Family Airline: No More Pre-Board!

 Family Airline: No More Pre-Board!

To Pre Board or not? You will find parents on both sides of that one.  Well, wait – actually you will only find them on the NOT side now when flying Southwest. 

Per Southwest’s website:

Effective October 2 in all Southwest cities, an adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups. If you have an “A” boarding pass, please feel free to board with that boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families with small children are easily accommodated together.

 I have held off commenting on this one because I thought I was reading wrong. Surely the “family friendly” airline would not abandon us at a time when the airport experience has never been more tense?

Well, it is true.  What can we do as parents who loved to pre-board? Adjust. Like we do to everything else in the ever changing world of aviation. Is it worth the anger that some parents are displaying? Save your energy.

Pre-boarding can go both ways – there are pros and cons to it.

PROS:

1) Fold up that gate checked stroller without holding up lines

2) Settle in before the chaos of other passengers begins, time to calm your child down

3) Get organized

4) Seats are together

5) Install car seat or CARES harness

6) Hit the bathroom since potty training toddlers never seem to time bladder activity for larger airport bathrooms

7) Point out where the cockpit is – just like in the books read at home!

8 ) Greet the flight attendants

9) Allow the toddler time to familiarize themselves to our “new home” by putting the tray table and armrest up and down before they are buckled in

10) For me and my son – grab the last row so we have our own “corner” . For many parents it means grabbing the first row so they can get off the plane first. Whatever seat makes you happy.

CONS:

1) Preboarding adds 20 minutes on to the time required for kids to be in a confined area

2)

Well, that is actually all I can think of.

So yes, I am bummed that pre-boarding is now extinct.

But I will adjust.  And you better believe that I will be setting my alarm to check in 24 hours in advance online. 24 hours on the dot.

Because here is the thing… Southwest is not banning families from boarding first.

They are just saying if you want to board first,

 be like everyone else and check in first!

So, in between the hectic life of being a parent and packing for a trip with a little one (all the while that little one is hanging on you), go to the computer and get in that A group and you can still have the “Life of a Pre-Boarder!”

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