infants no longer allowed to preboard
Aug 29, 2013, 7:40 am
#1
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infants no longer allowed to preboard
My wife and I just boarded lga to gsp with infant in arms but no car seat. The gate agent told us as of last week infants are not allowed to pre board unless they have a car seat and their own seat.
Anyone else heard of this? This will make it harder for families with infants to get settled and fins overhead space.
Anyone else heard of this? This will make it harder for families with infants to get settled and fins overhead space.
Aug 29, 2013, 8:24 am
#5
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The reason to preboard someone is that they need extra time. Whether they are an infant or disabled, allowing them (or those assisting) the time to get them from the gate into their seat, saves time overall.
I'm not sure why anybody with a lap child would need extra time. Yes, if I had to strap in a car seat or buckle the kid into his own seat. But, carrying a baby doesn't seem to impede the boarding process any more than anything else.
I'm not sure why anybody with a lap child would need extra time. Yes, if I had to strap in a car seat or buckle the kid into his own seat. But, carrying a baby doesn't seem to impede the boarding process any more than anything else.
Aug 29, 2013, 8:29 am
#6
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The couple of times we've traveled with our now 14 month old twins we have strollers that need to be folded up and placed at the bottom of the jet bridge, the times we've flown it was on US Airways, but regardless, we certainly could have used preboarding if it had been offered, especially since we have been in bulkhead seats, making baggage storage even more challenging. That being said, since 95% of the time I don't travel with the kids, I don't necessarily have a problem with not allowing preboarding ...
Aug 29, 2013, 8:30 am
#7
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Aug 29, 2013, 8:36 am
#9
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I have noticed, thanks to a previous thread on FT, that the pre-board announcement has changed in recent months. It rarely now says "infants and small children" and has been replaced by a blanket "those needing extra time." Most GAs, I have observed are happy to allow families traveling with infants or small children to take advantage of the needing extra time provision. Sounds like you might very well have had a rogue GA!
Aug 29, 2013, 8:36 am
#10
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Aug 29, 2013, 8:45 am
#11
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The reason to preboard someone is that they need extra time. Whether they are an infant or disabled, allowing them (or those assisting) the time to get them from the gate into their seat, saves time overall.
I'm not sure why anybody with a lap child would need extra time. Yes, if I had to strap in a car seat or buckle the kid into his own seat. But, carrying a baby doesn't seem to impede the boarding process any more than anything else.
I'm not sure why anybody with a lap child would need extra time. Yes, if I had to strap in a car seat or buckle the kid into his own seat. But, carrying a baby doesn't seem to impede the boarding process any more than anything else.
Aug 29, 2013, 9:20 am
#13
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+1. Everything takes more time when you have kids. Boarding an aircraft included. If they really aren't going to let people with small children pre-board anymore, they can expect delays while other pax wait for the family get situated before they can move past.
Aug 29, 2013, 9:21 am
#14
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Aug 29, 2013, 9:38 am
#15
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On the other hand, I am ardently opposed to Gordon's Gin. Perhaps pilots could help us with that problem which I see as much worse than a lap child!
