UAL disses mommies and children
05-23-2012, 05:13 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,866
UAL disses mommies and children
NBC Nightly News, May 23, 2012.
United Airlines and United Airlines alone* will not allow parents with young children to board early. This is to "simplify the boarding process." Nice job.
Agree or not, right or not, better for boarding or not, there can be no disagreement about this--management is about as tone deaf as you can get.
Crying children, stressed out moms--"back of the line" on the national news.
Next? Able-bodied crew members cut in front of moms, children, the elderly, and the handicapped because the airline won't work with the airport and TSA to get them a separate line. Oh wait, that's already the policy.
* this what a viewer would take away from the story as presented
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news/
United Airlines and United Airlines alone* will not allow parents with young children to board early. This is to "simplify the boarding process." Nice job.
Agree or not, right or not, better for boarding or not, there can be no disagreement about this--management is about as tone deaf as you can get.
Crying children, stressed out moms--"back of the line" on the national news.
Next? Able-bodied crew members cut in front of moms, children, the elderly, and the handicapped because the airline won't work with the airport and TSA to get them a separate line. Oh wait, that's already the policy.
* this what a viewer would take away from the story as presented
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news/
Last edited by APC225; 05-23-2012 at 05:28 PM.
05-23-2012, 05:22 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: Seat 0B
Posts: 2,300
IMO, preboarding elderly, families with small children, uniformed jumpseaters 
, makes the boarding process easier. In 2007 I flew Spirit-less Airlines with my 3 and 1 year olds at that time & the gate agent wouldn't let us preboard. First time I ever experienced that. Never flew them again. If I take a family vacation, United may be out of the question....I have a new addition to our family.
, makes the boarding process easier. In 2007 I flew Spirit-less Airlines with my 3 and 1 year olds at that time & the gate agent wouldn't let us preboard. First time I ever experienced that. Never flew them again. If I take a family vacation, United may be out of the question....I have a new addition to our family.
05-23-2012, 05:33 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,866
"United Airlines can kiss that on time performance goodbye" she says in this CNBC video clip. Reporters seldom get it so right. Then at the end they show the stock down.
United Drops Early Boarding for Children - Yahoo!
United Drops Early Boarding for Children - Yahoo!
05-23-2012, 06:14 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,866
Originally Posted by SoCalGuy
"We're not happy until your NOT happy"
(Jeffery Smisek - UCH CEO)
(Jeffery Smisek - UCH CEO)
05-24-2012, 07:34 AM
#7
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 88
Works both ways.
I was in FLL and 17 wheelchairs were scheduled to board. The gate agent announced at pre-boarding that the wheelchairs would board last. By the time they got to the wheelchairs at the end, only 4 w/c people remained. Guess the others had a Jesus jetway miracle and decided to board normally.
I think some people have figured this is a good way to get on early and stow bags in overhead. Seen the same things happen at Customs line to bypass long lines.
I was in FLL and 17 wheelchairs were scheduled to board. The gate agent announced at pre-boarding that the wheelchairs would board last. By the time they got to the wheelchairs at the end, only 4 w/c people remained. Guess the others had a Jesus jetway miracle and decided to board normally.
I think some people have figured this is a good way to get on early and stow bags in overhead. Seen the same things happen at Customs line to bypass long lines.
05-24-2012, 08:38 AM
#9
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: A320 Cap
Posts: 2,282
Originally Posted by ualheavy
Works both ways.
I was in FLL and 17 wheelchairs were scheduled to board. The gate agent announced at pre-boarding that the wheelchairs would board last. By the time they got to the wheelchairs at the end, only 4 w/c people remained. Guess the others had a Jesus jetway miracle and decided to board normally.
I think some people have figured this is a good way to get on early and stow bags in overhead. Seen the same things happen at Customs line to bypass long lines.
I was in FLL and 17 wheelchairs were scheduled to board. The gate agent announced at pre-boarding that the wheelchairs would board last. By the time they got to the wheelchairs at the end, only 4 w/c people remained. Guess the others had a Jesus jetway miracle and decided to board normally.
I think some people have figured this is a good way to get on early and stow bags in overhead. Seen the same things happen at Customs line to bypass long lines.
05-24-2012, 08:54 AM
#10
Are we there yet??!!
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,010
Originally Posted by JMD16
See that in Singapore and Saigon to/from Hong Kong. 20+ Wheelchairs needed for boarding and sometimes as few as 5-6 used when getting off.
Happens to/from Vegas alot.
Must be the healing powers of the slot machines.
As some who files alot as a pax on UA, 122k last year and 65k so far this year, I get tired of the whole extended family lining up to board. Two people with babies in the carry on thing while another 15-18 to support them?? Problem is these people use the kids as an excuse to board early and then want to be the first one off too. I have missed more than one connection because they would not wait to deplane after insisting they need extra time to board. Seems like if you need extra to to get your crap on the airplane you would need it to get your same crap off of the aircraft.
Don't even get me started about the whole family parking spots at certain malls or shopping areas.
