Preboarding with Children?

[VondaP]

Just my .02 worth. DH is a member of the executive platinum club on AA. He travels weekly from our home in Texas to Mexico, China, India, Italy and others. Because of this he is not home very often which is hard on our family. He uses his status for upgrading his trips to first class that are long flights. He's a tall man and it helps him to be able to rest comfortably. Very important when you are on a plane for a very long time. ALL of his ff miles come from business travel. When we do travel for pleasure we do so using his mileage. Dh's company does not pay him extra for being away from home so much, so I think of the miles as a perk. We will be using miles to travel to WDW again in October. We are very thankful that we can do this saving us quite a bit of money. A lot of business do not allow their employees to keep the mileage.

I cannot imagine anyone acting a fool in either first class, business class or coach. I personally have never seen it. According to my husband it does happen. DH is a quiet man who keeps to himself. But he will definitely speak up if someone is getting out of hand, and does not tolerate anyone speaking badly to a flight attendant. One bad apple can certainly spoil the whole bunch.

My point is, the miles "we" earn we use to fund our family vacations and are grateful for them.

One thing I will add, the prices that his company pays for his airfare is ridiculous! They seldom, if ever, book ahead of time. I supppose that's the kind of flyer the airlines want. The last minute person (or company) that paid a premium for his/her ticket.

Vonda

 

[StilesMom]

Vonda - I agree with your post completely! My DH is also a business traveler and has reached Chairman status with USAirways. I think of his miles as a perk for our family since he, too, does not get paid extra when he travels. He rarely books a flight more than 5 days ahead and most of the time pays full fare. Not everyone who enjoys a high ftp status is rude and obnoxious - most of them are just enjoying the perks that come along with being on the road so often.

Getting back to the original post.... when we flew to Orlando last month, the announcement was, "Anyone needing assistance..." They said nothing about small children. They also offered us the option of boarding early because of DH's ftp status, and we were glad to have the opportunity to get settled in early.

Melissa

 

[VickiVM]

Just an FYI...We flew Southwest earlier this month to Seattle. They still offered pre-boarding and I didn't notice but a handful of people taking advantage of it. My MIL and FIL were also with us and it occured to them to request pre-boarding on way back since FIL has Alzheimers. Although he isn't physically handicapped in any way, it is quite tricky getting him around...he does tend to wander off and he has a harder time navigating if there is a crowd. And to the earlier poster who chose Delta over Southwest simply because of boarding procedures (SW - open seating), my son and I flew back from Seattle separately form DH and his parents and we had 15 min between flights in LAX connection. We were among the last group to board on our flight and DS (7) and I didn't have a problem finding two seats together. As a matter of fact, another family boarded in last group and a guy gave up his seat for another so that they could have 3 seats together. I don't want to get flamed for this...just an observation: I feel that flying is a great way to observe the human race as they truly relate to one another - once you remove the "classes" and perks, most don't behave any better or worse than others.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

now I did not say all do it in first class but there are more now than there used to be. its a shame those few have to make it like that. now I personally think the one doing hte flying should get the miles but it is a big issue and even the government is trying to tax the ftp tkts and they have even tried to add the cost of an employees travel into their salary......but that too is another thread.....

 

[bicker]

I agree with Vonda. Frequent fliers earn every perq the airline could give them. I gave up a six-figure salary because of the "cost" associated with that kind of lifestyle (and all the millions of frequent flier miles I would have earned over the four years since I left that job). They do the flying -- not their company. The company may or may not take the miles, but the status and perqs such as early boarding and upgrades, those stay with the traveler who earned those miles with their sweat.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I just flew Delta (4 boardings as we had connecting flights) they never asked for preboarding of small children just 1st. class and FF members. Two of the flights could have used the kids preboarding as the parents were trying to get car seats installed on the plane and other passengers were not able to get by them.
Colleen

 

[pamk]

Maybe I'm not seeing something but the last time that I took a flight we sat on the runway waiting to take off for 45 minutes. What is so great about being the first one on the plane unless you physically need to be?

 

[lindaso]

We usually fly Delta Express down to FL. When my DD was 18 months and we were flying alone, they would not let me preboard even though I had to install her carseat. I had trouble with the seat and held up the entire flight. I was drenched with sweat by the time I got it installed correctly (no help from anyone!!) and my nerves were shot.

Now I insist they let me preboard even when they tell me it's not their policy. Last year when I had 2 carseats to install and was being denied preboarding, I asked to speak to a manager and they did let me on eventually...but only me, the rest of the gang had to wait until our row was called.

They always act like they're doing me a big favor but I'm really only trying to help them get their flight off on time.

Linda

 

[AllanJ]

Just to let you know,

Preboarding children is for the airline's convenience, not yours.

When they found out that not preboarding children allowed the plane to depart just as quickly, they stopped the practice.

Also the Ferraris (biztravelers with briefcases) hated creeping behind the Amish buggies (families with children) down the gangplank so they let the former go first and then sit and wait in their seats instead of stand and wait on the gangplank.

But YOU do not have to drench yourself with sweat just because THEY did not give you more time to board by preboarding you.

All you gotta do is ... act naturally. (Was Ringo Starr the first to sing that line?). When enough parents ignore (quietly please) the steward/ess' cries of hurry, hurry, maybe preboarding children will come back.

Incidentally, usually when I heard the preboarding call for children (years gone by), the phrase "who need extra time" was worked into the announcement.

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[lindaso]

Hi Allan,

I know I should have a more laid-back attitude about it but having 100+ people staring at me with the flight attendants saying "oh, the seat is secure enough" as it wobbles back and forth at the slightest pull is not my idea of a vacation!!

I am a safety-fanatic and that plane will not leave until my seats are secured correctly (heck, that's why I buy a seat for my under-2 kids)...so a little extra time in an empty plane without people pushing past me and without my kids climbing around and getting trampled by others is worth fighting for. It winds up benefitting me in the long run as I can enjoy the flight.

Linda

 

[AllanJ]

Hmmmm ... Lemme think ...

The child seat is to protect the child from being pitched forward in a mishap. The regular seat belt and seat is too big to protect adequately. Side impact collisions are not regarded as a problem on airplanes. It is OK if the child seat lifts up a little or wobbles from side to side, so long as the child can't be crushed between the seat in front, the child seat, and his own seat back.

Boarding first won't save you from being trampled by the hordes who are now behind you! The plane won't be empty for long. If you select seats near the back (not the very last row), you will usually board first, and also children will be have a better view out the window not blocked by the wing.

 

[mummajea]

Frankly I havn't preboarded with my DD since she was an infant and couldn't walk. As soon as she could there was no way I would get on the plane with her first thing. The kids have to sit still long enough on those planes... why strap them in any earlier then need be???

I always try to do little carryons. MAinly I have a big purse that I carry meds and essentials in, and then an "entertainment bag" for DD. I try to keep it small so I dont have to worry abut it going in an overhead. I usually stuff it under the sit then we can get to the "entertainment" easier.

 

[robinb]

We usually fly Delta Express down to FL. When my DD was 18 months and we were flying alone, they would not let me preboard even though I had to install her carseat. I had trouble with the seat and held up the entire flight. I was drenched with sweat by the time I got it installed correctly (no help from anyone!!) and my nerves were shot.

Oh yeah! BTDT . Also with an 18 month old after they wouldn't let me pre-board. I took a "too bad, so sad" attitude and said "If I had been able to pre-board my car seat would have been in by now." loud enough for the passengers around me to hear. Of course, the squirmy 18 month old didn't help matters either .