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A former flight attendant is stirring controversy online with her take on boarding practices for families with young children.
Parents know all too well the challenges of traveling with kids, especially when it comes to flying. Traditionally, airlines allow families with small children to board the plane first to give them extra time to settle. However, one ex-flight attendant is challenging this norm and sparking debate in the process.
In a TikTok video that has captured over 2 million views, Laura, who hails from Florida, shared her unconventional opinion. She suggested in the caption, “Okay, don’t come for me but I think families with babies should board LAST…”
Drawing from her own challenging experience of boarding with her young son, Laura explained that she has witnessed many families struggle after boarding early, often becoming frazzled long before the aircraft’s doors are even closed.
After sharing her own frustrating experience boarding with her young son, she wrote that she “spent years watching families board first and slowly unravel before we even closed the door.”
To combat the parent-child anxiety combo waiting for the rest of the flight, Laura suggests to “Board last. Sit down. Take off immediately. Baby never knows the difference…The pre-board privilege is a trap. I handed it out for years and I’m only now admitting that,” she finished.
She clearly struck a nerve with many, as over 4,000 people rushed to the former flight attendant’s comment section to share their thoughts.
Many offered what they thought were even better suggestions.
“Hear me out — one parent boards first and gets everything loaded and ready while the other gets the energy out of the kiddo and boards last with them!” one wrote.
“I will never understand why they don’t just board back of the plane first,” a valid point someone else raised.
“Hear me out — they don’t board at all…” someone else rudely chimed in.
Another argued why families should continue to board first.
“Gotta get the overhead bin space for the stroller and get the car seat in! Two adults traveling works, but solo with a child gotta get on first.”
Someone else had a clever alternative to boarding first or last.
“My husband goes in first, sets the car seats, organize the items we need for the flight, puts up what’s not necessary and make sure some “what if” items easy to reach. Then when everyone boarded I come in with our boys. Best thing ever. No need to have babies sitting in there longer.”