What is the difference between preboarding and family boarding?

It's technically limited to one adult traveling with a child six years old or younger, but some agents allow multiple family members to board together at that time. Preboarding is for passengers with a disability that have specific seating needs and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft.



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Preboarding is reserved mainly for travelers needing special assistance and passengers with a child under age 2.

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You request it at either the ticket counter or with the customer service agent at the gate. Just let them know you would like to request preboarding due to a disability that requires a specific seat. They aren't supposed to ask what your disability is.

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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.

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The current U.S. airline family boarding policies are: Alaska Airlines: Families with children younger than 2 can board at the beginning of the process, before first-class and elite customers. American Airlines: Families with children board before first-class and elite members upon request only.

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If the conditions are satisfied, airlines that assign seats and guarantee fee-free family seating will provide adjacent seat assignments to the adult traveling with a child age 13 or under no later than on the day before the flight.

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Just let them know you would like to request preboarding due to a disability that requires a specific seat. They aren't supposed to ask what your disability is. They're only supposed to ask if you need assistance during boarding, a specific seat, or extra time to board.

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