Preboarding with Children on Airtran ?

[momtocnc]

Does Airtran offer preboarding with young children. We are flying with our twins for the first time and want to know what to expect. Thanks!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Not sure about preboarding but you will be assigned a seat when you get your boarding pass if not sooner (such as when paying extra to select seats earlier).

So it doesn't matter whether you preboard. Everything would work the same regardless.

 

[peemagg]

Don't count on it! I asked twice when we traveled with 2- 13 month olds and their 2.5 year old sister. No go. In fact on the way back the agent told us "This is Orlando everyone travels with kids". Maybe yes but I didn't see any others with 3 under three and carseats to boot.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

We've flown AirTran our last three trips to WDW and there was no preboarding for kids. One thing to note though is that you will have a Zone number on your boarding pass that tells you when you board. They board by Zones only (and the zones make no sense), but your whole party can board with the lowest zone number that you have. On our last trip, we had three seats (and a lap infant) and were in three different zones. We all boarded with Zone 1. We have just tried to "hover" around the gate when it looks like they're about to start boarding so that we can get on as early as possible - more to keep from disturbing others than anything else!

 

[peemagg]

if you look at seatgurudotcom. They expalin how airlines do their boarding. Airtran boards in a way that it is special needs then first class then last 5 rows, then first 5 rows economy and back in forth working towards the middle. I guess the idea is that each group will be out of the way for the next one coming on. Of course we all know that doesn't always work.

 

[taitai]

Actually, preboarding ONLY makes sense if you have a car seat. Even then, if there are two adults, it really only makes sense for one adult to go on ahead and install the car seats and the other to wait til the very last second to go on. There is absolutely no need for a kids to be cooped up on a plane longer than absolutely necessary. It really does not take much time at all to buckle a seat belt and stow a backpack under a seat.

Have a fun flight

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW 4-5 times a year, usually flying Air Tran and have never seen anyone preboarded except Make a Wish kids and people in wheelchairs. I usually sit right next to desk and have heard several people ask. All have been told that Air Tran does not allow kids to preboard.

 

[bavaria]

Most mainline US carriers do not allow families to preboard; as noted it really is not the best strategy to preboard children and families. It also costs the airline and thus the passengers - studies have shown that it only serves to slow down boarding as it causes a bottleneck at the start, vs scattering families throughout the boarding process via normal boarding 'zones'.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Actually, preboarding ONLY makes sense if you have a car seat. Even then, if there are two adults, it really only makes sense for one adult to go on ahead and install the car seats and the other to wait til the very last second to go on. There is absolutely no need for a kids to be cooped up on a plane longer than absolutely necessary. It really does not take much time at all to buckle a seat belt and stow a backpack under a seat.

Have a fun flight

I really do reccomend you heed this advice We always kept our kids off and "somewhat" active (not so much as to be too hard for them to settle down) right up until the final boarding call. It helps. Try moving off to the side at your gate and playing Simon Says or doing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" or something else similar with them. Whatever you do, please do not make them sit quietly waiting to board! Save all the sitting quietly time for ON the plane. Once my kids got older they would even bring a Chinese jump rope and play at the nearest empty gate or quiet corner until the last moment.

 

[puffkin]

Actually, preboarding ONLY makes sense if you have a car seat. Even then, if there are two adults, it really only makes sense for one adult to go on ahead and install the car seats and the other to wait til the very last second to go on. There is absolutely no need for a kids to be cooped up on a plane longer than absolutely necessary. It really does not take much time at all to buckle a seat belt and stow a backpack under a seat.

Have a fun flight

I agree. Wait as long as possible to get on the plane. Have someone else go ahead if you have a carseat or a bag for an overhead bin. Board with the baby last....the less time on the plane the better!

 

[dthogue]

I have to agree with the others - wait til the last possible moment to board with your little ones - everyone will thank you for it - the less they have to sit and wait, they better

Tammy