Preboarding with Children?

[Uncle Mikey]

I haven't done a lot of flying over the last 9 months due to an illness. So I was a bit surprised yesterday. I took my cousin to the Oakland Airport on Saturday morning and waited with her and chatted a bit. When it came time to board, I noticed that United did not give people with small children or those with physical problems an opportunity to preboard. Is this unusual or this now the practice for United and perhaps other airlines?

 

[Beverly Lynn]

Usair was still doing it the last time I flew. many of them are no longer doing it. you may request it if you feel it is necessary. what they are doing a lot of is letting the frequent travelers whoa re high in the program board first. Not fair huh? When we used to make the announcement we no longer had the pre-board either. its a shame it would help with the holdups during the boarding process.

 

[robinb]

I usually ask the gate agent if I can pre-board with my 22 month old daughter. I've flown United, Northwest, American, British Airways and JAL and have only been denied once.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

This is why my 9 yr son and I are flying Delta instead of Southwest. I wanted to make sure he and I got 2 seats together. This Oct is only his 2nd time flying and I didnt want us separated. Delta assigns seats ahead of time - Southwest is the cattle call.

 

[bicker]

Many airlines have curtailed pre-boarding for families with young children, because the privilege was being abused. It was originally intended to give parents with infants a chance to get settled, with the typically accoutremonts (diaper bag, stroller, car seat, etc.) but was more-and-more being used by families with children who could walk themselves down the jetway. I remember the first flights to stop the practice were those heading non-stop to Orlando, since so many passengers were in that latter category. I wasn't aware that the curtailing of the practice had become more widespread.

Incidently, there is a great advantage to pre-boarding for folks who carry-on baggage. Since the most frequent fliers are the airlines best individual customers, it makes sense that they'd give this kind of advantage to them, in return for their contniued loyalty and revenue.

 

[Beckles]

US Airways is the only airline I recall lately that I've flown who still does this, specifically allowing pre-boarding for families with children and "passengers needing extra assistance or time."

However, for passengers who are handicapped or in a wheelchair, I don't recall an airline not boarding them first, they just don't specifically invite them (it's usually pretty obvious who needs such assistance ... when I was on crutches with a broken ankle, I flew Delta several times, and was offered pre-boarding at the gate without having to ask).

 

[Beverly Lynn]

no I still say its not fair to just let the FTP members board first. yes they give revenue but so do the rest of the people traveling. and those traveling with young children under the age of 3 should get pre boarding as well. sometimes its not easy getting those young ones intot heir seats without them havign to check everything out. its a simple curteousy....if it wasn't for business reasons those people who are high in the ftp programs wouldn't have as many miles as they do either. These FTP members get the red carpet rolled out for themselves. passengers traveling with small children don't get much these days. its a shame. I can understand why there is so much air rage now. not right but I do have an understanding...I have been on both sides of the fence and a lot of those FTP members expect the agents to bow down to them too. that they do not deserve no matter what. they do get rewarded for being FTP'ers..they get all those free first class upgrades and extra ftp bonus's and preferred seating...just because the jones family only flies once a year doesn't mean they should get any less customer svc. it should be equal all the way around. the ftp members get enough perks. The airlines bends over backwards for them.

 

[skeezixspud]

But they are cracking down on people preboarding with older children.

I do find that having a carseat with you usually makes a difference; and if not, I very gently remind them that the aisle is not wide enough for the seat to pass through, and it would be such a shame if I accidentally hit one or two of their Elite passengers in the head with it while trying to board (you have to carry it on by holding it up high over the tops of the seats.) It takes time and maneuvering room to get that carseat in place; I don't want to delay departure, either. At very least, I've always been able to get someone to put the carseat into our assigned seats for us. Though they will not buckle it in for liability reasons, at least that's one less thing I have to maneuver past all those other passengers. (Just to be clear, I wouldn't hit someone on purpose, but it's hard to avoid when the plane is full of people.)

 

[SueM in MN]

We have noticed the airline announcements are more specific about the age of children for preboarding. They used to just say "parties traveling with small children" and now they are more likely to give a specific age. One of the reasons I've heard gate agents give is that on non-stop flights to Orlando, almost everyone is flying with "small children", so almost everyone was preboarding and it actually took longer ot load.

We preboard because DD uses a wheelchair and can't walk, but one airline (can't remember which) told us at check in we could preboard, but then the gate agent didn't call us. He told us they only preboard people with disabilities if they ask, and we hadn't checked in with him to ask. The reason was they didn't want to discriminate by assuming people with disabilities all needed preboarding. On that flight, we didn't get to board until our row number was called, so we've been pretty careful to ask both at check in and to remind the gate agent since then.

 

[Beckles]

Originally posted by Beverly Lynn
no I still say its not fair to just let the FTP members board first. yes they give revenue but so do the rest of the people traveling. and those traveling with young children under the age of 3 should get pre boarding as well. sometimes its not easy getting those young ones intot heir seats without them havign to check everything out. its a simple curteousy....if it wasn't for business reasons those people who are high in the ftp programs wouldn't have as many miles as they do either. These FTP members get the red carpet rolled out for themselves. passengers traveling with small children don't get much these days. its a shame. I can understand why there is so much air rage now. not right but I do have an understanding...I have been on both sides of the fence and a lot of those FTP members expect the agents to bow down to them too. that they do not deserve no matter what. they do get rewarded for being FTP'ers..they get all those free first class upgrades and extra ftp bonus's and preferred seating...just because the jones family only flies once a year doesn't mean they should get any less customer svc. it should be equal all the way around. the ftp members get enough perks. The airlines bends over backwards for them.

Out of curiosity Beverly Lynn, do you realize this post is full of gross generalizations about elite level frequent fliers, and being one myself I find it very insulting. Let me just say two things:

1. Many elite level frequent fliers do little or no travel for business.
2. I know many elite level frequent fliers, and most of them do not "expect agents to bow down to them."

 

[DebbieB]

I noticed when I flew USAir to Orlando last month that they said something like "families with infants who do not have their own ticket". In other words, with infants under 2 who will sit in the parent's lap. I didn't understand that because people who buy a seat for their infant and bring a car seat on would hold up things more than people who are sitting a baby on their lap. Why just not say "children under 2".

In the past I've seen families with kids 8 or 10 years old get in line with the "families with small children".

 

[n2mm]

Boy, I haven't heard that phrase in a long time. I travel to WDW 4 to 5 times a year and never hear that announcement anymore. I usually fly United, Delta and USAir. Even when my grandson was little, we never had that option. I always assume it's because we only fly to Orlando and if they seat folks with kids, well that would be about 75% of the plane. My grandson has gone with us four times now and have never been given that option. It's just not a big deal. I find if I wait for my row number to be called, my seat is always there waiting for me and the plane hasn't left me behind, yet. What irks me is when the overhead is filled before we get to our seats. But guess that's a different thread.

 

[Disnydad]

The last time we flew Southwest I think they announced preboarding for those with children 5 and under. Of course on the Orlando flight that would be about 1/3 of the plane.

 

[bicker]

The reality is that making your frequent fliers angry at you is not a smart way to run an airline. Leisure travelers generally aren't as loyal as frequent fliers, generally don't make buying decisions based on pre-boarding prvileges, and individually (let me say it again, since someone missed the point in my earlier message: individually) don't bring in nearly as much money. I know as a FF that when one airline cut back on perqs, including messing around with pre-boarding privileges, another airline was quick to comp me FF status for a few months (until I earned it on their airline outright) in order to get my business -- some years that was almost $100,000. That kind of money makes a very big difference.

 

[steph73]

We flew Spirit Air (eww, don't even get me started by the way) - but they still did allow preboarding. They announced children under 2 but there were families with teenagers getting on also. We had a stroller and a car seat and were allowed to preboard both coming and going. Last year, we flew America West twice to Vegas just DH and I, and I'm almost positive they allowed preboarding. I've also flown Southwest a few times just DS and I and was always allowed to preboard. I was wondering on this trip, because I've heard that many airlines no longer allow it.

On a side note, I'm so done with the "bargain" airlines - never again. In fact, I told DH on our way home today that the next time we go to Vegas we're just gonna splurge and go first class. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to actually have room in a seat, much less leg room. And, I'm a pretty small person - 5'4" and thin. DH is 6" and I can't even imagine how uncomfortable he is. I could go on, but I'll save our most recent escapades for my trip report.

 

[Lewisc]

n2mm--I suspect this is really about getting on early to get room for your carryon (other than SW which features open seating).
Bicker--Wouldn't most FF prefer to be the last person to board if they were guaranteed the same amenities (space for carryon, magazines, pillows etc) as if they were the first to board?

 

[Tink42]

Maybe its just me but I don't want to spend any more time on a plane sitting on the ground then I have to. I rarely bring more on the plane than can fit under the seat ahead of me so I would rather hang back and stay in the airconditioned terminal and get on near the end. I have not taken advantage of boarding with small children because I figured my kids were better off waiting where they had more room. The less time my 2 year old had to wait in a stuffy plane until take off the better.

 

[MikeP]

I don't know that I have ever carried on more than would fit in the the seats ahead of me. With a young son I we always wait till the last moment to board. No need pushing our luck with him.

 

[faeflora]

We fly Midway from Raleigh to Florida, I don't know about pre boarding for children, but as a wheelchair user they always pre board me without question. We usually note the wheelchair in our reservations and obviously when I show up at the gate they see the wheelchair. I would think regular boarding for a person who uses a wheelchair would be a nightmare since often they need to transfer to an aisle chair for boarding.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

I will rephrase part of what I said earlier....most of the higher status ftp members are from business travel.....

I stand where I am on this matter. there is still controversy going on about who gets the ftp miles the flier or the company who is paying for the travel. you must fly so many segments/miles per year in order to achieve the chairmans preferred, gold or platinum status, admirals seat etc. most of this is due to business travel. the average american doesn't travel on pleasure enough in a calendar year to achieve such status. this comes from one of the statistic reports from a ftp dept. so if someone feels this is grossly mistated so be it. thats your opinion. I am going by what I have personally seen in the past 15 years. I have also noticed how obnoxious some of the people in first class have become. I have been on the flight as both an employee working and as a passenger to hear such comments as look at those people who have to fly in coach and laugh and snicker. I'm sorry but this is not necessary. some people can't afford to fly as often to obtain the status which allows them to upgrade to first. and the bad thing is that the ones making the comments are flying on someone elses upgrade! I have heard this while on 4 different carriers so its not like its contained to one certain carrier. I have also been in first class where joe businessman has his entire family upgraded to first and he is letting little besty jump up and down on the seat as people walk by thus spilling her drink all over that seat. he has sat there not saying a word as she jumps up and down. now I am not saying this is all people but one family I observed. the flt attnds were mumbling about how it was going to be a fun flight with them and the uncontrollable kids they had.. and sure enough on their return flight I had asked and she gave me a run down on what they did. this was also put into my daily report because he used his upgrades and created quite a few scenes and made such a bad mess in first that it needed to be brought to the attention of the ftp dept about what this man who was chairmans preferred did. this was first class and there used to be some standards in flying it but that seems to have disappeared somewhere along the way.....I'm not saying it should be all stuffy and that but my point is it was abused.....if he was using those upgrades he should have kept his family in tow.....I am getting off the beaten path...but these ftp members want to be the first on the aircraft and literally push people aside to get there to board first.....to sit and drink and read whatever material they have and some give others going to coach a dirty look......especially if they get bumped ...yeesh! but then these are also the first to complain about having to sit on the aircraft if there is a delay but then again they are the ones who pushed to get on the plane first.......as for the average american family not having any loyalty thats false. many people who only fly once a year do try and stick to the same carrier to get those few flying miles in. and a lot of them are also using their CC and long distance to accrue mileage and more of them are doing it with carriers who don't have them expire after a year or two. in fact I know someone personally who builds up close to 90,000 miles a year on her CC alone with usair to get miles....she flies about once or twice a year once on business and once on pleasure...she has the mileage per calendar year for a high status in the ftp dept but doesn't get it due to them not being "flown miles" I myself have built up to over 100,000 miles on continental and having only flown maybe 3 trips to get there. I have 50,000 miles now to use for 2 free rt tkts that were obtained in other ways besides flying. the rest of the miles were already used in free tkts. I keep up on FTP info on a daily basis as well as air info. I go by what I have seen, heard and have first hand experience with. if someone feels this is grossly misstated so be it. thats your opinion. just as this is mine. there are very few who achieve a high elite status in ftp programs by flying strictly on pleasure......90% of those status's are obtained by flying for business.....