Pre boarding with kids???

[Captain Blue Sky]

All carriers that operate in and out of the US are required by the FAA to offer preboarding, however, preboarding has changed over the last few years. We used to preboard all families travelling with small children 5 years and under. The new policy that most airlines have adopted is preboarding for families traveling with children 2 years of age and under...

The comment that some of the domestic carriers do not preboard as much as international departures is possibly attributable to tight turn times. If you have an aircraft that must leave in a short amount of time, preboarding is usually overlooked as the gate agents try to get everyone on board quickly...

 

[henrylovespooh]

Since 2001, I think we have been given the option of preboarding a flight to Orlando once. I guess if you told everyone with small children they could board early, more than half the passengers would be in line! But with your allergy issue, I would ask the staff person at the boarding desk if you can board early to wipe the seat area down.

I agree with those who wait till the last minute to board with kids. My kids get antsy, especially my almost-3 year old daughter. I like to let them run in the airport in an out of the way place to let them get all their energy out before we take off.

 

[DisFam95]

Flying from Dallas to orlando there has always been many kids and families and no way to pre-board. We have never been allowed to pre-board. DH just went ahead with the car seat and bags and got it installed while I waited as long as possible to enter the plane. WHY would you want to be crammed in a small space with a toddler longer than you have to

Just a tip but take your kids shoes off during the flight. Sock feet are much less annoying to the person in front of you when the kiddos kick the seat in front of them (whether intentional or not). My DS was constantly putting his feet up there not knowing what he was doing.

 

[Colinsmom]

We've never been allowed to preboard on American (even with an infant), and United doesn't seem to offer it either (I travel United for business, without DS3). We were allowed to preboard on Southwest to and from Orlando.

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

I've noticed that our local airport (a Delta hub) let's us pre-board, but Orlando International (MCO) did not. The gate agent told me it was b/c there are so many kids flying out of Orlando that EVERYBODY would be pre-boarding.

Made sense to me - can't argue with that logic.

Mrs. PB

 

[skiwee1]

We flew SW out of Orlando in the past and there was no pre-boarding. The clerk made the announcement that since there were so many kids under the age of 5 that it wasn't worth it. We just flew Airtran and didn't hear any announcement about pre-boarding anyone except business class. They now also board from back to front which is great! Personally I never liked preboarding with my kids. It is bad enough on the plane for any amount of time. There is no way I'd want to prolong it!

 

[AnninIowa]

We just flew on Northwest, and when they announced pre-boarding for those with special needs, all the parents with children rushed to the gate. They were held back and another announcement was made that children did not count as special needs.

 

[ReneeA]

We flew American in August with 2 & 3 year olds. We were not allowed to preboard on any of the flights, but my 2 year old is very busy and I prefered not to spend that much time on the plane.

ReneeA

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Thank you for all the replys. We are flying Continental. So we will see.
Thanks for the responses.

 

[ainmama2001]

We fly Southwest and they let all of us with kids under 5 board first. Try and get the bulkhead up front. It's close to the bathroom, the flight attendants and the pilots will talk to her. Southwest is the most kid friendly airline we've ever used. The flight attendants are so corny and funny. My dd is 3.5 too, but she's a pretty seasoned flyer...(just had her fourth trip to Florida last week). I always bring a new toy (something that she's never seen before and also makes no noise!) and some fruit snacks for take off and landing. I hope this helps! Also, print out some activity sheets for her...coloring sheets and things that are disney themed. Good luck! Oh yeah...bring the car seat for her if you can. They are great if they're used to the seat and it pushes them up higher so they can see out the window. It's also the safest way, INHO.