Do passengers with kids board first?

Depending on their ages and which airline you have chosen, some airlines invite families to board in front of everybody else, while others allow those with kids to slide in somewhere between elite passengers and regular coach-flying folk.



On most major airlines in 2026, families with young children do not board "first" (meaning before everyone else), but they are given a dedicated "Family Boarding" window that usually occurs after the premium and elite groups. On Southwest Airlines, family boarding (for those with children age 6 or younger) occurs between Group A and Group B, ensuring families can find seats together before the plane fills up. On legacy carriers like Delta, United, and American, "Pre-boarding" is usually reserved for those with disabilities or active military, with families of children under 2 following immediately after. In 2026, many airlines have refined these rules to speed up the process; for example, if you have already paid for "assigned seating" with your children, the airline may encourage you to board with your regular group to reduce congestion. It is essential to listen to the gate agent's specific announcements, as "family boarding" is a courtesy rather than a guaranteed right, and the age cutoff for "young children" can vary from 2 to 7 years old depending on the airline's specific policy.

People Also Ask

Can my baby and I board the aircraft first? If you're travelling with a young child or baby, priority boarding is certainly a good idea and a very useful service. Priority boarding allows you to board the aircraft first and settle your little ones instead of clamouring on board as part of a bustling crowd.

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Passengers who purchased “big front seats” are allowed to board first and then the remaining rows (from front to back) are allowed onto the plane. Passengers who pay for seat assignment can choose a seat towards the front of the plane to board first.

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Planning your trip
  • Infants on lap. Children under two can sit on a parent's lap during flights to any destination.
  • Infant seats. Alternatively, infants can have their own seat if you bring an approved car seat.
  • All other kids. Children older than two will need a ticket and their own seat on the plane.


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Diaper bags, soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don't count toward your personal item or carry-on.

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Airlines will typically assign the earliest boarding groups to passengers who are the most loyal. Previously, this was dictated by how many miles one flew, but nowadays, it's usually how much one spends on tickets.

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Usually, airlines decide to bump those on an overbooked flight who have fewer privileges such as lower-fare tickets and late bookings. People who booked earlier or paid more for their ticket will usually get to stay on board. Another deciding factor is the type of ticket that was purchased.

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Intuitively, at least, you'd expect boarding from back-to-front to be the fastest way to get passengers onto the plane. But in actual fact, says Steffen, ?anytime you want to speed up the boarding process, the only real way to do it is to have multiple people sitting down at the same time.

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If you expect a full flight, try to board earlier – this will improve your chances to get cabin space for your luggage over your designated seat.

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Up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding.

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#2- Priority Pass Membership The problem with Priority Pass is that you have to pay for guests and that usually includes children older than 2. So you are paying $100- $500 for the membership plus $35 each for guests.

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Minors under the age of 18 will not need ID to pass through security, they only need a boarding pass to board the plane if they are accompanied by an adult. Although it isn't required, it may feel weird traveling without some sort of ID for your kids.

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Frontier Airlines bumped the biggest proportion of passengers of the 15 largest US carriers in early 2023. Of every 10,000 Frontier passengers, 3.73 were involuntarily denied boarding due to oversales, the DOT said. Allegiant, Delta, Endeavor, and Hawaiian didn't bump any passengers in the quarter, per the DOT.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Ever wonder how airlines decide who gets a seat upgrade on flights? Airlines say it's strictly by the book: Loyal customers are rewarded based on their status in frequent flyer programs. But some flyers insist that once in a while, they get upgraded even when they've bought the cheapest seat.

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Priority boarding for passengers with disabilities, assistive devices or emotional support animals. Passengers with “status” like Executive Platinum, Gold, Silver, Premier Access, Club, etc. Passengers behind exist rows (some airlines only, like Alaska) Passengers with upgraded seating like “More space” fares.

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If you need your carry-on bag during a long layover or prefer not to wait at a late-night baggage claim after a long day of flying, then purchasing a priority boarding upgrade may be well worth it. In essence, purchasing priority boarding is staking claim to readily accessible overhead bin space.

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Priority boarding is available to passengers with elite status, customers who have purchased select tickets, customers traveling on an international flight, customers traveling with a small child, and customers who are part of the United Airlines Group Boarding program.

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Is toothpaste considered a liquid by the TSA? Yes, toothpaste must adhere to the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and gels. Toothpaste can be brought through TSA security in your carry-on as long as it is 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less and placed in a 1-quart bag.

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Infants or children under 2 years of age can travel on the lap of an adult for free (within the United States) or at a reduced fare (for international travel).

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Most airlines allow passengers to bring on both a carry-on and a personal item like a backpack, laptop bag, purse, briefcase, shopping bag, etc. The general rule of thumb is that your personal item is smaller in dimension than your carry-on bag and it can fit underneath the seat in front of you.

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