Originally Posted by
crazygrow
As the dad of toddler triplets who have flown several times, I have really had to work over some GAs to let us preboard in advance of zone 1. I am GM and just threaten to board all six of us (5 + nanny) in Zone 2 if I have to get really tough.
I can get all six of us situated faster than most passengers can find their seat and put their bags up orrrrrrrrr I can move about 0.1mph during zone 2 (or so I have mentioned to the GAs that have said no preboarding...all of which have relented).
Is this the best way to approach things? Probably not, but I do look after my family before all else and believe letting us preboard also allows there to be no holdup at all.
Since I always fly in the very back of the plane by choice (when I travel with the kids), I just scoot to the back and get situated before anyone else gets on the plane.
I can certainly relate to this. I have quadruplets, and they have logged more than 100K miles on Delta since they were born 18 years ago. When they were small, travelling involved two Strollers, and enough additional carry on items to block the isle for a long time. We were always allowed to pre-board very early and get the strollers gate-checked, and situated in the seats before everyone else got on-board. It worked really well for us, as well as the paasengers that got on after we did! Now that they are adults, of course, we board with everyone else and that works fine now.