Priority Boarding for Parents with Children at Airport

tomleonhart on 15/06/2016 - 13:28

So going by the nice heated debated from https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/252396

What are your thoughts on when the ground crew calls for priority boarding for Parents with children first.

For me (as a father of one) and with fully functional limbs, the thought of being treated with courtesy feels like an insult.

So I always fold up the pram and give it to the ground crew prior to boarding. Then I'll wait in the queue with my child to board like everybody else.

Also I think it's much easier to control my kid on the boarding room than inside the aircraft.

Do you use this? Do you find it useful?

This is not a judgmental post, I fully respect if people find this priority boarding useful

Travel

Comments

  • HardQuiz on 15/06/2016 - 13:38
    +1

    I think it matters when you need space in the overhead bin. It is apparent and clear in the US more than here but still if I am allowed to board the aircraft first, I'll use it.

    Back when I travelled alot and used to be Plat/Gold I would board among the first groups to secure a space in the overhead bin.

    Now, I'm lucky to drop off/pick up someone from the airport, lol

    Oh boy the joy of travel. I miss it.

  • cypher67 on 15/06/2016 - 14:00
    +1

    I wait until the last moment to get on a plane with my kids, they are fine once the flight is moving and they can take their seat belts off, but sitting on the tarmac with belts on they are feral. The only issue with getting on last is the overhead space is usually taken up by someone with a canvas print or oversized bags, but if u tell the staff they have to find or make room so no real dramas. If the flights were not allocated seating then this would be a god sent.

  • Mumbles on 15/06/2016 - 14:24
    +4

    I'm single with no kids so I can only comment as a passenger. I thinks its an awesome idea that family with kids board first. It allows parents the time to plan ahead such as more time to pass instructions to their children, sort out their childrens needs (breast feeding/toilet/warm clothing), more time to plan out distractions (eg. drawing book/gameboy/tablet), more time for parents to relax which means the kids will relax.

    It also sets the tone for the cabin crew and the neighbouring passengers to prepare with a heads up of what to expect. Cabin crew have more time to identify disruptive children so can offer those parents some private seats further from passengers.

    Passengers will have more opportunity to identify the struggling parents. I'd give extra consideration if I see the parents are genuinely trying their best otherwise I have to err on the side of caution and assume they are undisciplined parents and act early to stop their children.

    Running out of space in the overhead locker due to a pram doesn't worry or embarrass me. The stewardess will always find alternate space/compartment. Plus the neighbouring passengers are usually frequent enough travellers to know what is going on.

    Admittedly, I'm a super patient and non-egotistic passenger. I know that the plane cannot take off without me. I'd rather my 8 hour cabin flight to be peaceful than my 2 hour waiting lounge. In the lounge I can avoid naughty kids with shopping, food, free Wifi. In the cabin there's no way to mitigate bad behaving families so prevention is better than cure.

  • Savas on 15/06/2016 - 14:27

    I used to like going on the plane first but I am probably too old now

  • mskeggs on 15/06/2016 - 15:02
    +4

    It's a well known fact that whoever gets on the plane first arrives at their destination soonest.
    That is why everyone queues early to get aboard.
    Maybe Jetsar/AirAsia can start offering an early boarding pass upgrade for $10 as part of the fare drip system.

    • airzone on 15/06/2016 - 15:15

      Shhh. Don't give them ideas! I think they do in the US already… I was flying LA to Charlotte (and back) on US Air and they were asking about passengers who had an express pass.. This was after the business class and "gold" members. I wasn't paying too much attention though so don't take it as gospel..

      Actually the only time I am antsy to be first off the plane is flying into LAX from Australia.. You can literally spend hours waiting for the passport stamp if you get stuck behind. I'm normally flying there on business class though so I get the head start.

    • mick123 on 15/06/2016 - 15:25

      And the one who gets their seatbelt off first as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac magically get out 1st, can bypass customs and have their bags ready for them at the carousel..

    • mightyfes on 15/06/2016 - 15:46

      Pretty sure priority boarding for a few extra dollars is a thing with Tiger.

  • airzone on 15/06/2016 - 15:10

    Could give it or take it.. It's handy so that you can keep your mountains on carry-on bags together (which is especially important for nappy bags and the such).

    I am very happy to be the last person off the plane. It's such a headache packing up all your crap and heard the kids out (especially if you're climbing stairs).

    One benefit of being on first is you can see the faces of your neighbours when they realise you have kids. I have a secret delight in annoying people who make it outstandingly obvious that they don't believe kids should fly. I've been flying extensively for work for ~15 years and have seen the best and worst of both parents and non-parent passengers. Crying babies don't bother me, and I don't particularly mind entertaining older kids with video games and movies on a laptop. It can be quite fun on a long flight and is a more interesting diversion than a small screen in your face. The only 2 things that make me despair is when parents are obviously being negligent (please make an effort to parent), and others who are intolerant of parents who are doing their best (please make an effort to be a better human being).

    • tomleonhart on 15/06/2016 - 15:17

      lol. Sound like we need more people like you on the plane :P

      • airzone on 15/06/2016 - 15:23

        I think I have only ruined one kid. I had a movie that was probably a little too mature for him. The airline (US Air) split his family up though (without consultation, which I thought was a little poor form on their behalf) so we had to make do for 6.5 hours with no other entertainment. He was about 8 or 9 years old.

  • Sawtell on 15/06/2016 - 16:01

    Lol at airzone so true… I also usually get the bulkhead or near with my kids just behind business/premium so no doubt there are alot of sad faces when they see my lot screaming down the air bridge then same kids again seated merely a meter or two away.

    I also like hitting the priority boarding lane with my kids in tow only to see the scowls from all the others lined up.

    • airzone on 15/06/2016 - 16:21

      Lol.. Last time I took the kids overseas, the couple 3 rows ahead (in the centre door area near they galley, so they had a mile of leg room) complained loudly among themselves that we were disturbing them in a foreign language. We hadn't even taken off yet and the 3yo was being entertained with an ipad, and the baby was having a b/feed.

      My wife just so happens to speak that language at a native level and heard everything they were saying (she speaks 4 languages natively, I can barely speak one). It wasn't polite conversation.

      You can guess where we took the kids when they needed a stretch, or a play, or a drink of water.. And we found an excellent area to walk around and calm the baby when she was inevitably crying (i.e. screaming).

  • altomic on 15/06/2016 - 16:08

    I always get on last with my 3 kids. Our seats are booked so what's the hurry? over head luggage? I always pack it at my feet anyway.

    the only time I've used priority seat once when my middle kid was on crutches and they offered us priority- which worked well. they popped her into a wheel chair and we were taken out the back way and down to the tarmac. then escorted over to the plane and they took us up in a portable lift. we were first on and given second row seats. we then had to wait at the destination for everyone else to disembark before we could exit. but as we were the last passengers and it was the last flight they let us in to the cockpit to have a look around. that was pretty cool.

    • airzone on 15/06/2016 - 17:00

      they let us in to the cockpit to have a look around. that was pretty cool

      That's rare these days. I remember as a young kid my old man was expatriated in Western Samoa so we used to fly back and forth every now and then for a couple of years. The pilots would routinely let the kids come up onto the flight deck while flying.. It was so cool.

  • clarebear on 15/06/2016 - 17:25

    I would board the plane when called to do so during the priority boarding.

    They allow familes to go first incase the flight attendants need to help them. It is much easier without everyone getting in the way etc. We did a trial before they opened the new Virgin terminal here in Perth late last year. It was great to know that the flight attendants are willing to hold baby so you can get your bags into the overhead etc. I would have struggled without the help.

    We are travelling for the first time to Melbourne in July with our baby, he will be 11 months old and we will definitely be utilizing the priority boarding for the familes with little ones. Hoping the extra time will settle him before departure. It means I could give him a bottle before the plane even closes doors.

    There is no way I would want to be one of the last to board, even without a baby I was always trying to be the first.

  • SirFlibbled on 16/06/2016 - 10:58

    My seat is already selected, so I don't care either way. I usually board last. I barely can be bothered boarding early when flying business as well. The lounge is much more comfortable than the plane. Why get up 10-15 minutes earlier than I need to just to board earlier. I always just let those really really keen to board first. Then when there's no queue I stroll through and to my seat.

  • nissa on 17/06/2016 - 18:50

    Paid for priority boarding with Ryanair as I didn`t want the carryon gatechecked. Turned out by the time we got through immigration boarding was underway anyway, but we did manage to find space so had a happy ending.

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