes on when your seat is called and hooks up the seats then whoever stayed with the kiddos gets in line at the end of boarding, you have your seat so it doesn't matter. by the time you get on he is all hooked up and waiting. First boarder can also take the stroller down the ramp and leave it at the door. Last boarder just gets on with the kids and their own carry on, older child wears own back pack. We did this on many a flight.

 

[crisi]

I would like to preboard so I don't hold up the line while conecting the CARES harness for the 1st time. Since I will be having to hookup 2 and have 2 little ones to watch it would be a little easier even if the kids stay with my DH in the seating area while I preboard and prepare them. Plus bringing our stroller and all of our carry ones. Nobody is making having children a disability it is all about not holding up the other passengers.

You actually hold up the line worse if you pre-board.

If you wait until almost everyone is on, then get on last, hook up the harness, you'll be good to go. If you get on first, everyone else has to wait to get on while you stand in the aisle and hook up the harness. Then the guy getting into the seat a row behind you walks three steps and then stops the line to put his luggage in the overhead. Then the guy waiting for him does the same thing. In my experience, they don't wait for one group to finish boarding before they start boarding the next group (sometimes they do when I board first class).

There are always stragglers, and once the line moves down to a trickle, there are things the attendants need to do before they can leave the gate.

 

[bavaria]

believe me, the airlines have studied this in depth for years as it equates to revenue for them. They have determined that pre-boarding families creates a log jam, and that it saves 10-12 minutes to disperse the families throughout boarding or even at the end of the line.

Poll people in the gate area and I am quite certain that almost everyone could come up with an argument why they should board first. But remember, if everyone is special, nobody is special. (To put a Disney spin on the subject)

 

[crashbb]

Poll people in the gate area and I am quite certain that almost everyone could come up with an argument why they should board first. But remember, if everyone is special, nobody is special. (To put a Disney spin on the subject)

Honestly, no - there is no reason that I should board first. Unless it looks like everyone else is traveling as a pack mule and fear that they'll be no room in the overhead bin, I am quite happy to board near the end.

And, the airline(s) I mainly fly do think I should be able to board first - I just rarely make use of the "honour".

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I don't think Delta pre boards anymore.

When my kids were little, I liked to be one of the last people on the plane so my kids had less time they were forced to sit and wait.

It worked out well for us.

 

[hillview]

It seems to vary by airline and Gate Agent. Sometimes they do preboard, sometimes if you ask for some extra time to install car seat they will let you get on early. Other times, you are on your own. I install 2 car seats on every flight -- sometime we are not seated together. It is super fun if they do not preboard. So if you have car seat(s), I'd ask if you can preboard. If you don't have carseats, I don't see a need to preboard -- I'd rather let the kids run til the last moment. Be prepared for preboard OR not. I have been on almost every airline in the US with a child in carseat and see with and without preboard.
HTH!
/hillary

 

[CLR4321]

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 wonder if you know what a Britax Marathon is? The flying public with children as well as the general public with children knows that Britax is literally the safest car seat in the world, and yes, being the safest car seat, they are also airline approved, with the sticker stating so, which was also pointed out to the flight attendant (who likely doesn't have a job anymore).

 

[CLR4321]

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

It was a Britax Marathon, which most definitely is airline approved with a sticker stating so. The flight attendant told me I could not use it, despite the sticker, and after showing her the owners manual with instructions on how to install it. Yes, the flight attendant was wrong and put my 2 year and 1 month old son in danger. She could see the seat belt was across his upper legs and was not sufficient to hold him in the seat at all.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

You may know what a Britax Marathon is, but you do not know your federal aviation regulation with regard to the seating of passengers who have reached their second birthdays for takeoff, landing or when the seatbelt sign is illuminated.

I direct your attention to the FAA Federal Aviation Regulations, 14 CFR, Part 121, Section 311.

It sounds like you AND your flight attendant friend should have a glance. While you're at it, you may wish to glance at Section 580 of the same Regulation. It deals with how passengers need to behave while onboard.


Your personal opinion as to whether your child is safer on your lap or in a seat is moot; should you be incapacitated you will lose control of your child where a seatbelt will not. A bruise or a missile.

Ah the flying public and people who do not know the regulations or know what a Britax Marathon is. A Britax Marathon most certainly does have an FAA approved sticker on the side, also which was shown to the not so bright of a flight attendant. The owners manual had a diagram with How To Install It on an aircraft (hmmmm, lets think). I worked for Delta for 4 years and know the regulations. A child on a parents lap is safer than in a seat belt, with legs too short to stay buckled into a seat belt. I ended up laying my arms across him during take off and landing to keep him on the seat. One thing to be learned...do not fly Skywest.

 

[thebeesknees]

I just flew Delta today from Hartford to Colorado Springs and didn't get to preboard either of my flights. I would like to add that the flight attendants on both my flights were fantastic and very sweet during the second 3-hour flight about offering to let me stand in the galley during part of the flight to try to rock the baby to sleep. He was exhausted from being up since 4 AM to get to the airport and they even volunteered to hold him for a minute or two so I could catch my breath, wash my face and come back to the baby refreshed. Hats off to them!

 

[Cedarmom]

I've never understood the 'honor' of boarding first. If I'm not trying to install car seats, please. Put me on the plane last. It is that much less time I'm scrunched in too small a space with too many people.

However, I have held up the plane on takeoff b/c I wasn't allowed to preboard (travelling w/ 2 children by myself), hit several people in the head with a car seat (sorry 'bout that), and then had to install the seats. I've had FAs standing over me (not helping, mind you--not that I'd expect them to), waiting for me to finish so that the plane could take off. The same airline gave me the 'you'll stand in the aisle' line as well. Weird, considering the seats have to be installed by the window. I've never once blocked the aisle while installing a seat.

When travelling with dh, we do as others have suggested. One gets on as soon as we can w/ seats and install and the keeps the kiddos in the terminal until the very last minute. That works well as well, but not so much if you are travelling alone with children or if you are in the last boarding group (and why, oh why, am I always in the last boarding group when I need to install seats???).

I'm actually looking forward to the Disney trip. No need for seats on the other end means the only seat we'll have is the infant seat. The baby will already be in that and the install is a breeze, so no issues there. The CARES harness for the 3 yo is a snap now that I've done it several times, so , no preboarding fights this time!!!

 

[Cedarmom]

Had her carseat been labeled appropriately she wouldn't have needed to bring the manual/literature, would she? If the label has been removed or is no longer on the seat, it is not within the FA's authority to ignore a FAR that could and would violate her employer's operating certificate. If the woman is toting the manual around she's certainly encountered this issue before.

Actually, the Marathon has the manual attached to the seat. It sounds like hers had been disconnected so she'd stuck it into a little pocket on the side. Pretty smart, if you ask me. The manual needs to stay with the seat. It does you no good inside your house where the car seat never is. And you'd be surprised how much literature you often need to bring to show FAs. I come armed w/ FAA regs every time I fly b/c you never know when you'll be told you can't use your seat (or you can't use your seat rear-facing, or your kid is too big for the seat...). FAs don't always know that much about car seats on planes, unfortunately.

 

[maxiesmom]

It was a Britax Marathon, which most definitely is airline approved with a sticker stating so. The flight attendant told me I could not use it, despite the sticker, and after showing her the owners manual with instructions on how to install it. Yes, the flight attendant was wrong and put my 2 year and 1 month old son in danger. She could see the seat belt was across his upper legs and was not sufficient to hold him in the seat at all.

I can see why she didn't take the owners manual as the last word. How is anyone to know that that manual goes to that particular seat? I'm thinking the FAs have better things to do than to try to match up seats to the owners manuals.

If it had the sticker on it, that is another story. But you did not mention that in your original post, which makes me doubt wether you indeed showed the FA the sticker of just the manual, as you stated you did in your first post.

 

[seashoreCM]

However, I have held up the plane on takeoff b/c I wasn't allowed to preboard (travelling w/ 2 children by myself), hit several people in the head with a car seat (sorry 'bout that), and then had to install the seats. I've had FAs standing over me (not helping, mind you--not that I'd expect them to), waiting for me to finish so that the plane could take off.

The reason why children preboard is to speed up the overall boarding process (if it does).

The reason why children are denied preboarding is to speed up the overall boarding process (if it does).

I would not rush things and work up a sweat just because the business travelers who say they can be seated quicker than all those families and squalling children failed to hustle themselves so there would be more time when your turn came. And, please take it easy so you don't hit people on the head down the aisle.

If only your situation was the majority then it would dawn on the airline (i.e. won't be decided upon tomorrow) that letting kids preboard would be a good idea.

Extra time to board and get settled, unlike vehicular right of way at an intersection, is quietly taken and used, not given or proffered.