Parents And Children Lose Pre-Boarding Privilege
As of Oct. 2, Southwest Airlines will end its long-standing policy of allowing people with young children to board ahead of most other passengers. The push behind Southwest’s policy change appears to have more in common with that age-old play-group complaint: No fair. Disabled passengers will still be allowed to pre-board, followed by Southwest’s traditional three groups of boarders: A, B and C. Seeing the children-first policy end will give these business travelers a measure of satisfaction.
Children under 5, and those traveling with them, won’t be stripped entirely of privilege. If they and their entourage don’t get boarding passes in time to be part of group A, they’ll be allowed to board right after that group, before B and C. This is to ensure that passengers with small children will find seats together. That’s harsh.
