United airlines doesn,t let parents with infants preboard

[stella1w]

Travelled a lot across the pond alone with two young children and never had this before. It,s hard enough struggling up the aisle with a squirmy baby, hand luggage etc and i,d given up expecting air stewards to help with the overhead lockers. But to expect someone with a baby to get stuck in the general boarding crush is insane. It,s easier for everyone and safer for the baby to get them settled in first and away from people flinging their stuff in the overhead lockers etc.

Oh dear....

Not at all comparing being disabled to travelling with young children per se. But both groups benefit from having a bit more time to board, finding space etc and being in their seats and out of the way when the crush starts. Some airlines phrase it "wd those who need a little extra time to board come forward now". Makes sense to me. On the four flights i took with united, the stewards helped nobody to get their stuff in the bins and if you have a baby, it,s helpful to have an empty seat or floor space to put him for a moment while you stow your stuff.
And the military don,t need extra time to board.

I think it was oh dear - oh dear that they remembered...

I'm disabled, I usually have to get on first and get off last. I don't have a choice in the matter, I need assistance so have to go when they tell me. Also, I use crutches and last time I flew, they took them off me, put them in the overhead bins 7 rows back and then the other passengers put their bags on top of them! It was just as well I had the front row seats and can manage a few steps other wise I wouldn't have managed to get to the toilet.

You flying with a baby is far easier than coping with a disability. Board last and put your bag under the seat in front, and book an aisle seat. Or travel with a different airline, or stay at home!

You can't compare the need of the disabled and people with babies. You are going to get flamed now.

If the overhead locker is full over my seat, I stand around until the steward comes and sorts it. They can't take off until it is all stored away can they?

Agree, I prefer getting on last then less time on the plane.

I don't like it when they ask you to Pre- board and then you feel like you have to. You are on there for at least an extra half an hour. I once 'hid' in the toilets.

I've travelled with United and they call families with small children first, never used it as mine always want to get on last and we always put luggage under seat

I'm disabled and getting on the plane is rubbish for me because I have no balance and can fall in a crowd (particularly that ridiculous, unnecessary boarding crush that tends to happen). Sure, I could wait til last but I ideally need extra space, assistance, and extra time to get seated and settled. The extra space and time when no one else is on the plane could ease my difficulty. The crew could help whereas later they would be too busy with the boarding process. This help actually speeds up the process. So I'm afraid it's not like having a baby. However, very few airlines seem to offer this priority now. For the past few years I've struggled and felt very anxious. My lovely DP helps so much but I actually need that extra physical space and time. It's hard to come by these days.

I don't want to get into 'babies v. disabled' chat because it makes me and but I just want to point out to you that preboarding is NOT for convenience. It's actually about necessity in terms of physical assistance and ability.

I must say I don't mind people with small children boarding first. I mean it's not as if the plane will leave without you. Is it. Can't see why the objections.

I am not comparing being disabled to travelling with young children. Disabled get total priority of course and should board first etc. But once they are on, then yes, i think people with infants should be allowed to board ahead of others for practical and safety reasons. But then again, perhaps i could board last and wait for the non existent steward to help stow my baggage.

Most airlines except Ryanair will offer extra help when boarding if necessary, you just need to ask.

I travelled with them a couple of weeks ago. I was very worried on account of being disabled and them being bastards. I waited to board last to avoid the stampede (getting on without stress is more important than where I sit). Was speechless to discover that they crewe had kept some seats free for me (so I could choose which was best), they carried my bag for me and put it in the overhead and then helped me do up my seatbelt. They were so kind and helpful, it was actually a bit scary.

On the basis of these replies, why let the disabled board first?

If you need to ask then you're probably too dumb to understand the answer.

As far as I can tell nowadays they have restricted hand luggage and the last few times we have flown transatlantic there has been plenty of overhead room.

And if you board later your stuff is nearer the front of the locker anyway so easier to get at surely?

I hate getting on too early then getting bashed on the head by horrible careless people swinging their rucksacks around as they go up the aisle like the ignorant pig who did that to me this summer and didn't even apologise. Git

*crew not Crewe. That would have been a crowded plane.

Again, apologies for comparing disabled with those with babies. The former get total priority for obvious reasons. The latter, though, could also benefit from extra time and space and help and it also keeps them out of the way of the stampede of passengers. I will try boarding last next time and see if the stewards appreciate me struggling up and down the aisle with a baby trying to find space in the overhead bins etc.

I have never flown and experienced air stewards as spectacularly unhelpful as posters on here seem to have done. I've flown plenty of times with small children and plenty of times with large groups of disabled adults, stewards will always help pack things away and bring them back again when the seatbelt signs go off.

You said yourself you traveled a lot and had never experienced this before. Your rant seems a tad extreme.

In which case I take back my narked response.

It makes sense for everyone for them to be boarded either first or last, either way, out of the general crush, for everyone's sake. There isn't any need to rush, but people do, so it's better for small children and babies to be out of the stampede. Which is why most airlines do it.

Anyway, United Airlines are worse than Ryainair by the sounds of it. Google their name with "problems" or "customer service" and you will see why.

Whenever I have flown with small children I have always packed hand luggage light enough that it has to fit in front of the seat in front. Getting up to get stuff down from an overhead locker is a PITA with a baby on your knee - especially if (as it sounds like, since you have to get past another person) you're in the window or window-and-middle seats)

I guess I just don't get the 'difficulty' bit. Baby in sling on front, backpack on back, or bag over shoulder.

I just find it odd that an airline would have an actual policy of not letting those with infants preboard when its competitors do. And yes, i was annoyed havng duly checked in three hours ahead and done my best to follow toddler all over airport to tire him out in consideration of fellow passengers. I don,t let him toddle up and down the aisle and i don,t let him cry and i spend seven and a half hours keeping him as still and quiet as possible. So i don,t think it,s asking too much to want to board after first, club, miles, disabled...

we always travel light so our bags fit under the seat in front and do not use the overhead locker.
When the kids were V small we liked to board late and then they were busy having sweets during takeoff - toys only come out when boredom starts and NOT before.

Btw, i had baby in sling, backpack on back with most essentials, and small bag with change of clothes, extra nappies etc. Totally doable but still easier to move up tjhe aisle wearing a human being and carrying stuff without the crush. Before i had kids i totally saw the point of getting people with young kids on first and off last.

Isn't it more awkward to have to move yourself and the baby to let someone into the seat next to you, than for one person without a baby to move for you? Just a thought....

From another perspective, why should you get first option on the locker space? It's a nuisance for everyone, not just people with babies. The poor sod who has to sit next to you has a flight worth of baby noise/fluids from a small person completely unrelated to themselves, and no locker space. That really sucks.

I think the military have privileged boarding to say thanks for risking their lives for the rest of us. Fair enough I'd say.

Wow you guys are mean. I can only conclude that those saying 'board last' (hahahahahahahahaha!) have never done a long haul with small children. I just wouldn't fly United anymore now that you know.

When DD was little and we travelled long haul, DH boarded first with the bags and got them stowed away and then I would be the last person to board with DD. That worked for us.