Southwest Airlines/Kids/Boarding
 

I had a flight last week from LA to Austin. I arrived at the gate 1 hour 15 minutes early to make sure I was in the first boarding group. Although I got number 23 for boarding in the first group, I was about number 50 who actually got on. Why? Because several people with kids, (some of whom were really too old for early boarding, IMO) arrived late, got passes for numbers 60 or even 90+, but still boarded first because they had kids. What's up with that? They know it may take a little time to pack everything up and get to the airport, so why don't they PLAN AHEAD to get there early??? I feel they are 'taking advantage' of the rest of us that DO get there early, because they KNOW they will get to board early anyway. That's just NOT RIGHT!! What can the rest of us do? <BR>P.S. I also overheard a woman ask to board early because she was pregnant...HA! If she WAS, she was in EARLY pregnancy, as she was not 'showing' AT ALL.

I know this board does not get the attention some of the other boards get, but I guess since no one has responded to this post, no one cares.

You're not the only one who is annoyed at the practice. This is little incentive because of the practice to get there well ahead of time. But the system of boarding on Southwest is an annoyance, softened only by the price.

I agree whole-heartedly with you Margot. The airlines wonder why "air rage" is so common now. This is why. Being herded onto the plane like cattle is not acceptible. That's why I no longer fly SW. Not to mention they ususally overbook the flight so if you not one of the first ones, you miss your flight. There's no reason SW can't assign seats or at the very least police their own guidelines. <BR> <BR>But the only thing you can do is express you discontent by going elseware.

I was upset at Southwest's preboarding policies also but for the opposite reason! I was not allowed to preboard with my 10 and 11 year old but there were about 15 adults with "upgrades" I assumed who did preboard. I also arrived 1 1/2 hours early to get on. Its not that I need to get organized once we get on the plane or even that I really have to sit with them on a normal flight. I do know, however, that if I am not sitting with them and an emergency occurs I will step on, over and push people to get to my kids.

Preboard with an 11 and 10yr old? Come on lady...your one of the people the original poster is talking about!!!

Last week on my Delta flight, there were several familes with very small children all under the age of four. They asked to board early, which is understandable; however, they all had huge strollers, which they did not fold prior to boarding the airplane. When we all hit the bottom of the ramp, everyone was backed up while these parents folded the strollers and gathered everything together. Then they wondered why people were annoyed.

&gt;&gt;&gt; huge strollers...<BR><BR>Delta probably felt that if the families with the strollers boarded last, the plane would be delayed because the biztravellers boarding first took too much time to get settled.<BR><BR>Travel tips:<BR>http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm<BR>

We are a family that does preboard with our children. Although that may annoy you...when the plane lands we also sit in our seats and wait and are the last passengers to get off. We do that so that we do not slow other people down. <BR><BR>Too bad people only see the negative in things.

I do not fly Southwest Airlines for precisely the reasons stated here by others. When I used to fly them, I would get there early so I could get a low number and be among the first to board, but found myself waiting for people to board with children - and yes, most of the children were not babies and didn't need early boarding.<BR><BR>I now fly American Airlines about 90% of the time. I fly frequently and have over 2 million miles flown with them. Therefore, I'm usually upgraded. During the past year or so I've noticed that they always board first class passengers first, then platinum and gold frequent flyers and then by group number. They do not board children first. I think they have a very orderly boarding process.<BR><BR>When I'm in an airport, I can always tell where the Southwest gate is - it is the gate with the mob around the gate. Yuck!

One big advantage of the Southwest policies of kids preboarding and open seating is this: All the kids end up sitting up front, and the rest of us can easily avoid them. This is one of the few flying arrangements where you can be sure of not getting seated next to, in front of, or even behind a screaming kid!<BR><BR>Haven't you ever boarded a plane with regular assigned seating, and found to your dismay that you had a seatmate that you'd rather avoid (too young, too fat, too whatever)? Well, on Southwest, you can just move along to the next seat.

These are the reasons why I refuse to fly Southwest. I would rather fly Airtran which is almost like a Greyhound then be cattle-driven through the gates behind parents and their 15 year old son who grants them the pre-boarding privelege. That and the fact that people line up before their section is even thought of. It's too crowded and unrule for me.

I have never seen these overage kids being granted early boarding. I believe the early boarding is limited to younger kids, up to age 4 or 5. I suppose it's handled differently at some airports, though it shouldn't be.

I think the pre-boarding age for Southwest is under 10 (9 & under) but I am not sure. this sdoes seem to be an extremely high age. Other airlines have children 3 and under with parents pre-board which seems more reasonable. Personally I fly Southwest quite a bit jsut because their Raapid Reward program is so good - for every 12 trip segments (6 round trips if they are non stop, less than 6 if you have stops) you get a free round trip and you just can beat that! I reallly don't care where I sit and even sometiems prefer to be toward the back (less childen there and also the "safer" area of the plane) so I quit arriving early to avoid the mob. I show up about 10 min. before they begin boarding usually (30 min. before flight is scheduled to take off). I would be irritable too if I sat around for 1.5 hours at thegate, that is just crazy!!!

I found it kind of odd that no one mentioned anything about the "un-pregnant" pregnant woman. How in the world can you tell how far along she is just by looking at her?! I am 6 1/2 months pregnant, and most people think I'm only 3 months along. Depending on what I'm wearing, some people can't even tell unless I say something about it first. Some woman don't "show" until they are very late in their pregnancies, but that doesn't mean they still don't tire easily. In fact, I was more easily worn out in my first trimester than I am now that I'm showing. <BR><BR>I'm traveling this weekend and I sure hope no one begrudges me for boarding early. Maybe I should stuff a pillow in my shirt to make sure others know I'm pregnant enough! What ever happened to common courtesy and chivalry??

I am pregnant as well but I don't see what that has to do with boarding early!?!! The reason people with small children board early is 1) to make sure they get ajacent seats and 2) because it takes them longer to settle in, strap in carseat, store toys, etc. They don't want them boarding with everyone else and stopping up the line. yes, you tire easily when pregnant, I know this is my second child, but as long as you will be seated what does it matter if you are the last to get on (sitting in waiting area at the gate) or first to be seated ( sitting on plane)? I would never ask to board early because I am pregnant, as long as you have a seat soemwhere, what does it matter? I think Scarlette is expecting a little too much. Besides as she said some people show less than others or later, what would stop women from saying they were pregnant just to board early?

I'd rather they would "reserve" the seats and board the kids last!<BR><BR>Before you jump conclusions, what I mean is why get the kids strapped in where they're already getting "antsy" before you need to. Let them stay in the terminal until the last moment, then get them in. I'd bet they would not get bored & disruptive as soon if they weren't tied into their seats waiting for the rest of the passengers to board.<BR><BR>I do agree about the complaints re: the family members who pre-board. I've seen families with maybe 1 four year old, where Mom, Dad, teenage siblings, Grandma, Grampa, aunts, uncles, cousins, all get pre-boarded because of one toddler in the party. NOT RIGHT!

If you don't have assigned seating they must let the kids and parents on first otherwise you'll end up with kids and their parents separated.