Jetblue Pre-boarding

[areno79]

We'll be flying Jetblue for our trip next month. We're also bringing my 6yo cousin, who'll be flying for the first time. I've checked the JB website, and it says that they allow pre-boarding for small children. My question is, what constitutes a "small child"?
Thanks for your input!

 

[8gr8mouseketeers]

We have flown Jetblue many times and love them. Pre-boarding has always been announced as "those with small children or anyone who would just like a little extra time getting seated." I don't think you will have any problem.

 

[n2mm]

We fly Jetblue every couple of months. They do pre-board but it is for children under TWO.

 

[laughinplace199]

Although JB will almost certainly let you preboard with a 6 yr od, I don't see any real need to preboard. We preboard to install DS2's carseat and to clean DD10's seating area (she has food allergies). If we didn't have to do these things, we wouldn't bother with preboarding.

 

[areno79]

Hmmm...maybe I'll just ask the gate agent. I mean, we do have assigned seats so I'm not worried about that, but it would be a little easier if we had some time for my cousin to adjust to her surroundings on the plane, ya know? If we don't get to pre-board, it's not the end of the world.

 

[bleeps]

The reality of flying with kids is that being on -- sitting on -- the plane is HARD. It is MUCH easier to be in the terminal where they can walk around, etc. Pre-boarding with infants is helpful, but pre-boarding with a 6-year-old can be a mistake (in our experience) because it just prolongs the hardest part of the trip (which is sitting on the plane).

 

[Hannathy]

Hmmm...maybe I'll just ask the gate agent. I mean, we do have assigned seats so I'm not worried about that, but it would be a little easier if we had some time for my cousin to adjust to her surroundings on the plane, ya know? If we don't get to pre-board, it's not the end of the world.

I'm not sure what she would have to adjust to, but Pre-boarding is only a minute or two before others board. Sometimes they call for the next group before you even get to your seat. When you have nothing to do quickly like hooking a car seat, getting on and sitting while the whole plane fills up can seem like a very long time. Just wait and walk on with everyone else, it will also set the tone that she is a big person and not a baby.

 

[goofy4tink]

While everyone has their own way of doing things, it always surprises me when I see people wanting to preboard with kids. It 'used' to be that parents were always advised to board as late in the process as possible, rather than earlier. Why? Because it gave the kids a bit of extra time to run off some of that energy before being belted into their seat for hours on end.
Now it seems that most parents want to board as early as possible. I would think that would make for nudgy kids but I'm basing that on how it worked for my dd. She started flying at 4 and we never preboarded...way too much time sitting and waiting. That's the part that always un-nerved her.

 

[areno79]

I didn't even think of the "fidgety" aspect...obviously I don't have children! That does kind of make sense though.

Hey, this is OT, but does anyone know if the airlines still give a wings pin to first time flyers? She might think that is cool.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Pretty much, the airlines don't give anything any more. Maybe someone in your party could slip into a gift shop at the airport while you wait, buy something plane-related, and give it to her once you're all seated and buckled in?

I agree with the others about NOT preboarding. While, generally, the wait isn't "that" long - boarding usually starts 25-30 minutes before departure - I can and often do preboard for medical reasons. When I have a say in the process (as in, when someone wasn't specially dispatched to roll me down the jetway), I like to wait as long as possible to board.

 

[carrie6466]

We preboarded with our then 5 yr old, because we had a stroller. We were waiting and the gate agent told us they wanted under 2 or anyone with a stroller to gate check to do the preboard.

 

[MAH4546]

Pre-boarding is not meant for families with a six-year old. It is typically for two and under, or those with strollers or the elderly. Otherwise, everybody and their mother could "pre-board" on every JetBlue flight to and from Orlando.

 

[bookwormde]

If your child is 6yo and has flown before I am not sure that pre-bording would really be needed, but if this is a first flights and there are indication of potential serious anxiety potential then pre-boarding can be very beneficial, since the congestion and noise and “being hurried” can greatly increase the anxiety and allows more time for familiarization with the aircraft (and environment).

I have to agree that if flying is “old hat” for your child and there are no anxiety issues, and boredom is an issue then if you have assigned seats loading last is a good alternative (assuming it does not create a problem with carry-ons and overhead bin space).

Each airline has their own non ADA policy and each gate agent has to make their own decision about what will create the most fair, comfortable and safe boarding order with all passengers interests in mind. Checking with the gate agent and if you have any special concerns letting them know, as they will often be helpful.

bookwormde

 

[Alexander]

I didn't even think of the "fidgety" aspect...obviously I don't have children! That does kind of make sense though.

Hey, this is OT, but does anyone know if the airlines still give a wings pin to first time flyers? She might think that is cool.

JB gives my kids stick-on wings everytime we fly with them. Also, I agree with previous posters, my kids are 3 and 11 and we've been flying several times a year since they were just a few months old, and we always try to board at late as possible. We also try to sit near the front of the plane so we can get off a bit sooner. Last on, first off is kind of our mantra. The kids have to sit for a couple of hours while in flight, so sitting and waiting for everyone to board or deplane is just more sitting.

 

[seashoreCM]

Each ... gate agent has to make their own decision about what will create the most fair, comfortable and safe boarding order with all passengers interests in mind. Checking with the gate agent and if you have any special concerns letting them know, as they will often be helpful.e

The gate agent has to make his own decision about what will achieve the quickest boarding given passengers' boarding habits. Your checking with the gate agent early and being prepared to preboard lets him know you may need some extra time and helps him choose and fine tune his plan.

Even though kids may have a hard time sitting still, it does the flight crew a disservice to intentionally straggle onto the plane without warning and then hold everyone up while getting settled.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think anyone suggested that people straggle onto the plane, after everyone else boarded. I think that the point was to board when you're boarding group is called, rather than preboard, in order to keep fidgeting down a bit.

 

[bavaria]

The gate agent has to make his own decision about what will achieve the quickest boarding given passengers' boarding habits.

Actually, most airlines have a very strict boarding order, and do expect their GAs to enforce that order. There is no personal 'decision' involved; the airline dictates the order, and the GA enforces that order.

Many US carriers no longer allow any form of family preboarding, and will send those to the back of the line who attempt to board before their zone/area is called. For those who do still permit family boarding, it is often suspended on flights to/from MCO due to the large volume of familes.