63 Comments »

1. Great! If there aren’t seats together, who wants my four year old in the middle seat?

   This will make my flights much more relaxing, as someone else will watch the kids. Thanks Southwest.

   Comment by Mike — October 2, 2007 @ 2:37 am

2. They should seat by who bought their ticket the earliest. The early bird gets the worm.

   Comment by Tina — October 3, 2007 @ 11:41 am

3. Personally, I would prefer the kids get seated first so I can sit far away from them if I want. I’d hate to get settled in a good seat and then have a fidgety kid next to me.

   Comment by Florence — October 3, 2007 @ 11:05 pm

4. You are certainly right on this one..My two grandsons (and their Mother) just traveled United from Sbn to phx and the need is definitely there to be able to board people with small children first !!

   Comment by Patricia Bontrager-White — October 3, 2007 @ 11:08 pm

5. As an unfortunate traveler from my home airport of Orlando, FL, I welcome the change with open arms. I was recently on a flight from New Hampshire to Orlando in which 65 people with kids preboarded the flight. With the remaining 30 people in the “A” group, you might as well sit in the toilet if you were beyond this group. I sympathize with the families, but when traveling the ‘kiddie flights’ into Orlando, this will be a blessing for those traveling alone or without kids.

   Comment by David — October 3, 2007 @ 11:46 pm

6. I don’t mind families boarding first. I prefer not to sit by children…not because of the child but because of the parents!

   Comment by LD — October 4, 2007 @ 12:11 am

7. This is unwise on the part of Southwest. I have a 3 year old and I have traveled with from the time she was born. I have to say that the time used in pre-boarding is the most valuable time for parents. All the crap you have to carry with a young child will just clog up the boarding process if it’s the usual free for all on Southwest ! Bad move on their part for family traveling. I will certainly avoid flying with them because of this change.

   Comment by Donna — October 4, 2007 @ 2:41 am

8. I am very pleased with the new policy. I travel a lot with my 2 children, but they are over the age of 4. I try to get boarding group A so we 3 can all sit together. It is frustrating that families with kids under 4 get to board first. They should have to wait to board like everyone else. Why don’t they try to check in and get Group A like the rest of us. I don’t think it’s a huge hassle for them to board between A & B. Thank you Southwest!!! I think you are awesome to come up with this new policy!

   Comment by MG — October 4, 2007 @ 3:22 am

9. As parents of a 2 1/2 yr old who fly frequently, I think that the change in policy is bad for just about everyone. It is already hard enough to get a two year old on board while carrying your carry-ons (plus a carry-on with toys for the 2 year old) and get settled and out of the aisle. To do that in a crowd of other passengers would make everyone unhappy and slow the boarding of the flight considerably. Not to mention that a 2 year old in a crowd is tripping hazard or could get knocked in the head by someone’s carry-on bag.
   We have always been invited to pre-board, but that is always with pre-assigned seating. While I do see that it seems an unfair advantage on a “first-come, first-seated” airline for families to go first - I’ll bet any parent of a two year old would gladly trade places with someone who boards later but doesn’t have to board with a kid.
   Yup - I’d say Southwest is marking itself as decidedly no longer family friendly. We will not be flying with them anytime in the next 3 or 4 years!

   Comment by Scott — October 4, 2007 @ 3:43 am

10. As a parent of a 6 year old and 10 year old, I am absolutely fine with this. Most people will change seats when presented with the “opportunity” to sit next to a child. Also, the longer my kids sit on the plane without it actually taking off, the more fussy they they are. It is far better for my kids (at least) to board later than sooner.

    Comment by Lori — October 4, 2007 @ 4:24 am

11. My understanding is that families get to board after the first 30 passengers. Of course, there can be families in that first 30 if they check in first!

    This just stops families with children from grabbing all the good seats, which makes perfect sense. They are still going to get every opportunity for a child to sit beside a parent. On certain routes, particularly Orlando, most of the seats were going to “families.” In many cases children were farmed out to extended family, so that each relative had “one” child to take on the plane. Meanwhile, the business traveler, who likely paid the most for his ticket, was stuck in the absolute worst seats!

    By the way, I have two children, 8 & 7.

    Comment by Frank — October 4, 2007 @ 6:26 am

12. Southwest will learn after a few incidents of children getting hurt while going down the aisle of the plane, flights not taking off on time because parents are trying to get their children settled and carry-ons put away, seats not being together that it’s a bad policy. I don’t have children but have always had great sympathy and respect for the parents, often one parent, that has to handle all that they do to get their family through the hassles of airport and airline travel. How about some help for these families?

    Comment by Barbara — October 4, 2007 @ 7:27 am

13. finally, just check in early and you will get an A boarding pass. I have been on vacation and have asked the desk clerk at the hotel to check in for me while away from the hotel when the 24 hour mark arrived.

    the problem with the people in this country is that the rules should never apply to them or they complain when they don’t get preferential treatment. how about all of us who don’t get senior discounts. there isn’t much we can do about that either.

    this is southwest’s policy, if you don’t like it, fly another airline.

    Comment by kristy — October 4, 2007 @ 7:33 am

14. This is great. I never flew Southwest because of this. Now I will reconsider. Families can stiil board first, just get an A boarding pass like everyone else. If families still insist on pre boarding, how about sitting them at the back of the plane. This way the families could get the kids together while everybody else is exiting the jet on arrival. This would solve the problem because as they say it takes time to get a family on the plane, it takes time to get them off.

    Comment by Jim — October 4, 2007 @ 8:22 am

15. While I don’t like many aspects of Southwest’s seating procedures, one I LOVE is having families with children board first. That way, I know where the little ones and their often inconsiderate parents are going to be sitting and I CAN AVOID BEING NEAR THEM! I say let them preboard!

    Comment by Duane Hefner — October 4, 2007 @ 8:50 am

16. I have traveled Southwest with my three children and I have always made it a point to get there early to get an “A” boarding pass. If you want to be one of the first to get on the plane get there early like everyone else.

    Comment by Tasha — October 4, 2007 @ 9:14 am

17. My first reaction is that ‘unruly kids should be made to behave in public. However my second is that board the slower movers first but assign them the the back half of the plane…they will be out of the way of others boarding behind them.
    I have long felt that this is the way SW should be doing this anyway…faster load time.

    Comment by Amy — October 4, 2007 @ 9:26 am

18. Having two small boys (1 & 4), I will never book a flight on Southwest if families with children cannot board first.

    Comment by Holly — October 4, 2007 @ 9:37 am

19. This is a great idea. Frankly I don’t like Southwest’s boarding policy to begin with. If I wanted to be “herded” onto an airplane and forced to stand in a line for up to an hour before a flight so I can try to get an exit row seat which I need due to my height I would be a cow!! I generally avoid Southwest because of this boarding policy if other airlines have comparable fares which is often the case.

    Comment by Terry — October 4, 2007 @ 9:38 am

20. I think it’s marvelous!! I have an arm disability and I must have an aisle seat and help to put my one piece of carryon above my seat..so I do get a preboard pass..I noticed that families tend to take the very first rows, carrying loads of items, making it difficult for the rest of the passengers to get by. If SW would permit those families to preboard but take the last rows, this would allow the rest of the passengers to board quicker without having to try to wait in the front aisle while the families take up so much of their time getting settled…I know,,because I am also a retired flight attendant..I prefer seat assignments..when a pilot explained why they don’t have seat assignments to an elderly passenger who really needed to preboard, he said it was because passengers board faster that way…well, we all know it’s “the money, honey”. It costs to place a software program in the system and SW is known for spending little and gaining a lot..I may take SW more often because families board “first come, first serve” from now on…

    Comment by Ellen — October 4, 2007 @ 9:39 am

21. I don’t have children but I have traveled with children and it is not an easy task. Getting them settle could make the trip more enjoyable for everyone traveling. It is surprising what a cup of juice or cracker can do for a child once you have them seated. It seems to deminish the cries and settle them.

    Comment by Bernadette — October 4, 2007 @ 9:44 am

22. Well, I flew Southwest out of San Antonio with my 4 year old and my one year old. I was prepared for the no preboarding and had gotten in to the early “A” seats. When checking in at the counter we were made to go to a different longer line because we had an infant traveling on our laps. Okay, fine. Get in line to board and I’m told I have to go back to the gate counter to tag my stroller. This makes me a little ticked. They used to do this as you were boarding the plane when we pre-boarded. Don’t like being held up by the airlines because I have an infant. I’ll accept that I don’t get privledges but will not accept being punished.

    Comment by Elisa Yzaguirre — October 4, 2007 @ 9:44 am

23. It is just another huge frustration to add to traveling with little kids. I’m almost to the point I want to throw up my hands and just say forget it–grandma you’re going to have to come and see us. With 3 small children in tow, traveling now is such a headache. With Southwest, at least I knew we could all sit together without too much worry (some other airlines would not work with us ahead of time for seating, assigning seats for the little kids all over the plane, and leaving us to figure it out the day of). That was the reason I actually liked flying Southwest. Really bad choice on their part.

    Comment by Cheryl — October 4, 2007 @ 9:50 am

24. Booster seats are required by FAA to be in a window seat. What’s Southwest’s brilliant plan to handle families who board last when there aren’t any window seats left?

    Also, it’s comic to read about “business travelers who paid the most” for their tickets. Business travelers don’t pay for their tickets, their employers pay for the tickets. Anybody who thinks he or she is entitled to a good seat because their employer bought an expensive ticket is a stupid and confused person who I pity.

    In my experience, ALL the seats in coach suck. Why one would struggle to get a “good seat” seems silly. If I board last and wind up in the middle seat in the back, so be it–sucks to be the person on either side of me as I eat my dinner then read my paper.

    Comment by Chris - frequent business traveler — October 4, 2007 @ 9:59 am

25. I think this is long overdue. I am 6′ tall and always strive to be among the first few in the “A” group so I can get an exit-row seat, and on my last few SW flights there were “families” of 4-5 people who pre-boarded and subsequently split up, sending their taller members down the aisle to snag exit-row seats. This is blatantly wrong, as the family is obviously not interested in sitting together.

    Comment by katydid — October 4, 2007 @ 9:59 am

26. As the mother of 2 children, 14 mos apart, I wish that there were adult only flights, or at least flights for persons over age 10. I never flew with my kids when they were younger than that. It was too much of a hassle for me as well as fellow passengers. Or, maybe there should be a separate section at the back of the plane, ie a flying crying room, with soundproof curtains.

    Comment by Barbara — October 4, 2007 @ 10:16 am

27. I think it is crazy. I have to install a car seat when I travel. If I am not allowed to pre-board, this will mean that I will be in the way & my kids will be also (standing in the aisle) until I can get the seat installed. It would save a lot of aggrivation, both mine and my fellow passengers, if I would just be allowed to pre-board.

    Comment by Shelly — October 4, 2007 @ 10:18 am

28. Whoa! That is bad news for families!! When flying, I want my whole family to sit together. If something goes wrong, I want to be right next to my three kids, not three aisles down. This first come, first seated is great for one to two traveling adults but it is NOT good for families with kids.

    Comment by Sherri — October 4, 2007 @ 10:34 am

29. I agree that parents should take the responsibility to check in early if they want to board first; however, any parent with children knows that the timliness of your arrival to the airport does not always happen even when the best laid plans are made.

    In my opinion, Southwest should assign seats or allow the families to pre-board but reserve a section of the plane (ie: from row 15 back). This way, the early bird check-in people still have the opportunity to sit near the front. Just a suggestion.

    Comment by Jodi — October 4, 2007 @ 11:18 am

30. I am torn over this topic. I have two children, whome I fly with frequently. I have never flown Southwest - and was not aware of the policy of no seating assignments. I believe there is ONE legitamate reason parents should board first and that is so they are assured seats next to their children. Otherwise, the rest of the complaints are just excuses. I never board early with my kids. I don’t strap them into an airplane seat until absolutely necessary. We don’t even board when they call our row. We wait until everyone else is on the plane. That way the confinement of the kids is kept to a minimum; and my kids are good travelers. I like the idea of having families that feel like they must board first go to the back of the plane. Otherwise - wait like everyone else!

    Comment by CSO — October 4, 2007 @ 11:29 am

31. Before I was a parent, I never really understood the whole pre-board thing. Mostly, I remember being slightly annoyed at families with older kids being allowed to pre-board. I have definitely seen this priveledge abused. However, I recently traveled with my 2 1/2 year old and 9 month old (on Southwest), and if we were not allowed to pre-board, it would have been an absolute sh*t show. Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan of Southwest, but if I’m traveling with my children in the future, I will go out of my way to avoid this airline, even if a ticket on another airline cost me more money.

    Comment by Ross — October 4, 2007 @ 11:36 am

32. As a parent of four young children with family on the other side of the country, we fly occasionally. When we have assigned seating we usually board at the very end. Who wants to lock up children longer than they have to. However, if we didn’t have assigned seats I probably would want to board earlier, so we could be together. It would be hard to get six seats near each other later on. No one wants me yelling to my husband across the airplane when I need some help. Although it might be nice to spread the kids out and let someone else handle them. I have flown Southwest often and it is not always easy to make sure you are in the A group.

    Comment by Tiffany — October 4, 2007 @ 11:38 am

33. I would like Southwest to continue letting families with small children board first and here’s why. I travel SWA without small children. When I board, I often try and sit a couple of rows from small children so I can read and work with relative quiet. Since they pre-board, I know where they are. If they board with or after me, then this won’t be possible. And I am the father of five (grown children), so I like children. I just try and use the flight to get work done whenever possible.

    Comment by Gerry — October 4, 2007 @ 11:39 am

34. My wife has traveled frequently with our toddler on SW over the past couple years. Everytime she’s flown the one saving grace of the event was preboarding which allowed her time to get settled and get our son happy. Not only did this make the trip better for her, but for other passengers too. If anyone has ever had to literally drag kids to the airport they would know that it’s not likely you’ll get there early and like you would want to. Try entertaining a 2 year-old for two hours in an airport then stuffing them in a plane for hours on end. You’ll then understand just how bad of an idea this is for everyone involved. I hope Southwest Customer Service is ready for this.

    Comment by greg — October 4, 2007 @ 11:48 am

35. Why don’t airlines designate an area for famileis with kids. Often in the wating area I introduce myself and make an effort to sit together with “new” freinds. the ki9ds cluster, share toys, th eparents share “parenting” and everyone is happier. The scrooges can sit way away from us. BTW, as an expat living in the mideast, I always flew on the local airline top NY rather than the American or Delta flight, as the passengers actually helped with my baby and smiled and cooed at him ( even teenage boys), and helped rock him when fussy. On American airlines , people just glared at us as if to say” why don’t you shut your kid up”.Delightful culture we Americans have, huh!

    Comment by LAILA — October 4, 2007 @ 12:20 pm

36. I don’t have kids and I don’t want to be penalized for not having them. It would be nice to have a designated section for kids and their parents so I can actually book “non-kids” section to have some peace and quiet. Yeah I know, their voices travel far, especially the high pitch that comes out of some tiny bodies, but not having to sit amongst them is still a treat.

    Comment by Anita — October 4, 2007 @ 12:20 pm

37. When my kids were young I was an airline employee and as such we were traveling non-revenue standby and never got to pre-board. Generally we received our seat assignments at about 10 minutes to block time. Consequently my kids learned as todlers to stay quiet, be well behaved and move quickly and quietly to where their mom and dad directed them on the aircraft.

    Comment by Michael Mudge — October 4, 2007 @ 12:29 pm

38. I agree with the posters who said families should board early ONLY if they go to the back of the plane. That gives them plenty of time to settle in while the rest of us who made sure to check in early and get an A group can take the front seats. Several times, I’ve had to get a seat in a row 4 or 5 back since there were families with babies and their things taking up all of the front.

    I have no problem with preboarding as long as it is fair but when a whole family with one child under the age of 4 takes up the front of the plane, that’s not really a “first come, first served” situation.

    Good for Southwest for thinking of its other fliers and not just families!

    Comment by Megan — October 4, 2007 @ 12:50 pm

39. I Just LOVE sitting in front of a kid kicking my seat during the whole flight. Or pulling on the tray making my seat rock constantly. Or screaming and whining the whole time. I wish they would keep all the kids in one section and the travelers without kids in another. Why not make a family section. Ever go to a restaurant and look for a nice, quiet, cozy, section to sit thinking your going to have a nice quiet meal? Then here comes the wait person plopping down a family with loud, squirmy, whiny, kids right next to you. Parents now a days rarely concern themselves about how junior is affecting other peoples comfort. Let’s SEGREGATE!

    Comment by Linnie — October 4, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

40. I think it’s great! 1st come 1st serve should apply to everyone. In my experience, children tend to get more fidgety while waiting for the rest of the passengers to board the plane. The less time children spend confined to a seat the better. I’ve seen large families pre-board because of one or two small children…it appears people use it as a way to get first choice premium seats for the entire family/group.
    The idea of allowing pre-boarding to a specified seating area in the back would work, as it would allow other passengers (without children) to board more efficiently and also deplane more quickly. Way to go Southwest! I hope the competition follows suit!

    Comment by ltf — October 4, 2007 @ 1:25 pm

41. I love it! Just a reminder - this does not mean that the travellers with kids CAN’T board first - because if they get there early they certainly can board ahead of everyone! It just means that they can’t get there 5 minutes before boarding time and do it! Much more fair because I make sure I get there early.

    Comment by I like it — October 4, 2007 @ 1:38 pm

42. I have traveled with my son since he was 4mos old. He is a seasoned traveler, but it does help to get him settled with bags put away, toys, books and snacks out. It is very difficult, even if flying first class to get yourself in order when you are alone with a squirming 2 yr old, no matter how well behaved.

    Comment by WM — October 4, 2007 @ 1:50 pm

43. The point has been made, but it definitely saves time and makes it easier on all passengers if the booster seat can be installed and carry-ons be stowed without a line of people waiting in the aisle to pass. The point has also been made that children cannot be seated away from their parents and other passengers may need to rearrange seating to allow for a family to be seated together, causing more of a delay.

    A few points have not yet been made. As the travel manager for my company, I can tell you that in my experience business travelers would rather avoid Southwest when possible, because of their seating policy. I would much rather place a traveler on a carrier with an assigned aisle seat whenever possible. That said, there are certain routes where Southwest is the only option, as they are the only ones to go non-stop. The business traveler, as another poster pointed out, did not “pay more” for their seat — their employer paid. As a mother who recently took a family vacation with my 3 year old, I can tell you that we shelled out much more money for the three of us than a single business traveler (even if last minute). Families should not be overlooked as spending customers (afterall, it is triple or quadruple the fare, etc.).

    Some posters say that the families should show up earlier. Sure, OK, at the origination point… However, sometimes that is out of our control if we are connecting (can we say, flight delays??). On my recent trip it was all we could do to get from one gate to the next. Forget picking up dinner in the airport — no time! — even though it is not provided on the plane, hmm…

    Another point made is that families can check in 24 hours prior and be in the A group. Sure, that is a good point on the outbound flight (though again, I’m not sure the single business traveler who took great care to be in the A group would be too patient while waiting for families to get settled). However, early check-in isn’t always an option on the return. When at the destination, an internet connection can’t always be guaranteed. (I’d hate to leave Disneyworld for example, to head to the business center at my hotel at exactly 24 hours prior to the flight). Perhaps business travelers are actually at the advantage there as they would typically have their laptop.

    IMHO, I think Southwest’s new policy is just illogical. While it sparks lots of debate and opinion about flying with kids in general, I don’t think it will reach the intended goal, and it will leave many travelers (families AND singles) frustrated. It’s a shame that instead of correcting the passengers who abused the policy, they would rather change the entire policy.

    Comment by Denise — October 4, 2007 @ 2:02 pm

44. Are you kidding me? Why should travelers without children be penalized? Parents know their children and still subject other travelers to the whinning, crying, and not minding. A flight should be just that, not a romper room for spoiled children standing in their seats, sitting kicking the back of other passengers seats, etc…etc. It is time the airlines do something about all the disrupting child do on planes.

    Comment by Pamela Lancaster — October 4, 2007 @ 2:08 pm

45. I just flew Southwest on 9/27 and 10/2 and they allowed families with small children to board after group A. Those kids were fussy even before group A boarded. By the time we were all settled, every child was quiet. I’m the mother of 4 kids and have flown with all four when they were younger.

    I agree that just because you have children doesn’t give you the right to preferential treatment. The other passengers didn’t have a say in whether I had kids or not!

    SW will lose some customers but will also gain customers and it will all even out. I still think they are one of the best airlines out there. Their crew is excellent.

    Comment by Pamela — October 4, 2007 @ 3:16 pm

46. Manners, patience, respect and grace. All airlines should be gracious to travelers with children 4 and under, and in turn to all other travelers, by allowing travelers with young children to board early. However, parents should teach their children respectful “travelling manners” and by being good examples. It seems that all travelers really need to have better manners and learn to be more considerate toward other travelers. Patience remains a virtue.

    Comment by Eileen — October 4, 2007 @ 4:18 pm

47. Southwest has just lost a valuable customer. I think that parents should be allowed to board first. It is a major task in shuffling children between the plane narrow aisle that is sometime full with adults standing in the way or trying to place overhead bags above. Then you have to look for seats that will accommodate you and your child/children. For those who want to board first, be prepared to be a surrogate babysitter. I hope the parents won’t tervene with the crying of popping ears and fussyness that takes place. Good luck future passengers.

    Comment by Linda — October 4, 2007 @ 4:26 pm

48. If parents want to board first, make sure you’re they early enough to get Group A tickets. Simple as that.

    Comment by Jim — October 4, 2007 @ 6:39 pm

49. I have flown many times with my kids and it was nice to get settled in first, but certainly not a big deal. Since Southwest doesn’t do assigned seats, however, it’s a bigger advantage to get to load early. If parents didn’t carry so much junk along with their kids they wouldn’t feel a need to get on the plane first. Travel light!

    Comment by Linde — October 4, 2007 @ 6:44 pm

50. I’m all for seating families first. They take longer to get settled, and hold up everyone in the aisle, especially if they are in groups B or C and can’t sit together. Besides, I do not like to sit next to a fidgety kid who is not next to an accompanying adult. Even worse, in case of turbulence (or worse), the kids should be with an accompanying adult. Families should try to get in the A group - simple for outbound flights, not always an option for return flights. I do try to be considerate and, if seated next to a kid separated from an accompanying adult, I offer to switch seats with the parent - I look at it as a win for me in many cases, unless the parent is in a very undesirable seat (last row etc..).

    Comment by Judy Uridge — October 5, 2007 @ 9:27 am

51. As a mother of four, I appreciate pre-boarding to assigned seats. For a few moments the kids were able to crawl on the seats, and get familiar with their surroundings before they actually needed to stay seated and wear their seatbelts. Those moments of activity would help settle them, and then they could sit and color or listen to music. It would be difficult to board later. The more stressed I am as a mother to get seats, put bags in the overhead bin and get the kids situated with toys, snacks and coloring books the more likely the kids will sense that and become anxious and act out also. Then the kids are unhappy and the passengers around us become disturbed. That’s definitely not a win-win solution.

    Comment by E Marie — October 6, 2007 @ 1:55 am

52. I think familes with children should be given some priority for the safety of the children, I think it is best if a two year old sits with their Mom rather than with me for God’s sake. I carry around duct tape for children with behavior problems. LOL I understand the cattle call theory of first come, first serve, and my 87 year old Mom would probably be quite fine telling the same story over and over to a stranger beside her, but children need to be with their folks, for the sake of World Peace.

    Comment by Lola — October 6, 2007 @ 1:45 pm

53. I think there should be flights just for families/kids.
    That way they can annoy each other and let the rest of us fly in relative peace & quiet.

    Comment by Susan — October 6, 2007 @ 10:58 pm

54. I just returned from a trip on Southwest Airlines. Many people with families seemed to be upset when the “A” passengers were boarded and then the families. However, during the flight, there were 5 boys all from the same family who screamed, shouted and didn’t shut up for one minute. The kids appeared to be from 6 to 12 years old. It would have been better should this group and the other well behaved younger children with parents were boarded amid the “A” travelers or prior to. This allows the kids to settle down and the parents to arrange their children’s places on the plane. By the way, the attendants were so helpful and playful with the kids on this flight, at least they were entertained for a while - their parents didn’t seem to take charge so a big thanks goes out to the Southwest employees

    Comment by Sandy — October 6, 2007 @ 11:09 pm

55. I was somewhat disappointed with Southwest’s new policy change. I fly them quite frequently for work within California and I have found it helpful to board AFTER the children so as not to end up in close proximity (don’t get me wrong - I love kids, I have 2 of my own), but I have been stuck on other airlines in assigned seating situations with young (and often times cranky) children very close by and nothing to be done about it. It was always nice to know I could get up and move further away before the plane filled up if I wanted.

    I also believe that having families board in the midst of all other travelers will NOT be a solution for speedier boarding. I think the opposite will take place as families haul children and “equipment” down the aisle looking for seating close together, and trying to find open bin space for all the accessories that are quite often necessary. Southwest has a good track record of listening to its customers, so perhaps this will be permanent and perhaps not, depending on the feedback over time.

    Comment by Kathi — October 7, 2007 @ 3:18 am

56. My daughter’s husband is deployed overseas with the Navy. They have a 16 month old son. She flew to Tampa to stay with his family for a few days. She has always been pleased with the service of Southwest when flying alone with her son. While in Florida the new policy came into effect. She was not aware of the new policy. She called me in tears from the airport because she was standing in line with a 16 month old,holding onto the car seat and stroller. She later sent a text message saying she had accidently bumped everyone on her way down the isle trying to find 2 seats together while carrying her son and his bag and the car seat. She was feeling terrible about bothering other passengers. Her connecting flight in Houston went much better. The man at the check in booth offered to put the car seat on the plane for her before everyone else boarded. This helped her considerably. I think if Southwest is going to have this policy, they should provide help for these parents with children. My daughter vowed never to fly Southwest again. At least with other airlines we can pick the seat we want when purchasing tickets.

    Comment by Rhonda — October 8, 2007 @ 2:15 pm

57. We traveled SW this weekend and, other than a weather delay, things went ok for our family.

    SW does still have a special boarding time for families, but they have moved it to boarding between the A and B groups. Meaning you may not get your very first pick of seats or have the settling in time of pre-boarding, but you are still very likely to get seats together in a decent location. Also, up to 24 hours in advance of your flight, you can check ticketed passengers in on-line (i.e., get your A passes), this works even if you have to get a lap baby pass at the airport or check baggage.

    We checked in online (to get an A pass), and also did airport check in (got a B pass, but did family boarding) - both our flights were full, but we did not have any trouble getting seats together or get any visible flak from other passengers for being higher maintenance. We were flying with a 1-year child “in lap”, so things may have been different if we had a car seat to install.

    My son did accidentally whack one of the already-seated A passengers with his foot while being carried down the aisle, but I felt no remorse given the new policythat settling in time sure would have helped that poor man avoid getting face checked by a toddler paw.

    The passengers who view the pursuit of the perfect seat as as a competive sport asked for it from SW so now they get it. A passengers now assume all kinds of new risks, as well as chance that they may be the lucky winner when my family chooses to sit with them since they insisted on giving up their option NOT to choose to sit next to us. What was that about all the best seats being taken? Ah, karma is a beautiful thing.

    Comment by Reba — October 10, 2007 @ 11:45 am

58. Bad idea for everyone: having raised and managed the logistics for six children, settling them first is flat-out easier for everyone on the plane. And, MOST importantly, young children need the safety and security of being with their parents until THE PARENTS determine the appropriateness of them being elsewhere. Our entire society needs to support the well-being of the children before money or we’ll devolve even further. This is a snapshot of principles in action.

    Comment by Elaine — October 13, 2007 @ 9:45 pm

59. Hi,

    The fact that families are no longer allowed to board early, but must wait until the A group has boarded is an outrage.

    As a 20 year SW fanatic, I’m dumbfounded by the dumbness of the policy change.

    I’m a parent. I don’t love to travel with children, but when I do I want to have the stress level minimal. I also like to save money.

    With the new policy, the stress levels that are already high traveling with a baby are now ratcheted up a notch or two.

    As a result, several parents have formed a website to change this part of the policy and started an online petition.

    http://www.StopSouthwestPreboard.com

    Regards,

    Shaun Dakin

    Comment by Shaun Dakin — October 14, 2007 @ 11:26 pm

60. I don’t like the change. I’ve been in both situations (pre-board & denied pre-boarding) & let me tell you by the time we got to our seats (waiting for others to stow away bags & sit down) my daughter was cranky & stayed that way for the rest of the flight. Let me apologize now to all those I’ll be sitting around on future flights - Thanks Southwest!

    Comment by Chris Gonzalez — October 17, 2007 @ 11:57 am

61. The issue for SW is clearly that they do not assign seating and childless passengers are missing out on first dibs on seating. It’s true that with the old policy parents and kids got first pick of the seats, but it also gave them a bit more time to get settled with all of the crap and gear you need to bring in order to travel as a family. I have a baby and it the old policy definitely made it easier for me to travel. I don’t really care either way, but I won’t feel bad about holding up the line while I try to get my child and our stuff situated.

    Comment by Wendi — October 17, 2007 @ 1:17 pm

62. I am disapointed with the new boarding policy not because I have to wrangle my children with me but because the preboarding allowed me to choose a seat with my 4 yr old and because we were one of the first everyone could see that hey there is a kid there, if I want to sleep don’t sit here. As far as the stuff you take on board sometimes you really don’t need as much as you think. I take a double stroller a backpack for my oldest and a diaper bag for the youngest I have no trouble I am slow but hey I paid for my ticket too. I do make my child behave and she is disciplined for kicking seats, poking and all of that annoying kid stuff, however I will not make my 8 month old quit crying because she is tired. If you don’t like kids don’t fly southwest, pay that extra $20 and get a better airline. or you could end up by toddlers, babies and obnoxious parents.

    Comment by sabrina — March 6, 2008 @ 6:18 pm

63. Just because 2 people have produced offspring does not make you special. You are not handicapped and you are not elderly.

    A lot Families travelling with toddlers are very inconsiderate of those around them on the aircraft. They think and/or say that “oh they’re just kids”. Teach your child that indiscriminate shreiking is not acceptable behaviour in public.

    Also travelling families: please bring along something to keep your child occupied! The fold down tray is not a toy.

    I could go on, but I think that most sane people get the jist…

    Comment by Marc-Andre — April 2, 2008 @ 3:17 am

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