Sitting with child on Southwest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last flight they announced any MINOR could do family boarding. I don’t think you’ll have any problem. Set an alarm to check in right at 24 hours in advance to be absolutely sure.

Call me horrible, but I think it should be limited to small kids. The Southwest policy is seven and under. I would not normally care, but I've had three flights recently where I paid for early check-in and wound up in the B group. I don't think it's fair that people who paid to board earlier should have to defer to those who did not pay and who don't fit the criteria for family boarding.

I understand your point but to correct your reference - the policy is 6 and under (not 7). I think Southwest is rightfully revisiting that policy to possibly increase it to 13 and younger (which aligns with the recent DOT notice). This might be another reason why FAs don't care.

https://simpleflying.com/southwest-airlines-changes-family-boarding/

https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/family-seating/June-2022-notice

That's ridiculous. Unless the child has severe disabilities there is no reason why a child above the age of 6 can not sit away from the parents for an hour. Of course, exceptions can be made for anyone with severe disabilities.
At 12 I was flying to other countries on my own without the "unaccompanied minor" status where flight attendants check in on you and escort you through the airport.

[Anonymous]

I have a 10yo. I stand with her in family boarding and we get on together and sit together. Never been an issues. Just flew in April.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last flight they announced any MINOR could do family boarding. I don’t think you’ll have any problem. Set an alarm to check in right at 24 hours in advance to be absolutely sure.

Call me horrible, but I think it should be limited to small kids. The Southwest policy is seven and under. I would not normally care, but I've had three flights recently where I paid for early check-in and wound up in the B group. I don't think it's fair that people who paid to board earlier should have to defer to those who did not pay and who don't fit the criteria for family boarding.

I understand your point but to correct your reference - the policy is 6 and under (not 7). I think Southwest is rightfully revisiting that policy to possibly increase it to 13 and younger (which aligns with the recent DOT notice). This might be another reason why FAs don't care.

https://simpleflying.com/southwest-airlines-changes-family-boarding/

https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/family-seating/June-2022-notice

That's ridiculous. Unless the child has severe disabilities there is no reason why a child above the age of 6 can not sit away from the parents for an hour. Of course, exceptions can be made for anyone with severe disabilities.
At 12 I was flying to other countries on my own without the "unaccompanied minor" status where flight attendants check in on you and escort you through the airport.

just because you did it at 13 doesn’t mean an 8 year old should be sitting between 2 strange adults while they can’t be seen by their parent.

[Anonymous]

12 sorry ( above)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pay for early check-in or check-in right at the 24 hour mark. With a 10 year old you can not use family boarding.

We did in December. No one said a thing.

This is so interesting because I just flew on United with a 4 year old 3 weeks ago and was told pre boarding was for kids under 2. That was from Dulles. Coming back from the foreign country they told me I should have boarded early with DC instead of waiting for my group number and told me to board now. They wondered why I was still sitting there 🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

School buses. Kids all over the country do it every single day.
-not the pp you quoted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last flight they announced any MINOR could do family boarding. I don’t think you’ll have any problem. Set an alarm to check in right at 24 hours in advance to be absolutely sure.

Call me horrible, but I think it should be limited to small kids. The Southwest policy is seven and under. I would not normally care, but I've had three flights recently where I paid for early check-in and wound up in the B group. I don't think it's fair that people who paid to board earlier should have to defer to those who did not pay and who don't fit the criteria for family boarding.

I think any child still in elementary school should qualify. It's rare there are SO many children on one flight that this is a huge burden. So IMHO, it should be 11 and under. Or I guess 12, depending on if you use 5th or 6th as the cut off age.

My oldest is 8, and she would not be happy if we were separated. Of course I'd pay if I had to to ensure it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

School buses. Kids all over the country do it every single day.
-not the pp you quoted.

Your kids are sitting next to random, grown adults by themselves on school buses every single day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

School buses. Kids all over the country do it every single day.
-not the pp you quoted.

They do not sit next to stranger ADULTS. They are classmates. Not the same thing at ALL.

Now if you want to argue metro or metro bus, they can stand if they are uncomfortable, and move around. You are not pinned agaist a window with some evangelical youth pastor with a fetish talks to your 11 year old daughter the whole flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

Um, when my kids go to temple without me, when they go to see a friend performing at a concert or play, etc. Strangers are not inherently dangerous. Besides, haven't you taught your kids to use their mouths? "What the hell are you doing?! Don't TOUCH me! Are you a PEDOPHILE?!" My kids know when to speak up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

Yup, and those strangers are gonna love it my when 10 year old starts reaching for the barf bag

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

School buses. Kids all over the country do it every single day.
-not the pp you quoted.

guess I should have been more specific… strange adults. With no background checks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

Um, when my kids go to temple without me, when they go to see a friend performing at a concert or play, etc. Strangers are not inherently dangerous. Besides, haven't you taught your kids to use their mouths? "What the hell are you doing?! Don't TOUCH me! Are you a PEDOPHILE?!" My kids know when to speak up.

Of all the bad takes on DCUM, this is one of the worst. Congratulations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 10 yr old can't sit without you for a couple of hours??? This shouldn't be an issue.

I’m not the OP but it’s not about not sitting with me. It’s about sitting next to complete strangers in a somewhat confined space. Where else would you force an young child to sit a few inches from a stranger with no parent present? It’s asinine.

School buses. Kids all over the country do it every single day.
-not the pp you quoted.

They do not sit next to stranger ADULTS. They are classmates. Not the same thing at ALL.

Now if you want to argue metro or metro bus, they can stand if they are uncomfortable, and move around. You are not pinned agaist a window with some evangelical youth pastor with a fetish talks to your 11 year old daughter the whole flight.

Well, the post I quoted just said STRANGERS, it did not specify ADULTS.

Regardless, air travel is OPTIONAL. Unless the child is receiving life saving medical treatment, there is no NEED to ever be on a plane. If you don't like an airlines seating policies, you don't have to fly with your child.