Is boarding early with children rude?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
Is boarding early with children rude?
Several people have made comments to me while boarding that children should board last so they don't get bored on the plane and misbehave. I thought nothing of - just rude people - until I saw the same thing on the internet.
We always board when our group is called, because my child loves airplanes and wants to board before boarding even begins, and so I can get everything put away and set up. Most of the time we're the first people on the airplane.
So who's correct? Is boarding when you're group is called really rude when you have children?
We always board when our group is called, because my child loves airplanes and wants to board before boarding even begins, and so I can get everything put away and set up. Most of the time we're the first people on the airplane.
So who's correct? Is boarding when you're group is called really rude when you have children?
#2
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dreamland
Posts: 928
Boarding when your group is called is not rude.
Boarding when early with children when the airline allows it is not rude.
Boarding last is not rude (unless that delays the flight).
Do what you need to do to get where you need to go with some shred of sanity.
Boarding when early with children when the airline allows it is not rude.
Boarding last is not rude (unless that delays the flight).
Do what you need to do to get where you need to go with some shred of sanity.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,318
I would suggest combining this thread with this recent thread discussing the same issues: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-children.html
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
You can either ignore the rude people or call them out for being rude.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Europe
Programs: EK plat, ex-FB gold, Accor plat
Posts: 1,076
US flyers are so eager to board first to secure overhead bin space that they forget the most basic politeness.
As long as an airline charges for checked baggage, it won't get my money. I refuse to have a bad day just because of richer shareholders. (Particularly true for FR)
As long as an airline charges for checked baggage, it won't get my money. I refuse to have a bad day just because of richer shareholders. (Particularly true for FR)
#7
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Posts: 7
Boarding with your group is not rude. Pre-boarding if your airline has it is not rude.
If you're demanding pre-boarding or taking advantage of it then it is rude. I saw a parent request pre-boarding as she was traveling solo with two kids. The kids turned out to be teenagers.
If you're demanding pre-boarding or taking advantage of it then it is rude. I saw a parent request pre-boarding as she was traveling solo with two kids. The kids turned out to be teenagers.
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
Several people have made comments to me while boarding that children should board last so they don't get bored on the plane and misbehave. I thought nothing of - just rude people - until I saw the same thing on the internet.
We always board when our group is called, because my child loves airplanes and wants to board before boarding even begins, and so I can get everything put away and set up. Most of the time we're the first people on the airplane.
So who's correct? Is boarding when you're group is called really rude when you have children?
We always board when our group is called, because my child loves airplanes and wants to board before boarding even begins, and so I can get everything put away and set up. Most of the time we're the first people on the airplane.
So who's correct? Is boarding when you're group is called really rude when you have children?
If you board first with your kid, the kid gets bored and causes delays to other pax - that IS rude.
If you board first, promptly stow your gear and your kid, and then the kid sits with his nose plastered to the window watching every aspect of the ground crew's work (which is what mine always did), that's not rude at all. That's getting a slower moving party of out of the way first so as not to delay others.
Unnecessarily delaying other pax is rude. Doesn't matter if it's a kid or the self-entitled business jerk on his cell phone: be consider of other people, and then ignore those who feel entitled to judge you no matter what you do.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Beverly Hills
Posts: 713
It is crazy that I saw this. Sitting at LAX thinking about this very topic, and then I see it on the home page of FT
Given I'll probably receive more flauque in the "Travel with Children" than I would in the DL forum but...
I'm a newly-minted DL Gold Medallion, enjoying SkyPriority to its fullest.
Do families with small children and the elderly NEED to get on the plane before First Class? Before Elites in the Y cabin I can understand. But all (most) F customers want is to spend as little time both waiting (and at the airport in general), get on board, and into their seat as quickly as possible so they can (ideally) enjoy PDB and begin working, start their movie, etc while everyone else boards.
Why not have children & extra assistance board after F, instead of making F passengers wait?
Given I'll probably receive more flauque in the "Travel with Children" than I would in the DL forum but...
I'm a newly-minted DL Gold Medallion, enjoying SkyPriority to its fullest.
Do families with small children and the elderly NEED to get on the plane before First Class? Before Elites in the Y cabin I can understand. But all (most) F customers want is to spend as little time both waiting (and at the airport in general), get on board, and into their seat as quickly as possible so they can (ideally) enjoy PDB and begin working, start their movie, etc while everyone else boards.
Why not have children & extra assistance board after F, instead of making F passengers wait?
#10
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Consider that passengers with young children and those who legitimately require additional assistance may block the jetway or the aisle on the aircraft, and they don't want to board until they know that they're out of the way?
E.g., you ever flown with crutches? I have, a bunch, after 2 knee surgeries. It takes a really long flipping time to get down the jetway and down the aisle of an aircraft, stow a bag in an overhead compartment and put your crutches down someplace.
Similar with 2 kids and car seats/strollers. Takes an even longer flipping time, based on extensive experience doing just that.
You can quibble over people who aren't actually encumbered, but I'm stunned that you don't actually see why this might make sense.
#11
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I only get annoyed when an entire extended family tries to board when "families traveling with infants in carseats or strollers" are welcomed to board. Maybe families just hear "families," but some people just don't pay attention to announcements at an airport.
If you hear that announcement and you don't have a carseat or a stroller, then that announcement isn't for you. Otherwise, boarding when you can isn't rude.
If you hear that announcement and you don't have a carseat or a stroller, then that announcement isn't for you. Otherwise, boarding when you can isn't rude.
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
Originally Posted by tigerhunt2011
I'm a newly-minted DL Gold Medallion, enjoying SkyPriority to its fullest.
Do families with small children and the elderly NEED to get on the plane before First Class? Before Elites in the Y cabin I can understand. But all (most) F customers want is to spend as little time both waiting (and at the airport in general), get on board, and into their seat as quickly as possible so they can (ideally) enjoy PDB and begin working, start their movie, etc while everyone else boards.
Why not have children & extra assistance board after F, instead of making F passengers wait?
Do families with small children and the elderly NEED to get on the plane before First Class? Before Elites in the Y cabin I can understand. But all (most) F customers want is to spend as little time both waiting (and at the airport in general), get on board, and into their seat as quickly as possible so they can (ideally) enjoy PDB and begin working, start their movie, etc while everyone else boards.
Why not have children & extra assistance board after F, instead of making F passengers wait?
Almost all planes have the pax pass through the F compartment en route to Y. You have pax with either mobility problems or small kids & extra gear: will they board faster if you throw obstacles in their way, i.e. F pax stowing gear/demanding their coat be hung up/demanding beverages/socializing/etc., or will they board faster through clear, unobstructed aisles?
#14
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Austin TX
Programs: Mr Swise: AAdvantage LifetimePlt/3MM, HH Dmnd, SPG Plt
Posts: 1,451
Also, one other factor to consider...
Early boarding on flights with open seating (e.g. Southwest) is a necessity for families. Otherwise, they may have difficulty finding seats together without having to ask passengers to move around, which could delay things.
Additionally, families with children who use a car seat on board require a window seat for the car seat. So on open seating airlines, they need to be able to get on and secure one before they get taken.
Early boarding on flights with open seating (e.g. Southwest) is a necessity for families. Otherwise, they may have difficulty finding seats together without having to ask passengers to move around, which could delay things.
Additionally, families with children who use a car seat on board require a window seat for the car seat. So on open seating airlines, they need to be able to get on and secure one before they get taken.
#15
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409
Some flyers seem to think all airlines should let families board first and that this should trump the amount paid for a ticket, status, ect. which is what I find annoying.