As you start booking your flights for your next family trip, you might consider booking with a more kid-friendly airline. Based on recent comments submitted by Trekaroo families, Southwest seems to be getting it right for families.
Most Popular Airline to Travel with Kids – Southwest Airlines
Parents were full of praise for Southwest Airlines’ family-friendliness. Here’s what parents loved about Southwest.
1) No baggage fees! – let’s face it. Families have lots of gear to tote around when traveling, and flying with an airline that does not charge extra for check-in luggage can save a family a chunk of change.
2) Priority boarding for families in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ seating groups – as more and more airlines do away with pre-boarding for families with young children, Southwest has a great comprise that helps ensure that families have a high chance of being seated together and have enough time to settle in before take off.
3) Reasonable prices – when you’re booking 4 or 5 tickets, every penny counts.
4) Helpful and humorous flight attendants – to parents, a helpful hand and relaxed atmosphere makes for a pleasant flying experience.
5) Special welcome for first time flyers – if it’s your child’s first flight, Southwest will celebrate the special occasion with a certificate and wings. Just let a flight attendant know.
See all comments left by families about their favorite and least favorite airlines
Least Popular Airline when Traveling with Kids – Delta/Northwest Airlines
Are you surprised that Delta/Northwest Airlines fell to the bottom? Parents were the most dissatisfied with the service they received on the Delta/Northwest airlines. A few were kind enough to say that it might have been a result of the uncertainties around the merger, but when you’re in the service business, managing transition is critical. The main criticism was that the staff really didn’t seem to “give a crap about kids at all.” Do you agree?
Rate airlines you’ve flown on with kids:
Related:
- Family-friendly Airlines: What’s most important when flying with kids
- Baby Travel – Intro to Flying with Baby
- Flying with Kids: Holiday Travel Survival Guide for Parents
- Top Travel Games and Activities for Kids
- Helping Kids Overcome Jet lag Quickly
- Packing Checklist for Traveling with Baby
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LiLing Pang (TravelPangs) is co-founder and contributing author on Trekaroo – - a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
On the way back from Nashville on a recent business trip, I flew through Los Angeles. After de-boarding our plane, we waited at the gate to board the next plane for our connecting flight. As I waited, Esther was off searching for her cup of fruit. After some time, she finally returned victorious, and just in time as to board the plane. We walked down the gangway, following the line of people. The line started backing up and finally slowed to a stop with the door of the plane in sight. For a few minutes, I thought it normal since I had experienced this countless times before. A few thoughts ambled through my mind as I pondered what was going on. Perhaps someone was having trouble getting their bags into the overhead compartment, or there was some confusion about seating. Maybe it was a family travelling for the first time. Alas, none of my theories were to hold true. Only passengers through row seven were allowed to board. And then the news quickly passed down the line, a passenger had projectile vomited as he was boarding the plane and they were waiting on maintenance to come clean it up. Then someone remarked that no one from rows 17 through 27 could board. Uh oh, we were supposed to sit in row 17! We all sat in gangway for quite some time, making jokes and conversation about throwing up. One man had spent the last two weeks in Houston for work and was anxious to get home. He cheekily offered to clean up the mess and sit in the seat. It must have been one enormous mess to be sure. Airline staff of various types walked back and forth down the gangway, alternating between smiling and shaking their heads. One passenger walked past and exclaimed, “I never knew barfing could mess up so many people’s lives!” After sitting in the gangway for what seemed like an eternity, it was announced that our plane was to be switched and that we were to board at another gate in an hour’s time. I never knew that barfing on a plane could put it out of commission. Well, now I know. The seat in row 17 next to us on the new plane was empty.
