Kids traveling for the first time
Oct 2, 2019, 10:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hilton Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite, AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 130
Kids traveling for the first time
I travel weekly for work, and I'm, PPro, but I'm taking my wife and kids on a trip to NYC. My daughters have never flown before (5 & 10). It's been a while since I was that young, but I recall being able to board early and visit the flight deck before the flight. Is anyone aware of anything that AA would offer in this situation? Are pre-departure flight deck visits allowed/authorized? They're both very excited to fly, and I want to make that experience a most memorable one for them...I half-jokingly say that AA jets are my office. Thank you in advance.
Oct 2, 2019, 10:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 152
First reaction: how exciting!! Enjoy the whole experience!
Second reaction: Do not rely upon AA. It is up to you how good your daughters' experience will be
Ultimately,: prepare well, keep them interested and busy and informed = have a happy time
boarding early will still be possible but implemented randomly on some flights- especially possible on international flights though you do not say what your flights are...
again, stay happy and all will be happy!
Second reaction: Do not rely upon AA. It is up to you how good your daughters' experience will be
Ultimately,: prepare well, keep them interested and busy and informed = have a happy time
boarding early will still be possible but implemented randomly on some flights- especially possible on international flights though you do not say what your flights are...
again, stay happy and all will be happy!
Oct 2, 2019, 11:07 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hilton Silver, Marriott Titanium Elite, AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 130
They're all boring domestic flights (to me) through LUS hubs on LUS aircraft. We have phones and tablets to keep them entertained after the excitement of looking out the window fades. I am excited to see the experience through their eyes...mine have become jaded with all my travels. My wife will especially enjoy the lounge access (I'm also an AC member) and NYC should be the coup d'etat, though I think the plane ride will be hard to top. Maybe the subway and Penn station will be close.
Oct 3, 2019, 2:48 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
I took my 12 year old nephew on an early morning domestic flight last year, boarded in Zone 1 and asked nicely and was allowed to have him visit the pilots and take a photo before the flight on an A321 (LUS crew). Don’t promise them that in advance because I’m not sure it’s always available. Of course, make sure you have a window seat!
Oct 3, 2019, 4:08 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
when my daughter was younger... we always were the first group to board,
a kind note to the FA meeting us in the plane, asking about my daughter visiting the pilot was almost always had with success.
In fact I have photo's of her, sitting in the captains seat with his hat one.
Dont worry too much.. your kids will have a great time.. enjoy NY
a kind note to the FA meeting us in the plane, asking about my daughter visiting the pilot was almost always had with success.
In fact I have photo's of her, sitting in the captains seat with his hat one.
Dont worry too much.. your kids will have a great time.. enjoy NY
Oct 3, 2019, 5:21 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 418
Bring food / snacks. Don’t feed them before the flight...wait until you’re in the air....1 more thing to help kill time.
and take the kids to Dylan’s Candy Bar in NY.
and take the kids to Dylan’s Candy Bar in NY.
Oct 3, 2019, 5:25 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
If the pilots are not swamped with work or working problems during the pre-board period, IME they are almost always happy to welcome kids on the flight deck for a minute. Most of their customers are incurious about the pilots' job and their "office," so it makes them happy when a young person is excited to venture up front. My son began asking for cockpit visits when he was about 5, and... he's a pilot himself now, giving kids wings.
If OP sees the captain + FO pass through the gatehouse area before boarding begins, I think it is OK to politely approach and ask if your girls can stop by and say hello on the way to their seats. You might end up with fun snapshots of the girls at the controls.
If OP sees the captain + FO pass through the gatehouse area before boarding begins, I think it is OK to politely approach and ask if your girls can stop by and say hello on the way to their seats. You might end up with fun snapshots of the girls at the controls.
Oct 3, 2019, 5:25 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
5 and 10 year olds don’t seem to generally get pre-boarding on my flights, and it’s not really needed for most kids that age.
First time kids on planes of that age may need some guidance on plane bathroom use, but most manage just fine on their own. Bringing your own food and entertainment for kids makes journeys go much smoother.
First time kids on planes of that age may need some guidance on plane bathroom use, but most manage just fine on their own. Bringing your own food and entertainment for kids makes journeys go much smoother.
Oct 3, 2019, 7:33 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: FB, Accor, Marriot
Posts: 426
I recently asked about the age for preboarding and from the moment your kids can properly walk and dont need carrying, it seems it's not granted anymore.
One thing that friends do often to be able to visit the cockpit, is ask the FA during the flight and then wait until everyone is off the plane after landing.
One thing that friends do often to be able to visit the cockpit, is ask the FA during the flight and then wait until everyone is off the plane after landing.
Oct 3, 2019, 8:12 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,434
AA.com under Traveling with children and infants states:
Anyway, when seated in F I often see families with small kids spending short time in flight deck with pilots during boarding.
- Families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate.
Anyway, when seated in F I often see families with small kids spending short time in flight deck with pilots during boarding.
Oct 3, 2019, 9:16 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
I had one DFW gate agent tell me, traveling with baby, that the policy didn't even exist. She was not swayed even with a printed copy out of my bag.
Oct 3, 2019, 1:55 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Think about what they may want to see within the airport itself. Depending on the airport there may be things to see or do of interest. Could be as simple as a great seat from the AC to watch planes or window shopping depending on available stores in the terminal.
Oct 3, 2019, 5:09 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,277
If you're not in a hurry to get anywhere, that would be a situation to take your time getting settled when you board with your group and back up boarding. Falls on the gate agent if the flight gets out late by a minute. The pre-boarding policy literally exists to help the gate agents get flights out on time by avoiding having families back up boarding while they get their children settled in to the seats.
Oct 3, 2019, 6:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP / HH Diamond
Posts: 592
I've seen kids given a "travel passport" from the Admiral's clubs, that they can take to (willing) pilots -- I know one of my nephews treasures his. As echoed above, it is not guaranteed, and there may be other issues that may cause a trip to not be possible (late crew arrival, etc.)
Oct 4, 2019, 8:45 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,823
I've seen kids given a "travel passport" from the Admiral's clubs, that they can take to (willing) pilots -- I know one of my nephews treasures his. As echoed above, it is not guaranteed, and there may be other issues that may cause a trip to not be possible (late crew arrival, etc.)
