Boarding with kids between A and B now restricted to mom and dad only per GA 5/1/19
May 3, 2019, 10:54 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
One parent with a child under 6, boards during Family Boarding, gets two seats together.
One parent with a child over 6, boards in their assigned positions, happens to get two seats not together.
If safety and security are the goal, one of these situations fails.
May 3, 2019, 11:03 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,455
I think you're missing my point.
One parent with a child under 6, boards during Family Boarding, gets two seats together.
One parent with a child over 6, boards in their assigned positions, happens to get two seats not together.
If safety and security are the goal, one of these situations fails.
One parent with a child under 6, boards during Family Boarding, gets two seats together.
One parent with a child over 6, boards in their assigned positions, happens to get two seats not together.
If safety and security are the goal, one of these situations fails.
without doubt each of your children will be seated next to a parent.
May 3, 2019, 11:38 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Reported experiences disagree. Hence the apparent need for the law.
May 3, 2019, 11:56 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,455
I agree with a rule for the sale of assigned seats. Using differential fares to essentially extort more money from parents with young children is contemptible.
But without assigned seating, and explicitly no guarantee of any particular seat nor any price difference between any seats, FA's are empowered to shift passengers for exactly this purpose. And they are in no way shy about exercising this power to ensure young children aren't seated away from their parents. I flew WN at least twice a week for five years and saw it - was myself asked as a single passenger - innumerable times. Over 500 flights, never ever saw a child separated from a parent.
Last edited by rickg523; May 4, 2019 at 12:05 am
May 4, 2019, 5:56 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: AA, US, WN, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,528
I think you're missing my point.
One parent with a child under 6, boards during Family Boarding, gets two seats together.
One parent with a child over 6, boards in their assigned positions, happens to get two seats not together.
If safety and security are the goal, one of these situations fails.
One parent with a child under 6, boards during Family Boarding, gets two seats together.
One parent with a child over 6, boards in their assigned positions, happens to get two seats not together.
If safety and security are the goal, one of these situations fails.
May 4, 2019, 6:26 am
#21
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
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I doubt flights go very often where mother and child are separated.
May 4, 2019, 6:45 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
I'm not even sure what anyone's point is anymore, but if you're saying that it's not a safety and security matter, that was exactly my original point.
May 4, 2019, 8:50 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
WN has made the judgment, as it may do, that <=6 is a safety and security matter. Thus, seating together is assured. It has impliedly made the determination that above that, the child need not be seated with a responsible adult. The issue was debated in both Congress and at DOT and both determined that they would not intervene in carrier decisions.
As a passenger traveling with a child over six, you will in almost all circumstances find seats together, but are not assured of it. If you wish to be assured of it, you must purchase BS/EBCI.
As a passenger traveling with a child over six, you will in almost all circumstances find seats together, but are not assured of it. If you wish to be assured of it, you must purchase BS/EBCI.
May 4, 2019, 9:30 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: WN, DL, UA, AA, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 1,303
One parent could go with one or more 6 y.o. and below and the other parent could go later with the 7 y.o.
Yes, I know this raises the question of what happens with only one adult and 5 kids spanning 6 or under plus older.
In practice, they will let it slide whenever the slightest objection is made, the way they always do.
On another topic, I was surprised to hear the phrase “mom and dad” in these politically correct times. But that’s what the guy said.
May 4, 2019, 12:52 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,254
a 5 year old can fly as an unaccompanied minor. Separating a a 6 year old from a parent isn't considered a safety or security issue.
May 8, 2019, 12:48 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Why the policy was revised:
Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after Naples same-sex couple claims discrimination
Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after Naples same-sex couple claims discrimination
May 11, 2019, 11:00 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,332
If truly restricted to 2 adults plus only kid(s) under six, that's going to make things trickier for us. Not impossible but we will have to be more strategic since we also have a 7 year old. Not sure if it is trying to say "siblings not allowed" but I could see it being interpreted that way.
Air travel shouldn't be tricky for you as a family of four with one child who has aged out of the family boarding policy. Simply board in pairs; you may or may not find two pair of seats together, but as long as you're in the A or B group, you've got a pretty good chance. And the simplest thing to do to increase your odds is to have the adult and child who board first proceed immediately to the back of the cabin. The back of the cabin gets an undeservedly bad rap; sure, you end up being the last off the plane when you land, but the back of the cabin has grouped seats together later in the boarding process, and empty overhead bin space later in the boarding process, and is close to the rear lav throughout the flight (which can be important for families with small children).
All of that being said, I think six is not the best cut off age for family boarding. I'd rather see eight or ten be the cut off age.
May 11, 2019, 11:24 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
Anyone who believes their condition or circumstance warrants, should board early. The LCC way.
Derek Dombrowski, media relations manager for Spirit Airlines, said there is less urgency to get on board Spirit planes because the airline has assigned seating.
"We provide family boarding at the beginning of the boarding process and have no requirements on gender or number of adults."
"We provide family boarding at the beginning of the boarding process and have no requirements on gender or number of adults."
Kirsten Wenker, senior communications manager with the Sun Country, said families with infants or small children are invited to board early together.
"We announce at the gate that any families with children in different boarding zones should all board together."
"We announce at the gate that any families with children in different boarding zones should all board together."
May 19, 2019, 1:09 am
#30
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
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Why the policy was revised:
Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after Naples same-sex couple claims discrimination
Southwest Airlines updates family boarding policy after Naples same-sex couple claims discrimination