Families First
Jun 9, 2019, 1:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 556
Families First
On a delayed MAN shuttle . The Gate Agent calls forward all families with children. So up steps 23 folks inc kids. 2 children are in pushchairs , the ‘other families ‘ have children between 8-12yrs in various family sizes with parents - (yea I’m a parent never seen this before tho). All allowed through and first to board.
has the policy changed? What’s your experience?
has the policy changed? What’s your experience?
Families board first
To make things easier for you, we invite families with infants under two and young children in pushchairs to board first, so that you and your family can get settled on board. Please get to the gate at least 45 minutes before departureso that you are ready to board and we have enough time to load your pushchair in the hold.
Jun 9, 2019, 1:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: UK. West Sussex
Programs: BAEC. Gold
Posts: 786
Only 23? 😋
no problem with a young couple and an infant or toddler...which any parents know takes a little extra time to settle, which in the big scheme of things helps with boarding...
I do somehow object to middle aged parents, Kevin their nose picking teenager glued to his mobile phone, along with all six members of their extended family, each carrying three pieces of hand luggage (obviously not Kevin as that would require putting his mobile down) ..... 😂
no problem with a young couple and an infant or toddler...which any parents know takes a little extra time to settle, which in the big scheme of things helps with boarding...
I do somehow object to middle aged parents, Kevin their nose picking teenager glued to his mobile phone, along with all six members of their extended family, each carrying three pieces of hand luggage (obviously not Kevin as that would require putting his mobile down) ..... 😂
Jun 9, 2019, 2:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: California
Posts: 463
A few years ago at BOS they used to explicitly invite families with children under the age of twelve...which I of course disliked as a childless person with a carry on suitcase 
I think a 2-5 age limit is fine but some “families needing extra time” are just taking the piss with their fully mobile teenagers!
I think a 2-5 age limit is fine but some “families needing extra time” are just taking the piss with their fully mobile teenagers!
Last edited by Agneisse; Jun 9, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Jun 9, 2019, 2:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 467
As my username suggests, we have 4 children (aged between 1 and 7 incl twins). We are flying all together for the first time next Feb. (with another airline alas). However, my wife's preference is for us to be LAST on. We want as little time cooped up and without boredom having set in before we have even set off. Indeed, it's probably easier for others to get boarded without having little ones roaming into the aisles tripping them up.
Are we the only ones that feel this way? Is it more for the airline's benefit (can take a while getting belted up perhaps, and getting that buggy in the hold)
On another note- how would BA seat 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 lap infants on a 3-3 layout plane? AIUI, the lap infants have to be in separate rows. What about the older 2, would it be two rows of 2(+1) I'm already feeling sorry for whichever other passenger has to share the 2 banks of 3 with us!
Are we the only ones that feel this way? Is it more for the airline's benefit (can take a while getting belted up perhaps, and getting that buggy in the hold)
On another note- how would BA seat 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 lap infants on a 3-3 layout plane? AIUI, the lap infants have to be in separate rows. What about the older 2, would it be two rows of 2(+1) I'm already feeling sorry for whichever other passenger has to share the 2 banks of 3 with us!
Jun 9, 2019, 2:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Stay in the lounge as long as possible, arrive at the gate 21 minutes before departure, and all of the children (small or otherwise) are already out of the way. Pick a seat in an exit row, so there is a 0% chance of a child sitting next to you. Use noise-isolating earphones as soon as the safety video is over. I love flying! ^
Jun 9, 2019, 2:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
Being in Group 1 - I haven't really cared about getting on any earlier with the kids - and it can be even worse at LHR because they can put you in the 'pre boarding' area where you can't get out again without explaining. At least in the queue you can nip off to the loo with the small ones if necessary.
But even in Feb with my 7 and 5 year old - we were pulled forward out of 3rd position in group 1 to board early.
For FamilyOf6 - you aren't the only one who wants to be on last with a family. But I think the biggest benefit (ESPECIALLY with lap infants and on SH) is making sure your hand baggage is RIGHT over your head. Bottles/medicines/toys etc all are then in easy reach. Board last and there's no guarantee you won't be in row 10 and your bags in row 25.
But even in Feb with my 7 and 5 year old - we were pulled forward out of 3rd position in group 1 to board early.
For FamilyOf6 - you aren't the only one who wants to be on last with a family. But I think the biggest benefit (ESPECIALLY with lap infants and on SH) is making sure your hand baggage is RIGHT over your head. Bottles/medicines/toys etc all are then in easy reach. Board last and there's no guarantee you won't be in row 10 and your bags in row 25.
Jun 9, 2019, 3:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 467
Being in Group 1 - I haven't really cared about getting on any earlier with the kids - and it can be even worse at LHR because they can put you in the 'pre boarding' area where you can't get out again without explaining. At least in the queue you can nip off to the loo with the small ones if necessary.
But even in Feb with my 7 and 5 year old - we were pulled forward out of 3rd position in group 1 to board early.
For FamilyOf6 - you aren't the only one who wants to be on last with a family. But I think the biggest benefit (ESPECIALLY with lap infants and on SH) is making sure your hand baggage is RIGHT over your head. Bottles/medicines/toys etc all are then in easy reach. Board last and there's no guarantee you won't be in row 10 and your bags in row 25.
But even in Feb with my 7 and 5 year old - we were pulled forward out of 3rd position in group 1 to board early.
For FamilyOf6 - you aren't the only one who wants to be on last with a family. But I think the biggest benefit (ESPECIALLY with lap infants and on SH) is making sure your hand baggage is RIGHT over your head. Bottles/medicines/toys etc all are then in easy reach. Board last and there's no guarantee you won't be in row 10 and your bags in row 25.
Jun 9, 2019, 3:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
I have to admit, not having rugrats mysslf, I don’t really see the need for early boarding for those with children (as oppose to infants) and wish BA would just stick to their published policy which is IMHO fair.
As i reported previously, last time I was on the OTP-LhR flight, a man who claimed to be a doctor with his two teenage children had a go at another passenger who had been pre-border because he didn’t get out of the way to allow a third passenger with an infant pass. They had all been preboarded, the man who the doctor had a go at reported he had preboarded due to a hidden disability, yet the doctor went on to say that the infant needed to go ahead of him as the infant would get colder quicker. I still can’t understand that given neither the tunnel nor the plane were cold at the time.
As i reported previously, last time I was on the OTP-LhR flight, a man who claimed to be a doctor with his two teenage children had a go at another passenger who had been pre-border because he didn’t get out of the way to allow a third passenger with an infant pass. They had all been preboarded, the man who the doctor had a go at reported he had preboarded due to a hidden disability, yet the doctor went on to say that the infant needed to go ahead of him as the infant would get colder quicker. I still can’t understand that given neither the tunnel nor the plane were cold at the time.
Last edited by NWIFlyer; Jun 10, 2019 at 2:11 am Reason: Remove quote from deleted post
Jun 9, 2019, 5:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Mucci de l'Arbitrage
Posts: 927
On another note- how would BA seat 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 lap infants on a 3-3 layout plane? AIUI, the lap infants have to be in separate rows. What about the older 2, would it be two rows of 2(+1) I'm already feeling sorry for whichever other passenger has to share the 2 banks of 3 with us!
Jun 9, 2019, 5:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 467
Best would be one row with the 2 children in A and B and an adult plus lap infant in C (so to stop the 2 kids from escaping!) Then one adult with the second lap infant elsewhere - BA only has additional oxygen masks every second row so depending on config the second adult may be either on the same row but across the aisle (in D), or one row behind across the aisle, or two rows behind on the same side (and I would book C or D to be able to access toilet/changing room easily).
Jun 10, 2019, 1:31 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: MAN
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 351
On a delayed MAN shuttle . The Gate Agent calls forward all families with children. So up steps 23 folks inc kids. 2 children are in pushchairs , the ‘other families ‘ have children between 8-12yrs in various family sizes with parents - (yea I’m a parent never seen this before tho). All allowed through and first to board.
has the policy changed? What’s your experience?
has the policy changed? What’s your experience?
Families board first
To make things easier for you, we invite families with infants under two and young children in pushchairs to board first, so that you and your family can get settled on board. Please get to the gate at least 45 minutes before departureso that you are ready to board and we have enough time to load your pushchair in the hold.
Jun 10, 2019, 3:46 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,894
I had this on a trip to MAN from LHR T5 a few weeks ago. I counted more than 40 people who were pre-boarded before Group 1. Three people were gate-checking their bags, the rest were families with "small" children who appeared to be aged up to 25. And for the first time as a Group 1 boarding passenger, this did impact my options on locker space.
Having kids myself, I know that it can be really helpful to pre-board when the children are up to the age of 3 or 4. Beyond that, I can see no justification, especially when it's easier to put bags under the seat in front as their legs don't reach far enough forward for the bags to be impacting their feet!
Having kids myself, I know that it can be really helpful to pre-board when the children are up to the age of 3 or 4. Beyond that, I can see no justification, especially when it's easier to put bags under the seat in front as their legs don't reach far enough forward for the bags to be impacting their feet!