Anonymous
06/23/2012 17:10
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
We flew United recently with an infant, and the lack of priority boarding really wasn't that big of a deal. What was annoying was United's complete lack of customer service (our flight was delayed and they refused to answer any questions and had hardly anyone working the check in counter, and tried to make us check a small bag (we had already paid to heck our ormal size bags) even after we repeatedly explained that we'd be putting it under the seat in front of our daughter's seat. Then they overbooked the second leg of our connection and were unbelievably rude to the people trying to figure out if they had seats. these were people on the plane with duplicate boarding passes, so clearly a complete screwup on their part.
Anonymous
06/23/2012 14:33
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
I really think that what is at the crux of this bitterness is that some parents have gotten used to having the privilege of pre-boarding and being able to fit all their belongings in the overhead bins. They don't want to lose that privilege and have to gate-check their stuff like the rest of us.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 22:14
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
The carseat must be installed against the window so no adult should be hanging in the aisle doing it whether they board first, last or in the middle. Installation honestly doesn't take much more effort than fastening a regular seatbelt and giving a good tug - certainly not as extensive as installing in a car. I don't get the drama people make over it.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 22:08
Subject: Re:what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My friend just flew United (she's using up her frequent flier miles) and she waited until the LAST second to board with her carseat and her 3 year old. She took FOREVER. She slowly got in with her husband and took about 10 minutes to install the seat. She once she got her baby in, she then put her bag under the seat, she spent awhile getting her toddler in.
They came over to ask her to get seated....and she said "Oh! Sorry! I'm so used to preboarding that since I got on last, it's going to take me awhile"
She has three more flights and plans to do this each time and write a letter to United explaining why the flight was delayed (and how it was her fault).
I suggest each parent who flies United do the same.
How obnoxious! Where does your friend get her sense of entitlement from. She has no right to purposely take her sweet time and inconveniance everyone else. Next time she does that I hope that people complain and they remove her ass from the plane.
Agree. She sounds like she has mental problems. She's lucky that she wasn't told to get off the plane.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 17:45
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is more with overhead compartment space. As we all know, families carry a lot of crap.
I also agree with boarding towards the end (but not dead last) if you have mobile children. Why be confined to a plane with kids any longer than you have to? If there's no more space for your carry-on because you didn't get to pre-board, they'll gate check your stuff so there's no loss there.
The reason we carry a lot of crap is to entertain our kids, have food for them, and changes of clothes when they poop or pee through them, and a carseat for them to sit in. If our kid has a seat, they are entitled to as much carry on stuff as anyone else. If they gate check my stuff, there is a loss- I don't have enough diapers, food, or entertainment to keep my kid from screaming and bothering you. Maybe on a short flight this isn't an issue, but a long flight I generally need most of my stuff.
I board early to install the carseat, and DH comes on later with the kids. Not being able to install the carseat early is an inconvenience to
others. (I agree other poster's friend was wrong to do this intentionally, but it does take a few minutes to get the carseat installed and can hold people up trying to get through. Airlines should realize this and let people board early at the very least to install a carseat, which is required by the airlines for children under 2 who have their own seat.
If it's so important to you to make sure your stuff isn't gate-checked, please buy first-class tickets.
Agreed or pay for priority boarding!
Anonymous
06/22/2012 17:40
Subject: Re:what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:My friend just flew United (she's using up her frequent flier miles) and she waited until the LAST second to board with her carseat and her 3 year old. She took FOREVER. She slowly got in with her husband and took about 10 minutes to install the seat. She once she got her baby in, she then put her bag under the seat, she spent awhile getting her toddler in.
They came over to ask her to get seated....and she said "Oh! Sorry! I'm so used to preboarding that since I got on last, it's going to take me awhile"
She has three more flights and plans to do this each time and write a letter to United explaining why the flight was delayed (and how it was her fault).
I suggest each parent who flies United do the same.
This is awful - she may be trying to send a message to the airline, but she really, really inconvenienced a bunch of other passengers with her selfish behavior.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 17:03
Subject: Re:what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
If they gate check my stuff, there is a loss- I don't have enough diapers, food, or entertainment to keep my kid from screaming and bothering you. Maybe on a short flight this isn't an issue, but a long flight I generally need most of my stuff.
I don't understand how this could be. I have a child who is not quite 3, and I have always been able to feed, entertain, and diaper him on flights to California with a diaper bag full of things that would never need to be gate checked. Yes, he gets antsy during the flight and we have to walk around, but having more stuff isn't going to change that.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 16:59
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
United's policy isn't rude. However, the family who felt it was okay to hold up entire plane to try and make a point was rude.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 16:55
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is more with overhead compartment space. As we all know, families carry a lot of crap.
I also agree with boarding towards the end (but not dead last) if you have mobile children. Why be confined to a plane with kids any longer than you have to? If there's no more space for your carry-on because you didn't get to pre-board, they'll gate check your stuff so there's no loss there.
The reason we carry a lot of crap is to entertain our kids, have food for them, and changes of clothes when they poop or pee through them, and a carseat for them to sit in. If our kid has a seat, they are entitled to as much carry on stuff as anyone else. If they gate check my stuff, there is a loss- I don't have enough diapers, food, or entertainment to keep my kid from screaming and bothering you. Maybe on a short flight this isn't an issue, but a long flight I generally need most of my stuff.
I board early to install the carseat, and DH comes on later with the kids. Not being able to install the carseat early is an inconvenience to others. (I agree other poster's friend was wrong to do this intentionally, but it does take a few minutes to get the carseat installed and can hold people up trying to get through. Airlines should realize this and let people board early at the very least to install a carseat, which is required by the airlines for children under 2 who have their own seat.
If it's so important to you to make sure your stuff isn't gate-checked, please buy first-class tickets.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 16:23
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is more with overhead compartment space. As we all know, families carry a lot of crap.
I also agree with boarding towards the end (but not dead last) if you have mobile children. Why be confined to a plane with kids any longer than you have to? If there's no more space for your carry-on because you didn't get to pre-board, they'll gate check your stuff so there's no loss there.
The reason we carry a lot of crap is to entertain our kids, have food for them, and changes of clothes when they poop or pee through them, and a carseat for them to sit in. If our kid has a seat, they are entitled to as much carry on stuff as anyone else. If they gate check my stuff, there is a loss- I don't have enough diapers, food, or entertainment to keep my kid from screaming and bothering you. Maybe on a short flight this isn't an issue, but a long flight I generally need most of my stuff.
I board early to install the carseat, and DH comes on later with the kids. Not being able to install the carseat early is an inconvenience to others. (I agree other poster's friend was wrong to do this intentionally, but it does take a few minutes to get the carseat installed and can hold people up trying to get through. Airlines should realize this and let people board early at the very least to install a carseat, which is required by the airlines for children under 2 who have their own seat.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 13:29
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
I flew on United a couple of weeks ago and we were allowed to board early both in DCA and ORD. They may not announce it, but I bet if you try and tell the agent you need more time, they let you on.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 12:49
Subject: what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Why is the friend with a 3 year old installing a car seat on the plane? Was that supposed to be 3 month old?
Anonymous
06/22/2012 10:54
Subject: Re:what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:My friend just flew United (she's using up her frequent flier miles) and she waited until the LAST second to board with her carseat and her 3 year old. She took FOREVER. She slowly got in with her husband and took about 10 minutes to install the seat. She once she got her baby in, she then put her bag under the seat, she spent awhile getting her toddler in.
They came over to ask her to get seated....and she said "Oh! Sorry! I'm so used to preboarding that since I got on last, it's going to take me awhile"
She has three more flights and plans to do this each time and write a letter to United explaining why the flight was delayed (and how it was her fault).
I suggest each parent who flies United do the same.
Frequent-flier here: anyone who would do this is a complete @$$hole. Some of us are trying to get home to our families, and it is hard enough without stupid people delaying this on purpose.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 10:54
Subject: Re:what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:My friend just flew United (she's using up her frequent flier miles) and she waited until the LAST second to board with her carseat and her 3 year old. She took FOREVER. She slowly got in with her husband and took about 10 minutes to install the seat. She once she got her baby in, she then put her bag under the seat, she spent awhile getting her toddler in.
They came over to ask her to get seated....and she said "Oh! Sorry! I'm so used to preboarding that since I got on last, it's going to take me awhile"
She has three more flights and plans to do this each time and write a letter to United explaining why the flight was delayed (and how it was her fault).
I suggest each parent who flies United do the same.
How obnoxious! Where does your friend get her sense of entitlement from. She has no right to purposely take her sweet time and inconveniance everyone else. Next time she does that I hope that people complain and they remove her ass from the plane.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 10:48
Subject: Re:what is up with United, no pre-bording for kids??? So rude
Anonymous wrote:I was just reading an article about "the war on kids". I don't understand why so many people get annoyed at them when we are out in public;(
"So many peole get annoyed with them" beause of their obnoixious behavior that YOU the parent allow because YOU the parent think its cute when it is not and is clearly disrespectful. Try implementing a discipline system with your child(ren) and people wouldnt be so annoyed!