Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Southwest Airlines experimenting with different strategies on boarding customers
Most of the above-mentioned strategies appear to be centered on keeping bratty kids away from the rest of us. Southwest rules.
After a couple of incidents involving annoying kids, heroic godlike Southwest Airlines is experimenting with different approaches on how to board customers on the planes.
Usually, the squawling rug-rats board first, whereupon they tie up the aisles and become even more tantrum-esque than they were before boarding. Southwest is considering allowing flyers in the "A" group -- the ones who showed up early and/or checked in on-line (IE, business flyers) -- to board first. Southwest is even considering seating kids in a separate section. Yes yes yes, good thinking, Southwest Airlines. May we suggest putting them on the wings? They for sure wouldn't be bored that way.
Posted by T.G.
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Scott Doyle, says:
With any luck, they'll wall off the quarantined section.
Verified
2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
luniz, says:
I just spent 2.5 hours seated behind a pair of squealing brats last Saturday. You'd think the parents would be willing to sit in the middle to separate them, but I suppose that would have been asking too much. I say let them sit wherever they like, just put a muzzle on them.
Anonymous
2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
John McClelland, says:
Kids should be placed closest to the engines so they can be drowned out effectively. Preferably outside on the wing.
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2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
tmeixner, says:
Look I am a business traveler I also have children. If you have a problem with children traveling on airplanes stay home. Yes parents need to do a good job of controlling their kids behavior. Some do not do this. But most children are well behaved on flights. If we want separate sections for people how about one for people who watch R and X rated movies on flights or those who are drunk and obnoxious.
What Southwest is doing here though is very sensible. Having pre-boarded with kids at the opening of a flight I can tell you that it is not the best, easiest or most comfortable way. Boarding after the A's is perfect. Families will be able to sit together and they will present less of a boarding problem and also be able to get off after everyone else as I do when I travel with my kids.
Anonymous
2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Look, if something bothers you at all, stay home and never venture outside. It's perfectly reasonable.
Also, I for one am still pretty surprised they even serve alcohol on flights. 30,000 feet in the air isn't really where I want someone getting black-out drunk.
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2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
I doubt this cat has ever listened to a child scream until it was hoarse on a 3 hour flight.
Most airlines section off first class; don't see why they couldn't do same for families with young kids on the other end of the plane. Larger bathroom with changing station, etc.
Re: black-out drunk, there are pretty strong FAA consequences if you're disruptive on a flight (drunk or not, i.e. mile-high club).
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2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
CastleHills, says:
Tmeixner must be one of those parents who don't know how to control a screaming, ranting, obnoxious child. Hint: a swat to the backside will do wonders.
For all the parents who ignore Precious while he/she drives 200 other passengers crazy: YOU stay home.
Anonymous
2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Bill Holston, says:
I didn't fly much with kids. Once my 12 month old was yelling. He needed a nap. We had fed and changed him we had bottles etc.. but he just wouldn't stop. I'll never as long as I live forget the nice young lady who sat next to us, she smiled, said, don't worry, I've got neices. People kept giving us dirty looks. I remember thinking, what do you want me to do? Now, I return that favor by sitting in a row with kids, when I'm traveling for business. I won't mind the noise.
That said, I would have had no problem with a family seating section, especially one that has things that make family travel easier.
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2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Yes, I'm sure slapping a baby will make it cognizant of the trouble it's causing, and will convince it to settle down and enjoy SkyMall's selection of fine goods.
Even older kids may not respond to that sort of thing, anyway. There's no all-fix cure for being annoying. Except, maybe, a heavy dose of sedatives right before the flight - which I would gladly purchase for unruly children if the flight attendants only offered.
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2 years, 4 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Sam Clark, says:
Best solution for annoying child problems... vasectomy.
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