This is the first part of my analysis of airlines when flying with kids, all information was accurate at the time of posting. For detailed information on Spirit, AirTran and Delta, see Part 2 of the series.
Having been on over 100 airplanes since Honeybun was born, you can imagine we have quite a bit of experience with not only flying with kids, but flying many different airlines. In his short 18 months, Doodle has flown 6 different airlines! Not only do fares and services vary widely among the different carriers, but experiences and how families are treated can vary drastically as well.
Here is the basic info on flying with kids and the different airlines we’ve flown most recently, listed from my most to least favorite.
Southwest
Baggage: 2 carry ons per person fly free (one personal item and one larger); 2 checked bags per person fly free (which includes any baby equipment, strollers can be checked for free at the gate).
Car seat use: car seats usually fit well in Southwest seats, including our rear facing Combi Coccoro and Chicco Keyfit (which are both small front to back); car seats are allowed to be used in an open seat for unticketed infants (aka lap babies, though it’s always safer to buy a ticket to ensure you can use their car seat).
Seating: Southwest does open seating and it is first boarded, first seated. Check in exactly 24 hours ahead online to ensure a higher boarding number or pay the little bit extra for earlybird check in or priority boarding if you want to ensure you get on the plane first.
Boarding: Southwest boards by assigned boarding groups and numbers based on your ticket type and when you check in. Families with children 4 and under are allowed to “pre-board” after the A group (first 60 passengers).
Entertainment: Southwest now offers free DirecTV and Beats radio through your mobile device and some planes offer wi-fi for a small charge.
Snacks: all Southwest flights have free beverages (water, juice, soda) and small snacks (usually crackers, cookies, pretzels and/or peanuts).
Overall Family friendliness: I find Southwest to be super family friendly. The staff is always nice and helpful and they sometimes have activity books for the kids. I like the open seating because it means I know we can all get seats together without having to argue with the gate agent and we won’t end up in the very back of the plane (though we do usually end up about half way back since people have a tendency to sit one per row filling up the first 10-12 rows). I also appreciate that there is no ticket change fee and if you find your booked flight cheaper later, you can get a credit for the difference.
JetBlue
Baggage: 2 standard carry on items fly free; they used to offer one free checked bag per person but have recently changed it; a lap infant is allowed a diaper bag, stroller and car seat free but if checked the car seat will count as your free checked bag (though you should NEVER check a car seat as it can damage the seat and make it unsafe to use)
Car seat use: car seats fit well on JetBlue, even small rearfacing seats. If the plane is not full, you can ask to bring your car seat on board for your unticketed infant to use but this usually only works if there is a seat open near or next to the one you are assigned (it is always best to buy a ticket for your infant to ensure they can use their car seat on the plane).
Seating: JetBlue assigns seating which you can pick when you book. We seem to always be put in the VERY last row which is pain when boarding with three kids and car seats and more than once have been separated from the kids and had to argue with the gate agent to get our seats reassigned so our children are not sitting without us.
Boarding: JetBlue generally pre-boards people needing extra time and assistance (wheelchairs), then their TrueBlue rewards members (frequent fliers) then families.
Entertainment: JetBlue has DirecTV and individual screens at each seat though you do have to provide your own headphones or buy them for a few dollars.
Snacks: JetBlue offers free drinks (water, juice, soda) and a variety of chips, crackers and cookies including their signature TerraBlue chips (the PopCorners are my favorite!)
Overall Family Friendliness: I’ve found service on JetBlue hit or miss. We’ve had some really great flights (like this one) and some not so great ones (like the time we were in the last row and they let people board from the front and back but we had to go from the front in order to gate check our stroller and then had to fight people going the other way down the aisles). Seating on JetBlue is one of my least favorite things, banging down the aisle with my car seats and bags to the back of the plane or getting separated from my kids is no fun. We’ve also had instances where we picked seats together in the middle of the plane when we booked and were changed to the back by the time we traveled.
United
Baggage: United allows two standard carry on bags (one personal item) but charges for all checked bags unless you have status. Domestic checked bag fees start at $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second. United allows either a stroller or car seat to be checked for free (though you should NEVER check a car seat at this can damage the seat, making it unsafe to use).
Car Seats: I’ve never had a problem using car seats on United, the seats are usually plenty roomy and the flight crew is friendly about car seat use though their current boarding policies don’t give you much time to board and install the seats.
Seating: United allows you to pick your seats when booking, however, unless you have frequent flier status or buy an upgraded ticket, you will most likely be limited to middle seats only which will leave you arguing to get seats together once you’re at the airport (my experience with that here).
Boarding: United no longer does any sort of family boarding. Families are left to board with their ticketed zone, usually leaving little time to get everyone settled, especially when using car seats (I don’t mind holding up the plane if they’re going to make me board last, as I have previously).
Entertainment: United has TVs on many of their planes and shows movies/TV shows in flight though they are not individual screens so you are limited to what they are showing. They also have music for listening if you bring your own headphones or buy them (I believe they give them out for free on some flights).
Snacks: snacks are for purchase only though they do offer complimentary beverages.
Overall Family Friendliness: We flew United a lot between Dublin and the states and I was always okay with them but they are not my favorite airline domestically with three kids. The staff is rarely friendly or helpful and the airline overall is catering more to the business traveler these days.
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