OP here, DH flies an average of 200,000 miles per year. He has frequent flyer cards with every company. We never had to pay for tickets, rental car or hotel for the past 3 years.

I just asked him what bothers him them most in the trips.

He said the very first thing on the list is going through security. Second is delays, third is people taking too much space (being it because they're too big for the seat or just because they spread their wings and legs over other's seats). When I asked about children and families he said that they don't bother him at all and when talking to colleagues that fly they always complain about the same things and families boarding and children are never the topic.

Also I asked about the kinds of people on the flight. He sees at least 2 families in every flight, lots of business people and lots of students and young folks dressed casually and a lot more retired people. So I guess it's not fair to say families don't give the companies a considerable profit.

I'm Global Services flyer on United. For those that don't know that means, it means that I fly over 150,000 miles per year with them. 20 trips or more. They make hundreds of thousands of dollars on my fares alone. So yes, business travellers are their main source of income. They're much less interested in families who fly once or twice a year from DC to Orlando, and who pay probably $600.

Boarding first is one of the "perks"....such as it is. So are free upgrades. When you spend that much time on an airplane, anything helps.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um....your carseat doesn't go on the aisle so simply put it in the seat and move out of the aisle.

Not rocket science.

Perhaps you don't fly often so allow me to explain (not the PP) the plane will not take off until EVEVRYONE is sitting down seats buckled. So, if mom or dad takes 10 min to install a car seat, you business traveler will be waiting, in the aisle, while he/she stands in the middle seat, installing the car seat by the window.

If you do fly often, and are just not smart, tell me what happens when someone is standing in the aisle....DING! Right! Other people can not pass to get to their seats and the flight is delayed.

Seriously? 10 minutes to install a carseat on a plane? I'm glad you're not an engineer. Really, it takes about 3 minutes if you have half a brain.

Not sure if it's still true, but last time I flew Southwest, they still let families board after the "A" group finished even if you have the last group on your boarding passes.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand these nuts who bring car seats onto airplanes.

It won't save your child's life if the plane crashes, you know.

what an idiot. it will save my child me and you in case of violent turbulence. also my child has a place to COMFORTABLY sleep and let you enjoy your silent flight.

If you don't like the policy then fly another airline. You will probably want to now that they are also going to charge extra for aisle and window seats so either you pay more to sit together or take your chances on seat assignments.

You could try Frontier. It's a step above bus travel. Last time we flew them my DC had a center seat next to a dad with a giant lap child who spent most of the 4 hour flight with a stinky diaper and throwing things at or kicking my DC.

I think a good compromise would be to allow preboarding to families with carseats, and to require that they sit in the back of the plane and disembark last.

I think this would be a win win. For starters it would prevent families from taking the most desired seats up front, which is one complaint about preboarding, two it would encourage more carseat use which leads to calmer children, IMO. Three, if a family's argument is that they need extra time to board without inconveniencing people, they should disembark without inconveniencing people either.

I also don't really see why a family with toilet trained, weaned children out of carseats needs priority or more time or to bring a million things. From about age 3 to 8 my kid traveled with the same amount of carry on stuff I did plus a backless booster that we stored overhead (since his legs were short his bag fit under the seat in front so he stored one thing). After 8 he didn't even need the booster.

Obviously families with identified special needs are exceptions to all of this.

I don't understand these nuts who bring car seats onto airplanes.

It won't save your child's life if the plane crashes, you know.

PP. I don't care if your traveling with kids....50seats or not. You don't care if your kid is kicking my seat or screaming. Your kids are your responsibility.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because it's not easy carrying a car seat and carry-on bag down a crowded aisle without bumping into passengers. It, understandably, annoys the passengers and me.

Having done this with two Britax seats -- you can do it easily. Just be considerate and not feel entitled. Plus if you are nice people help you.

Please. You are so full of it. I have to fly on a small craft (50 passengers) to visit my family, and it is in no way easy to navigate the aisles toting a car seat, carry-on, and children. And what makes you think that traveling families feel "entitled?" Most of us posting have stated that we don't want to inconvenience other boarding passengers by slowing down the process and getting in their way. You clearly have an ax to grind.

Gracious behavior SHOULD go both ways, but let's face it, it does not. This is not pp, BTW.

How many times has a parent let their kid kick your seat? I am sure the business travelers became tired of it. As a business owner, I know where the airlines are coming from. You have to cater to the harmonious sometimes, instead of the wolf criers. We all know moms who are good for little else. It is only a matter of time before all courtesies are taken away for families, because it is simply not worth it. Now the parents want to feign ignorance? Please.

Face it, some people are not going to agree with you. Sometimes those people have the final word. It is hard for you, but you need to grow up, drop the entitlement and move on. Simple.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because it's not easy carrying a car seat and carry-on bag down a crowded aisle without bumping into passengers. It, understandably, annoys the passengers and me.

This reminds me of the scene in Airplane when the woman heads down the aisle knocking everyone on the head with her guitar. If you can't get down the aisle with your carseat and your bag then you may want to reconfigure what you take on board. No one has to cater to your needs except you.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Because it's not easy carrying a car seat and carry-on bag down a crowded aisle without bumping into passengers. It, understandably, annoys the passengers and me.

Having done this with two Britax seats -- you can do it easily. Just be considerate and not feel entitled. Plus if you are nice people help you.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like families have the entitled bug.
On another note, do you think those of us traveling without kids are happy to see your Kids boarding? You might consider focusing on being gracious to others who are stuck on a plane with your little darlings rather than think about assumption that you should receive special treatment.

Why are you on DCUM, coo coo bird?

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.

Because it's not easy carrying a car seat and carry-on bag down a crowded aisle without bumping into passengers. It, understandably, annoys the passengers and me.