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No More Pre-Boarding For Families on Southwest Airlines
I've got some more Southwest Airlines news for you: Today CEO Gary Kelly announced his company's decision to continue their open-seating boarding policy, but he failed to mention they will also ditch pre-boarding for families."Beginning Oct. 2, people traveling with small children will no longer be allowed to pre-board Southwest Airlines flights," reports World Hum. "It's all in the name of fairness, the airline says."
There's been no mention of this on the official Southwest Airlines blog, but one commenter responds negatively in a seperate thread: "I just heard on cnbc that families and adults with children will not be allowed to board 1st. If this is true, I have officially flown with southwest for the last time."
I don't have kids, so it doesn't really affect me... but I can't imagine why people would complain about families with children being able to board before the rest of the group. Maybe these are the same people who pick fights with 5-year-old kids? I'm not sure.
So, folks with kids: is this a deal-breaker?
Update: As many of our readers have pointed out, Southwest didn't completely get rid of pre-boarding -- but they did move it. With the new system, families with at least one child under 4-years-old who do not have an "A" boarding pass will be allowed to board in between the "A" and "B" groups. Which basically means that all families with small children will automatically have an "A" boarding pass. So technically they did get rid of pre-boarding, but they're still accommodating families by allowing them to board before of 66% of the passengers on a full flight (when it really matters).
Our sister blog, ParentDish, has their own take on the situation. Click here to read what they have to say.
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Deb T Mar 5th 2008 12:07PM
Their baggage policy just became more family unfriendly too! My husband tried to check our car seat with his 2 bags and Southwest wanted to charge him additional - their new policy is only 2 bags and baby gear counts towards it! I was extremely annoyed with their new seating policy, but now I am fed up. I fly Southwest AT LEAST 9 times a year with kids. I am switching airlines starting this summer. Any suggestions for family-friendly airline with good rewards program?
Alice Sep 19th 2007 5:57PM
I don't have children, but I think families with young children should get priority boarding b/c they should be able to be seated together. However, a friend once mentioned the idea of having "family zones" on planes to segregate them from the general public...slippery slope? Maybe, but part of me kind of likes that idea.
Jennifer Sep 19th 2007 7:41PM
Traveling with a family on SW is (or was) really great, you got the low fares and were able to preboard, in essences cutting the line and sit where you wanted. Now that they take that away if you are bringing the family you have to get there really early (sitting in an airport for hours with small kids is no fun), run the risk of being separated on board, or hope a stranger is kind enough to switch with you so you can sit together. So for someone with a family flying southwest it is actually much less attractive than paying a little more for assigned seats. My 2 cents.
ttenna Sep 19th 2007 8:14PM
Interesting...actually everyone boarding a plane will be affected.... so, even if I did not have any kids, I would still prefer families with children to board ahead, so they would not be in the way! Dumb move on Southwest's part!
doug Sep 20th 2007 2:02AM
I have to agree with previous comments. I am a new father, and having flown with and without children, this does not seem to be a very good policy. Without children, I'd rather not be inconvienced while i'm trying to board as families wrestled with their kids and various devices to keep them occupied during the trip. With children, I appreciate the room and time to sit and get settled without feeling rushed by the line of people behind me. On an airline with assigned seats, i can board last, as i did last weekend. However, this is not an option with SWA, and now flying with them is not an option either.
Tom G. Sep 20th 2007 7:38AM
Sure lady. I'll watch your kid while you sit back there. Just pick him/her up when we land. Oh, yes, can he/she have peanuts?
JoAnn Sep 20th 2007 11:25AM
If I still had young kids, it *might* make me think twice and possibly take another airline. Now that the kids are 6 and 10, experienced travelers who just sit and read or watch a movie, and know not to eat or drink if they aren't sitting next to me, this doesn't bother me at all. Besides, I've had more problems getting seats together on assigned seating than I have on SWA - just check-in on-line and as long as you are in the 1st half boarding it's usually fine.
Amanda Sep 20th 2007 12:17PM
In the article they stated that it wasn't fair that families with children show up at the last minute and get onto the aircraft first. If they only realized how difficult it is too carry an infant through security (taking apart car seats, taking off shoes, etc.), finding a restroom to change diapers, breast feeding, all while dragging strollers, car seats, diaper bags, etc.!!! Getting to the gate takes people with babies longer and we are usually sweating, tired and anxious when we do finally make it there!!!
I find this very disturbing as I travel (mostly alone) with our young son often and find the pre-boarding necessary! We need time to get settled, get the car seat strapped into the seat, settle the baby, etc. If a woman is breast feeding, we need to find a seat we feel comfortable in (location).
Shame on them.
tana green Sep 20th 2007 2:26PM
I don't have young children any more but I'd really prefer it if they are in their seats before I get on the plane. I want to avoid sitting in front of a seat kicking 5 year old (and don't they all). Seems pretty unfair to me to all the other passengers.
tana green Sep 20th 2007 2:32PM
Do they still pre-board disabled passengers? How is this fair?
Alison Sep 20th 2007 2:32PM
I called Southwest, they will still be pre boarding families with children 8 and under. After that, they will pre board between Lines A & B. So, they are still preboarding. Not to worry.
Jimbo Sep 20th 2007 2:49PM
As a fan of SWA and their business model, I feel this is a misstep. I am an older married individual and has chosen to never have children. I can empathise with both sides of the issue. I would suggest a modification of the pre-board policy. Allowing only one pre-board family per five rows of seating. Many times, my wife and I have boarded the plane from the "A" line to find the front section of the plane choked with families, instead of being distributed uniformily throughout the plane. Yes, some would say that now everyone can enjoy the squeal of crying infants. Hey, parents listen up, you had the kids deal with it,take resposibilty. The rest of us, step up lend a hand. Also, I believe that SWA needs to tighten up its pre-board policy in general. Several times I wanted to question the gate agent why a certain individual was allowed to pre-board.
Out of a sense of fair play I don't believe a pre-boarded passenger be allowed to occupy a seat in the first two rows of the aircraft, unless they are handicapped enough to qualify for a handicap parking sticker.
Well that and $5.00 might get me a cup of coffee.
Mare Smith Sep 20th 2007 2:57PM
It's about time! I am sick of seeing whole families board ahead of everybody else just because they have one baby in the group. Too many have taken it too far.
bob Sep 20th 2007 3:05PM
I believe it’s a wonderful idea! I’ve seen to many times a family of 12 boarding first because they have a small child. I will give you that a mother and child need a bit more time to get settled but why does the father their three other kids and the brother-in-law all have to go in with the mother? I was on a flight once not a SWA that the older lady was in a wheel chair and needed pre-boarding she was accompanied with her husband and 7 other family members. Is that fair?
Southwest is free boarding well if I’m in the “A” group why does 22 people get to get on before me I’ve waited in line for 20 minute to get a close seat and one I wanted not one that there-boarders didn’t want. I agree completely that they should go between the “A” and the “B”’s and believe it or not, I’m usually not in the “A” group but what’s fair is fair.
The truth be known I believe there should be some trips that are not kid friendly. I seem to get a screamer behind me every other time. I’d pay more if they wouldn’t let kids under 6 on a plane and I’d fly when they said I had to.
Bob Sep 20th 2007 3:03PM
Do you know the whole story about the October 2 boarding procedures? I heard they will allow the families to board after the A group. I think that is a fair method. What ever happened to the families preboarding under premises they sit behind row 15? Orlando airport did that for awhile before. It was really nice, since families usually need a few extra minutes to get situated. During the deplanning process, they families were not holding the rest of us up while they gathered all of their belongings.
momof1 Sep 20th 2007 3:11PM
I think that only the parents and children (even if they have some that are older), but if they are traveling with other friends, family members, etc the whole group should not be able to get on the plane. I have a 5 yr old and I have found it more than helpful to preboard - that way we get on and in a seat and usually by the time we are ready to take off we have everything settled etc. With a child we don't just take our seat and sit down, we have to get out the stuffed animal, the DVD player, usually something else to do and then you can't forget the books because while we can't have the DVD player on we usually read a couple of books and then she will color or do some kind of art project or "homework" as she calls it. I am looking forward to her getting a little older and not needing to do so much.
Bill Sep 20th 2007 3:11PM
Heywant to board early cool are you willing to pay for that Privilege? Now lets see all those we shoulds talk. I agree with Bob
Glenn Sep 21st 2007 5:56PM
Thank God. No more pre-boarding of families !!!!!! (At least not before Group "A"). Looks like I will start flying SW again. It used to P@#$ me off, no end, when the gate personnel pre-boarded a child, his parents, and 22 relatives in the pre-boardihng process. SW ruined the pre-board by allowing EVERYONE in the family, including Great Aunt Matilda and her third cousin ahead of SW Group "A" paying...and "on time" customers. Too bad the program was ruined...it was a good thing for parents, particularly single parents, flying with childred....but, SW allowed terrible abuse of the plan and I know for a fact that it cost them numerous customers. It's about time they fixed the problem.
Susan Sep 20th 2007 4:11PM
I dont think families will have to be seperated..Knowing Southwest and how people try to board seat A & C to get a vacant seat between them for the ride. Just ask those people people if they mind if little Jimmy sits between them while you sit up a few rows.It's only a 5 hours flight.Seems you cant get seats together. See how fast they give up their seats..
maggie Sep 20th 2007 4:38PM
I agree with Jimbo, Mare and Bill. Why should the families get all the good seats??? I can understand if you have an infant, or even under age 4. But come on parents, the rest of the world does not need to revolve around your right to reproduce!! Or even breast feed, why do I have to suffer because of your choice. If you can't get your 5 yr old on a plane without a lot of hassle then you probably shouldn't be flying. Stay home and teach the child how to act in a public place and to show respect for others.