She vented her frustrations after flying with her children and not being prioritized by the airline. Should her concerns be taken into consideration?
It Seems Different Here
OP (Original Poster) has lived in multiple countries, and it seems to her that the United States is the only one where families aren’t prioritized on airlines.
Flying With the Family
A day before sharing her story on Reddit, OP flew with her four kids, ages one, three, six, and eight. They were placed in the eighth group out of nine.
Kids Being Kids
That only meant the baby was screaming by the time they got on board. Aside from that, her three-year-old and six-year-old were incredibly fidgety from waiting for so long.
Messy Situation
Their bags had to be scattered on different overhead lockers, and it took forever for them to get off the plane. Because of that, everyone behind them was held up.
Top Priority
Groups ahead of them included wealthy people who paid to be bumped up. There were also active-duty military people who were young, fit, and “used to waiting” regularly.
Priority Boarding
So, for OP, in all honesty, people with disabilities should be the ones prioritized. After that, groups with young children should follow.
Everybody Wins
She said that it wouldn’t just be better for the families but also a nicer experience for every passenger who wouldn’t have to listen to crying babies. They also wouldn’t have to stand in the aisles, waiting for all the setup of young children with entertainment activities.
The Community’s Opinions
There were mixed reviews from the community, as some people shared their methods when flying with children and how they made it work out. Aside from that, they think whether you board first or last, it’s the same waiting time either way.
A Redditor wrote, “I’ve always seen calls for families with young kids to preboard. What worked best for us was for a parent to preboard with a car seat and stuff while the other parent stayed with the child, boarding at a regular time, to burn off the most energy. That way, the seat and stuff are all ready, and you’re not clonking people with a car seat as you board. You don’t hold up other people, and the child doesn’t have to wait for a million other people to sit down.”
Another one said, “I’d rather have an antsy kid waiting in line than an antsy kid waiting on the plane. Either way, the wait time is the same.”
You Are Priority
Many have said that families are already being prioritized by airlines, well, in their case, that is.
A commenter said, “I feel like I always hear announcements saying that groups with young kids can board first. Or if not, ask the person at the desk and make your case, and they would probably let you if you’re not rude.”
“In thought, most airlines boarded families after first class or priority boarding. I don’t like getting on early, though, because that means lingering in a confined space,” someone else wrote.
In Exchange for Special Treatment
A parent said that if OP wants to be prioritized, she should pay for it instead of demanding it out of nowhere.
One person said, “You’re not special for having kids. I say this as a parent of two hyper, loud, small boys. If you want to board first, then you’ve got to pay extra for priority boarding.”
Better This Way
Another parent shared that they liked being the last ones to board the plane since it’s easier for their family.
“I have flown a lot in my life, and I don’t think I have ever been on a plane where they didn’t call for families with young kids as one of the first boarding groups. They’re usually called after the first class or priority members, definitely before they start boating in the zones or groups, though,” a Redditor wrote.
The same person added, “Now that I have my own kids and have flown a bit, the kids are going to be antsy either way. I’d rather be last on the plane, and we always wait to be the last off because it’s just easier for us that way.”
It Depends
OP’s opinions are both agreeable and not, as Redditors think kids will only cause disturbance if they board first, and prioritizing people with disabilities should depend on what their needs and concerns are.
Someone said, “Kids should deplane first but typically board last. Kids can run and be louder in the terminal than on the plane. As to those who are disabled, that really just depends on what they need. I could see a mobility-impaired person wanting to get on first and off last in order to contend with less ‘traffic.’”
Search for What Suits You
A Redditor suggested OP find another airline if she wasn’t satisfied with the one before.
A commenter wrote, “The majority of airlines allow family boarding after priority boarding. Maybe you should fly a better airline or look up airline policies that better fit your family’s needs. I’ve flown three different airlines this month, and all of them had family boarding between priority or first class and general boarding.”
Entitlement Won’t Get You Anywhere
Some commenters think that it’s not the airline’s fault that she has children and that she shouldn’t expect to be prioritized just because of that.
“That is not true. I live in Central America and have traveled extensively. I have never been in a foreign country that allowed families with young children off an airplane first. This woman thinks she is entitled because she has children. She needs to think again,” a user said.
Another one wrote, “People with kids already get priority boarding. Put them on last—her choice to breed. Bad enough people are going to have to put up with kids screaming. Dirty drawers. Spilling food everywhere. Entitled.”
What do you think of OP’s concerns? Do you agree with her?
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This post first appeared as An Entitled Mom Demanded Her Family Be the First to Board and Deplane Because She Had “Young Children” She Couldn’t Control. But People Say She’s “Not Special for Having Kids!” on Quote Ambition.
