Early boarding with a toddler

[winterman]

Next April I will be traveling to Orlando with DD, DSiL and DGS, who will be almost 3. We will fly on any combination of United, USAirways or Delta. Can anyone tell my if these airlines allow early boarding for children of that age and if so, how many are allowed to board with him. We will be using his car seat on the plane.

I have a United credit card which allows a free checked bag for the card holder and just one other person on the same reservation. But it appears that the priority boarding benefit applies to everyone on the reservation. Can anyone confirm that for me? Thanks.

 

[goofy4tink]

It all depends on the airline. If it were me, I would have one parent board as early as possible to get the car seat installed. Then everyone else wait at the gate. Let that toddler run a bit more to burn off as much energy as possible. I have never understood the need to get a baby/young child on the plane as early as possible! They get nudgy after a few hours in that seat....so it makes more sense to keep them out of it as long as possible.
Most airlines will allow someone with a car seat to board early in order to get it installed in the seat.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

It all depends on the airline.

Not just the airline, but it also depends on the gate agent working that day. There's policy, and there's what the agent decides to do, and those are only sometimes the same thing.

I've been flying several times a year with my 3 and 6 year olds since the first was born. We almost always purchased a seat for them and installed a car seat:

In my experience, some agents will see the car seat and allow you to truly pre-board (with special needs folks and before the elite/first class passengers). Others didn't even look up and went with the letter of the policy: under 2 can board early, but after the 'premier' zones, or whatever that airline's current policy is. I don't think there's a universal policy on how many can board with a kid, so I think it will depend on the attitude of the gate agent that day. If it looks like a group is going to take more than their fair share of the overhead bins, they might limit the number.

I wish I could offer more concrete guidance, but this has been my experience in the past 5+ years of flying with small children and car seats.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I have never understood the need to get a baby/young child on the plane as early as possible!

In our case, car seats are a place where the kids are peacefully restrained. the sooner we could get them situated on the plane and looking at their books/playing with stickers, the better.

Our kids were also used to a particular 3 hour drive we do to see the grandparents about once a month. They could handle 3 hours in a car seat without needing to get out, so getting them in their seat on the plane (for a ~2 hour flight to Orlando or Nassau) as early as possible worked well for us.

 

[Nechville]

With Delta, my experience has been if you have a car seat they will let you board early. There have been times that they have announced (on my Orlando departing flights) since there are so many children, they will not be doing any early pre-boarding for kids.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

United's official policy is no preboarding of families with children. I have seen families rush up to the gate to pre-board, only to be told to board with their boarding group. That said, occasionally I have also seen gate agents allow this.

If you have a UA branded Chase card, you get boarding in group 2 if you used the card to purchase your tickets. This has made group 2 one of the largest boarding groups! You can have everyone in your group board with you.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

United's official policy is no preboarding of families with children.

Now that I am done with installing car seats on planes with my own kids, I think I can objectively advocate for allowing families installing FAA-approved car seats to pre board. The policy shouldn't have anything to do with age, but a reasonable accommodation of need. I almost had my ankle sprained/broken once when I wasn't allowed to pre-board to install the seat, and my foot was briefly extended outside of my row as I was securing a car seat. Another passenger wasn't watching and rolled my ankle. Plus, a car seat is heavy hard object being moved through a crowded plane...that's not a good idea for anybody.

I have seen families rush up to the gate to pre-board, only to be told to board with their boarding group.

I agree that some people think that having little ones entitles them to first-class privileges. I recall one incident when I wasn't traveling with my kids and I'd been upgraded with my co-workers....they asked for first-class boarding and a mom with kids cut in front of everybody, having not listened to the announcement of boarding order. There was some muttering back and forth with somebody not in my group and she yelled to all of us lined up 'if you had kids, you'd understand' to a group of at least 4 mothers and fathers, traveling on business.

 

[Greysword]

I agree. While it is possible you would need to board with your group, it can't hurt to line up at the desk early and ask nicely if it would be possible for one person to board early to install the car seat. The gate agent at your initial departure airport should be amicable (if it isn't a hub).

Otherwise, just board with your group, and treat it like going through airport security. That is, take the time and space you need to properly install it, ignore the impatient people waiting to board and the incessant intercom announcements about clearing the aisle to allow everyone to board quickly.

Of course, you could politely remind the gate agent that it is incumbent on them to ensure the aircraft departs on time, and boarding a little early to install the car seat while First/Business class is getting settled would speed the boarding process by preventing you from blocking the aisle while installing the seat while other people are trying to get to their spot in the rows behind you.

 

[pooch]

a couple of years ago on SWA. I paid for EBCI for DH & he boarded early in the A's (like A20ish) and installed the car seat. Jayson & I boarded during family boarding ( between A - B) and he jumped right up into the seat and fell asleep 10 minutes after take off for the whole flight!

 

[plutolovr]

USAirways no longer pre-boards families with small children. I experienced this just last week on a flight from Orlando.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Now that I am done with installing car seats on planes with my own kids, I think I can objectively advocate for allowing families installing FAA-approved car seats to pre board. The policy shouldn't have anything to do with age, but a reasonable accommodation of need. I almost had my ankle sprained/broken once when I wasn't allowed to pre-board to install the seat, and my foot was briefly extended outside of my row as I was securing a car seat. Another passenger wasn't watching and rolled my ankle. Plus, a car seat is heavy hard object being moved through a crowded plane...that's not a good idea for anybody......

Okay, but UA's policy is still not to pre-board families. Personally, I think if you have a car seat, board last. What's the rush? The plane doesn't take off as soon as the last group boards. Even if you do get early boarding, you're holding up boarding group 1 (that's me!). Believe me, even if you're in business or first, other PAX still hold up boarding. What's the difference if you hold up a later boarding group instead?

 

[lillykat]

Okay, but UA's policy is still not to pre-board families. Personally, I think if you have a car seat, board last. What's the rush? The plane doesn't take off as soon as the last group boards. Even if you do get early boarding, you're holding up boarding group 1 (that's me!). Believe me, even if you're in business or first, other PAX still hold up boarding. What's the difference if you hold up a later boarding group instead?

Actually the car seats can be a pain to install. I have been on flights that were held up bc the parents boarded in the later group and it did not install easily. Now we are past that, but we pre boarded (would have been zone one anyway) back when we used them and it was offered. We never held anyone else up as we stood in the row. Once DH installed the seat and we got on with our zone one.

It really depends sometimes they had pre-boarding but others they did not. We have only flown delta and jet blue with the kids.

 

[goofy4tink]

Now that I am done with installing car seats on planes with my own kids, I think I can objectively advocate for allowing families installing FAA-approved car seats to pre board. The policy shouldn't have anything to do with age, but a reasonable accommodation of need. I almost had my ankle sprained/broken once when I wasn't allowed to pre-board to install the seat, and my foot was briefly extended outside of my row as I was securing a car seat. Another passenger wasn't watching and rolled my ankle. Plus, a car seat is heavy hard object being moved through a crowded plane...that's not a good idea for anybody.I agree that some people think that having little ones entitles them to first-class privileges. I recall one incident when I wasn't traveling with my kids and I'd been upgraded with my co-workers....they asked for first-class boarding and a mom with kids cut in front of everybody, having not listened to the announcement of boarding order. There was some muttering back and forth with somebody not in my group and she yelled to all of us lined up 'if you had kids, you'd understand' to a group of at least 4 mothers and fathers, traveling on business.

A few years ago, when dd was about 17 or so, we were flying somewhere. We were at the gate, waiting patiently for our boarding group to be called. Well, the gate attendant announced that anyone needing extra time to get situated or those flying with children could now board. My dd just turned to me and said 'Hey, those kids are no younger than I am...why do they get to board now?'. It was pretty funny. Two or three different families decided that yes, they had children with them, so obviously they could now board..before everyone else. Of course, not one of those kids, in any family, was younger than 8 or 9!! And then, trying to get through the throng at the entry to the jetway...miserable.

Okay, but UA's policy is still not to pre-board families. Personally, I think if you have a car seat, board last. What's the rush? The plane doesn't take off as soon as the last group boards. Even if you do get early boarding, you're holding up boarding group 1 (that's me!). Believe me, even if you're in business or first, other PAX still hold up boarding. What's the difference if you hold up a later boarding group instead?

I doubt that one or two people, stepped into their row, trying to install car seats, are going to hold you up too much. It's so much easier to install a car seat without a ton of people trying to move around you..so yes, it makes sense to get those people on board early.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Personally, I think if you have a car seat, board last. What's the rush?

Have you personally traveled with kids and a car seat? It's not about 'rush'. Its about hassle and safety.

Do you occasionally get bumped by people's bags as they walk trough the aisle? Turn that bag into 30 pound, hard-side, inflexible piece of plastic with heavy duty fabric straps and several metal buckles flapping around.

Carry that through an airplane aisle, with kids and other bags (like diaper/snacks and electronics to keep them quiet while in flight) in tow, without hitting anybody.

Now imagine that parent is sleep deprived and is not a good respecter of other people's space to begin with. You want that guy/gal walking down the aisle boarding last and into a plane full of people, rather than an empty one?

Add-in that once there were four of us, we sat 2 by 2, window-middle, in 3 across seats, one row in front of the other (think 8A 8B 9A 9B), so as to not kick/bother the stranger in front of us. If we board at the end we have to have two aisle passengers get up to let us into our seats, and have the aisle passenger make enough space in the row so I can kneel on the middle seat and thread the plane's seat belt through the back of the car seat, safely tighten it, and then secure my child in the seat.

Put that way, do you think that should happen during the end of regular boarding process?

As I said, we're now done with car seats on planes, so I'm advocating for the next guy, not myself.

 

[keishashadow]

Have you personally traveled with kids and a car seat? It's not about 'rush'. Its about hassle and safety.

Do you occasionally get bumped by people's bags as they walk trough the aisle? Turn that bag into 30 pound, hard-side, inflexible piece of plastic with heavy duty fabric straps and several metal buckles flapping around.

Carry that through an airplane aisle, with kids and other bags (like diaper/snacks and electronics to keep them quiet while in flight) in tow, without hitting anybody.

Now imagine that parent is sleep deprived and is not a good respecter of other people's space to begin with. You want that guy/gal walking down the aisle boarding last and into a plane full of people, rather than an empty one?

Add-in that once there were four of us, we sat 2 by 2, window-middle, in 3 across seats, one row in front of the other (think 8A 8B 9A 9B), so as to not kick/bother the stranger in front of us. If we board at the end we have to have two aisle passengers get up to let us into our seats, and have the aisle passenger make enough space in the row so I can kneel on the middle seat and thread the plane's seat belt through the back of the car seat, safely tighten it, and then secure my child in the seat.

Put that way, do you think that should happen during the end of regular boarding process?

As I said, we're now done with car seats on planes, so I'm advocating for the next guy, not myself.

most of us have been there with our own kids, many going thru it again with grand children, not to mention those with hidden disabilities. Lots of people need various accommodations. Key is to work within the airline's policies to find strategies that will work for your personal situation. As with life in general, you cannot rely on the kindness of strangers, it is what it is.

If you have option of which airline to book, pay for EBIC on SWA and head to back of plane if you require more time to get settled. That area is never in high demand early in the boarding practice. I will miss AirTran, was nice to be able to cheaply upgrade to business class and get settled in early.

fyi, more than once, I've seen SWA eliminate the early board for children out of MCO on full flights, makes sense since so many kids per flight and if they've sold much into B for EBIC really not fair imo.

 

[winterman]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and experience. We have plenty of time to think about it but it seems to make sense to have DD try to board early to install the car seat. DSiL and I can wait to board with DGS in our assigned group.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

most of us have been there with our own kids, many going thru it again with grand children, not to mention those with hidden disabilities. Lots of people need various accommodations. Key is to work within the airline's policies to find strategies that will work for your personal situation. As with life in general, you cannot rely on the kindness of strangers, it is what it is.

If you have option of which airline to book, pay for EBIC on SWA and head to back of plane if you require more time to get settled. That area is never in high demand early in the boarding practice. I will miss AirTran, was nice to be able to cheaply upgrade to business class and get settled in early.

fyi, more than once, I've seen SWA eliminate the early board for children out of MCO on full flights, makes sense since so many kids per flight and if they've sold much into B for EBIC really not fair imo.

I'm not sure you understand your position - the part you quoted was in reference to how I think policies *ought to be*, not how they are.

This is my suggestion:

Now that I am done with installing car seats on planes with my own kids, I think I can objectively advocate for allowing families installing FAA-approved car seats to pre board. The policy shouldn't have anything to do with age, but a reasonable accommodation of need.

Do you disagree with this idea?

 

[Greysword]

Okay, but UA's policy is still not to pre-board families. Personally, I think if you have a car seat, board last. What's the rush? The plane doesn't take off as soon as the last group boards. Even if you do get early boarding, you're holding up boarding group 1 (that's me!). Believe me, even if you're in business or first, other PAX still hold up boarding. What's the difference if you hold up a later boarding group instead?

I agree that any early boarding to install a car seat should not be done after Group 1, as the fight for overhead space in first/business is pretty fierce.

I would hope the agent would allow those with car seats to allow only one person from the party to board pre-zone 2 to give them a bit of a head start on the process. Usually when I board in zone two (due to *silver), there is lots of room at my seat and time to install a car seat before the horde arrives . Hordes I said!!

This should not impact anyone in first/business or economy plus, as the action would be taking place a dozen (or so) rows back.

It is definitely tricky timing, but in the end the small fry did buy a seat and is entitled to have the proper equipment installed for their safety and the comfort of those around him/her. The question is whether allowing the installation early makes the boarding process faster than in the middle or at the end?

 

[Greysword]

Oh Linda, make sure you check out another thread about car seats. In it, I have a post regarding the FAA requirements on car seats and your rights to one.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3072614

Here are a couple of links to read, in case the gate agent tries to throw a fit regarding the car seat...

The FAA has guideline for car seats on aircraft. The pamphlet can be found here:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/

The governing pronouncement is Circular AC 120-87B (9/17/2010) found:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli...cfm/go/document.information/documentID/388616