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 ?

Geographically yes.

Culturally - definitely not.

@royalcassel I quite liked boarding first when dc were young, it meant I could settle them without the worry of standing in the way of everyone else trying to get seated.

I can't say it's something I've ever experienced in other European countries when I've travelled with DS. Maybe it depends on the airline!

Certainly most airlines in Canada will request persons flying with small children and those needing assistance to board first.
I wish airlines improved on overhead and carry on baggage size and seated people starting at the back.

As a mum of four that has travelled by air many many times, families with small children are always called after business class and disabled passengers before the rest of economy. Always. We do travel more long haul though so maybe it’s just long haul flights? Emirates, BA, Virgin, Etihad, Qatar, SAA, Ethiopian, Thai and a few others. It might be because we travel with more bits on board like pushchairs, car seats, so much hand luggage and then having young children to mind. I think it makes it easier for both the families and other passengers to let our circus on before the plane is full 😅

I've always wondered why they don't load planes by the window seat tickets first, then call for all the middle seat tickets, and lastly the aisle seats - that way people aren't sitting down then having to bob up again and get in the way when the window person for their row arrives, everyone can just get settled knowing no-one will come and disturb them. It would be a lot quicker and calmer.

I've always been asked to board first with children, but hate it. The kids are bored and complaining for longer!

If I'm not carrying a push chair I try to go last and keep my fingers crossed for no delays.

So are the rest of us stuck on the plane with you and your spawn

Id rather board last with small kids . Less time for them to be cooped up on plane

To get your seat all sorted, put your belongings away and have a glass of champagne perhaps

I agree quite a few airlines do it but I think it’s an offer not an order. As others have said I find it easiest to wait to be the last on. With Ryanair/easyjet I always pay for near front seating and luggage so I know I’ve got that but I like to minimise time little one trapped on plane. So if it works for you and yours I’d just ask.

@Omlettes planes are public place, for transportation of everyone
if you don’t want spawn on your flight, here’s a great business idea, open your own airline, without children. Least you won’t have to worry about entitled kids boarding first!
next year if we fly, it be the first time doing it with said child, and yes I think boarding last would be great I don’t need to go on first as I’m not entitled

I flew business long haul with BA last week and families with children under 5 were called before business passengers.

Weren't you lecturing everyone on common courtesy? Maybe it's just me, but I think you're extremely rude.

The only airline I have heard call preboarding for families is BA

In all my years of travel I've never encountered this. If you're so concerned about your children's behaviour you shouldn't be flying with them. Just a thought 🤷‍♀️

This might be the most cunty reply to anything I've ever read on this website and that's saying something.

So bravo on your "social niceties" I guess. Serving you well.

I still see families with young children being called to board first. I mostly fly long haul and with a variety of airlines.

It's not compulsory - anyone who prefers to board as late as possible can still do so.

When dd was little, we always used to board first. I liked having time and space to sort ourselves out. But she wasn't a fidgety flier so it suited us.

Easyjet allow this, you get free speedy boarding included if you have a baby or young child.

Doesn't happen in school holidays (I've noticed).

It depends where you're flying and with whom.

I'm a teacher so only fly in the school holidays and see it regularly, most recently at the beginning of this year's summer holidays.

We had this last year on Ryanair. Almost everyone had priority boarding which meant, in effect, that they got to queue up in a tunnel and down the steps whilst those not with PB got to stay sat in the departure gate until the queue moved.

We always ignored that and let them stretch their legs a bit longer at the gate before boarding. Not sure what the benefit is.

Me too! There’s no logic to it is there?

When my DC was a toddler my DH worked abroad so we were back and forth on our own to see him. We always headed to the toilet when they started boarding to try and avoid plane toilets (never worked) and to get pjs on because we flew overnight. So we would always be one of the last on to save the amount of time stuck in a seat.

I guess the one problem is the potential of the overhead locker being full later and it would be a pain in the bum not having your bag to hand with all the kid paraphernalia. I tend to put it under the seat in front.