Brucemcdou

Hmm. Maybe it shouldn't be based on age, but based on height. They could have the little height measuring things like at an amusement park next to the bag sizer "If you're this tall, you board with the rest of 'em..."

I believe (no personal experience with this) that children are required to use a car seat on a plane up to a certain height, not a certain age. That way if you're not pushing a stroller or carrying a car seat, no dice. Easier to enforce, easier to understand.

Kingston

For domestic travel, it'll probably be enforced the same way they enforce the lap child policy.
Children under two don't need a ticket, so any kid with a ticket shouldn't pre-board.

Michilander

Yeah, can't wait to see how many folks with older kids try to exploit this, again.

Not every child under two flies as a lap child. Some people buy seats and use car seats.

FlyfromDenver

This is disappointing. I thought United was moving back to valuing business travelers. I was hoping the next change would be to go back to giving my status to my adult son when I book award tickets for him.

It'll be most of a plane going out of HDN in the winter and will impact an amazing number of flights out of Denver. I would bet a significant increase in seat changes by possession. (You don't mind switching this e+ aisle for an e- in front of the bathroom, right ?)

sbm12

Except that many families do buy a seat for the infant, even if "in arms" eligible. So that's not a viable rule set.

LAX-1K

Not pre-boarding families with small children was one of the last parts of the United experience I appreciated. I'm extremely disappointed to see this change.

So now Group 1 - your 1K and First Class customers - is the fifth group to board.

tarheelnj

Your intentions are good, UA, but consider the following:

1. Definitely limit to having at least one <2 year old in the party. At OLCI it asks if anyone is <2 years old (and presumably they ask at the counter, too), so unless you checked "yes" you don't board early (and get the buzzer when they scan your BP if you try, so the GA doesn't have to guess).

2. Split-up families (which are likely to be all families booking close in or without E+ seating) are now told to board and ask the FA help them find seating together. Greater likelihood now they'll take the seats that put them together and ask the person (that's you) with that seat if you'll switch. Harder (and messier) to say no in that situation, particularly if the snacks and activity books are already unpacked.

3. This benefit is only good if the family is at the gate ready to board before the boarding time on the BP. I was on a LH flight recently and saw an efficient process where families were escorted onto the plane well before boarding began. This way, FA's could ensure they're in their assigned seats, taking only a reasonable amount of overhead space, and the strollers are all tagged and ready to go into the hold before boarding begins.

Kingston

My mistake, never thought about car seats on the plane (I've seen plenty gate checked).

Bonehead

Same here. I am not happy about this at all. Bad move.

fly18725

Although it may not be an appropriate question, I'd be curious to see how family status impacts one's position on this issue.

Before kids, I would have said it was stupid to offer early boarding to families with children. After traveling frequently with kids, I see the value in offering early boarding to families with small children. Particularly if there are car seats or strollers, it can take a while to board and get settled and it can hold up the boarding process.

As with any policy, consistency and enforcement is key. If there are no children under 2 or car seats or strollers, there is no need to preboard. Those that need to preboard should be required to identify themselves to the GA and request preboarding.

RealFan

As a GS pax, I am worried about this change. I value the preboard option so I can get on board and get some work done. If I'm boarding along with families and their small kids, this will slow me down. I know that when they call for GS and a few us of board, it's efficient and we're already working within seconds of boarding.

Not sure this decision takes into account the needs of a business traveler. My only fix for it is to suggest that UA preboard GS much earlier (similar to AA with CK) and then ask for military and families with small children.

Bonehead

So now they get to jam up people in FC and 1K/Plats. Nice.

I'm already unhappy that UA doesn't board FC first (like AA does); this just adds to the aggravation.

gaszlim

UA Insider, how about this:
The new boarding process will be, in order: People with disabilities, active-duty members of the military in uniform, Global Services/1K, and families with small children, followed by boarding groups 1-5.
Since the GS & 1K gets free meals in economy, it would be great to extend the early boarding to 1K too.

FlyfromDenver

I have 3 children now grown and flew usually once a year with them - couldn't afford more than that.

I could see maybe boarding them at the beginning of their actual boarding group but this makes me unhappy to have bothered with a mileage run to stay platinum. I booked a European ticket with aavacations because a business ticket was reasonable.

I have another trip to book in September and I'm <35K from a million miles. United - way to lose the loyalty.

dordal

Does anybody know when this disappeared? I had not noticed it being gone, but now that you mention it, I haven't heard the 'families with kids' announcement in a long, long while.