United not boarding families first anymore

[Anonymous]

With my 4 kids we always tend to wait until the last mintue since the less time on the plane is a bonus in our book.

Exactly my thoughts! I never chose to board in the pre-boarding group when I was with DS anyway. Even with the carseat and boarding with our boarding group, we're always strapped in and ready to go long before takeoff time!

[Anonymous]

DH is Global on United and I am Gold so we both fly often enough (I probably fly more but not as often with a choice of airline).

I would agree with PP - families never bother me. If a child is kicking my seat after a respectable amount of time I will ask them to stop. After traveling with 3 kids often I recognize it is not (typically) their attempt to irritate another passenger - it is in part where their feet end up esp when the person in front reclines thier seat...which is my pet peeve esp when a flight is less than 2-3 hours.

As one PP said - we should all be responsible for ourselves and our familes but it sure does make the world a better place when we help those who could use a little more assistance.

[Anonymous]

We used a carseat on board and needed the extra time for installing it. It was easier and more convenient for everyone (including other passengers) if this was done before everyone was crowding on board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so they really want to stop serving families all together? aren't they the ones who banned strollers over 20lbs from gate checking?

I didn't know business travelers gave them more profit than families...

Huh? I never even understood families boarding first when the seats are assigned. With my 4 kids we always tend to wait until the last mintue since the less time on the plane is a bonus in our book.

+1
I love extra time to let them get out their restlessness in the terminal before getting confined. Also, we like to have everyone use the bathroom in the terminal at the last minute (so we can avoid having to go often on the plane... Nothing like everyone needing to use the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on.) Just don't carry so much darn luggage, and you'll be fine. Isn't that the reason people like boarding early, so they can hog the overhead luggage spots? There ought to be one assigned to each seat, and anything over gets stowed underneath. Better yet, airlines should charge the same for carry-on suitcases that they do for checked. Things would be more civilized. (we pay for it anyway, in the ticket prices)

[Anonymous]

I'm delighted United is doing this!!!!!! No more entitled with their giant carryons taking up all the overhead bins!!! Maybe when you have to be a regular passenger a d worry about "what if the overhead bins are full" you will be more thoughtful about taking all your crap on the plane!!! I am sick and tired of having to put my normal sized carryon on my lap because families feel entitled to bring so much shit on the plane that they don't use!! Every member of the family with a wheelie bag because they know they won't have to worry about storing it... GREAT JOB UNITED!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm delighted United is doing this!!!!!! No more entitled with their giant carryons taking up all the overhead bins!!! Maybe when you have to be a regular passenger a d worry about "what if the overhead bins are full" you will be more thoughtful about taking all your crap on the plane!!! I am sick and tired of having to put my normal sized carryon on my lap because families feel entitled to bring so much shit on the plane that they don't use!! Every member of the family with a wheelie bag because they know they won't have to worry about storing it... GREAT JOB UNITED!!!

I am sorry the one backpack I bring on the plane to carry the kids crap in offends you so!

[Anonymous]

^ Give me a break. You are in the minority and you know it. Normally I would thank you but you are way too obnoxious. We are all well aware that with airlines charging fees for baggage, families each bring a wheelie luggage full of crap and then check maybe one bag. Please don't be so dense.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry if my overstuffed bag of toys, crayons etc...offends you..I think you would be happy that I have prepared ahead of time
and have enough things to distract my children so that they won't bother the people around them on the plane.

Flying with kids is stressful and if I could have a few extra minutes to get my stuff together before all of the other people crowd onto the plane
that would be nice..

For all of the inconsiderate people on this post..I have a child with special needs..I hope that we are on a plane with you one day..I will make sure he kicks extra hard
and is extra loud....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Give me a break. You are in the minority and you know it. Normally I would thank you but you are way too obnoxious. We are all well aware that with airlines charging fees for baggage, families each bring a wheelie luggage full of crap and then check maybe one bag. Please don't be so dense.

I honestly don't see families carrying a ton of crap on planes. Pretty much all of my friends check their luggage becuase it is way easier to do that then bring it on the plane (plus they are checking the car seat anyway). Plus, how do you even get stuff out of a wheelie luggage bag on a plane? There isn't really enough room to open up the bag in the aisle or even in the seat.

I agree that people bring huge bags that dont'/shouldn't fit in the overhead department, but I hardly see this limited to families.

[Anonymous]

Here's our reality from frequent traveling. Our most common complaint is not the families. It is the taller/larger people who smash you getting on, getting off and while you are seated. How come you can't figure out that the bag on your shoulder is slamming everyone who is already sitting in an aisle seat? What is it about reclining when the flight is 2-3 hours? One of my sons is 6'5" and he knows how rude it is to recline if he is in coach/main cabin. If you need more space, you should buy an extra seat or travel in first/business class.
We have noticed that MOST families who are traveling with small children are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. Sometimes, people are traveling for reasons other than FUN, so it might be nice to just give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Anonymous]

It's the few lazy and spiteful (yes, lazy and spiteful) ones that ruin it for everyone OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry if my overstuffed bag of toys, crayons etc...offends you..I think you would be happy that I have prepared ahead of time
and have enough things to distract my children so that they won't bother the people around them on the plane.

Flying with kids is stressful and if I could have a few extra minutes to get my stuff together before all of the other people crowd onto the plane
that would be nice..

For all of the inconsiderate people on this post..I have a child with special needs..I hope that we are on a plane with you one day..I will make sure he kicks extra hard
and is extra loud....

I long for "non-kid" flights and the same thing for restaurants. Also, "Special Needs" has now become the catch phrase for all children who misbehave, brats, tantrums, and generally obnoxious children at any age. I consider "Special Needs" to be children who are mentally and physically challenged, not ADHD. Control your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm delighted United is doing this!!!!!! No more entitled with their giant carryons taking up all the overhead bins!!! Maybe when you have to be a regular passenger a d worry about "what if the overhead bins are full" you will be more thoughtful about taking all your crap on the plane!!! I am sick and tired of having to put my normal sized carryon on my lap because families feel entitled to bring so much shit on the plane that they don't use!! Every member of the family with a wheelie bag because they know they won't have to worry about storing it... GREAT JOB UNITED!!!

Amen! Amen! Amen!

[Anonymous]

I'm a frequent flyer and agree that families are not even on my radar as annoying. Recliners, especially for a 2 hour day flight, are far more irritating.

In the interest of full disclosure, I like kids, especially my own, but I have a fairly low tolerance for the bad behavior of children in places like fine dining restaurants and such.

But, airline travel is a whole other thing and I think anything all of us stuck in the plane can do to help each other out is necessary and stress reducing. If a parent traveling with kids needs a few extra minutes to get settled, no problem in my mind to preboard. If their kid kicks my seat, I expect the parent to stop it. If a kid is separated from a parent on a flight, I can change seats.

And when some kid is crying and screaming nonstop, I take out my headphones, because that parent has no choice to go anywhere at 38,000ft (unlike OP's Chipotle story).

It's not hard to remember that decreasing stress for everyone makes flying a little less hellish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Give me a break. You are in the minority and you know it. Normally I would thank you but you are way too obnoxious. We are all well aware that with airlines charging fees for baggage, families each bring a wheelie luggage full of crap and then check maybe one bag. Please don't be so dense.

This makes zero sense. So a family of four brings on four rolling bags... And a business traveler brings one.. Let's see, if they paid for and occupy four times as many seats, how exactly is it a problem for them to bring four times as many bags?? They are NOT bringing more than their share. Not to mention they most of them (like me) bring fewer than we are allowed bc my two year old can't pull a suitcase and big backpack through the airport yet.