Some airlines no longer let babies and small children board first

[royalcassel]

What's that all about ? Has anyone else had this experience recently ? I found it quite challenging. Surely it's better for the little people to be seated first to enable everyone else to board quicker ?

We flew with easyJet this summer and they offered us priority boarding. We declined and got on last, which was infinitely better with two small children.

PilgorTheGoat
Exactly they don’t get it others!
Have Parkinson’s, disabling more as time goes on 😟, we that need special assistance, didn’t choose it, whatever we have

Fundays12
That behaviour is awful!
Seat allocation seems wise, upsetting others very selfish

People flying with babies have limits on what they can take on board too and most gate check their buggies. But yes, people who get on earlier get more of a chance to put their stuff in close by overhead lockers. In the case of people flying with a baby that can help keep the baby safer and make the flight more comfortable for all passengers (because screaming babies are not fun to be around).

Why is it a big deal? There is no reason that babies and young children should get priority - in fact I’d rather be last on the plane with small DC as it means less time spent sitting around waiting for take off. The only people who need priority boarding are those with a disability.

Never known this happen on Easyjet. And we've flew with them this year a few times already, this week being the most reason.

Same with Jet2.

Are you sure your not getting it mixed up with people who have paid for priority boarding? A few of families with children did that this week.

I flew yesterday on Aer Lingus and they offered the option.

We fly quite regularly and it's generally always offered - boarding for those with children under five and those who need special assistance - in the initial announcements. Then the general boarding commences.

We use it because DS is autistic and the chaos of boarding is quite stressful. If we board early, he can sit in his seat and ignore it.

Why should having small children entitle you to boarding first? Genuine question.

Fucking hell, people have already explained about ten times upthread how young children come with more hand luggage, which they are unable to carry themselves and therefore it’s logistically more difficult and takes longer to get them on the plane safely without getting knocked or in people’s way. I am really shocked some people would begrudge this when it is a very very minor inconvenience to them. There’s nothing “entitled” about it, it’s a courtesy extended to make everyone’s life easier.

Sounds like you could be one of those men that storms off ahead determined to be first on and then stands huffing and puffing in the aisle whilst people try their best to get seated. You need to chill out.

I don’t think it’s about small children being “entitled” to board first, in the sense of they have a right to expect a better experience than other passengers. It’s about how to ensure smoother boarding and safer flying for the plane as a whole and not make their journey worse than other passengers’. If not at one end of the queue, other passengers jostling can endanger babies and young children’s safety. Parents of young children who can’t get their baggage with essentials for the baby stowed because there is no room, or who have to gate check a buggy, or need to juggle a baby, two carry-ons and a car seat down the aisle of a full plane will hold the plane up for longer if they board at the back of the line. Some parents will also find it more stressful and that can translate into stressed babies and more crying - another thing most passengers would like to avoid.

I’m shocked anyone is actually bothered about families boarding first. How does this even affect anyone else?

It does make it easier in my experience and I can see how it would expedite boarding for everyone.

Perhaps they've found it slows boarding as families faff about and it holds other passengers up. To be honest I would have thought it would better for them to board last!

There has always been an immense amount of pressure to minimize turnaround times in the short haul world.

If somebody had discovered the holy grail, a boarding method or sequence that always guaranteed minimum boarding time I’m sure all airlines would have adopted it..

Seeing as there’s still a mix of policies it looks like either there’s no holy grail, there’s randomness to it, or quite possibly passenger boarding time usually isn’t the limiting factor on turn round duration, so companies go with the policy that they think works best for their customers.

Exactly, I returned from Italy in June on EasyJet, first on , special assistance,put holdhall in locker, quickly handed it back, to go under seat.
Lots of students on board, overfilled lockers, the older flight attendant said she has never seen it so full, nearly have put in hold.
A lot abuse hand luggage, whereas I pay for r priority for slightly extra

You'd think they should let disabled folk on first, but from my experience as someone who's wobbly on their feet at times, this doesn't happen. For most airlines you're allowed on after the folk who've paid to go on quickly and just before everyone else (if you get any priority). What happens is everyone else rushes around and overtakes you and then you are left wobbly and possibly standing for ages as other people board (sometimes on stairs). The worst is when you have to use a bus to get from your gate to the plane, everyone else moves faster so you're left unable to get a seat and are so far from a seat you can't get to it to ask if you can sit down. And this is even when you visibly have a stick or crutches. It amazes me airlines don't have to let mobility impaired passengers on first (or last). I've sometimes had to buy speedy boarding but that's wrong that someone with mobility issues has to do that to be able to travel.

Emirates do this now if you book a bassinet/child on your lap so they have an idea how many seats are free in case the baby is too big for it for the bassinet or the parent too big for the belt extender.

What do they do if parent is too big for the belt? The child still needs to be on a lap for their own safety (unless in a plane suitable car seat)

I see more childfree adults faffing about than families the times I’ve flown tbh.

Early boarding with children of any age is completely unnecessary. I’ve never done it.

I do not think families boarding first has been a thing for several years. DC old enough now that I remember when Easyjet did not allocate seats! Even legacy airlines are like taking a bus now if flying shorthaul- fine by me. Pay for what you need/value, and do not moan if you are not sitting together, your luggage does not fit in lockers/underseat if you have not paid to upgrade. This is not new and is very apparent on various airline websites. The last couple of times I have flown this year it has been with BA and I have been incredulous at the number of people who have slowed down boarding because they are in massive family groups and not paid to sit together and then others who insist on jamming belongings into lockers which should go under their seats so carry on does not fit.

The families with children probably did it because they've flown other airlines who include families with young children in the priority list. It's completely normal long-haul.

Initially totally agreed with OP. When mine were small I was incredibly relieved to get onboard and settled earlier ( always used to bring things to keep my dc busy) ; but I’ve noticed this definitely doesn’t seem to happen so much ( at all?) now - which has led to me feeling really sorry for parents when kids are stuck in queues / already lifted out of pushchairs etc. However maybe tougher luggage restrictions etc have had an impact and parents prefer to hold onto wifi service in the departure lounge etc rather than be crammed on board - certainly seems to be a significant number saying they’d RATHER not board earlier. Just relieved mine is past that stage !!

@busymomtoone

…..”When mine were small I was incredibly relieved to get onboard and settled earlier ( always used to bring things to keep my dc busy) ; but I’ve noticed this definitely doesn’t seem to happen so much ( at all?) “

For info BA’s current stated policy from their website:

“To make things easier for you, we always invite families with infants under 2 and young children in pushchairs to board first, so that you and your family can get settled on board. Please get to the gate at least 45 minutes before departure so that you are ready to board and we have enough time to load your pushchair in the hold.”

(Their emphasis)

If it’s not been offered on some BA flight’s as I think has been stated by some pps that was an omission by the gate staff on the day ….

https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/family-travel/at-the-airport

Never boarded early with children. In same queue as everyone else. I never saw it as a problem - in fact longer time in seats is more of a problem.

i have a small child and purposefully board as close to last as possible because I really don’t want to try and keep him seated / quiet / happy for any longer than necessary. I’ve not flown since potty training but a last minute toilet dash would be advantageous too I’m sure.