So I was on flight 308 from SFO - SEA on Wednesday of this week, and as I was waiting to board, I saw a family with two kids (an infant and a ~3 year old). They lined up in front, and tried to board after first class, UGS, 1K, etc. The GA shooed them away, and told them to wait till their group was called. As I got on, just after that, I asked her why she didn't let them preboard (as I've seen many United GAs allow preboarding).

She told me, with a nasty tone of voice, that "the passengers decided" not to allow families to preboard. I asked her which passengers, as I didn't get a vote, and I also said that I didn't think any of us waiting would mind if they went on first (which got a general murmur of assent from the rest of boarding group 1). Nonetheless, she wouldn't let them on.

So my questions are:

• does United have a policy about preboarding?
• did any of you out there get to help make the policy?
• how do you all feel about families with young kids preboarding?
• isn't it interesting that this is practically the first time I've ever seen anyone denied boarding when they try to get on ahead of their group?

Finally, I fly a fair amount with my family (me, Mrs. Seattlecubsfan, and our two junior seattlecubsfans, ages 5 and 2), and we usually fly Southwest, as I have found it much more accommodating to families than any of the major carriers. After seeing this, I'm even more committed to that approach.