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[chrispina]

southwest airlines to end policy of letting families with small children board first.

i think i am going to protest this by always choosing the most annoyed looking business traveler to sit my 3 year old next to.

Comments

[littlebuhnee]

I'm wondering if all airlines are starting to do this now. They (I think we flew AirTran) didn't pre-board us for our flight to Atlanta, either, which sucked because I was really looking forward to getting that time to get the boys situated.

[nibor]

Preboarding isn't as big an issue on other airlines, as you get assigned seats. But since Southwest seating is first come first serve, you need to get to the airport early and sit around waiting in line.
Yes, what a good idea, let's try to encourage parents to get in line early with 3 year olds so they can all sit there nicely for an hour.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I might protest this policy by letting my 3 year old play with all the pretty buttons that are right there by the door. I'm pretty sure only 1 or 2 of them set off alarms, and what are the odds he'd hit those?

[littlebuhnee]

I'd never been on a flight that didn't have a pre-board before that Atlanta flight, assigned seating or not.

[chrispina]

it takes me a good 5 minutes to get the marathon installed on an airplane seat. they can just hold the plane if they don't want to preboard us.

[rgansle]

Yeah I'm betting this will lose them a lot of business, which is sad, because I <3 Southwest.

[rabidcat]

I personally would rather gnaw my arm off than pre board anyway. And since I'm pretty sure no one wants to sit next to my kids alone, I'm sure other passengers will rearrange so I can sit with them. In fact, maybe I'll refuse to take them up on it, and THEY can listen to Jamie talk about nothing for 3 hours :)

[imzadi]

Wow, that's interesting. It seems like on Southwest more than other airlines, you'd need the pre-boarding, because if you have a carseat to put it, it HAS to go in a window seat, and those seats are snapped up so quickly

[chrispina]

if they wanted to lower the age limit to kids 3 and under... maybe the kids who are likely to need carseats and diaper changes... a 5 year old doesn't need extra time, but a mom with a 3 year old and an infant, which i will have soon enough, needs the extra time and needs to be sure to haee 3 seats together.

[sioneva]

Well, should I fly Southwest again any time soon, I'll be sure to take the maximum amount of time I can getting Ciaran settled...oops, hey, I don't need to go OUT OF MY WAY to do that because he'll make sure I do anyway!

Bet Southwest will LOVE the aisle full of irritated people waiting behind me.

[bombedier]

This is insane - we need that time to install their car seats!!! Children should not travel as lap passengers - they should always be in a car seat. And you should NEVER check your car seat as luggage.